1852-O 50C

1853-O 50C Arrows and Rays

1853 50C Arrows & Rays (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1839-1891

PCGS MS67

PCGS MS67

PCGS MS66+

PCGS #:: 6275

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 12.40 grams

Mintage:: 3,532,708

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $94,000 • MS66+ • 07-17-2015 • Stack's Bowers

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (6)

Major Varieties

1853 50C Arrows & Rays

Die Varieties

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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	6,000	R-3.8	2 / 2	126 / 126
60 or Better	600	R-5.8	2 / 2	125 / 126
65 or Better	30	R-8.9	2 / 2	83 / 126 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	6,000
60 or Better	600
65 or Better	30

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-3.8
60 or Better	R-5.8
65 or Better	R-8.9

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	2 / 2
60 or Better	2 / 2
65 or Better	2 / 2

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	126 / 126
60 or Better	125 / 126
65 or Better	83 / 126 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS67	Bob R. Simpson Collection
1	PCGS MS67
3	PCGS MS66+	Larry Whitlow, January 2008; As NGC MS66. "The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III," Heritage Auctions, May 12, 2015, Lot 98471 - $28,200; Heritage Auctions, January 2016, Lot 5370 - $44,650. WB-101.
3	PCGS MS66+	Ed Hipps, 1979 - $25,000; "The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection," Stack's Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5179 - $94,000. WB-101.
3	PCGS MS66+	Heritage Auctions, September 2013, Lot 6436 - $76,375. Brilliant.
3	Est. MS66+	As PCGS MS66+ #26193996. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, December 14, 2017, Lot 237 - $67,562.50; Dell Loy Hansen. This coin is not currently encapsulated in a PCGS holder.
3	PCGS MS66+
6	PCGS MS66	As NGC MS66 #957212-05. Dr. Claude E. Davis, M.D. ("The Foxfire Collection"), sold en bloc to the Pogue Family via Richard Burdick. As PCGS MS66 #38634057. "The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part VII," Stack's Bowers, March 20, 2020, Lot 7289 - $38,400. WB-101. Intense rainbow toning.
6	PCGS MS66	"Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate to Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson - $5; Eric P. Newman. As NGC MS66 #2037663-028. "The Eric P. Newman Collection, Part II," November 15, 2013, Lot 33475 - $36,718.75. As PCGS MS66 #25340670. Heritage Auctions, August 2014, Lot 5584 - $42,593.75. FS-802.
6	PCGS MS66	As PCGS MS66 #50074511. "The Richard Jewell Collection," American Numismatic Rarities, March 8, 2005, Lot 1794, $46,000; Heritage Auctions, 2008, Lot 2878; "The Jim O'Neal Collection," Heritage Auctions, April 2013, Lot 4272 - $76,375.
6	PCGS MS66	Mike Chipman.
6	PCGS MS66
6	PCGS MS66
6	PCGS MS66

#1 PCGS MS67

Bob R. Simpson Collection

#1 PCGS MS67

#3 PCGS MS66+

Larry Whitlow, January 2008; As NGC MS66. "The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III," Heritage Auctions, May 12, 2015, Lot 98471 - $28,200; Heritage Auctions, January 2016, Lot 5370 - $44,650. WB-101.

#3 PCGS MS66+

Ed Hipps, 1979 - $25,000; "The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection," Stack's Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5179 - $94,000. WB-101.

#3 PCGS MS66+

Heritage Auctions, September 2013, Lot 6436 - $76,375. Brilliant.

#3 Est. MS66+

As PCGS MS66+ #26193996. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, December 14, 2017, Lot 237 - $67,562.50; Dell Loy Hansen. This coin is not currently encapsulated in a PCGS holder.

#3 PCGS MS66+

#6 PCGS MS66

As NGC MS66 #957212-05. Dr. Claude E. Davis, M.D. ("The Foxfire Collection"), sold en bloc to the Pogue Family via Richard Burdick. As PCGS MS66 #38634057. "The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part VII," Stack's Bowers, March 20, 2020, Lot 7289 - $38,400. WB-101. Intense rainbow toning.

#6 PCGS MS66

"Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate to Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson - $5; Eric P. Newman. As NGC MS66 #2037663-028. "The Eric P. Newman Collection, Part II," November 15, 2013, Lot 33475 - $36,718.75. As PCGS MS66 #25340670. Heritage Auctions, August 2014, Lot 5584 - $42,593.75. FS-802.

#6 PCGS MS66

As PCGS MS66 #50074511. "The Richard Jewell Collection," American Numismatic Rarities, March 8, 2005, Lot 1794, $46,000; Heritage Auctions, 2008, Lot 2878; "The Jim O'Neal Collection," Heritage Auctions, April 2013, Lot 4272 - $76,375.

#6 PCGS MS66

Mike Chipman.

#6 PCGS MS66

Charles Morgan:

1853 Liberty Seated Half Dollar, Arrows & Rays

The influx of California gold drastically disrupted the gold-to-silver ratio, making circulating silver coins worth more as bullion than as face value. Speculators capitalized by melting silver coins and exchanging the metal for gold, triggering a severe nationwide shortage that left only copper cents, three-cent silver pieces, and gold coins in active circulation.

To resolve the crisis, U.S. Mint Director George N. Eckert urged Congress to lower the weight and total silver content of every silver coin denomination except the dollar. Congress complied, passing the Coinage Act of February 21, 1853.

Design Changes & Production

The Act reduced the half dollar’s weight from 13.36 to 12.44 grams, effectively eliminating the profit incentive for wholesale melting. To signal the new weight standard, Eckert ordered arrowheads added beside the date and a halo of rays added to the reverse. The first coins featuring this modified design were Proofs (#6405) struck on March 3, 1853.

Business-strike production began on May 21, with an initial delivery of 80,000 pieces from the Philadelphia Mint, which struck this type exclusively for the remainder of the year. However, the high-relief rays drastically shortened die longevity. Philadelphia required 49 obverse and 53 reverse dies to produce 3,532,708 coins, while the New Orleans Mint consumed 26 obverse and 19 reverse dies to strike 1,328,000 pieces.

Collecting the 1853 Liberty Seated Half Dollar

The 1853 Liberty Seated Half Dollar with Arrows and Rays (#6275) remains immensely popular with collectors as a distinct, one-year design type. Given its larger production run, the Philadelphia issue is slightly more affordable than the 1853-O (#6276) in circulated grades, and significantly more accessible in Mint State.

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Regency XVIII Preview | Legend Rare Coin Auctions | September 29, 2016

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