Lot 337
1858. NGC graded Proof 65. A hint of gold tone around the obverse rims. Well struck. Only 300 minted. The outer ring of iridescent gold and amber toning, most developed on the obverse, yields to mirror-deep silvery fields, and gorgeous frosted relief. A truly superior example of this extremely desirable early Proof. Worthy of a strong price.
The year 1858 is typically given as the time when Proof coins were widely made available to numismatists. It is likely that these were made in sets, consisting of one each of the silver denominations, trime, half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, and silver dollar, although practice at the time was that pieces could be ordered separately. An early numismatist, R. Alonzo Brock, March 13, 1860, motioned in his writing: "The Mint has raised its Proof sets this year [1860] to $3. Until now they charged merely their actual value of $2.02 [including minor coins], but last year the demand was so great that it kept the time of one person occupied nearly the whole year, attending to getting up the pieces and delivering them, they all being struck on the hand press with special care. So, this year they justify the additional charge on the grounds of the trouble and time used. The Proof sets of back years increase in value rapidly. Those of 1859 are already worth $4.50 to $5 and of previous years $8 to $10, and perhaps even more. Previous to 1859 there were very few struck in each year; not over 200 sets. The set of 1858 possesses a value on this account that there were no silver dollars at all struck of that year, except about 210 to go into the Proof sets, so these dollars will soon be very rare indeed. In fact, they are worth $5 already." Pop 17; 11 finer, 8 in 66, 2 in 67, 1 in 67 Star .
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,300.
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| Realized $3,760 |
