1864-S Liberty Seated Half Dime. V-1, the only known dies. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC.Billowy mint frost flows over both sides expertly preserved, silky smooth example. The obverse exhibits splashes of russet toning here and there at the border, while the reverse is more vividly and extensively toned around the periphery in reddish-copper and orange-apricot. Smartly impressed from the dies with outstanding technical quality and eye appeal for this challenging issue. The 1864-S tells a familiar story for an early San Francisco Mint half dime issue: a limited mintage, in this case just 90,000 coins, was subjected to heavy commercial use on the West Coast with the result that most examples were worn out and eventually lost or melted. With no numismatic activity in the Old West, Mint State survivors are understandably few in number. Breen (as related by Blythe, 1992) writes of a hoard of approximately 14 coins that surfaced in 1971. Even though some of those pieces were cleaned, the rest probably account for many of the high grades examples currently certified by PCGS and NGC. Tied for finest known at the former service, this Condition Census premium Gem would serve as a highlight in any cabinet.<p>Close inspection of the surfaces with a loupe reveal faint repunching along the base of the digit 1 in the date, a light clash mark in the lower obverse field, and a somewhat bolder clash mark on the reverse at the top of the wreath.PCGS# 4385. NGC ID: 234F.PCGS Population: 5; 0 finer.<p>CAC Population: 3; 0.From the Henry Collection of Liberty Seated Half Dimes. Earlier from Heritages FUN Signature Auction of January 2010, lot 653.
