1862 $5, DCAM PR(PCGS#98452)

August 2011 Chicago ANA - Rarities Night

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

7687

等级

PR65

价格

587,669

详细说明

1862 Liberty Half Eagle. Proof-65 Ultra Cameo (NGC). Monumental quality for the connoisseur who demands rarity and eye appeal. The original mintage was a scant 35 pieces, of that tiny issue, a grand total of 13 pieces have been certified between NGC and PCGS, with possible duplication in that number. Of that select group of survivors, the present coin is the second finest and only PR-65 graded in the Ultra Cameo or Deep Cameo designation. NGC has graded one other at this grade level as Cameo, with this lower degree of contrast, the balance falling into lower grade categories. Note the color here, which is classic orange-gold with bold reflectivity in the fields, while the devices are offset by the textured frost imparted by the carefully prepared dies. Trace lines in the fields which may have been on the die itself, others possibly from gentle handling. One minor contact mark is found in the lower right reverse field, which serves to identify this rare coin. Examination finds the expected orange-peel texture in the fields, produced on proof coins of this era and an achievement in minting technique. Diagnostic to these proofs is a small centering dot right in the middle of the vertical shield stripes at the center of the shield, and the die shows polish within the wing feathers on left near the shield junction. A number of the dentils have additional chips off their edges above stars six to eight. Struck on February 16, 1862, at the depths of the Civil War, as high hopes for a quick resolution were dashed at the Battle of Bull Run on July 17, 1861, and the war continued into the next year, when this coin was minted.