1880 Half Dollar - 1880 50C NGC MS67. This Superb Gem Uncirculated 1880 Half Dollar is tied for the finest known at both NGC and PCGS. The coin is attractively toned with peripheral shades of blue on the obverse and steel-gray, blue and teal in the fields, which contrast with a gold and gray effigy of Liberty. The reverse has more steel-gray and tan with hints of light and dark blue. Darker toning is present at the periphery, and it contrasts with the lighter eagle. The originality of the surfaces is attested to by the vibrant colors and the reflective mint luster within the devices. The obverse strike is sharp with full details on Libertys head and the centers of the stars.

Christian Gobrecht designed the Seated Liberty half dollar. The obverse depicts Liberty seated looking over her shoulder to the left. She balances the Union Shield inscribed LIBERTY with her right hand and holds a staff on which is placed a Phrygian cap in her left. There are seven stars to the left and six to the right interrupted by her head and the capped pole. The date is below. The reverse shows the heraldic eagle looking left. It is surrounded by the required inscription and the denomination written as HALF DOL. below. Above the eagle is a banner inscribed with the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides of the coin.

Gobrecht became the third Chief Engraver at the United States Mint. He was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1785. His father was a German immigrant, and his mother traced her ancestry to the early settlers of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Gobrecht married Mary Hewes in 1818. One of his early positions was as an engraver of clocks in Baltimore. Later he went to Philadelphia where he became a banknote engraver. He invented a machine that allowed one to convert a three-dimensional medal into an illustration. In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to William Kneass. After Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif which was used for all denominations of silver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle.

In its population report, NGC shows 7 1880 half dollars in MS67 condition with none better. PCGS shows 1 in MS67 with none better. These numbers do not account for crossovers or resubmissions.