Ron Guth:
1876-S Half Dollars were produced in large quantities (over 4.5 million pieces) and they are plentiful in most grades. Collectors have scores to choose from in Mint State and most of those are well-struck. Little did the Mint employees know in 1876 that their facility would soon be shutting down production of Half Dollars after 1880. However, they still had one more year of near-record production before their rest.
For the quality-minded collector, it is very difficult to find an 1876-S Half Dollar better than MS65.