1849/6 Liberty Seated Half Dime. V-1, FS-301. MS-66 (NGC). A richly toned Gem with navy blue and bronze at the borders surrounding faint golden hues at the centers. Sharply struck throughout with satiny luster and a delight to rotate under a light source. Among the finest known of the variety, only 6 have been graded finer by NGC in this category.<p>This 1849 half dime represents one of the most intriguing, yet also puzzling varieties in the entire Liberty Seated half dime series 1837 to 1873. A later state of this obverse die, close inspection with a loupe reveals repunching at the base of the digit 4 in the date, two small remnants of a 4 underdigit atop the upright of the primary 4, and a faint trace of the lower loop of the 6 underdigit at the lower right of the primary digit 9. This coin corresponds to the Cherrypickers Guide variety FS-301, pictured on page 10 of the 2012 edition (Volume II), and also to the plate coin on page 70 of the 1992 Blythe reference. Both of those references illustrate early die state examples with additional remnants of the underdigits to the right of the 4 and within the upper loop and at the upper right of the 9. This is lovely Gem example that would be a crowning jewel for a specialized half dime variety set. From Heritages sale of the Andre Dawson Collection of All American Coins, September 1998 Long Beach Sale, lot 5841.
