1905 50C

1905-S 50C

1905-O 50C (Regular Strike)

Series: Barber Half Dollars 1892-1915

PCGS MS68

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PCGS MS68

PCGS MS67

PCGS #:: 6502

Designer:: Charles E. Barber

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 30.00 millimeters

Weight:: 12.50 grams

Mintage:: 505,000

Mint:: New Orleans

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $64,625 • MS68 • 01-27-2022 • Legend Rare Coin Auctions

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Major Varieties

1905-O 50C

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	1,500	R-4.8	11 / 74 TIE	11 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	300	R-6.4	38 / 74 TIE	38 / 74 TIE
65 or Better	70	R-8.3	44 / 74 TIE	44 / 74 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	1,500
60 or Better	300
65 or Better	70

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-4.8
60 or Better	R-6.4
65 or Better	R-8.3

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	11 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	38 / 74 TIE
65 or Better	44 / 74 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	11 / 74 TIE
60 or Better	38 / 74 TIE
65 or Better	44 / 74 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS68 PCGS grade	Paramount “Auction '86” 7/1986:1697 - David Akers, sold privately on 6/15/1992 - Dr. & Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 8/2010:3213, $63,250 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3298, $54,050
1	MS68 PCGS grade	New Orleans Mint - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2104, $33,000 - Heritage 1/2015:4145, $56,400
3	MS67 PCGS grade	Superior - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2010:3896 - Joseph C. Thomas Collection - Heritage 1/2011:5581 - Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 1/2011 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98558, $16,450
3	MS67 PCGS grade	John C. Hugon - Heritage 1/2005:4239, $15,525
5	MS67 estimated grade
6	MS66+ PCGS grade	Harry Laibstain, sold privately on 7/26/2003 - Dr. Peter & Janice Shireman Collection - Heritage 1/2016:4128, $8,812.50
7	MS66 PCGS grade	Heritage 11/2004:7501, $7,187.50
7	MS66 PCGS grade
7	MS66 PCGS grade
7	MS66 PCGS grade

#1 MS68 PCGS grade

Paramount “Auction '86” 7/1986:1697 - David Akers, sold privately on 6/15/1992 - Dr. & Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Collection - Heritage 8/2010:3213, $63,250 - Greensboro Collection, Part VI - Heritage 10/2015:3298, $54,050

#1 MS68 PCGS grade

New Orleans Mint - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2104, $33,000 - Heritage 1/2015:4145, $56,400

#3 MS67 PCGS grade

Superior - Dale Friend Collection - Heritage 1/2010:3896 - Joseph C. Thomas Collection - Heritage 1/2011:5581 - Joseph O'Connor, sold privately in 1/2011 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II - Heritage 10/2014:98558, $16,450

#3 MS67 PCGS grade

John C. Hugon - Heritage 1/2005:4239, $15,525

#5 MS67 estimated grade

#6 MS66+ PCGS grade

Harry Laibstain, sold privately on 7/26/2003 - Dr. Peter & Janice Shireman Collection - Heritage 1/2016:4128, $8,812.50

#7 MS66 PCGS grade

Heritage 11/2004:7501, $7,187.50

#7 MS66 PCGS grade

Ron Guth:

The 1905-O Half Dollar has a small mintage but it is only semi-scarce at best and it is actually quite plentiful in Mint State. MS63 and MS64 are the grades that a collector is most likely to encounter, but there are also some fabulous Gem and Superb examples for those that seek top quality. The Dr. Wynsen example that Akers mentioned below went through a number of hands (Dale Friend, Joseph C. Thomas, and Eugene Gardner) and it last sold as a PCGS MS67 for $16,450. The Eliasberg example sold again in 2015 as a PCGS MS68 for $56,400. The other PCGS MS68 (ex Duckor) sold for $54,050 in 2015.

As Akers noted, the 1905-O Half Dollars often suffer from a soft strike, but there are some well-struck examples that violate that rule.

David Akers: The 1905-O is one of the lowest mintage issues in the series; in fact, among all of the branch mint Barber Half Dollar issues, only the 1892-O had a lower mintage. Fortunately, a few extraordinary specimens have been saved; the 1905-O in the Eliasberg sale was nearly perfect, for example, and the Dr. Robert Wynsen specimen is also of exceptional quality. Most 1905-O Half Dollars, even those that might otherwise technically qualify as Gems, are poorly struck, often with mumps, and generally have substandard luster.