Lot 2124
1907. High Relief, Roman Numerals, Wire Rim. PCGS graded MS-64. A fantastic example of one of the most beautiful coin designs in United States and World numismatics. Saint-Gaudens' stunning portrayal of Liberty is struck up in full, high relief on this lovely specimen. Liberty's dress detail is immaculate and her legs are missing any mentionable nicks. The luster is uninterrupted as it flows freely across the fields and across the devices. Magnification reveals interwoven circles of light die polish; these raised circular die lines are seen on only the finest examples with surface preservation of the highest degree. For identification, a single tiny black spot is mentioned under Liberty's outstretched arm near the olive branch.
This beautiful coin issue was the result of work by Augustus Saint-Gaudens at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt felt strongly about bringing beauty back to America's coinage that he felt was boring and nowhere near the distinction of many Ancient Greek coin designs. Through all of the ensuing problems Saint-Gaudens and Roosevelt endured from the political sewing circle of the time, the project was successful and finally approximately 11,250 High Relief examples were produced in 1907. This quantity of High Relief examples was sufficient enough to satisfy Roosevelt but also enough to cause mint officials to complain about the negative effect of their difficult-to-produce design. Lower relief dies with Arabic numerals were subsequently produced and the mass production of "Saints", as we know them as today, began in full force. Out of the estimated mintage figure of 11,250 pieces, there are two varieties struck from the same dies, Flat Rim (Edge) and Wire Rim (Edge) -- this coin. The Flat Rim examples are substantially more scarce, probably on an order of 2-3x as the more common Wire Rim (PCGS # 9135) .
Estimated Value $24,000 - 25,000.
|
| |
| Realized $24,675 |
