1852-O Liberty Seated Half Dime. V-1, the only known dies. MS-62 (PCGS). Golden-gray obverse toning yields to silvery near-brilliance on the reverse. Sharply struck throughout and uncommonly smooth in hand for the assigned grade. The effects of the California Gold Rush on silver coinage finally caught up with the New Orleans Mint half dime series in 1852 for, while the Southern facility achieved a respectable mintage of 860,000 coins for this denomination in 1851, the mintage of the 1852-O plummeted to just 260,000 pieces. Many of these coins were melted as their bullion content exceeded face value, resulting in a paucity of survivors at all grade levels. In Mint State this issue is a formidable rarity. A find for advanced half dime specialists, and sure to see spirited bidding at auction. From our (Stacks) sale of December 1971, lot 193. Lot tag included.
