Lot 861
1840 Liberty Seated Dollar. NGC graded Proof 65. This important pattern issue is often collected with the Seated Dollars, so we placed it there instead of with the pattern issues. The obverse is by Christian Gobrecht with the seated Liberty design, the reverse is an eagle in full flight with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR around. The strike is as crisp as a Minnesota Winter morning, and the toning must be seen to be appreciated. Deep shades of charcoal gray throughout, with nary a mark to found on the surfaces. Hints of blue and yellow can be seen in the colors, but gray predominates. NGC has graded 6 this high, with none graded higher! Die alignment IV (Pollock), when the coin is turned like a medal, the eagle is flying level. This is the more common die alignment, and these are believed to be restrikes circa 1858 or later during the "high" flying Robert Coulton Davis years of free flowing laudenum for Mint employees, who supplied Mr. Davis with various delicacies from the Mint's die library. We should praise these early indiscretions at the Mint, for many of our most popular coins were made to order during the free wheeling days before the various scandals broke, and the "restrikes" were brought under control, at least for awhile. Today, we seem to be getting errors made to order, penny-dimes, dollar/quarter combinations etc… People don't seem to change, and manage to take advantage of any situation.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 40,000.
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| Realized $29,900 |
