1878-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar. WB-1, the only known dies. Rarity-5. MS-61 (PCGS). OGH. Here is a very attractive example for the grade of this legendary rarity among late date Liberty Seated half dollars. Warmly and evenly toned in dusky pearl-gray, splashes of olive-charcoal patina enhance the upper and left peripheral areas on the reverse. Also seen are iridescent golden-apricot undertones and a decidedly prooflike finish with appreciable reflectivity in the fields. Wispy hairlines explain MS-61 rating from PCGS, but the surfaces are pleasingly smooth with no sizable marks. The majority of design features show bold striking detail, including the obverse stars, all of which show their radial lines. A highly desirable and aesthetically pleasing Mint State coin that is sure to please advanced specialists in this series.<p>Among the handful of Mint State coins extant for the elusive 1878-S half dollar, the present example is ranked CC#10 in the census compiled by Randy Wiley and published in Bill Bugerts 2009 reference <em>A Register of Liberty Seated Half Dollar Varieties, Volume I: San Francisco Mint</em>. It is a significant example of a great numismatic rarity that is sure to find its way into a world class numismatic cabinet. From the Lincoln Square Collection. Earlier ex Leo Youngs Central States Sale of April 1961, lot 1592; our (Bowers and Merenas) Rarities Sale of August 2006, lot 145; Larry Briggs, offered in multiple <em>Coin World</em> ads, 1996-1997; Heritages sale of the Donald E. Bently Collection, January 2014 FUN Signature Auction, lot 5260.
