 1853 Arrows & Rays. Brilliant Uncirculated, nearly of Choice quality. The surfaces show a layer of tawny gold over lustre with a few darker gray splashes near the rims. Fully struck and attractive, with a few minor disturbances in the field from handling. Examination of the reverse will discover clashmarks below the right wing of the eagle, and the obverse has a thin die crack connecting most of the stars, date and peripheral devices.
The Act of February 21, 1853 finally addressed the fact that silver coins were worth more than face value, and were thus being melted in tremendous numbers. The amount of silver was reduced from 206.25 grains to 192 grains for the Half Dollar, and all other silver denominations were similarly reduced except for the Silver Dollar and Three Cent Silver coins. Soon after these reduced weight silver coins were struck, American silver coins were finally able to stay in circulation after disappearing soon after the discovery of gold in California in 1849.
Ex James Pryor Collection (Bowers and Merena, January 1996, lot 144); purchased privately from Continental Coin Galleries, March 1975.
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