1859-C $5 MS(PCGS#8281)

The March 2010 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Bowers & Merena

批号

3781

等级

MS63

价格

275,029

详细说明

1859-C Liberty Half Eagle. Winter Variety 1 (27-M), the only known dies. Die State II. MS-63 (PCGS). The distinct striking quality for which this issue is known is fully appreciable on this exceptionally high-grade survivor. The obverse of the coin is sharply defined apart from minor softness of detail to the haircurls over Liberty's brow. On the reverse, however, the eagle is generally soft either from a clogged die, die rust, both features or another culprit entirely. (Numismatists have yet to conclusively solve this riddle despite the plethora of theories in the market.) In this latest die state, this piece also reveals evidence of light die rust to Liberty's portrait on the obverse.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well preserved in all regards, the surfaces retain an overall smooth ""look"" with only small, wispy abrasions scattered about. Beautiful reddish-gold and olive-gold colors compete for dominance as the coin rotates under a light, more direct angles also revealing modest hints of semi reflectivity in the fields. A scarce-to-rare issue in all grades, the 1859-C vies with the 1855-C as the median rarity in the 24-coin Charlotte Mint Half Eagle series. It ranks 15th in high-grade rarity within this Southern gold series, and can be very challenging to acquire in Mint State with fewer than 20 (if not 15) coins extant at that level. This high-Condition Census Choice Unc is the second finest known to PCGS, and it also ranks second on Doug Winter's 2008 Condition Census list.