1857-S $5 S.S. Central America #2 (with pinch) MS(PCGS#670803)

The Regency Auction 51

拍卖行

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

批号

387

等级

MS65+

价格

971,896

详细说明

EX S.S. CENTRAL AMERICA, and housed in the oversized holder with a pinch of gold dust. Legend Rare Coin Auctions is honored to offer this AMAZING 1857-S half eagle! This is the second FINEST example of the date known, and it is shocking that it sat for nearly 150 years on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean as part of this famous ship wreck. This highly lustrous GEM gleams with mint fresh brilliance on both sides accenting the high end quality surfaces. The strike is razor sharp, with fully defined devices seen throughout. A few tiny ticks are seen on both sides but the eye appeal is simply AMAZING. Even after the recovery of the S.S. Central America, this date remains rare in Mint State. The mintage of 87,000 generally went into circulation and remained there until they were well worn. David Akers wrote the grade most likely to be seen is only VF or EF, and Walter Breen said the date was "prohibitively rare above EF". The S.S. Central America cargo was generally $20 gold pieces and gold bars or ingots of various sizes and firms. The smaller denomination gold coins were likely not stored in the cargo hold, but in the pockets of passengers and crew. It is interesting to note that the FINEST KNOWN examples of this date, from MS64 to MS66 are all from the S.S. Central America! Indeed, prior to the discovery of these wonderful coins, the 57-S was nearly unheard of in any Mint State grade. The NGC MS61 coin from the Ed Milas Collection (Stack's, May 1995) was called "Possibly the Finest Known." Famed collections like Norweb and James A. Stack coins were cataloged raw and as being in the XF range. The Bass coin was ex Eliasberg and was graded MS61 by PCGS when sold in 2000. PCGS 2, NGC 0, CAC 1. This is the ONLY MS65+ graded and there is just a single MS66 graded higher. The current Collectors Universe value is listed at $150,000 but we would not be shocked if this monster GEM was to bring even more in this market. We wish every bidder good luck, and a hearty congratulations in advance to the winning bidder, you now own one of the greatest gold coins off the greatest shipwreck recovery in American history. Cert. Number 35058623 PCGS # 670803