Lot 1316
1891. NGC graded MS-62. The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the "Mauve Decade," because William Henry Perkin's aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the "Gay Nineties", under the then-current usage of the word "gay" which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, without the connotations in present-day usage. The phrase, "The Gay Nineties," was not coined until 1926. It has since gone into abeyance. Pop 210; 50 finer, 47 in 63, 1 in 64, 2 in 65. (PCGS # 8719) .
Historical Note: Off and on in US history, there were periods of monetary stress and gold coin shortages. "Treasury officials were faced with distress in 1891, as foreign demand for U.S. gold coins threatened to deplete reserves to critically low levels, a crisis which grew worse during the next few years before beginning to improve," explains Randy Goe, author of a book on Carson City Mint coins. "At the same time, the Philadelphia Mint was burdened with the task of providing millions of minor coins. San Francisco was called upon to fill the insatiable demand for double eagles and the Carson City Mint was given the responsibility of restocking diminishing reserves of gold eagles and half eagles."
Estimated Value $650 - 700.
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| Realized $881 |
