1850-O $2.50 PCGS MS61 CAC

Very fresh and lustrous with nice natural light yellow-gold color that deepens slightly at the borders. This is a late die state with evidence of die sinking as well as some heavy clashmarks that are not often seen on this date. This has given the coin a lack of detail at the centers but the body and appearance is suggestive of a higher grade. What appears to be a circular scratch below STATES on the reverse is a clashmark. The 1850-O remains a rare coin in properly graded Uncirculated, despite evidence of the contrary from third-party grading populations. I believe that under fifteen are known with almost all in the MS60 to MS62 range. In fact, I have only handled one example of this date in MS63 and none better. This coin seems like very good value to me at its current price level.

1850-O 50C PCGS MS64+ CAC

Fully struck and very lustrous with attractive totally original russet pastel color on the obverse and, a bit less extensively, on the reverse. A few very faint scuffs in the fields narrowly remove this piece from the Gem level. I like this coin considerably more than Osburn: 7038 (at $6,613) which, while graded MS65 by NGC, had no character due to a recent dipping. Only four examples have been graded MS64+ by PCGS and, in my opinion, the entire population for Mint State 1850-O half dollars at PCGS is grossly inflated. Coins like this are wonderful value and this piece is really not all that far off, from the standpoint of appearance, from the PCGS MS65 that sold for $14,950 in the Bowers and Merena 11/10 auction.