1820 over 1819; the 1 shows distinctly under the 2, but the 9 is not so distinct under the 0. -- J. Colvin Randall, 1881.Festively toned in bright sea green around the peripheries, confining a sunburst of rich orange-gold to the centers, though the central reverse shows a bit more silvery brilliance than the obverse. Extremely lustrous on both sides, with cartwheel that spins quickly inside the rims. Nicely struck, with full star centers and ideally formed denticles surrounding well-realized devices. The overdate is especially profound on this variety, visible to the naked eye and showing much of both underdigits under low magnification. While the obverse shows some trivial hairlines, the surfaces are frosty and fresh, satiny in some areas, free of any major contact marks or other distractions. A nearly invisible abrasion might be seen between Libertys chin and star 3 in the proper light, and a short natural striation extends from the back of Libertys cap to star 8. The aesthetic appeal offered by the choice surfaces and bright, distinctive color would be difficult to improve upon. The die state is crisp and early, with no cracks or noticeable fatigue.First described in the Haseltine Type-Table, authored by the uncredited J. Colvin Randall, this variety has long been appreciated as the rarer of the two 1820/19 overdate varieties. The other variety employs a curl-based 2 in the date and shows more of the 9 beneath the final date digit. Though 2.2 million 1819 half dollars were struck, there was an enormous drop-off in 1820, "caused by the increased mint activity in production of smaller denomination silver coinage, i.e. dimes and quarters," according to Overton. Just 751,122 1820 half dollars of all varieties were coined. Only six obverse dies were employed, two of them overdated atop 1819-dated dies leftover from the banner year before.Though Breen termed this variety "Ex. rare UNC," the two 1820/19 varieties appear similarly elusive in Mint State. This is the only specimen graded higher than MS-65 by PCGS of either overdate variety, and no specimen graded higher than MS-64 by PCGS has ever sold at auction. The single MS-65 on the PCGS Population Report is the Eliasberg coin, now in a superb Iowa cabinet. This piece also outranks the Newcomer-Green-T.J. Clarke-Norweb-Hain coin, and the Col. E.H.R. Green-Newman coin. This is included in the Overton-Parsley Condition Census as finest known (listed as a 66, its former grade at NGC), placed ahead of a 65 and three 64s. In any grade above Extremely Fine, this variety is prized, though the entire date is still underappreciated for its general scarcity in choice grade.
