1839 50C No Drapery

1840 50C Small Letters

1839 50C Drapery (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1839-1891

PCGS MS65+

View More Images

No Drapery vs With Drapery

PCGS MS65+

PCGS #:: 6232

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 13.36 grams

Mintage:: 1,872,400

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $21,600 • MS65 • 02-12-2023 • Heritage Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (4)

Major Varieties

1839 50C Drapery

Die Varieties

Go To Grade

Price Guide (USD)

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Current Auctions - PCGS Graded

Current Auctions - NGC Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	1,200	R-4.9	53 / 66 TIE	90 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	75	R-8.2	44 / 66 TIE	71 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	3	R-9.8	13 / 66 TIE	18 / 126 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	1,200
60 or Better	75
65 or Better	3

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-4.9
60 or Better	R-8.2
65 or Better	R-9.8

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	53 / 66 TIE
60 or Better	44 / 66 TIE
65 or Better	13 / 66 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	90 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	71 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	18 / 126 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS65+ PCGS grade	Rev. Dr. James G.K. McClure Collection - Heritage 6/2016:4527, $15,275 - Heritage 1/2017:5663, $15,275
1	MS65+ PCGS grade	Stack's 1/2002:1451, $6,900 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30483, $14,100 - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 10/2015:37, not sold - Stack's/Bowers 4/2016:13078, $14,100
3	MS65 PCGS grade	Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions 2/1985:481 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:98 - Heritage 10/2009:673, $13,800 - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5027, $21,150
3	MS65 PCGS grade	Richard B. Winsor Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 12/1895:??? - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1915, $12,100 - Palakika Collection - Heritage 5/2007:2133, $18,400
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade
5	MS64 PCGS grade

#1 MS65+ PCGS grade

Rev. Dr. James G.K. McClure Collection - Heritage 6/2016:4527, $15,275 - Heritage 1/2017:5663, $15,275

#1 MS65+ PCGS grade

Stack's 1/2002:1451, $6,900 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30483, $14,100 - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 10/2015:37, not sold - Stack's/Bowers 4/2016:13078, $14,100

#3 MS65 PCGS grade

Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions 2/1985:481 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:98 - Heritage 10/2009:673, $13,800 - D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part V - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 3/2017:5027, $21,150

#3 MS65 PCGS grade

Richard B. Winsor Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 12/1895:??? - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1915, $12,100 - Palakika Collection - Heritage 5/2007:2133, $18,400

#5 MS64 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

1839 Seated Liberty Half Dollars come in two variations: Wiith Drapery and Without Drapery, referring to the fold of drapery (or lack thereof) beneath Liberty's left arm (viewer's right). The earliest version of the 1839 Seated Liberty Half Dollar match the 1838's in that there is no drapery below Liberty's elbow. Later in 1839, engravers added drapery to balance out the dessign. Subsequent to this change, and "No Drapery" varieties are unintentional and were caused when over-zealous polishing removed the drapery from the die, either partially or fully.

Across all grades, the 1839 Drapery Half Dollar is slightly less common than the No Drapery inb