| Description |
1855 50C PR65 NGC. Arrows, WB-101. Ex: "Col." E.H.R. Green. This 1855 proof Seated Liberty half dollar is a well-detailed Gem from the final year of the Arrows design. The deeply mirrored fields are blanketed in vivid shades of smoky gray and cerulean-blue toning, with hints of pale gold and silver. The well-preserved surfaces show no mentionable distractions and eye appeal is outstanding. The present coin displays a normal date, identifying the WB-101 variety. Randy Wiley and Bill Bugert estimate 20 examples of normal date proofs survive today in all grades. We feel that this figure may be too high, as NGC and PCGS have combined to certify 11 coins in all grades and designations, with an unknown number of resubmissions and crossovers (9/13). Analyzing recent auction records, we have identified five separate examples of this issue, and some other appearances that may or may not represent the same coins. A few more examples that have not appeared at auction in recent years may survive in older collections and institutions. The grades of the coins are consistent with their last auction appearance and population data suggests some specimens may have been recently crossed over or classified as Cameos. Roster of 1855 Normal Date, Arrows Seated Liberty Half Dollars 1. PR66 NGC. Baltimore '93 Auction (Superior, 7/1993), lot 427; Phil Kaufman; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2008), lot 2397, FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2013), lot 5670. 2. PR65 NGC. "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $50.00; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, the present coin. 3. PR65 NGC. John Jay Pittman (David Akers, 5/1998), lot 1549; Richmond Sale III (David Lawrence Rare Coins, 3/2005), lot 1798; Pre-Long Beach Sale (Ira and Larry Goldberg, 2/2006), lot 1474. 4. PR65 NGC. Pre-Long Beach Elite Auction (Superior, 5/2003), lot 2574. 5. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Phoenix Signature (Heritage, 3/2008), lot 692; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2009), lot 2485; Los Angeles Signature (Heritage, 7/2009), lot 1129; Houston Signature (Heritage, 12/2009), lot 737. Additional Appearances A. Gem Brilliant Proof. Empire State Collection (Stack's, 1/1997), lot 577. B. Brilliant Proof. Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 8/1973), lot 185. C. Proof. Brand-Lichtenfels I (Kreisberg-Schulman, 2/1961), lot 1840.
Realized $38,187.50 . Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com. |
