1859-O 50C

1860 50C

1859-S 50C (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1839-1891

PCGS MS68

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PCGS MS66

PCGS MS65

PCGS #:: 6298

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 12.40 grams

Mintage:: 566,000

Mint:: San Francisco

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $82,250 • MS68 • 06-28-2014 • Stack's Bowers

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (9)

Major Varieties

1859-S 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	150	R-7.5	6 / 66	7 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	50	R-8.5	32 / 66 TIE	51 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	6	R-9.7	22 / 66 TIE	41 / 126 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	150
60 or Better	50
65 or Better	6

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-7.5
60 or Better	R-8.5
65 or Better	R-9.7

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	6 / 66
60 or Better	32 / 66 TIE
65 or Better	22 / 66 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	7 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	51 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	41 / 126 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS68 PCGS grade	John G. Mills Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 4/1904 - J. M. Clapp Collection - John M. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1980 - Goldbergs 2/2002:1015, $52,900 - Stack's/Bowers 11/2012:3145, not sold - Stack's/Bowers 6/2014:1438, $82,250
1	MS68 PCGS grade	Harlan P. Smith Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 5/1906:708, $2.80 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1981, $52,800 - Stellar Collection - Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 6/2003 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98478, $47,000
3	MS66+ PCGS grade
4	MS66 PCGS grade	D.L. Hansen Collection
5	MS65 PCGS grade	Heritage 3/2016:4903, $7,637.50
5	MS65 PCGS grade	Heritage 6/2016:4538, $5,405 - Heritage 7/2017:3104, $4,825.73 - D.L. Hansen Collection
5	MS65 PCGS grade	Heritage 4/2016:3514, $8,900.63
5	MS65 PCGS grade

#1 MS68 PCGS grade

John G. Mills Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 4/1904 - J. M. Clapp Collection - John M. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1980 - Goldbergs 2/2002:1015, $52,900 - Stack's/Bowers 11/2012:3145, not sold - Stack's/Bowers 6/2014:1438, $82,250

#1 MS68 PCGS grade

Harlan P. Smith Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 5/1906:708, $2.80 - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1981, $52,800 - Stellar Collection - Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 6/2003 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98478, $47,000

#3 MS66+ PCGS grade

#4 MS66 PCGS grade

D.L. Hansen Collection

#5 MS65 PCGS grade

Heritage 3/2016:4903, $7,637.50

#5 MS65 PCGS grade

Heritage 6/2016:4538, $5,405 - Heritage 7/2017:3104, $4,825.73 - D.L. Hansen Collection

#5 MS65 PCGS grade

Heritage 4/2016:3514, $8,900.63

#5 MS65 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

The 1859-S had the lowest mintage of any Half Dollar produced at any of the U.S. Mints (New Orleans produced the most Half Dollars, followed by Philadelphia, then San Francisco). Even so, the mintage was substantial enough to make the 1859-S Half Dollar reasonably common today, but because most of the coins were dumped into circulation on the West Coast -- where they were sorely needed -- far fewer were saved by collectors in nice condition. The most frequently-seen Mint State grade is MS64 and Gems are very rare. However, there are two standouts, both of which were once owned by Louis Eliasberg, and both of which were subsequently graded MS68 by PCGS.