Photo Denom Date Grade TPG Variety GFRC Rating Price Description Buy
Seated 50C 1861O Seated 50C 1861-O
Union Issue 		MS62 PCGS
40901912 		W-2
 Choice SOLD
$10000 		Very Rare Union Issue, Condition Census, Choice Original.. Undoubtedly the rarest 1861 New Orleans circulation strike issued by any of the three administrations: Union, State of Louisiana, and Confederate States of America. This is the finest of only three W-2 Union strikes handled by GFRC in over a decade of operation. A beautifully frosted example with brilliant radiance and vibrant cartwheels under angled lighting. Both sides are consistently toned with light golden hues. Eye appeal is well above average. This die pairing has been validated based on a die crack through STAT(ES OF A)MERICA and the corresponding obverse date position. This is a well-preserved specimen with several scattered field ticks and a light bag mark under the cap, none of which are consequential. An additional comment about rarity is in order. In Bill Bugert's Liberty Seated New Orleans Half Dollar Registry Part 2, the W-1 die pairing is assigned an R6 rarity rating and placed ahead of the W-2 at R5 rarity. My experience has been opposite as demonstrated in the GFRC Sales Archive with the W-1 Union issue appearing at a 6:1 ratio with the much rarer W-2. As reference from the GFRC Sales Archive, a PCGS AU58 example sold at auction during January 2022 for $4750. This lot is expected to easily reach the five figures given the condition census grade and overall eye appeal. Housed in PCGS Gen 6.1 (2020-2024) holder. The label documents the die variety attribution as W-02 USA Issue. December 1969