Lot Number 58
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1823 Broken 3 - O.101 R.3 PCGS AU 55 CAC
Ex Ellis Robison and James Pryor. I bought this coin for Tom Palmer at B&M’s sale of the Pryor Collection in Jan. 1996. (Lot 54.) Pryor acquired it at Stack’s Feb. 1982 sale of the Robison Collection. (Lot 1975.) Robison and Pryor were giants of their day. Each assembled important collections of US half-dollars. Each demanded top quality coins. The same is true of Tom Palmer. He sold his stunning Red Book collection of capped bust halves to me in 2008. An astute collector quickly relieved me of the `23-broken 3. It has been off the market since then. The coin enjoys topflight eye-appeal, supported by full cartwheel luster and pleasing surfaces. Light copper toning flanks stars 3-7. There is little question that on another day the coin might have graded AU 58. I’m guessing that this lot will gather more bids than any other in the auction. Congratulations to the new owner! A minuscule toning spot at the inner point of star 13, another above the cap confirm the Pryor and Robison provenance. The coin is plated at p.50 of the Pryor catalog. Est. $3,500 and up.
