1878 20C, DCAM PR(PCGS#95306)

August 2011 Chicago ANA - Rarities Night

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

7300

等级

PR66

价格

146,917

详细说明

1878 Twenty-Cent Piece. Proof-66 Deep Cameo (PCGS). The short lived twenty-cent series of 1875-1878 was originally intended to facilitate making change in the Western United States where five-cent coins were in short supply at that time. The silver half dime had been discontinued in 1873, and the nickel five-cent piece did not circulate to any great extent, if at all, outside of the Northeast during the final decades of the 19th century. Similar in size&nbsp;to the quarter, however, the twenty-cent piece was doomed to failure from the start, and the denomination passed into history in 1878 with a mintage of just 600 pieces.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Second of the proof only deliveries in this series, the final year 1878 is not as rare as the 1877 in an absolute sense, but it is just as challenging to locate in the finest grades. In addition to exquisite, virtually&nbsp;pristine surfaces, this remarkable Gem is noteworthy due to the strength of contrast evident between mirrored fields and richly frosted devices. It is, in fact, the finest of only&nbsp;four DCAM specimens&nbsp;listed at PCGS. Bright and brilliant, with a tiny reverse contact mark below the eagle's left (facing) wing that we mention solely for pedigree purposes.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers<br /> <br /> </strong>For some reason that has never been explained, the proof-only 20-cent pieces of 1877 and 1878 are often found with traces of cleaning and polishing from generations ago, and an unimpaired and truly choice example as seen here is a rarity, especially if in an ultra high grade. The end game is that if you are seeking a coin of this highly desired issue, I strongly recommend you compete for this one. It is truly a prize. <br /> <br /> <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Jg_DV_EKspE" frameborder="0"></iframe>