PCGS PR63
- PCGS #:
- 9310
- Designer:
- Juliette May Fraser & Chester Beach
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 30.60 millimeters
- Weight:
- 12.50 grams
- Mintage:
- 50
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $102,000 • PR66 • 01-14-2024 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
- 1928 50C Hawaiian, Matte
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 50 |
| 60 or Better | 50 |
| 65 or Better | 10 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-8.5 |
| 60 or Better | R-8.5 |
| 65 or Better | R-9.5 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 1 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 1 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 1 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 1 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 1 |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 1 |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 PCGS PR64
Heritage Auctions, February 2002, Lot 6270. NGC PF63 #1633636-001. Heritage Auctions, January 2004, Lot 3003 - $13,225. As PCGS PR64 #50467787. Heritage Auctions, April 30, 2025, Lot 3387 - $48,000; Heritage Auctions, January 14, 2026, Lot 3166 - $46,360. Steel grey color. Small dark toning spot behind Cook's shoulder. |
|
#1 PCGS PR64
Calvin Coolidge; John Coolidge; French’s, November 1973, Lot 108 – $2,800; Private Collector; Superior, January 1979, Lot 1087; Stack’s, July 1979, Lot 673; As PCGS PR64 #03759255. “The Richard Leichtung Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2002, Lot 8752 – $33,350. Coolidge on insert; PCGS PR64 #21672091. “The JFS Collection, Part Two,” Heritage Auctions, August 18, 2004, Lot 4270 – $25,300. As PCGS PR64 CAC #50152096. Heritage Auctions, January 21, 2021, Lot 4128 – $60,000. Reportedly, the 21st Proof struck. Toning spot to the right of the compass rose. Toning spot just below the corner of Cook's eye. |
|
#1 PCGS PR64
Heritage Auctions, February 20, 2020, Lot 3436 – $52,200. Lightly colored area in the upper left obverse field. Small tick near the border at 3 o'clock. On the reverse, there is a small toning spot near the border at 5 o'clock. |
|
#1 PCGS PR64
American Numismatic Rarities, June 23, 2005, Lot 1608 - $22,000; American Numismatic Rarities, January 3, 2006, Lot 1201 - $26,000. |
| #1 PCGS PR64 |
| #1 PCGS PR64 |
|
#1 PCGS PR64
Edward L. Caum; “Wes Rasmussen Sale,” Superior 1998, Lot 3071 – $24,000; Heritage Auctions, February 11, 2000, Lot 5769 – $21,850. Coin #48. Dappled toning, primarily limited to the obverse left. Slightly darker coloration along the lower reverse borders. |
| #1 PCGS PR64 |
|
#9 PCGS PR63
Dr. Herbert E. Gregory, Captain Cook Sesquicentennial Commission member, January 3, 1938; K.G. Schram; As PCGS PR63 #48845289. Stack’s Bowers, March 26, 2024, Lot 4402 – $38,400. The obverse and reverse are dappled with pinsized toning spots. |
| #9 PCGS PR63 |
|
#11 PCGS PR62
Goldberg Auctioneers, February 19, 2002, Lot 1658 – $12,650. Patches of dark lilac grey toning dominates the upper right quadrant of the coin’s obverse. Scattered goldenrod toning throughout the obverse and reverse. |
1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollars : A Providencial Mystery
The Philadelphia Mint struck 50 sandblast Proof 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollars (#9310). These coins were distributed to a select group of VIPs and organizations. Unfortunately, the chain of ownership for most of these pieces has been lost to time. A total of 12 examples are reported in the PCGS Population Report, yet only three coins can be traced to their original recipient.
In the list below, bolded names represent individuals whose specific specimens have appeared in the numismatic market with confirmed PCGS pedigrees.
- Edgar Henriques, Executive Secretary
- Bruce Cartwright, Commissioner
- Dr. Herbert E. Gregory, Commissioner (PCGS PR63 #48845289)
- Bishop H.B. Restarick, Commissioner
- Col C.P. Iaukea, Commissioner
- Professor Ralph S. Kuykendall
- Juliett Mae Fraser
- Honorable Wallace R. Farrington
- Marie von Holt
- [one missing from the Top 10, 11-50 are listed in the correct order]
- Hawaiian Historical Society
- Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
- Hon. Gerald H. Phipps
- Archives of Hawaii
- B.C. Stewart
- United States National Museum
- British Admiralty
- Rt. Hon. S.M. Bruce
- Hon. T.R. Bavin
- British Museum
- President Calvin Coolidge (PCGS PR64 #50152096)
- King George V of England
- Lord Sandwich
- Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
- Rear-Admiral George S. Marvell, U.S.N.
- Major General Fox Conner, U.S.A.
- American Numismatic Association
- Capt. Leveson-Gower, R.N. D.S.O.
- Capt Gerald Cartwell Harrison
- Commodore Swabey
- Capt. John Greenslade
- Hon. Dwight Davis, Secretary of War, U.S.A
- Sir Joseph Carruthers
- Sir Henry Newbolt
- Prof. Frank A. Golder
- Judge F.W. Howay
- Verne Blue
- Kauai Historical Society
- James A. Wilder
- Hon. Lawrence N. Judd, grandson of Dr. Gerrit P. Judge, early settler and Albert Francis Judd, Chief Justice of the Hawaiian Supreme Court during the reigns of Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani (PCGS PR61)
- Mr. Theodore B. Pitman
- Dr. Peter H. Buck
- Hon. Maurice Cohen
- Rt. Hon J.G. Coates
- National Museum Wellington, New Zealand
- Hon. John C. Lane
- American Numismatic Society
- Edward L. Caum, Honolulu resident (PCGS PR64)
- J. Frank Woods
- Hon. Victor S.K. Houston
The Houston Influence on Design
Hon. Victor S.K. Houston was far more than a VIP recipient; he was a primary driver of the coin's final aesthetic. Houston maintained a rigorous correspondence with sculptor Chester Beach, issuing a series of specific demands to ensure cultural and botanical accuracy. His requirements focused on:
- The Coconut Palm: Ensuring the fronds and trunk were characteristic of Hawaiian species.
- The Chieftain’s Attire: Demanding precision in the rendering of the feather cape ('ahu 'ula) and the traditional anklets.
Historical evidence of this collaboration surfaced in the 2009 Bowers & Merena Philadelphia Americana Sale (Lot 4499), which featured Beach’s personal files and original letters. These documents confirm that the coin’s celebrated design was the result of significant pressure from Houston to move away from generic "tropical" motifs toward authentic Hawaiian iconography.
* * *
Of the 10,008 Hawaiian commemorative half dollars originally struck (8 for assay and 10,000 for distribution), 50 were struck as matte proofs. These are true proofs with much sharper detail than on the regular strikes. However, the matte surfaces are an aquired taste and many collectors at the time of issue did not like the subdued appearances of these special strikes.
Today, it's estimated that all 50 of the original matte proofs survive. Many of these survivors are in lower proof grades, i.e. PR61 to PR63. PR64s and PR65s are rare and highly prized by sophisticated commemorative collectors.