1839-O GR-5 R4+ Capped Bust Half Dollar NGC XF45, From the Dick Graham Reference Collection

It is always a good day when we can offer an 1839-O half dollar that is not a GR-1...as roughly 90% or more of them seem to be. This GR-5 is from Dick Graham's Reference set, which we offered for sale at the recent ANA. Out of 6 39-O's, this is the only one remaining. It is medium golden gray, probably washed with soap and water generations ago, and somewhat softly struck. It is easy to see why this variety is rare - and why the coin is somewhat softly struck - this obverse die is just plain broken!