1878 50C

1878-S 50C

1878-CC 50C (Regular Strike)

Series: Liberty Seated Half Dollars 1839-1891

PCGS MS65+

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PCGS MS65

PCGS #:: 6359

Designer:: Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 12.50 grams

Mintage:: 62,000

Mint:: Carson City

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $77,000 • MS65 • 04-01-1997 • Bowers & Merena

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (2)

Major Varieties

1878-CC 50C

Die Varieties

1878-CC 50C WB-1 Medium CC

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For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded

For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded

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	2 / 45 TIE	7 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	10	R-9.5	5 / 45	15 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	4	R-9.8	3 / 45 TIE	18 / 126 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	150
60 or Better	10
65 or Better	4

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-7.5
60 or Better	R-9.5
65 or Better	R-9.8

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	2 / 45 TIE
60 or Better	5 / 45
65 or Better	3 / 45 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	7 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	15 / 126 TIE
65 or Better	18 / 126 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS65 PCGS grade	Jim O'Donnell, sold privately - RARCOA “Auction ‘90” 8/1990:732, $35,200 - Dick Osburn Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2011:7134, $48,875
1	MS65 PCGS grade	William M. Friesner Collection - Edouard Frossard 6/1894 - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2048, $77,000
1	MS65 PCGS grade	Reed Hawn Collection - Stack's 8/1973:288 - Queller Family Collection - Stack's 10/2002:677 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30520, $64,625
1	MS65 PCGS grade	Kagin's 11/1973:1084 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:236, $20,900 - Stack's 7/2009:596, $40,000 - Richard Jewell Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2013:4244, $41,125
1	MS65 PCGS grade	Heritage 6/2005:5728, $33,350 - American Numismatic Rarities 9/2005:427, $39,100 - Rusty Goe, sold privately in 9/2005 - Battle Born Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2012:11090, $41,125
6	MS64 PCGS grade
6	MS64 PCGS grade
6	MS64 PCGS grade
6	MS64 estimated grade

#1 MS65 PCGS grade

Jim O'Donnell, sold privately - RARCOA “Auction ‘90” 8/1990:732, $35,200 - Dick Osburn Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2011:7134, $48,875

#1 MS65 PCGS grade

William M. Friesner Collection - Edouard Frossard 6/1894 - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2048, $77,000

#1 MS65 PCGS grade

Reed Hawn Collection - Stack's 8/1973:288 - Queller Family Collection - Stack's 10/2002:677 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30520, $64,625

#1 MS65 PCGS grade

Kagin's 11/1973:1084 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:236, $20,900 - Stack's 7/2009:596, $40,000 - Richard Jewell Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2013:4244, $41,125

#1 MS65 PCGS grade

Heritage 6/2005:5728, $33,350 - American Numismatic Rarities 9/2005:427, $39,100 - Rusty Goe, sold privately in 9/2005 - Battle Born Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2012:11090, $41,125

#6 MS64 PCGS grade

#6 MS64 estimated grade

Ron Guth:

In 1878, focus at the Carson City Mint shifted to production of the new Morgan Dollar and, to a lesser extent, Quarter Dollars. Half Dollars were ignored to a large degree. Where Mint employees produced over a million Half Dollars in each of the previous three years, now they struck only 62,000 pieces. Thus was created the second rarest CC-Mint Half Dollar. In circulated grades, the 1878-CC Half Dollar is readily available -- for a price. In Mint State, tjhe 1878-CC Half Dollar is a true condition-rarity. Fortunately, most of the known Mint State examples are of above-average quality and a few examples are known of each grade from MS63 to MS65. It's hard to pick a favorite, but mine would have to be the Eliasberg example that sold in 1997 and has not reappeared on the market since.