Lot Number 88
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181.7 Punc. Date - O.103 R.2 PCGS MS 64
Ex James Pryor, George “Buddy” Byers and Steven Nomura. An absolute monster. Jim Pryor found it in Stack’s September 1983 sale, lot 766. The January 25, 1996 B&M catalog of the Pryor Collection has my notes on the coin (lot 35), a simple “Super Look!” I entered a bid on behalf of Tom Palmer but Pryor’s collecting friend, Buddy Byers, outlasted the competition. Byers’ collection came to auction in October 2006. I scribbled, “Nice antique toning – frosty luster. MS 64,” next to lot 1032. This time I carried a bid from Steve Nomura. We prevailed at $6,325, including the 15% buyer’s fee. When Steve consigned his Capped Bust half-dollar collection to me in 2013 he kept one coin back. His favorite coin in the set was this 1817 Punctuated Date. Complications from prostate cancer took Steve from us in March this year. His estate asked me to include this coin in the sale. It approaches gem status, with gorgeous gold over silver toning, ringed with iridescent hues of russet and blue. Luster runs deep and undisturbed. Dale Friend’s PCGS MS 65, a thoroughly original specimen, holds the #1 spot in the Condition Census for this popular Red Book variety. It brought $36,000 in August 2018. An NGC MS 64+, ex Dr. Charles Link, vies with the Nomura coin for no.2 in the Condition Census. It brought $35,250 at Legend’s September 2021 sale of The Virginia Collection (lot 56).
Estimate: $30,000 to $35,000
