| Description |
1861 50C PR65 NGC. Ex: "Col." E.H.R. Green. The story of the 1861 proof half dollars is common to the three dates from 1859 to 1861: many struck, many melted. Mint Director James Ross Snowden struck 1,000 of each date on speculation, apparently believing, "If you strike them, they will come." This approach worked to a certain extent. Breen estimates around 600 proofs were melted as unsold at year's end, leaving a net mintage of 400, approximately ten times more than were sold by the Mint in 1857 and previous years. The fields on this piece brightly glow, even through the layers of blue and reddish-violet toning seen across each side. Ex: "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 @ $12.50; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $6,462.50 . Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com. |
