1853 50C Arrows & Rays MS62 Certification #37587569, PCGS #6275

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

In 1853, the American Congress passed a Coinage Act that reduced the weights of the Half Dimes, Dimes, Quarter Dollars, and Half Dollars to correct the imbalance in the prices of gold and silver. To make the change obvious, arrowheads were placed on either side of the date and rays were placed throughout the reverse. Production of the new Half Dollars ballooned in 1853 to over 3.5 million coins -- a level unseen since ten years earlier. The New Orleans mint contributed another 1.3+ million coins. With the rays on the reverse, this became a one-year type coin (from 1854 to 1855, the rays were removed but the arrowheads remained). This date is very plentiful in most Mint State grades, but type collectors keep the price higher than usual. Numerous Gem examples remain, but Superb examples (those MS66 and better) are very scarce.

PCGS #

6275

Designer

Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.40 grams

Mintage

3532708

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

349

Pop Lower

1843

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - 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.
65 or Better	6000	R-3.8	2 / 2	126 / 126
All Grades	600	R-5.8	2 / 2	125 / 126
60 or Better	30	R-8.9	2 / 2	83 / 126 TIE

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.
65 or Better	6000
All Grades	600
60 or Better	30

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.
65 or Better	R-3.8
All Grades	R-5.8
60 or Better	R-8.9

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.
65 or Better	2 / 2
All Grades	2 / 2
60 or Better	2 / 2

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.
65 or Better	126 / 126
All Grades	125 / 126
60 or Better	83 / 126 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS67	Bob R. Simpson Collection
1	PCGS MS67
3	PCGS MS66+	Heritage Auctions, September 2013, Lot 6436 - $76,375. Brilliant.
3	PCGS MS66+	Ed Hipps, 1979 - $25,000; "The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection," Stack's Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5179 - $94,000. WB-101.
3	PCGS MS66+	Larry Whitlow, January 2008; As NGC MS66. "The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III," Heritage Auctions, May 12, 2015, Lot 98471 - $28,200; Heritage Auctions, January 2016, Lot 5370 - $44,650. WB-101.

#1 PCGS MS67

Bob R. Simpson Collection

#1 PCGS MS67

#3 PCGS MS66+

Heritage Auctions, September 2013, Lot 6436 - $76,375. Brilliant.

#3 PCGS MS66+

Ed Hipps, 1979 - $25,000; "The Douglas C. Kaselitz Collection," Stack's Bowers, July 2015, Lot 5179 - $94,000. WB-101.

#3 PCGS MS66+

Larry Whitlow, January 2008; As NGC MS66. "The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III," Heritage Auctions, May 12, 2015, Lot 98471 - $28,200; Heritage Auctions, January 2016, Lot 5370 - $44,650. WB-101.