1884 $10, DCAM PR(PCGS#98824)

The March 2012 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4338

等级

PR64

价格

235,479

详细说明

1884 Liberty Eagle. Proof-64 Deep Cameo (PCGS). CAC. As beautiful and inviting as only an expertly produced and carefully preserved classic Proof gold coin can be, it is difficult for us to choose which physical characteristic of this 1884 eagle to accentuate first. Sharply cameoed contrast is certainly high on the list, the fields with a glassy, deeply mirrored finish that supports a satin to softly frosted texture on the devices. Those same devices are fully struck with razor sharp definition to even the most intricate elements of the design. Drenched in vivid orange gold patina, with outwardly smooth surfaces that are knocking on the door of a full Gem grade. Closer inspection with a loupe also calls forth a subtle "orange peel" texture in the fields -- a natural result of the minting process that advanced collectors of Proof Liberty gold coinage find so appealing. One of just 45 Proofs of the date struck, with the number known today considerably smaller than that figure. Indeed, in our offering of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Part II, October 1999:1608) we noted that Walter Breen expostulated that perhaps just eight Proof examples of the date were extant -- we suggested eight to 10 all told, with two of those in museum&nbsp;collections. The PCGS website currently suggests 16 to 20 known -- a figure probably inflated by resubmissions. Every now and again it is desirable for a reality check to go back to information published years ago, including by Walter Breen, David W. Akers, and our own Dave Bowers.<strong> </strong>The present coin compares favorably to the cited Bass specimen, that piece called Proof-64 by PCGS. One of the rarest coins in the present catalog -- we suggest this coin may prove to be one of the soundest buys in the entire sale.<br /> <br /> <strong>Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers</strong><br /> Choice Proof 1884 eagles -- or Proof 1884 eagles at any level of preservation -- are about as rare as a blue moon. Often <em>years</e