1878 Liberty Seated Half Dollar. WB-101. MS-67+ (PCGS). CAC. This extraordinary Superb Gem - the finest circulation strike 1878 half dollar known to PCGS and NGC - is making its first appearance at auction since 1968. In June of that year it was offered as lot 346 in Lester Merkins sale, where it was cataloged as:<p><em>"1878. Deeply toned gem, frosty, principally green, blue, antique gold and brown. Sharp strike, just about Superb. Obtained directly from the mint together with the quarter and dime of the same year earlier offered."</em><p>The coin retains its richly original toning, and its surfaces are as Superb today as they were in 1968, indeed as nice as the day the coin emerged from the press in the Philadelphia Mint 143 years ago. Among the finest certified circulation strike Liberty Seated half dollars of the Motto design type, and CC#1 for the 1878, this amazing coin would do equally well in a high quality type set or an advanced collection specializing in this popular 19th century silver series.<p>The 1878 is the final high mintage circulation strike half dollar of the Liberty Seated design type with 1,377,600 pieces produced. Beginning in 1879 and continuing through the series end in 1891 the Philadelphia Mint would deliver few circulation strikes as the Treasury Department distributed huge quantities of older half dollars that had been hoarded during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The 1878 is an underrated issue, being far scarcer in Mint State than the low mintage deliveries of the 1879 to 1891 era. At the Superb Gem level the issue is a noteworthy condition rarity, and this PCGS/CAC MS-67+ is the absolute finest obtainable by todays numismatists. Ex Philadelphia Mint, obtained in the year of issue; Lester Merkins sale of June 1968, lot 346. Lot tag included.
