1839 Half Dollar

HBCC#:

6013

Breen#:

n/a

BD#:

n/a

Judd#:

100

Pollock#:

110

A restrike minted after the 1853 weight reduction authorized by Congress, this coin weighs exactly 192 grains. The obverse features the normal Capped Bust design in production from 1836 to 1839. This example is extremely poorly defined with substantial lightness just below the cap. The reverse is from the extensively cracked die featuring an eagle flying in a plain field. In the present display of coins from the Bass Collection, numbers 6007 and 6011 are also from the same reverse die with these extensive die cracks. Number 6009, also from this reverse, does not exhibit radial cracks.

Provenance:

William H. Woodin; W. Newcomer; F.C.C. Boyd; Dr. J.H. Judd; A. Kosoff; Coronet Coin Co.; Lester Merkin's sale of February 13, 1971, Lot 860.

Obverse:

Capped Bust to left, six stars before bust, seven behind, date below. This is the regular-issue half dollar obverse of the date, used prior to the adoption of the Liberty Seated motif.

Reverse:

Eagle flies to left, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HALF DOLLAR around.

Commentary: