1866-S Liberty Seated Half Dime. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC. A captivating and colorful Gem with delightfully satiny luster in the fields. Turquoise and gold highlights emphasize the central obverse, while deeper shades of crimson and emerald are noted at the border. The reverse is more lightly toned in powder-blue, lime green, and orange near the rims. Nicely struck with subtle evidence of clashing on both sides. Just 6 coins have been graded finer by PCGS. The production of half dimes was modest through much of the 1860s and would not increase substantially until the end of the decade. The San Francisco Mint produced the lions share of the output for 1866 with more than 120,000 produced, compared to only 10,000 at the Philadelphia Mint. Most are generally well struck, though many show traces of clashed dies. The 1866-S is available in most grades, though quite a few are impaired in some fashion, most frequently by use on charm bracelets and other forms of jewelry. Most of the higher grade specimens are found at the Choice AU level, with maybe 50 or 60 truly Mint State specimens, an estimate that may be on the high side. Of these, maybe one-fifth can be considered Gem or finer, making them conditionally rare.
