1902-S 50C MS66 Certification #19806520, PCGS #6494

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

Country Coins. This is a very tough middle date S-mint coin that comes nice as in this example, but is a very seldom-seen issue The strike on this coin is nearly full and luster is good associated with small bits of toning here and there. This issue is a bit overshadowed by the 1904-S and even somewhat by the 1901-S, but examples are few and far between in MS 64 and up. According to the David Lawrence texts, multiple collectors find the 02-S one of the last coins to fill their collection as they are difficult to locate. This example is tied with five others with two finer known.

Expert Comments

David Akers

Not quite as rare as the 1902-O, but still very difficult to obtain better than Choice Uncirculated; in fact, Gems...are definitely very rare.

Ron Guth

The 1902-S Half Dollar is one of the most underrated dates in the series. Based on the PCGS Population Report alone, the 1902-S has the smallest total population of any date except for the 1892-O. Contrary to David Akers' statement, the 1902-S is rarer than the 1902-O, but only by a slight margin. Mint State 1902-S Half Dollars tend toward the lower end of the scale -- usually MS62 to MS63. Gems are very rare and anything better than MS66 is a true condition-rarity. The finest examples are a pair of PCGS MS67+'s, both of which are illustrated above.

PCGS #

6494

Designer

Charles E. Barber

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.50 grams

Mintage

1460670

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

331

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	2000	R-4.6	19 / 74 TIE	19 / 74 TIE
All Grades	140	R-7.6	9 / 74 TIE	9 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	50	R-8.5	29 / 74 TIE	29 / 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	2000
All Grades	140
60 or Better	50

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-4.6
All Grades	R-7.6
60 or Better	R-8.5

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	19 / 74 TIE
All Grades	9 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	29 / 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	19 / 74 TIE
All Grades	9 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	29 / 74 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS67+ PCGS grade	Dr. Thaine B. Price - David Akers 5/1998:156 - Dr. Steven Duckor - Heritage 8/2010:3205, $32,200 - Greensboro Collection, Part V - Heritage 8/2015:4086, $28,200
1	MS67+ PCGS grade	“Perfection” Collection
3	MS67 PCGS grade	Stack's 10/1975:396 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:287 - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3890, $20,700 - Heritage 4/2013:4289, $25,850 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 10/2014:98556, $18,800
4	MS66+ PCGS grade	Queller Family Collection of U.S. Half Dollars - Stack's 10/2002:774 - Heritage 6/2005:6343 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV - Heritage 10/2015:98748, $10,575
5	MS66 PCGS grade	Country Coins - Dr. Peter Shireman

#1 MS67+ PCGS grade

Dr. Thaine B. Price - David Akers 5/1998:156 - Dr. Steven Duckor - Heritage 8/2010:3205, $32,200 - Greensboro Collection, Part V - Heritage 8/2015:4086, $28,200

#1 MS67+ PCGS grade

“Perfection” Collection

#3 MS67 PCGS grade

Stack's 10/1975:396 - James Bennett Pryor Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1996:287 - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2009:3890, $20,700 - Heritage 4/2013:4289, $25,850 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 10/2014:98556, $18,800

#4 MS66+ PCGS grade

Queller Family Collection of U.S. Half Dollars - Stack's 10/2002:774 - Heritage 6/2005:6343 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV - Heritage 10/2015:98748, $10,575

#5 MS66 PCGS grade

Country Coins - Dr. Peter Shireman