Lot 3079
1851 Liberty Seated Dollar. PCGS graded MS-62. Original date. PCGS serial number 60222627. Deeply toned on both sides. Very rare date. The 1851 is a great rarity within the seated Liberty series. More elusive than the 1852, whose mintage of 1,100 pieces is slightly lower than the 1851, for which 1,300 coins were struck, choice survivors can almost be counted on the fingers of two hands. This is the famous John Jay Pittman specimen, a coin with a strong provenance to accompany its sharp condition. Many 1851 Original Dollars have been described as Proofs in the past, these are now believed to have been prooflike business strikes. Given the extremely small mintage, it should not surprise collectors that there are prooflike pieces among the handful of Mint State survivors. Bowers (1993) surmises these prooflike pieces may also have been the outcome of die polishing to remove clash marks.
The present Mint State 62 displays well toned surfaces that are overlaid by mottled gray and russet-gray patination. The design elements are boldly struck, with nice detail on the Liberty and eagle motifs as well as on the peripheral elements, only a few stars show rounded components. A few minute marks are scattered here and there on Liberty's leg and the top curve of the obverse shield, but none are significant. A raised die line through the reverse shield at right is diagnostic of the variety. Pop 6; 1 in 63; 5 in 64; 1 in 65. (PCGS # 6939) .
Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000.
Ex: Pittman Collection.
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