1862-S 50C XF40 Certification #28522779, PCGS #6308

Owner's Comments

WB-101, WB-5, R2. eBay - Key Date Rare Coins. 10/9/16.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

In 1862, employees at the San Francisco Mint produced over 1.3 million Half Dollars.  Most of those coins were destined to enter circulation.  Only a few nice ones found their way into coin collections (such was the destiny of most San Francisco Mint products during the late 1800's).  The average quality of a Mint State 1862-S Half Dollar is MS63, with fairly equal amounts of MS62 and MS64 examples on either side.  Gems are exceedingly rare, with only two known that are MS65 or better.  The finest is the PCGS MS66 (formerly of the Eliasberg and Gardner collections).  The strike quality of this date is usually strong, but keep an eye on the stars at the top of the obverse -- they are often flat.

PCGS #
6308
Designer
Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht
Edge
Reeded
Diameter
30.00 millimeters
Weight
12.40 grams
Mintage
1352000
Metal
90% Silver, 10% Copper
Pop Higher
135
Pop Lower
143
Region
The United States of America
Price Guide
PCGS Population
Auctions - PCGS Graded
Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades
65 or Better 700 R-5.6 38 / 66 TIE 64 / 126 TIE
All Grades 60 R-8.4 38 / 66 TIE 62 / 126 TIE
60 or Better 1 R-10.0 1 / 66 TIE 1 / 126 TIE
65 or Better 700
All Grades 60
60 or Better 1
65 or Better R-5.6
All Grades R-8.4
60 or Better R-10.0
65 or Better 38 / 66 TIE
All Grades 38 / 66 TIE
60 or Better 1 / 66 TIE
65 or Better 64 / 126 TIE
All Grades 62 / 126 TIE
60 or Better 1 / 126 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos Grade Thumbnail Pedigree and History
1 MS66 PCGS grade MS66 PCGS grade

John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1994, $14,300 - Bowers & Merena 11/2001:4140, $16,100 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98480, $42,300 - Ivy Collection (PCGS Set Registry) - MS12 Collection (PCGS Set Registry)

2 MS65 PCGS grade
3 MS64 PCGS grade MS64 PCGS grade

Dick Osburn Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2011:7081, $6,325 - Richard Jewell Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2013:4180, $5,170 - Heritage 1/2014:4504, $4,700 - D.L. Hansen Collection

3 MS64 PCGS grade
3 MS64 PCGS grade
MS66 PCGS grade #1 MS66 PCGS grade

John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1994, $14,300 - Bowers & Merena 11/2001:4140, $16,100 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98480, $42,300 - Ivy Collection (PCGS Set Registry) - MS12 Collection (PCGS Set Registry)

#2 MS65 PCGS grade
MS64 PCGS grade #3 MS64 PCGS grade

Dick Osburn Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2011:7081, $6,325 - Richard Jewell Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2013:4180, $5,170 - Heritage 1/2014:4504, $4,700 - D.L. Hansen Collection

#3 MS64 PCGS grade
#3 MS64 PCGS grade