***Auction Highlight*** 1893 Columbian Old Commem Half Dollar 50c Graded pr63 By SEGS. The Columbus Half Dollar along with the Isabella Quarter were Minted in Honor of the 400th Anniversary of Columbus' Voyage to the New World. It was First Distributed at the Worlds Fair Honoring that Voyage. When examining a Columbian Exposition Half Dollar, the First Points to Show Wear are Columbus’ Eyebrow, Cheek and the Hair Behind his Forehead and Jaw. On the Reverse, Check the Foresail and Sainsail, as well as the Right Side of the Eastern Hemisphere. HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR - Up for Auction is One of the rarest Coins we have ever brought to Auction and far and Away the Rarest Old Commemorative we have ever Brought to Auction. One of the 5 Known 1893 Columbian Exposition PROOF Half Dollars! One of Only four Specimens Certified. The Proof World's Columbian Exposition commemorative half dollar is rare as a type, the original mintage for both the 1892 and 1893 combined amounting to only about 105-110 coins. The vast majority of Proofs struck are of the first year 1892; the only officially minted Proof of the second year 1893 is the first coin, which was struck January 3 that year and presented to president of the Exposition Harlow N. Higinbotham.That coin was eventually turned over to the Chicago Historical Society, where it still resided as of the date of publication of the book The Encyclopedia of United States Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins: 1892-1989 by Anthony Sweater and Walter Breen. As of this writing, PCGS, SEGS and NGC combined have certified just two examples of the 1893 Columbian Exposition half dollar in Proof format (PCGS Proof-64, SEGS Proof 63 (the coin at hand) , and 2 NGC Proof-63). Since none of those coins represent the Higginbotham-Chicago Historical Society specimen, it is obvious that a few other Proof 1893 Columbian halves were struck at some point in time during production of that issue. Delicate reddish-gold peripheral iridescence further enhances the eye appeal, and there are only wispy handling marks to define the grade. A rare and important bidding opportunity for the advanced collector of classic commemorative coins. Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers “The "Proof" Columbian half dollars are, to quote Winston Churchill, a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. As a long time student of commemorative coins, I have never seen any information relating to an official coinage in Proof format. Years ago it was common practice among students of the commemorative series to say that no Proofs existed at all, and those called Proofs were simply highly proof like. That changed, as things often do in numismatics, and today the mintage of Proofs is often regarded as a "fact." But, is it? Such situations exist elsewhere in numismatics, including the MCMVII High Relief double eagle. To this day PCGS will not certify any of them as "Proof," but NGC will. As a student of other series, including gold coinage, I have never found any official mention of any Proof MCMVII gold coins being distributed. It would seem to me that had they been struck they would have been acknowledged around the time of issue, there would be documentation, and so on. I cannot find any record of any numismatic offering of "Proofs" before the middle of the 20th century. Then along came Walter Breen, whose opinions were often freely given, and many of which were later proved to be completely false. Many facts in numismatics today really are houses built on sand, and upon examination are not facts at all. There may have been Proof half dollars struck in 1892 and 1893 for the Columbian Exposition, but as there is no record of them, it seems to me that it would be difficult to estimate original mintages. In fact, any suggestion pre-Breen would have been immediately discarded. All of this said, the present coin is certified as a Proof and indeed is a lovely and elegant example.” That quote from David Bowers was made during the 2012 Stacks/Bowers auction of one of the NGC PR63 Examples. I have included a picture of that coin. A Note. It is the Only other PROOF 1893 to ever come to public auction. A Corey's Pick, Bid to Win, Don't let it get Away, you might not find its equal Coin. I give this coin my highest recommendation