Offered is a phenomenal rarity -- expertly preserved, breathtakingly beautiful and with a provenance that includes some of the most important collections of Liberty Seated half dollars to cross the auction block in recent decades. Both sides offer appealing satin luster. The reverse is nearly brilliant and the obverse has a dusting of iridescent golden-russet and mauve-gray patina. The strike is full and the surfaces are just right at the premium Gem grade level. This exquisite coin will please even the most discerning numismatist.Our praise for this coin began when we first offered it as part of the Eliasberg Collection, the cataloging for which included: "Simply marvelous. Quite possibly the finest known 1872-S half dollar of any variety."When the coin returned to us (Stacks) in October 2006 as part of the George "Buddy" Byers Collection, our enthusiasm was undiminished: "An extraordinary coin which is certainly one of the finest Seated Half Dollars of any date in existence." As the single finest example known to PCGS and NGC, we are clearly not the only numismatic firm to hold this coin in high regard.The San Francisco Mint struck 580,000 half dollars in 1872 and most entered domestic circulation with little fanfare. What few Mint State coins have survived did so largely as a matter of chance, there being essentially no numismatic interest in mintmarked coinage at the time. Four die marriages were used for this issue, featuring four obverse and three reverse dies. WB-1 and WB-2 are easily distinguished by the style and placement of the mintmark, the S used for WB-3 and WB-4 being of the Medium-Small style and positioned much lower and to the right. In the WB-2 marriage, offered here, the Small Wide S reverse is paired with an obverse that features numerous spindly cracks around the periphery.This is one of the most important and desirable Liberty Seated half dollars we have ever had the privilege of presenting at auction, and it is sure to find its way into another world-class collection.
