1849 50C (Proof)

Series: Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1839-1891

PCGS PR66

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PCGS PR64

PCGS #:: 6393

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 13.36 grams

Mintage:: 8

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $86,250 • PR66 • 09-01-2008 • Heritage Auctions

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1849 50C

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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	R-9.7	6 / 23 TIE	8 / 55 TIE
60 or Better	6	R-9.7	6 / 23 TIE	8 / 55 TIE
65 or Better	2	R-9.9	8 / 23 TIE	10 / 55 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	6
60 or Better	6
65 or Better	2

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-9.7
60 or Better	R-9.7
65 or Better	R-9.9

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	6 / 23 TIE
60 or Better	6 / 23 TIE
65 or Better	8 / 23 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	8 / 55 TIE
60 or Better	8 / 55 TIE
65 or Better	10 / 55 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PR66 PCGS grade	James A. Stack Collection - Stack's 3/1975:453, $5,200 - David & Sharron Akers Collection - Heritage 1/2014:5262, $70,500
2	PR65 estimated grade	Paramount 11/1967:1017 - John Jay Pittman Collection, Part II - David Akers 5/1998:1536, $46,750 - Bowers & Merena 8/1999:205, $23,000 - George "Buddy" Byers Collection - Stack's 10/2006:1150, $56,350 - Heritage 7/2008:1701, not sold - Malibu Collection - Heritage 9/2008:2247, $86,250 - Bay State Collection, Part II - Heritage 7/2009:1127, $74,750 - Greensboro Collection - Heritage 1/2013:5664, $47,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98528, $38,188
3	PR64 PCGS grade	Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1947, $22,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV - Heritage 10/2015:98714, $18,800 - Stack's/Bowers 11/2016:2089, not sold - Heritage 1/2017:5671, $25,850
3	PR64 PCGS grade	J. Colvin Randall Collection - W. Elliot Woodward 6/1885:409 - T. Harrison Garrett Collection - Robert Garrett Collection - John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection - Stack’s 3/1976:214 - RARCOA 7/1988:1725 - Ken Arnold Collection - Heritage 9/2005:3265, $29,900 - Heritage 10/2018:3056, $26,400
3	PR64 estimated grade	Numismatic Gallery 4/1941:296, $75 - Floyd T. Starr Collection - Stack's 10/1992:548, $23,100 - Superior 7/1993:421 - Phil Kaufman Collection - Heritage 4/2008:2391, $43,125 - Heritage 1/2010:2555, $41,688
3	PR64 estimated grade	Richmond Collection [Bradley Hirst], Part III - David Lawrence 3/2005:1793, $35,650 - Heritage 1/2012:3251, $38,813

#1 PR66 PCGS grade

James A. Stack Collection - Stack's 3/1975:453, $5,200 - David & Sharron Akers Collection - Heritage 1/2014:5262, $70,500

#2 PR65 estimated grade

Paramount 11/1967:1017 - John Jay Pittman Collection, Part II - David Akers 5/1998:1536, $46,750 - Bowers & Merena 8/1999:205, $23,000 - George "Buddy" Byers Collection - Stack's 10/2006:1150, $56,350 - Heritage 7/2008:1701, not sold - Malibu Collection - Heritage 9/2008:2247, $86,250 - Bay State Collection, Part II - Heritage 7/2009:1127, $74,750 - Greensboro Collection - Heritage 1/2013:5664, $47,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98528, $38,188

#3 PR64 PCGS grade

Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1947, $22,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV - Heritage 10/2015:98714, $18,800 - Stack's/Bowers 11/2016:2089, not sold - Heritage 1/2017:5671, $25,850

#3 PR64 PCGS grade

J. Colvin Randall Collection - W. Elliot Woodward 6/1885:409 - T. Harrison Garrett Collection - Robert Garrett Collection - John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection - Stack’s 3/1976:214 - RARCOA 7/1988:1725 - Ken Arnold Collection - Heritage 9/2005:3265, $29,900 - Heritage 10/2018:3056, $26,400

#3 PR64 estimated grade

Numismatic Gallery 4/1941:296, $75 - Floyd T. Starr Collection - Stack's 10/1992:548, $23,100 - Superior 7/1993:421 - Phil Kaufman Collection - Heritage 4/2008:2391, $43,125 - Heritage 1/2010:2555, $41,688

#3 PR64 estimated grade

Richmond Collection [Bradley Hirst], Part III - David Lawrence 3/2005:1793, $35,650 - Heritage 1/2012:3251, $38,813

Ron Guth:

1849 Proof Half Dollars are extremely rare, with only six examnples positiively identified to date (see the Condition Census listing above). All are brilliant Proofs and none are known as Cameos or Deep Cameos. The earliest auction appearance for one of these coins was all the way back in 1885, when the J. Colvin Randall example came onto the market; this coin later went into the James A. Stack Collection and, even later, the personal collection of David Akers. Both Mr. Stack and Mr. Akers were known for their eye for superb quality coins. As of October 2018, the finest examples are a pair of PR66's -- one in an NGC holder, the other in a PCGS encasement. Auction apperarances of Proof 1849 Half Dollars are infrequent. For example, between 1999 and 2005, none appeared at auction.