1900-S 50C MS65 Certification #19806514, PCGS #6488

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

CAC. Heritage. One of only a few MS 65 coins in our set, the lowest grade remaining among the set, after much upgrading over the years. The 1900-S issue is very hard to find at or above MS 65, and is an unsung difficult issue in the series. Only four have been graded finer by PCGS. That makes this coin a very elusive issue in MS 65 or better. This one is a toned example with nice surfaces and with luster, and overall covered by light toning. This coin was bought in an old first generation PCGS holder from a Heritage Auction. The image shows the coin's surfaces nicely. The last of the three issues exported to the Philippines, and like the 98-S and 99-S is hard to find since so many were sent away and were circulated. This is not an easy date to find in gem and better. A date that might have been saved with the change from 1899 to 1900, but numbers of surviving mint state specimens does not bear out such a notion. There seem to be no more saved for the 1900 issues than for the 1899 issues. This was in the middle of the series, the novelty of the new design had worn off, and the value of a half dollar was such that most people used the coins in commerce and didn't save them.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1900-S Half Dollar is semi-scarce but far from being an unheralded rarity. Mint State example can be found with relative ease in MS63 and MS64. In MS65 and higher, the profiles of the 1900-O and 1900-S are nearly identical with one notable exception -- the 1900-S is represented by a single PCGS MS67+ whereas the 1900-O is unknown above MS66.

Not all 1900-S Half Dollars are well-struck. Pay particular attention to the upper right shield and adjacent feathers. The goal should be full, horizontal lines in the shield and full feather details. However, the quality of the strike seems to have little impact on 1900-S Half Dollars. Hardly any discounts apply to weaker coins and very little premiums are attached to well-struck coins -- yet...

David Akers

The 1900-S is one of the unheralded rarities of the Barber Half Dollar series. It actually ranks in the top 20% of the series in terms of overall mint state rarity and Gems are especially elusive, very similar actually to Gems of the 1900-O issue.

PCGS #

6488

Designer

Charles E. Barber

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.50 grams

Mintage

2560322

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

556

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	200	R-7.0	12 / 74 TIE	12 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	40	R-8.7	16 / 74 TIE	16 / 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	200
60 or Better	40

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-7.0
60 or Better	R-8.7

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	12 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	16 / 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	12 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	16 / 74 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67+ PCGS grade	Dr. Thaine B. Price - David Akers 5/1998:150 - Dr. Steven Duckor - Heritage 8/2010:3199, $57,500
2	MS66 PCGS grade	Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 6/2003 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV - Heritage 10/2015:98746, $14,100
2	MS66 PCGS grade	Dennis Nagy - Dale Friend #2 All-Time PCGS Registry Set of Barber Half Dollars - Heritage 1/2009:3886, $12,650 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3290, $9,987.50
2	MS66 PCGS grade
5	MS66 estimated grade	Purchased directly from the San Francisco Mint by John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2090, $20,900 - John C. Hugon Collection - Heritage 1/2005:4225, $23,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98526, $22,325

#1 MS67+ PCGS grade

Dr. Thaine B. Price - David Akers 5/1998:150 - Dr. Steven Duckor - Heritage 8/2010:3199, $57,500

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 6/2003 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV - Heritage 10/2015:98746, $14,100

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

Dennis Nagy - Dale Friend #2 All-Time PCGS Registry Set of Barber Half Dollars - Heritage 1/2009:3886, $12,650 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3290, $9,987.50

#2 MS66 PCGS grade

#5 MS66 estimated grade

Purchased directly from the San Francisco Mint by John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2090, $20,900 - John C. Hugon Collection - Heritage 1/2005:4225, $23,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98526, $22,325