1858-S 50C VF30 Certification #20737439, PCGS #6295

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

WB-101, WB-10, R3. Gerry Fortin Rare Coins. 7/24/21.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

In it's fifth year of production, the San Francisco Mint issued 476,000 Half Dollars...a reasonably large mintage for the period, and certainly one that would not be considered rare based on the number of coins struck. However, few nice ones were saved by collectors, making the 1858-S Half Dollar a true condition-rarity. The PCGS CoinFacts Board of Experts thought that as many as 43 examples might have survived in Mint State, but their estimate was made circa 2008 and may be a bit optimistic today. Of the Mint State examples examined by PCGS, virtually all are in the grade range from MS62 to MS64. Gems are exceedingly rare and we know of only one at the MS66 level (that being the remarkable PCGS MS66 from the Norweb and Gene Gardner collections.

PCGS #

6295

Designer

Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.40 grams

Mintage

476000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

184

Pop Lower

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	650	R-5.7	37 / 66	61 / 126 TIE
All Grades	40	R-8.7	25 / 66 TIE	42 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	3	R-9.8	13 / 66 TIE	18 / 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	650
All Grades	40
60 or Better	3

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-5.7
All Grades	R-8.7
60 or Better	R-9.8

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	37 / 66
All Grades	25 / 66 TIE
60 or Better	13 / 66 TIE

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	61 / 126 TIE
All Grades	42 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	18 / 126 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Numismatic Gallery 8/1953:631 - Norweb Collection, Part III - Bowers & Merena 11/1988:3181, $12,100 - Heritage 1/2007:983, $34,500 - Pinnacle Rarities, sold privately in 8/2010 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98499, $32,900 - Heritage 4/2017:4055, $32,900 - D.L. Hansen Collection
2	MS65 PCGS grade
2	MS65 estimated grade
4	MS64+ PCGS grade	Legend Rare Coin Auctions 12/2019:335, not sold
5	MS64 PCGS grade

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Numismatic Gallery 8/1953:631 - Norweb Collection, Part III - Bowers & Merena 11/1988:3181, $12,100 - Heritage 1/2007:983, $34,500 - Pinnacle Rarities, sold privately in 8/2010 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98499, $32,900 - Heritage 4/2017:4055, $32,900 - D.L. Hansen Collection

#2 MS65 PCGS grade

#2 MS65 estimated grade

#4 MS64+ PCGS grade

Legend Rare Coin Auctions 12/2019:335, not sold

#5 MS64 PCGS grade