Lot 2390
1859-C $5 Liberty. NGC graded MS-60. A nice untoned example. Only 31,847 minted. Lustrous golden surfaces exhibit light golden iridescence in most areas. A few stray marks are present. The reverse strike is typically soft in most places for this date, and high-end specimens are mainly graded by the overall quality of the obverse. From a mintage for the date which seems low by today's standards, most of the specimens found in collections from that mintage are Very Fine or, at best, Extremely Fine. Douglas Winter calls the date Rarity-7 in AU preservation, pointing to as few as a dozen pieces. The present coin will attract wide attention, and we know instinctively that it will find an appreciative new owner. NGC holder 19990888-001.
(The reverse of virtually every known 1859-C half eagle is softly struck. Many of the known impressions from the die also show evidence of die rust. This same reverse die was used in Charlotte in the following year, 1860, with the same comments regarding the reverse die being appropriate for half eagles of that date as well.) Pop 4; 6 in 61, 1 in 62, and 1 in 63 (PCGS # 8281) .
Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000.
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| Realized $10,350 |
