This beautiful example ranks as the finest certified 1843 Liberty Seated half dollar. Both sides are smooth and satiny with vivid cobalt blue and reddish-gold peripheral toning that is much more extensive on the obverse. The centers are brilliant. Sharply, if not fully struck throughout, with outstanding eye appeal the likes of which is rarely seen in early date half dollars of this type. A true "wonder coin" that would be a centerpiece in the finest type or date set.This is a visually interesting variety with the digit 4 in the date repunched, a die crack at the base of the date, and a bisecting reverse die crack from the border outside the letter O in OF to the border outside the letter L in HALF. A branch of the latter crack splits off at the eagles right talon and extends to the border outside the middle pair of olive leaves. The Wiley-Bugert Liberty Seated half dollar reference (1993) describes this variety as "Recut 4," although the present example is a particularly sharp representative with repunching also evident at the left base of the digit 3 in the date.A generous mintage of 3,844,000 pieces and good rate of survival have combined to make the 1843 the most frequently encountered pre-1853 Liberty Seated half dollar in todays market. With the vast majority of survivors circulated to one degree or another, however, the issue remains scarce in lower Mint State grades, rare in Gem, and unique in Superb Gem MS-67, as offered here.
