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

One of Only Two Known 1839-O GR-3 Half Dollars A Great Rarity in the Reeded Edge Series 1839-O Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. HALF DOL. GR-3. Rarity-8. VG-10 (NGC). When Dick Graham published A Registry of Die Varieties of Reeded Edge Half Dollars 1836-1839 in 2012, just a single example of the 1839-O GR-3 variety was known. That coin currently resides in a PCGS VF-35 holder. In the fourteen years since, despite the efforts of numerous dedicated collectors, only one additional example has been discovered: the present coin. It is a testament to Jim Koenings' dedication to the series that he was able to cherry pick this example unattributed in a June 2, 2024 GreatCollections auction. The surfaces of this coin display even dove-gray patina with good, honest wear and no individual marks that distract the eye or require mention. The rims are mostly complete on the reverse, while on the obverse they are nearly worn away. Stars 8 and 10 are weak but visible, while star 9 is absent. The remaining devices and legends are worn but fully visible and, frankly, quite pleasant. A couple of ticks to the right of star 1 will serve as a pedigree marker should one ever be required. Also of interest, the reverse is rotated approximately 22 degrees counterclockwise. Of course, the primary appeal of this coin is not as a pleasing circulated 1839-O half dollar, but as one of only two examples presently known of the variety. The 1839-O GR-3 shares its reverse die with GR-2, and the diagnostic crack extending from the rim through the E of AMERICA and into the eagle's right wing is readily visible under magnification. Another crack extends from the rim through the D of DOL. and into the olive branch; with good light, high magnification, and the coin held at the proper angle, it too becomes visible. The characteristic wider dentils on the reverse are also present. On the obverse, the 9 in the date is lower than on GR-2, while the mintmark is noticeably thicker. Other diagnostics of this obverse die-a lump on the hair curl at Liberty's neck, two parallel die lines within the I of LIBERTY on the headband, and a die line in the dentils at star 6-have been lost to circulation. Fortunately, they are not required to confirm the attribution. It is with a fair amount of jealousy that your cataloger (BAO) examines this coin, as the dream of any variety collector is to discover one of the great rarities unattributed. I have spent innumerable hours examining 1839-O half dollars in various venues in search of a GR-2 or GR-3 and have come up fruitless. That experience brings the importance of the present lot into particularly sharp focus. Rare varieties are difficult to find for the simplest possible reason: they are genuinely rare. If all it took was time and knowledge, more examples would have been found in the past fourteen years. Discovering one in the wild is intensely rewarding, but for the collector who has not been so fortunate-and whose patience is not unlimited-the present coin represents an extraordinary opportunity. No collection of Reeded Edge half dollars by die variety can be complete without GR-3, and this is the first example ever offered attributed as such at public auction. The next opportunity may require considerably more patience. Jim Koenings Commentary: Until I discovered the second known specimen in June 2024, it was unknown that the reverse comes with counterclockwise rotation. The VF-35 example has a 10-degree rotation. The 1839-O GR-2 has the same reverse, but so far all known examples are in normal coin alignment. The dentils are flatter and wider than those of the 1839-O GR-4 and GR-5, which are smaller and more rounded. I rank this die marriage as the prime rarity in the entire Capped Bust, Reeded Edge half dollar series of 1836 to 1839. Provenance: From the Jim Koenings Collection. Earlier from GreatCollections' sale of June 2, 2024. PCGS# 531108. BASE PCGS# 6181. NGC ID: 24G7. Click here for certification details from NGC.

Estimate:£0.75

View all items fromStack's BowersorCoins & Banknotes