The United States Mint first produced the Liberty Seated half dollar in 1839. The more common design shows Lady Liberty with an additional piece of drapery extending from her left arm. However, there were a few Proof specimens produced without this additional piece of drapery. Numismatists estimate that the mint produced approximately six Proof coins in 1839. This extremely rare Proof coin dictates its value at almost one-quarter of a million dollars. D. Brent Pogue assembled one of the finest quality collections of classic United States coinage of all time. He is known for his astute eye for quality and an unlimited budget to buy coins. Almost half of the fifteen most valuable half dollars are from the Pogue Collection. The mint produced approximately eight 1827 Proof half dollars. During this time Proof coins were only produced when collectors requested them. Coin collectors didn’t have plastic holders and albums to store their coins. Therefore many coins experienced damage from the environment and mishandling. To find one in almost pristine condition is extremely difficult and dictates a price that only the extremely wealthy can afford to purchase. The United States Mint produces Proof coins specifically for coin collectors, and they are not intended to circulate in commerce. Therefore, most Proof coins show no signs of surface wear because coin collectors immediately add them to their collection. Coin Collecting did not become popular in the United States until the mid-1800s. Very few pristine coins were pulled from circulation to be added to collections. Fortunately, a coin collector long ago saved this coin from the rigors of circulation. Its surfaces are in immaculate condition, and the coin is extremely well struck showing even the smallest detail. A beautiful, high-quality specimen such as this commands a high dollar value. Although the United States Mint made over one million half dollars at the Denver mint facility in 1919, half dollars from this year are by no means rare. However, this coin is extremely well struck, and only a few minor imperfections are visible on the surface. This particular specimen is the finest known 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar. Any coin collector wishing to add it to their collection will have to pay dearly for it. This 1855-S Proof Liberty Seated half dollar is unique on several fronts. First, the mint produced Proof coins for coin collectors mainly at the Philadelphia mint facility. The San Francisco mint facility produced approximately three of these half dollars. Second, a design change during the die preparation led to the removal of the drapery under Lady Liberty’s left arm. Both of these factors combine to make this an extremely rare Liberty Seated half dollar. In 1801 the United States Mint produced 30,289 half dollars. This low mintage makes this a rare coin by any measure. However, this more than 200-year-old coin is still in Mint State condition. Coupled with its colorful toning and excellent eye appeal, this makes it an attractive addition to any coin collection. Numismatist Eric P. Newman had an eye for quality and only purchased the finest coins for his collection. This finest known example makes it a high-value coin. In the early 1800s, the United States Mint produced coin dies by hand. This process was slow and labor-intensive. The mint reused coin dies from previous years to save money. They did this by grinding off part of the date and re-punching a numeral to form the new date. There is evidence of a “4” underneath the last digit of the date. There are only eight known examples of this rare die variety, and this is the finest known specimen. Here is another example of a Proof coin produced at a branch mint. The Philadelphia mint facility produced all the other Proof Capped Bust half dollars except for the 1838 and 1839 dated coins that were minted in New Orleans. Any advanced coin collector seeking a Proof specimen of a Capped Bust half dollar produced at a branch mint will have to fork over a large amount of money since less than thirty of them exist. Additionally, this is one of only three of the finest known examples of the 1839-O Proof half dollars. 1795 was only the second year that the mint produced half dollars. Since workers at the mint cut the coin dies by hand, this manual process produced several die varieties. This particular variety has two leaves on the wreath underneath the eagle’s wings. Other varieties have a group of three leaves under the eagle’s wings. This coin is the only Mint State example that exists of this rare die variety and is valued at close to half a million dollars. The U.S. Mint produced the Liberty Seated half dollar in every year from 1839 until 1891. The designs varied slightly over the years, but the basic obverse and reverse major design elements remain the same. The half dollars minted in New Orleans in 1853 were supposed to have arrows on either side of the date and sun rays above the eagle on the reverse. This coin has neither in only four examples are known. Adding this rarity to your coin collection will set you back over a half a million dollars. Here is yet another Early American half dollar from the D. Brent Pogue coin collection. Typical of coins in the Pogue collection, quality and beauty are what sets this coin apart from all others. Over 200 years ago, mint workers specially made this coin for some coin collector that is now long gone. With the total mintage of almost 4,000 pieces, it is amazing that this extremely well-preserved coin has survived and as such dictates such a high price. American numismatic researchers believe that this is the oldest Proof coin produced at any branch mint outside of the Philadelphia mint facility. There are no official records of how many Proof half dollars were made, but researchers believe the New Orleans mint produced less than twenty. However, there are some theories out there that contend that the coins were actually minted in Philadelphia using prototype proof dies with an “O” mintmark. There are a few minor imperfections on the surface of the coin, but its multicolored toning adds to its inherent beauty. One can expect that the finest known specimen of America’s first half dollar came from the Pogue coin collection. The mint in Philadelphia manufactured only 23,464 half dollars in its second year of operation. This beautifully preserved specimen exhibits a deep golden-gray toning that enhances its beauty and history. To hold a relic of early American coinage in your hands has only been experienced by a few individuals. The United States Mint continued to struggle to produce half dollars in 1796. The 1796 16 Star half dollar represents a key moment in the United States history, when the United States finally had too many states to continue to symbolize each of them with an obverse star. The mint only produced 3,918 half dollars that year. This mintage was a significant decrease from the almost 300,000 half dollars produced the previous year. The pristine surface preservation of this coin, coupled with its beautiful multicolored toning enhance its beauty and value that makes it worthy of inclusion in the Pogue coin collection. The most valuable half dollar is the crowning jewel of The D. Brent Pogue Collection of United States half dollars. Except for some slight weakness on the curls of Lady Liberty’s hair, the design details are clear and well defined. The coin has an outstanding mint luster that is enhanced by its attractive blue and champagne-gold toning. There are five know mint state examples of the 1797 Draped Bust half dollar. The Norweb-Koshkarian specimen is the only other coin that comes close to the quality and beauty of this one. On other examples of this coin, the details on the eagle on the reverse are soft. This coin is the exception with sharp and distinct details on the eagle. All these factors combined make it the most valuable half dollar ever!
