1850-O Liberty Seated Half Dollar. WB-2. Rarity-3. MS-64 (PCGS).
Blushes of steel-blue and reddish-russet iridescence dance across the obverse, while the reverse shows more even golden-apricot, powder blue and lilac toning. Both sides are highly lustrous with a crisp, sharply executed strike. The 1850-O is the final high mintage New Orleans Mint half dollar delivered before passage of the Act of February 21, 1853. With 2,456,000 pieces produced this is one of the most readily obtainable issues of the 1840 to 1850 era. Circulated survivors are plentiful in all grades up to and including AU, although premium examples in AU-55 and AU-58 are quite scarce. Given the absence of contemporary numismatic demand in the South, however, it is no surprise that this issue is very scarce in Mint State. The 1993 Wiley-Bugert rating at this level is Rarity-5-, and Q. David Bowers (2016) estimates that only 65 to 85 coins are extant, few of which are Choice.
PCGS# 6265. NGC ID: 24HH.
PCGS Population: 17; 10 finer (MS-66+ finest).
From the Collection of James Allaire Millholland, 1842-1911.

Estimate: $2750