1836 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Lettered Edge. O-116a. Rarity-6. Mint State, Lightly Cleaned.The pronounced prooflike finish on both sides of this coin confirm the rare late state of the 1836 Overton-116 dies. Lightly toned with blushes of blue-gray and pale olive scattered about, the surfaces are a bit muted in appearance with wispy hairlines that explain our qualifier. Housed in a Hallmark holder with the grade listed as MS60. <p>The Overton-116 dies of the 1836 Lettered Edge half dollar started as the issues popular 50/00 <em>Guide Book V</em>variety. In the late O-116a state, offered here, both the obverse and reverse dies were relapped to remove rust, apparently from non-use (per the 2013 edition of the Overton-Parsley early half dollar reference). This lapping also removed all trace of the 0 underdigit in the denomination, although repunching to star 12 on the obverse remains plainly evident when observed with the aid of a loupe. Additionally, the Overton-Parsley reference states that "one specimen seen exhibited proof like surfaces obverse and reverse from lapping of the die." This description matches the appearance of the present coin, as stated above, although we do not know whether or not this is the piece referred to by the authors. It is a significant example of this rare die state, regardless, especially since the finest known 1836 O-116a in Stephen J. Herrmans Spring 2019 census is the NGC AU-58 from Sheridan Downeys sale of August 2004, lot 20.<p>From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection.
