1834 $5 Classic, Crosslet 4, HM-9 MS(PCGS#765199)

The Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

5033

等级

MS63

价格

397,135

详细说明

Probable Finest 1834 Crosslet 4 Half Eagle Among the Rarest of all Classic Head $5 Gold The Pogue-Haynor Collection Specimen 1834 Classic Head Half Eagle. HM-9. Rarity-4. Crosslet 4. MS-63 (PCGS). Die Variety: HM-9. Obverse 5: Crosslet 4 in the date, which is definitive for this obverse die used only in the HM-9 pairing. Reverse D: The eagle has no tongue and there is no berry in the branch. The eagle's feathers closest to the uppermost pair of leaves are missing. The HM-9 variety represents one of two pairings for Reverse D in the Classic Head half eagle series, the other the 1835 HM-1 variety. Die Emission Sequence: Since the die state of Reverse D is later in its 1834 HM-9 pairing than it is with at least some of the extant 1835 HM-1 coins, the famous 1834 Crosslet 4 Classic Head half eagle was actually struck during calendar year 1835. Die State: All 1834 HM-9 coins show clash marks, which on the present specimen are seen behind the eagle's neck and within the shield, where much of LIBERTY is plain in retrograde among the pales. On the obverse, faint traces of clashing from the reverse shield lines are seen within the hair curls around Liberty's ear, as well as within the ear itself. Estimated Surviving Population for the Variety: 160 coins in all grades (per Daryl J. Haynor, 2020), or 6% of extant 1834 Classic Head half eagles. Strike: The braided curls above Liberty's forehead and the curl that dangles left of her ear show some typical softness, but other design elements are sharp from center to rim. The reverse is particularly noteworthy for its fullness of strike and, indeed, this is an exceptionally well produced 1834 Classic Head half eagle. Surfaces: Peripheral toning of sunset-orange surrounds rich yellow-gold centers on both sides, highlighted with traces of deep violet and blue near the reverse rim and frosty pale green across the obverse device. The cartwheel luster is brisk, the fields are somewhat reflective, and the aesthetic appeal pushes the typical boundaries of this grade. Light hairlines are present, though none too serious; a light diagonal scratch under the eagle's beak and a tiny nick on the rim under the digit 4 in the date are the only other marks of note. Commentary: The most popular and avidly sought of the nine die marriages known for the 1834 Classic Head half eagle, the HM-9 is not the rarest, but it is the only one that corresponds to the Crosslet 4 Guide Bookvariety of the issue. Since only 160 examples of HM-9 are believed extant, as opposed to more than 2,500 coins for the eight Plain 4 die marriages combined, the absolute scarcity of the Crosslet 4 and its rarity relative to its Plain 4 counterpart is obvious. The mintage of the Crosslet 4 variety is unknown, presumably small given the scarcity of survivors, and certainly included in the half eagle mintage that the Mint reported for calendar year 1835. The Crosslet 4 is a legendary rarity in Mint State with few coins listed across both the PCGS and NGC population reports. Daryl J. Haynor (2020) states that the Pogue-Virginian Collection specimen offered here is unequivocally the finest known example of this Guide Bookvariety. We concur that it is finer than the single MS-64 certified by NGC, which appeared in several of our sales from 2003 through 2008, and has since been certified by PCGS as MS-63+. The offered coin is the finest 1834 Crosslet 4 Classic Head half eagle that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction. It ranks near the very top of the Condition Census for the variety, is a leading highlight of the Virginian cabinet, and is worthy of the strongest bids commensurate with its exceptional quality, superior eye appeal and undeniable numismatic significance. Provenance: From the Daryl J. Haynor Virginian Collection. Earlier ex Andrew Nugget, May 2001; D. Brent Pogue Collection; our (in conjunction with Sotheby's) sale of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part IV, May 2016, lot 4049. The plate coin for the 1834 HM-9 variety in the 2020 Haynor reference on Classic Gold coinage. PCGS Population (Crosslet 4 variety only): 1; 1 finer (MS-63+). The corresponding NGC Census is 0/1 (MS-64 finest at that service). PCGS# 765199. NGC ID: 25RR. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.