1894-S 50C MS66 Certification #19806496, PCGS #6470

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

Laibstain. Eliasberg from Clapp Estate. Very nice example of a tough early date S mint, not as difficult as the 93-S, but really not that much different, either. We bought this coin unattributed, but later matched it up to the Eliasberg coin, with the help of Ron Guth of PCGS. As with all Eliasberg coins from the Barber series, this one traces back to the Clapp collection bought intact by Eliasberg. True gem 94-S's are great coins. One of four Eliasberg coins in this set (94-S, 01-O, 04-O, and 12-S). Out of 74 coins in the set counting the micro O, there are only 50 possible mint state coins (the P mints were proofs, 24 coins). Thus, four out of 50 possible mint state Eliasberg coins is 8% of the available business strike coins from the Eliasberg collection.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1894-S Half Dollar is certainly one of the more intriguing dates in the series. It ranks right up with the best of the dates as a condition-rarity. In terms of the number of Gem examples available, the 1894-S compares favorably with other dates such as 1896-O, 1898-O, 1900-O, 1902-O (is there a pattern developing here?) plus surprising dates such as 1903, 1906, and 1914. The best example is a single PCGS MS67 followed by a small handful of PCGS MS66's. The usual Who's Who of collectors have their names attached to the best examples: Duckor, Price, Shireman, Eliasberg, and Friend. All of the top examples are toned in varying degrees and have superb eye appeal.

David Akers

Despite its considerably higher mintage, the 1894-S is much more rare in Gem condition than the 1894-O, and is actually one of the rarest dates (in Gem) in the entire Barber Half Dollar series. I consider it to be one of the series' most underrated issues since it has never been widely publicized or even recognized as a rarity yet it bears favorable comparison to almost any other issue in the series. The number of Gems in existence is certainly very small...

PCGS #

6470

Designer

Charles E. Barber

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.50 grams

Mintage

4048690

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

654

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	3000	R-4.4	40 / 74 TIE	40 / 74 TIE
All Grades	300	R-6.4	38 / 74 TIE	38 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	30	R-8.9	9 / 74 TIE	9 / 74 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	3000
All Grades	300
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-4.4
All Grades	R-6.4
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	40 / 74 TIE
All Grades	38 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	9 / 74 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	40 / 74 TIE
All Grades	38 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	9 / 74 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67 PCGS grade
2	MS66 PCGS grade	David Akers, sold privately in 8/1995 - Dr. & Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Barber Half Dollar Collection - Heritage 8/2010:3181, $10,925 - Heritage 1/2011:5572 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98518, $8,812.50 - Heritage 12/2015:3201, not sold - Heritage 2/2016:3247, $7,050
2	MS66 PCGS grade	U.S. Coins - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3871, $27,600 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3278, $17,625
2	MS66 PCGS grade	San Francisco Mint, sold directly to the following on 11/1894 - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2072, $10,450 - John C. Hugon Collection - Heritage 7/2005:10215 - Harry Laibstain, sold privately on 2/10/2006 - Dr. Peter & Janice Shireman Collection - Heritage 1/2016:4102, $7,050
2	MS66 PCGS grade	S. Benton Emery Collection, “undoubtedly acquired directly from the San Francisco Mint in the year of issue” (per Akers) - Bowers & Merena 11/1984:802 - Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection - David Akers 5/1998:132, $25,300

#1 MS67 PCGS grade

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

David Akers, sold privately in 8/1995 - Dr. & Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Barber Half Dollar Collection - Heritage 8/2010:3181, $10,925 - Heritage 1/2011:5572 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III - Heritage 5/2015:98518, $8,812.50 - Heritage 12/2015:3201, not sold - Heritage 2/2016:3247, $7,050

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

U.S. Coins - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3871, $27,600 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3278, $17,625

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

San Francisco Mint, sold directly to the following on 11/1894 - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2072, $10,450 - John C. Hugon Collection - Heritage 7/2005:10215 - Harry Laibstain, sold privately on 2/10/2006 - Dr. Peter & Janice Shireman Collection - Heritage 1/2016:4102, $7,050

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

S. Benton Emery Collection, “undoubtedly acquired directly from the San Francisco Mint in the year of issue” (per Akers) - Bowers & Merena 11/1984:802 - Dr. Thaine B. Price Collection - David Akers 5/1998:132, $25,300