1861-C $5 MS(PCGS#8289)

The Regency Auction 42

拍卖行

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

批号

2

等级

MS63

价格

1,077,176

详细说明

THE BIGMO CIVIL WAR COLLECTION PART II Ex Elrod Collection. This is the SINGLE FINEST 1861-C half eagle known and is a particularly CHOICE example of this RARE date. The final issue from the Charlotte Mint, the 61-C saw a mintage of 6,879 pieces, including 887 estimated struck in May 1861 under the authority of the Confederacy. The mint fell into rebel hands on April 20, 1861. Its low mintage and historical context makes this a very popular date for the collector, and is avidly sought in all grades. Doug Winter notes: "the 1861-C is very rare in AU58 and exceedingly rare in full Mint State, with just two or three examples known to me, including a choice MS63 that ranks among the most important Charlotte half eagles in existence." Today, PCGS CoinFacts estimates that 300 survive in all grades with just five coins thought to be Mint State (including duplication, PCGS and NGC have graded a total of 11 pieces. There are five listed as NGC MS61--perhaps there is duplication there). Premium Quality is exemplified on this TOTALLY ORIGINAL and FRESH to the market $5. Incredible luster has a thick frost throughout the satiny surfaces. There is a bold flash that gives life to what are often lifeless surfaces. Rich orange-gold coloration has some green-gold accents. Sharply struck with bold crisp definition on the devices. Clearly the surfaces have never been messed with. The surfaces are very clean for a date that often is seen with heavy abrasions. We note, with the aid of a strong glass, a few tiny scratches, and some mint made planchet roughness on the reverse. These minor flaws, if they can be called that, are easily ignored in the overall scheme of the outstanding visual allure and high end technical quality. Like other southern branch mint issues that were coined by the Confederacy, there is no documentary evidence of exactly which coins were struck, but there is numismatic evidence. Dies were produced in Philadelphia and were sent to the various branches. Only one die pair was used to strike the 1861-C half eagles. With a serious die crack from the rim above the left upright and through the M in AMERICA. This is described as Die State II in Doug Winter's Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint. Ex Orchard Collection, New England Rare Coin Galleries, January 1982, lot 1441; Elrod Collection; William Miller Collection, Heritage February 1999, lot 6305; Heritage FUN 2000, lot 7769, where it sold for a record $59,800 as NGC MS63. The Heritage and PCGS CoinFacts pedigree show Stack's May 1986. If this coin was handled by Stack's it was via Private Treaty, and not in the May 1986 auction, as the 1861-C $5 in that sale was called Extremely Fine, and had another die break at the mintmark. This is a phenomenal coin that ranks among the very best southern branch mint gold pieces! Of all the great cabinets of southern branch mint gold coins: Eliasberg, Bass, Norweb, James Stack, Ed Milas, etc, nothing remotely close to this AMAZING example has been offered. As state forces continued to seize federal military posts in early February 1861, delegates from the seceded states met to form a provisional government. Adopting a provisional constitution on February 8 and electing Jefferson Davis as president the following day. Less than a week later, the Confederate Congress established a Peace Commission; its task: trying to prevent a war with the United States. PCGS 1, NGC 1, CAC 1. This is the NGC MS63. The ONLY PCGS Mint State example to ever sell was a 61 that sold back in March 2001. Indeed the most recent Mint State coin to sell in auction was an NGC MS60 that sold in December 2019 for the second highest price ever for an example of this date realizing $45,600. We believe that the PCGS Price Guide value of $100,000 is totally incorrect. This coin has been off the market for two whole decades, the pent up demand will easily blast this coin well in excess of that level! A prize for any southern branch mint specialist or any advanced collector of Civil War gold! This may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity that cannot be missed! Cert. Number 5974094 PCGS # 8289.00