Hawaii Half Dollars
Kingdom of Hawaii "Hapalua" or half dollars share the same designs as the other silver denomination struck in 1883, depicting King Kalakaua I on the obverse and a wreath on the reverse; a crown in the upper field. Of 700,000 pieces struck, it is reported that 612,245 were melted, leaving a net mintage of only 87,755 half dollars to circulate in the Islands. Examples are scarce in all grades, particularly so in Mint State. Reference books include: HAWAIIAN COINS, TOKENS AND PAPER MONEY by Maurice M. Gould; A GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS by R.S.Yeoman; and the all encompassing COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF U.S. AND COLONIAL COINS by Walter Breen.
1883 MS 62 PCGS
