Lot 1340
1854 $5 Liberty. The recently discovered 54 apart. NGC graded MS-62. Walter Breen, in his immense and important Encyclopedia noted that this date was only known with the 54 nearly touching in the date, but also stated "may exist with 54 apart" on the Philadelphia coins. Well, one finally was recognized, and here it is. Perhaps Breen guessed that because the 1854 Dahlonega coins were struck with the 54 apart, that perhaps the same date punch would also be used on a few Philadelphia coins. In addition, various sized date punches were used on gold coins of other denominations, so the possibility was more likely in 1854 than other years. An important discovery coin, once again affirming Dr. Breen's brilliance as a numismatist.
As to this coin, it is completely untoned, with bright and frosty luster. The devices have an average strike, with some weakness on the upper curls of Liberty and on the eagle's neck, claws and the arrow feathers. Moderate bagmarks in the fields, as expected for the grade, and although a high mintage date, only 9 pieces have been graded higher by NGC. There is a light die crack through the top of UNITED and a very faint crack meandering along the tops of some letters of STATES. On the obverse, the 1 in the date touches Liberty's truncation. An opportunity to purchase what will no doubt prove to be a very rare coin in a nice mint state grade.
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| Realized $2,300 |
