1851 Liberty Seated Half Dollar. WB-6. Rarity-4. AU-55 (PCGS).With pretty, mottled, iridescent olive-blue toning to the obverse and, on the reverse, bolder cobalt blue and copper-rose patina. Minimally circulated, and gently so at that, although the otherwise smooth-looking surfaces do show mentionable nicks in the left obverse and upper right reverse fields. Striking detail remains sharp throughout, and there is ample luster. From a mintage of just 200,750 circulation strikes, reflecting the fact that by the early 1850s the bullion value of newly minted silver coins exceeded their face value. In 1851, for example, $100 in face value of silver coins was worth on average $103.40. Most 1851 half dollars were gathered up by speculators shortly after minting and were eventually melted for their precious metal content. The few survivors are generally lightly circulated, as here, or Mint State. Well worn examples are exceedingly rare and represent coins that were exported at the time of issue and repatriated after years of extensive commercial use in Canada or Latin America.PCGS# 6266. NGC ID: 24HJ.From the Collection of James Allaire Millholland, 1842-1911.
