The Collectors' Auction 2007
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Please Note: A 15% Buyers' Premium is added to the hammer price of all lots in this sale.
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(About The Images)
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Lot Title:
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1817/3 O-101a PCGS AU-55.
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Description:
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There are numerous overdates in American coin series popular among collectors, and some are more famous than others. Counted among the best known are the two 1942/1 Mercury dimes, the 1918/7 Buffalo nickel and Standing Liberty quarters, 1807/6 and 1820/19 large cents, 1909/8 Saint-Gaudens double eagle, 1862/1 Coronet quarter eagle, 1943/2 Jefferson nickel, and the 1802/1 bust dollar. In the Capped Bust half dollar series alone, there are at least fifteen overdates attributed as such, but some are considered more desirable than others, and a factor that plays significantly into their desirability is the ease with which the overdate can be observed.
In the case of the 1817/3, there is no room for doubt. The whimsical, half hearted, and even laughable efforts by the mint to remove the underdigit had hardly any effect, and resulted in coins for which the “3” is always plainly obvious beneath the “7.” As implied by Overton, the 1817/3, while not an uncommon variety, is extremely popular with collectors for this reason: it is the most obvious overdate in the series, and possibly in the entire compendium of United States issues. Thus, demand, even by those who do not specialize in bust half dollars, always outpaces supply.
The overdate feature of the present coin is, of course, unmistakable, and the lengthy die crack that encircles much of the reverse confirms the later die state “a” – rather advanced on this example. Of perhaps more interest to many collectors is the remarkable level of preservation implied by the PCGS assessment of AU-55. As expected, the luster is virtually full and borders upon being completely uninterrupted, even in the fields, yielding an appearance that is tantalizingly near that of Mint State. Indeed, this coin will fit almost seamlessly into an uncirculated set.
Regarding technical merits, the strike is characterized by the central softness that is seen on every example, while the stars are nicely struck by contrast. To the unaided eye, the surfaces appear practically pristine, and a loupe is required to discover a couple of superficial circulation hairlines along the lower bust area that confirm a brief stint in the channels of commerce. Rather colorless overall, but some golden tone is daubed on the highest elements of the design: hair curls, ribbon, the top of the eagle’s head, and the uppermost border of his wings. Additional blushes of golden-bronze caress the outer edges of the upper reverse.
Your cataloger fully expects the present lot to represent a highlight of today’s sale, and looks forward with anticipation to the moment it crosses the block. Advance congratulations are in order to the fortuitous high bidder.
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Low Estimate:
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$6,000.00 |
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High Estimate:
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$7,000.00 |
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Lot Status:
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Bidding has been closed for this lot. |
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Hammered Price: |
$5,750.00
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Price Realized:
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Price history for items of the same classification:
| Lot # | Auction | Current Bid or Hammer Price | Description |
| 809 | The Midwest Summer Sale on 07/26/2013 | $625.00 |
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1817/3, plus eight additional different dates.
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Apple Peel Collection. Mostly later dates comprise this selection, preceded by the famous overdate, and grades vary a bit, though they consistently fall below the XF level. We list the coins as... |
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| 726 | The Midwest Summer Sale on 07/24/2009 | $1,650.00 |
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1817/3 (O-101a, R.2, LDS) AU.
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CONSIGNOR: I sure had to pay a lot for this one, back when they seemed to be rare. It seems like you can find these everywhere in an auction these days, but try to find a nice one that isn't too... |
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| 486 | The Collectors' Auction 2008 on 10/17/2008 | $1,500.00 |
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1817/3 (O-101 R.2) AU, stained.
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The 1817/3 is rightfully touted as probably the most conspicuous overdate in the entire Overton series of Capped Bust half-dollars, and for that matter, in an early die state like this, the... |
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