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Sale 54
Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction
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Description |
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Lot 3350 |
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1879 $4 Gold. Flowing hair. PCGS graded Proof 65 Cameo. Nice golden toning. 425+ struck. A bright gleaming gold specimen with some deeper accents of color in the fields. Cameo frosted motifs receive their support from the fine reflective fields, and account for the a pleasing contrast plus the high grade it deserves. The coin is a extremely well struck for the issue, with only a trace of soft detail in some of Liberty's hair curls. Faint mint-caused striations are found at the centers, as is always the case on Stellas; we are unaware of exceptions to this. Surfaces are virtually pristine. Devices, the same. The grade captures the soul of this coin's originality. All in all, we are presenting to bidders a marvelous Gem Proof example of a rare and widely admired issue. Pop 8; 10 in 66 CAM; 2 in 67 CAM. (PCGS # 88057) .
Historic note about the confusing Judd & Pollock numbering schemes: Judd called all 1879 Flowing Hair Stellas struck in gold "J-1635." Later research developed the theory that the gold Stellas were produced in two different finenesses, to which Pollock assigned different numbers. The first, P-1832, represents pieces struck in 85.71 fine gold, 4.29 fine silver, and 10.0 fine copper. It is believed that these were the first 15 struck. Later, after interested parties requested samples of the new Pattern design, some 400 or more additional pieces were made on .900 fine gold planchets, those being designated P-1833. Students of the series find it difficult to distinguish between them other than by means of expensive non-destructive testing; the weights do differ slightly for the two metallic alloys.
Estimated Value $150,000 - 160,000.
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$178,250 |
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