Lot 903
1851-C $5 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. A golden orange specimen with some of the original luster in the protected areas. Boldly impressed at the center of the obverse, and only moderate weakness on the eagle's lower left leg. Most 1851-C half eagles are found from dies that show a curious hole or punch mark on Liberty's earlobe. Perhaps this was a centering compass mark for the engraver, as several denominations show a variety of holes and rings in this period, which would be a fine area of study for a numismatist. This coin however; does not have the hole in Liberty's earlobe. As noted expert Doug Winter says in his reference work on gold "A few coins are known without the punchmark; these are quite rare."
A similar coin was offered in the October 1999 Harry Bass sale, lot 1023 by our friends Bowers and Merena, but it was PCGS graded AU-55 and was an early die state. This particular coin is a late die state with a die crack from the rim through the upper left serif of the U of UNITED to the eagle's left leg. The first 1 in the date is connected to the truncation above, while the second 1 just grazes the truncation. Important to the date collector and variety specialist.
Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,500.
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| Realized $5,520 |
