Lot 3645
1855 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck with nice even toning on both sides. Struck from lightly clashed dies as nearly always seen, the outline of the new Indian princess design is recorded faintly inside the wreath on the reverse from when the dies came together without a planchet between them. Rich golden luster in the fields and this coin is also very well struck for the 1855 issue, with only a scant trace of weakness on the lower hair curls on the obverse; the date and denomination are all nicely defined. Liberty's cheek is especially clean and frosty, without the nicks or scratches that push most of the Mint State pieces to lower grades.
What makes the Type 2 design significant is the limited time gold dollars were struck with it, only 3 years in total. The design change was moderate so did not attract any interest, not many were saved as the first of their kind as might have happened 50 years later; many, indeed, most, were spent or otherwise non-numismatically preserved. For decades this small gold coin has been sought-after by Type collectors. With countless "common" issues bringing large premiums these days, a numismatist would do well to examine the scarcity of this key Type 2 gold dollar, knowing full well others aren't about to show up at the grading services in quantity. A timeless acquisition, the Type 2 of 1855 (PCGS # 7532) .
Estimated Value $14,000 - 16,000.
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| Realized $16,100 |
