1872 50C (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1839-1891

PCGS MS66

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PCGS MS65+

PCGS MS65

PCGS #:: 6333

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 12.40 grams

Mintage:: 880,600

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $21,150 • MS66 • 06-23-2014 • Heritage Auctions

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (12)

Major Varieties

1872 50C

Die Varieties

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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	600	R-5.8	16 / 45 TIE	48 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	60	R-8.4	17 / 45 TIE	62 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	10	R-9.5	15 / 45 TIE	55 / 126 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	600
60 or Better	60
65 or Better	10

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-5.8
60 or Better	R-8.4
65 or Better	R-9.5

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	16 / 45 TIE
60 or Better	17 / 45 TIE
65 or Better	15 / 45 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	48 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	62 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	55 / 126 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS66
1	PCGS MS66	"The James Swan U.S. Type Collection," Superior Galleries, May 1989. As PCGS MS66 #0562809. "The Oliver Jung Collection," American Numismatic Rarities, July 23, 2004, Lot 69 - $9,200; "The Eugene H. Gardner Collection," Heritage Auctions, June 23, 2014, Lot 30513 - $21,150. Brilliant. Later die state.
1	PCGS MS66
1	PCGS MS66	As NGC MS66+ #4247490-005. Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2016, Lot 3229 - $7,637.50. As PCGS MS66 #25603603. Heritage Auctions, June 8, 2016, Lot 4543 - $8,225; Stack's Bowers, September 4, 2025, Lot 3076 - $8,400; "The LittleBigCoin Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).
1	PCGS MS66
6	PCGS MS65+	Legend Rare Coin Auctions, April 21, 2021, Lot 57 - $9,106.25.
7	PCGS MS65
7	PCGS MS65
7	PCGS MS65
7	PCGS MS65

#1 PCGS MS66

"The James Swan U.S. Type Collection," Superior Galleries, May 1989. As PCGS MS66 #0562809. "The Oliver Jung Collection," American Numismatic Rarities, July 23, 2004, Lot 69 - $9,200; "The Eugene H. Gardner Collection," Heritage Auctions, June 23, 2014, Lot 30513 - $21,150. Brilliant. Later die state.

#1 PCGS MS66

As NGC MS66+ #4247490-005. Heritage Auctions, February 4, 2016, Lot 3229 - $7,637.50. As PCGS MS66 #25603603. Heritage Auctions, June 8, 2016, Lot 4543 - $8,225; Stack's Bowers, September 4, 2025, Lot 3076 - $8,400; "The LittleBigCoin Collection" (PCGS Set Registry).

#1 PCGS MS66

#6 PCGS MS65+

Legend Rare Coin Auctions, April 21, 2021, Lot 57 - $9,106.25.

#7 PCGS MS65

Charles Morgan:

The 1872 Liberty Seated Half Dollar

Although neither silver nor gold coinage circulated on par with the paper dollar, the Philadelphia Mint produced silver coins for circulation in denominations ranging from three cents to one dollar. The primary circulating denominations saw mintages approaching and exceeding a million coins, while demand for the larger denominations was usually driven by export or institutional interests. The 1872 Liberty Seated Half Dollar (#6333) saw a mintage of 880,600 pieces, approximately 25% fewer than the total struck the year before. Still, a sufficient number of coins survive in circulated grades for the issue to slip through unnoticed. However, its scarcity in Choice to Gem Mint State grades, combined with a popularly collected obverse die variety with a misplaced date, positions it as one of the more interesting Philadelphia Mint half dollars of the 1870s.

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