WB-101. Large O. Eliasberg Pedigree; not indicated on the holder.

the 1852-O half dollar is a condition rarity whose difficulty to locate in higher grades is due to extensive meltings in 1853 caused by the reduction of silver in larger denominations coins during this year. Most surviving 1852-O half dollars are in circulated grades and it is doubtful if more than seven or eight Uncirculated pieces have survived.

This naturally brilliant example shows a touch of golden-grey color atop frosty, lightly marked surfaces. A few scuffs can be seen in the left obverse and there is a toned area at the 18 in the date and beyond to 7:00; the reverse is of Gem quality.

This is likely the second finest known 1852-O half dollar, trailing only the PCGS MS65 which last sold as Heritage 2/99: 5978 and was earlier in the Pryor collection.

An important coin for the advanced Seated half dollar collector or the New Orleans silver coin specialist.

Ex Stacks Bowers 7/13: 4144 ($15,275 as NGC MS64), Heritage 2008 ANA: 538 ($18,400) and earlier Lot 1954 in the 4/1997 sale of the famous Louis Eliasberg collection.