SCARCE CHOICE UNCIRCULATED 1843-O HALF DOLLAR

WB-101, normal date and mintmark.

This date has a huge original mintage of over 2 million but it saw extensive use in the booming Southern economy of the 1840's and many were later melted. Today, there are likely not more than 40-50 known in Uncirculated with most in the MS60 to MS62 range. Properly graded MS63 pieces are very scarce and the 1843-O is extremely rare in any level approaching Gem.

This well struck, frosty example exhibits splashes of pleasing pastel-gold on the obverse and lighter hues on the reverse. There are marks consistent with the grade, most notably a squiggly scrape past the second A in AMERICA. What appears to be a long vertical scratch on the obverse is a thin line of toning.

There have been three PCGS MS63 APR's for this date in MS63 since October 2014 with the results ranging from a low of $2,820 to a high of $3,290.

I can think of fe series which are more undervalued than the No Motto half dollars from New Orleans and these would make a great companion set for collectors of larger-size New Orleans gold.