1840-O Seated Half-Dollar NGC MS-64

The first coins issued for circulation at the New Orleans mint were from 1839, so this Mint State 64 1840 Seated Liberty Half Dollar is one of the earliest coins issued from the Southern Branch Mint.  We have never handled an example higher than this one, and rightly so--only 1 coin is known finer--a lone Mint State 66 example that is off the market in a well known collection.

The mintage was 855K but today around 500 are known in all grades combined.  The coin has complete originality on both sides and this is the "small letters and very small O variety".

Superb coin and destined for a fine collection of branch mint pre-civil war silver coinage.