The first Half Dime issue struck at San Francisco, the beginning of fractional Silver coinage there likely a response to the widespread hoarding of almost all Silver & Gold coinage in much of the country due to the Civil War. While this affected the West Coast less, being at a distance from the major areas of conflict, there was a pressing need to try to get and keep ANY Federal coinage in circulation. Low mintage and lower survivorship, PCGS CoinFacts estimates 300 coins in all grades out of a mintage of 100,000. In fact the date was unknown in Uncirculated grades until 1968, when a small hoard was discovered. 92 coins in circulated grades at PCGS, 29 at NGC. Only the limited number of collectors for Half Dimes keeps the price level at the ridiculously low level that it is at present. As for the price listed here, as the saying goes, “go find another”.

PCGS 4383.25/42824139