An exceedingly rare Gem 1851-O Half Dollar is among the many rarities that Stack’s Bowers Galleries will offer for auction at the Whitman Baltimore Summer Expo.
CoinWeek reports:
Iridescent indigo accents the underlying champagne brilliance across this gorgeous New Orleans Gem. The devices are impeccably rendered, as is typical for the issue, with intricate central elements displaying uniform, satiny luster. A microscopic thatching of die polish lines is apparent in most areas, imparting a decidedly prooflike aesthetic to the reverse fields. Representing the later state of this die pairing, hairline cracks radiate inward from borders at 10 o’clock and two o’clock, with a third crack noted that spans star 13 through Liberty’s instep. A single crack snakes down from the border at 12 o’clock on the reverse, barely meeting the eagle’s head just about the eye. Evidence of die clashing can be seen within the right side of the shield. Both the high points and the vulnerable regions are smooth and unmarred by blemishes of any merit.