240
|
$1 Gold
R
ARE
P
ROOF
1850 $1 G
OLD
L
IBERTY
Enlargement
1649
1850
.
PCGS graded Proof 60
. Lovely golden toning on both sides.
Only 2 known
. Walter Breen, in his encyclopedia of Proof U.S. coinage
(1977), cited this issue (along with the 1850 quarter eagle, half eagle, and eagle) as Unknown in Proof, but provided this supposition: "though
at least one of each must have been struck in Proof for the set made up for the Congressional Committee on the Library, per Patterson letter
9/26/50."
We wonder, could this piece be from just that set? We shall never know, but what is a especially pertinent is that the coin is downright mag-
nificent even with the minimalist "60" grade assigned by PCGS. Yes, there are some a few light hairlines from possible old-time cleaning, but
the strike definition is needle-sharp while the fields on either side exhibit flashy, full-depth mirrors. The mirror field is like that seen on the
more regularly offered dates from 1858-on. Characteristic of early Proofs made before quality control procedures became formalized, there
are scattered light lint marks in the field on the reverse, the most evident lint mark just to the left of the numeral 1, and a less visible one
above the I in UNITED.
Liberty's profile is gently frosted against the mirror polish in the field. Also noteworthy, the rims show excellent but not entirely complete rim
denticles. The coin itself is accurately represented in its PCGS holder, with the entire warm toning as a further identifier. What this fascinating
coin realizes at auction is up to you, the bidders, but we wouldn't be at all surprised if it easily surpasses our estimate, considering the breath
of collecting nowadays in the Gold rarities of the United States. The collector who purchases this lot will be joining a highly select group of
numismatists. Only a handful of collectors have ever had the opportunity to own a Proof 1850 Gold Dollar.
Pop 1; none finer at PCGS
.
(
PCGS # 7593
)
Estimated Value ........................................................................................................................................................$115,000 - 125,000
C
HOICE
U
NC
1853-C $1 G
OLD
L
IBERTY
Enlargement
1650
1853-C
.
PCGS graded MS-63.
CAC Approved
. Mostly
untoned with lots of mint luster. Much better struck than
average on surfaces that retain their mint frost and color.
Plenty of “bloom” remains from the die. Only 11,1515
minted. The strike on both sides of this coin is typical of the
issue. There is some softness of detail on the obverse over
Liberty's brow and on top of the hair curls; rim dentils are
nearly all gone from insufficient metal flow into this region.
There is a light hairline on the cheek. On the reverse, the
dentils are again weak. The legends are relatively strong
throughout including much of the date and the important
large C mintmark centered in the open space below the rib-
bon bow. Extensive luster as on the obverse. Truly excep-
tional and Choice for the issue, which tends to come
circulated and pretty banged up as a rule; Mint States are
few and far between, and in the realm of surface preserva-
tion it has very few peers (see the population figures
below). The fields are lustrous, not prooflike -- a feature
that suggests it was struck later in the die's life. Vivid-gold
color flows over both sides.
Pop 4; none finer at PCGS
.
(
PCGS # 7522
)
Estimated Value .................................... $11,000 - 12,000
Enlargement
1651
1853-C
.
PCGS graded MS-61
. Mostly untoned. Only 11,515
minted. This is a Mint State Charlotte Mint Dollar where both
sides being essentially untoned with frosty, reddish gold luster.
Save for the highpoints of the hair, the strike is above-average,
if not sharp, in all areas. Some light hairlines but essentially free
from marks, which places it ahead of the competition.
Pop 5;
17 finer, 13 in 62, 4 in 63
. (
PCGS # 7522
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$4,500 - 5,000
Enlargement
1652
1853-C NGC graded Unc Details
. Improperly cleaned.
Mostly untoned. Only 11,515 minted. (
PCGS # 7522
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,200 - 1,300
