Ex. Jimmy Hayes Collection, Stacks, October 1985, Lot 3. We’ll let Stack’s catalog description speak for itself: “1792 Half Disme. From Paramount’s section of Auction ’80 where it was described as follows: ‘Superb Gem Uncirculated 67. An incredible, fully struck specimen with medium violet, blue, gray and gold toning. The surfaces are flawless and every hair on Miss Liberty’s head is boldly defined. The eagle is exceptionally sharp with nearly full feather detail. Without question this is the finest known 1792 Half Disme, better by an order of magnitude than the specimen in Bowers & Ruddy’s Bartlett Sale (11/79). It was formerly in the famous Dr. Judd Collection and for many years was the Red Book plate coin.'” Stacks also noted that an interesting sidelight about the coin is that the owner from whom Mr. Hayes obtained the coin was able to trace it back to the family of David Rittenhouse, the first Mint Director. The coin brought $57,750 at the sale.
Update: This particular specimen is presently graded PCGS MS-66 and most recently sold as Lot #4043 of the Stacks/Bowers Auction held in conjunction with the August 2013 Chicago ANA World’s Fair Of Money for the incredible price of $793,125!
Read the story of the 1792 HALF DISME
