Ron Guth:
The Seated Liberty Half Dollar design ended its run in 1891 on a high note with a huge jump in the total mintage. Where the mintage of the 1890 Half Dollar was a mere 12,000 pieces, the mintage of the 1891 was 200,000 coins -- more than a sixteen-fold increase. As might be expected, the number of surviving 1891 Half Dollars is much higher than in any of the previous years (since 1879), and Mint State examples are likewise plentiful. The overall quality of 1891 Half Dollars is so high that the PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census starts at MS66. The most plentiful grades for the 1891 Half Dollars are MS63 and MS64, where scores of each are available. This date has many plusses: available, affordable, final year of the type, and a great value for collectors.