1844-O Liberty Seated Half Dime. V-1. Medium O. AU-55 (PCGS). Vivid reddish-orange peripheral toning is more extensive on the obverse of this sharply struck, satin to semi-reflective Choice AU example. The 1844-O is an elusive and conditionally challenging half dime. Much of its mintage of 220,000 pieces was absorbed by the rigors of commerce in the "Big Easy," and todays survivors are apt to be heavily circulated in grades of Fine and VF. Even EF to AU survivors merit a significant Rarity-5 rating from Al Blythe (1992). Few circulated survivors at any grade level are as attractive and problem free as the present specimen. Sure to sell for a strong premium to an astute collector of Liberty Seated or New Orleans Mint coinage. From our (Stacks) sale of the R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection, Part II, April 1969, lot 431; (Stacks) sale of the Reed Hawn Collection, August 1973, lot 603; our Stacks Fraser Collection sale, March 1978, lot 1036. Hawn and Fraser sale lot tags included.
