Lot 905
1854 $1 Gold Liberty. NGC graded MS-65. A monumental grade for this very rare type issue. The Philadelphia Mint had a change of directorship in 1853 when James Ross Snowden ascended to that position. Immediately, Snowden undertook to refurbish our coinage. He felt the gold dollar was too thick, and thus to small. Snowden directed the Mint Engraver Longacre to redesign the gold dollar for a thinner, but wider planchet. Longacre choose his $3 gold piece rendition of Liberty for the obverse, and on the reverse a wreath which would be very similar to the Flying Eagle cent reverse a few years later. These new gold dollars began production on August 19, 1854 and continued until the end of the year. In short order, Longacre redesigned the head again, and the obverse master hub was changed starting in 1856 on all gold dollars save for the San Francisco issues, which continued through 1856 with the so called Type II head only for that year. Hence, few were coined, and certainly not many saved, and the Type II gold dollars have always been in strong demand by collectors. Here is a gem example of this rare coin, and rare indeed it is, as NGC in their Population Report note only 19 have been so designated, with only 8 graded higher in various grades. An important opportunity for the specialist.
Estimated Value $25,000-UP.
|
| |
| Realized $26,163 |
