1852 Liberty Seated Half Dime, Mint State-67 (PCGS/SP)
Stars Obverse, Ex Swan-Jung

Date high with 52 touching base, and small die chips about stars 10-11-12. Both obverse and reverse dies lightly clashed and relapped.

This is an essentially perfect Pre-Arrows Liberty Seated Half Dime. Struck from freshly refinished dies, the luster has a soft, satiny glow that is slightly reflective in the fields. The toning is original and natural with powder blue dominant, highlighted by splashes of olive and amber. Without exception, all of the finest details are struck in bold relief, including chiseled star radials, the sandal and toe on Liberty's exposed foot, and every leaf on the reverse wreath. A few wispy marks on Liberty's thigh are all that can be seen under a 10x loupe, yet these disappear to an unaided eye. Overall, a premium example, far and away better than the typical PCGS MS-67.

PCGS reports only four 1852 Half Dimes certified as MS-67, with a single MS-68 atop the census.

Provenance:

• James Swan (ONR)
• Oliver Jung (American Numismatic Rarities 7/2004: lot 31 @ $7,475 as PCGS MS67)