1873 50C Arrows MS63 Certification #03234527, PCGS #6343

1873 Liberty Seated Half Dollar. Arrows. WB-106. Large Arrows. MS-63 (PCGS). OGH. A fully lustrous, satin to softly frosted example whose otherwise brilliant surfaces are ringed in vivid reddish-gold peripheral toning. Sharply struck in most areas with a pleasingly smooth appearance for the assigned grade. The weight of the half dollar was modified when the Act of February 12, 1873, mandated an increase from 12.44 grams to 12.50 grams. Following the precedent set in 1853, the Mint once again added arrows to the obverse before and after the date for coins struck to the new weight standard. This type remained in production only in 1873 and 1874, after which the basic Motto type returned, albeit with the weight standard as mandated in 1873. The Arrows type of 1873 to 1874 is more challenging to locate in all grades than its predecessor of 1854 to 1855. The type as a whole is very scarce in Choice Mint State and rare any finer, especially relative to the strong demand from advanced type collectors. This is a scarce MS-63 that would do nicely in a Mint State type set. Provenance: From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection. To emphasize how special this coin is, it is the best example that the millionaire Horatio Morgan could find for his specialized collection of early US Half Dollars, which included many expensive coins as high as $450,000. Purchased as floor bidder at Stacks Bowers auction 11/15/2019 at Whitman Coin Show in Baltimore MD. Bidding started at $1200 and quickly settled at $1600, I had to pay $1700 to win it. After 20% commission ($340) and shipping ($22.50), total invoice later paid by credit card 11/18/2019 was $2,062.50. Conservatively graded "old green holder", so might upgrade from MS63 to MS64 if resubmitted