 1872'S' WB.101. Small Wide Mintmark. Superb Gem Brilliant Uncirculated. An extraordinary coin which is certainly one of the very finest Seated Half Dollars of any date in existence. The surfaces are resplendent in nature, with scarcely any signs of contact or handling; the overall surface quality of this coin is unparalled for an 1872'S'. Cartwheel lustre radiates from the fields, despite a thin layer of gold and russet toning. Fully struck on Liberty and the eagle, although the stars on the left side of the obverse are a trifle weak at their very centers only. Examination will discover a couple of identifying marks, one extends vertically on the ribbon near the left end, another also on the reverse extends up to the right on the post of the 'D' of DOL. Such quality is a delight to study, as so few coins retain the freshness and undisturbed satiny presence as found here.
The original mintage of 580,000 pieces entered circulation with little fanfare soon after coinage. We suspect that the present coin was tucked away at the time of issue and found its way into the Clapp then Eliasberg Collections. Clapp was one of the first collectors to purchase not only branch mint coins, but collected them by the various mintmark positions. As more and more numismatists specialize in each series, such mintmark discoveries are now well documented and publicized, and further die state analysis continues. The present coin has a thin die crack through the base of the date, another connecting a couple of stars and dangling below (and slightly above) the left edge of the rock. The reverse has the mintmark placed higher than the other example (WB.102) in this sale, located over the 'F' of HALF and close to the branch. This is currently the finest example graded by either major grading service, and almost certainly the Finest Known of this date, regardless of variety. A monumental coin that would be a welcome addition to even the most advanced collection. NGC MS67.
Purchased in November, 2001; earlier ex Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Collection (Bowers and Merena/Stack's, April 1997, lot 2021).
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