1839 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. HALF DOL. GR-8. Rarity-3.

1839 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. HALF DOL. GR-8. Rarity-3. Large Letters. EF Details--Cleaned (PCGS). Deeply toned, glossy surfaces display an even bluish-plum patina that, when combined with the rose coloration on the high points, is rather attractive, even if not wholly original. Both obverse and reverse dies are uncracked, indicating an earlier state of the dies. Graham notes that the reverse can come "rotated as much as 90 degrees," but only a slight rotation of approximately 9 degrees counterclockwise is seen here, representing what is considered the normal state. A later state, called "Stage a" by Graham, develops a reverse die crack from the rim through the D of DOL. and into the olive leaf. Still another state exists that Koenings calls "Greatly Rotated Dies," in which the reverse is found with substantially greater degrees of rotation, extending all the way to 180 degrees, or medallic alignment. We sold an example with medallic alignment, certified by PCGS as EF-40, in October 2023 for $1,680. Interestingly, each of the known examples with a "Greatly Rotated" reverse so far appears to display a different degree of rotation. An interesting variety for further study and particularly for die state collectors, Graham assessed GR-8 as Rarity-3 in 2012, while Koenings assigned the normal state a Rarity-4 rating in 2024. Jim Koenings Commentary: My Koenings Newsletter #64 (12-15-24) rates this die marriage R-4. The reverse is rotated approximately nine degrees counterclockwise on all normal specimens. My records of sales, maintained since 2010, document at least 38 specimens. Provenance: From the Jim Koenings Collection. PCGS# 6179. NGC ID: 24G6. Click here for certification details from PCGS.

Estimate:£0.75

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