Lot 2264
1875 $20 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-63. Old green label. Nice strike with lovely golden toning. Always frosty for the issue, as seen here, the shimmering-gold surface is nearly MS64 quality with few distracting bagmarks. That being the case, unlike the general run of pieces of this caliber, the strike is thoroughly convincing in the key places, even where some weakness is usually found at the shield and eagle. A frosty high grade specimen with extremely few seen better.
Unlike the design spacing on lower denominations, adding the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to the 1866-76 double eagles to create the Type 2 design did not result in undue crowding of the eagle. Longacre, to fulfill the demands of Congress and Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase (but ultimately of the Rev. M. R. Watkinson. of Ridleyville, Pa., progenitor of the religious motto idea), slightly enlarged the oval of stars above eagle's head, inserting the motto neatly within This was. however, not the only alteration The shield, formerly with straight edges, now has rococo borders; the double scroll has smaller but more elaborate finials encroaching less on IBUS; leaves are differently shaped and there are nine rather than the former eight; wings are closer to both E's (in some dies appearing to touch, or joined by a pseudo-border); tail closer to NT, requiring smaller mintmarks. The effects are noticeably superior to the Type 1 design. Pop 44; 3 finer in 64. (PCGS # 8973) .
Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000.
|
| |
| Unsold |
