Afternoon everyone….
You all know how I am constantly checking auction sites for a good deal, or an overlooked coin. Sometimes on the bigger auction sites if there are a large amount of high value coins in the auction, most of the regular collectors see that and ignore the entire auction.
I probably shouldn’t share this, it’s been my go to method for years now. But I’m going to anyway. Most auction sites have a way of searching by current bid price range. Meaning if you type in under $500 or any dollar amount. You will only see the listings within your category.
This is how I came across this hidden gem last weekend.
It’s a 1936 Delaware commemorative half dollar. It’s been graded by NGC as an MS65, which is a very high grade for this particular coin. It’s got amazing toning on the reverse which I love, and it’s a really low mintage coin.
Here is some info on the coin:
The Delaware Tercentenary half dollar (also known as the Swedish Delaware half dollar) is a commemorative fifty-cent piece struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the first successful European settlementin Delaware. The reverse features the Swedish ship Kalmar Nyckel, which brought early settlers to Delaware, and the obverse depicts Old Swedes Church, which has been described as being the oldest Protestant church in the United States still used as a place of worship. While the coins are dated "1936" on the obverse and the reverse also has the dual date of "1638" and "1938", the coins were actually struck in 1937.
Value
50 cents (0.50 US dollars)
Mass
12.5 g
Diameter
30.61 mm (1.20 in)
Thickness
2.15 mm (0.08 in)
Edge
Reeded
Composition
90.0% silver
10.0% copper
Silver
0.36169 troy oz
Years of minting
1937
Mintage
25,015 including 15 pieces for the Assay Commission and 4,022 later melted.
Mint marks
None, all pieces struck at Philadelphia Mint without mint mark
Design
Old Swedes Church
Designer
Carl L. Schmitz
Design date
1936
Authorizing legislation for the coin passed Congress in early 1936. Although there was no opposition, the legislation was changed to add protections for collectors against abuses, such as low mintages or strikings at multiple mints, which marked some commemorative coins at that time. Once the coin was authorized, the Delaware Swedish Tercentenary Commission (DSTC) held a competition to design the coin, judged by Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock and sculptor Robert Tait McKenzie, which was won by Carl L. Schmitz.
The coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint in March 1937, and were then sold to the public by the DSTC for $1.75 each. Of the 25,000 coins minted for sale, 20,978 were sold, and the profits used to help fund the tercentenary celebrations.
The coin…
Now off the even better part….
This coin has a book value from NGC in this grade of $385. I’ve also checked recent auction sales on this coin. Which had a two of them sold in the last three months. Both of those coins sold for over $400.
So why is this such a big deal? Because I paid $255 for this exact coin you just viewed. That’s one hell of a deal. I could flip this coin easily right now to make $150 or more because of the toning.
Here is a screenshot of the NGC coin log.
The reason why there is no photo of the coin on the listing is because whoever had it graded didn’t want to pay the additional $10 for it.