1861-D $5 MS(PCGS#8290)

The Regency Auction 42

拍卖行

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

批号

3

等级

MS63

价格

1,846,588

详细说明

THE BIGMO CIVIL WAR COLLECTION PART II This is arguably the FINEST KNOWN example of this incredibly RARE Dahlonega mint half eagle. Before Georgia seceded from the Union, the federal authorities recorded a mintage of just 1,597; after the Confederate Government took over the facility, an unrecorded, though undoubtedly tiny quantity were struck. Experts believe that it was somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 pieces. Today, PCGS CoinFacts estimates that 75 survive in all grades with 9 in Mint State, and this one being at the APEX of their Population Report. Numismatic expert David Akers and Doug Winter both agree that the 61-D is the rarest of all the Dahlonega mint fives. The 61-D half eagles were struck under two authorities and based on the quality of strike, it is likely that this piece was struck sometime between January and April 1861 under Federal jurisdiction. The Confederate authorities seized the mint on April 8, 1861. Offering a generally crisp, complete strike, this piece has just a touch of minor softness on stars 4,5,6,7,10 and on the hair curls at just under Liberty's coronet. The centering is exacting and precise with full dentilation throughout most of the rim (there is a touch of weakness near star 4 and 5 on the obverse). A strong luster with a bold brilliance that is delightfully reflective, almost Prooflike. The luster shimmers through a rich, warm, orange-gold color. A few ancient lines and contact account for the assigned grade. There is a toning line that connects the left wing to the olive branch and some "crust" in the feathers of the right wing, as well as at the base of TE of UNITED and in the M of AMERICA. These features all clearly match the Eliasberg photo and the plate photo of Doug Winter's Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861. The eye appeal is spectacular in EVERY WAY! PCGS lists four in MS63 and this one as estimated MS63 in the Condition Census. The Farouk-Norweb-Bass coin (the second coin listed at CoinFacts is the same as the one listed in its #1 spot, Ex Stack's March 2010; Stack's Bowers, 2011 ANA). This coin was incorrectly pedigreed in the 2008 FUN auction as being ex Paul Kagin; Stewart Levine; Doug Winter and Heritage; Hancock & Harwell. However, we have determined that this coin is actually the Eliasberg coin, easily identified as such by several markers. It is ex S.H. Chapman in 1919; John Clapp Collection; Clapp Estate to Louis Eliasberg, en bloc, via Stack's in 1942; Eliasberg Collection; Eliasberg Collection, Bowers and Ruddy, October 1982, lot 502; Arthur Montgomery Collection; Stack's Session of Auction '84, lot 1353; George Elliot; Mid-American Auctions, January 1987, lot 1816; North Georgia Collection; Heritage's 2008 FUN auction, lot 3198, where it realized a world record $207,000. While the siege of Fort Sumpter was the first salvo of the war, there were no casualties; the first Union casualty of the war was Col. Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth. On May 24, 1861, the day after Virginia voters ratified the state’s secession convention’s decision to leave the Union, federal troops seized Alexandria, VA. Col. Ellsworth, leader of a unit of Zouaves, rushed to the roof of the Marshall House Inn to tear down a Confederate flag. The owner of the inn, James W. Jackson had placed the flag so large that it was reportedly visible by glass by Lincoln and his cabinet from an elevated position. As Ellsworth and a cadre of his troops came down the stairs, Jackson, fired a shot from his double barreled shotgun directly into Col. Ellsworth’s chest, killing him instantly. Private Francis Brownell, who was with Ellsworth, returned fire, hitting Jackson in the face. Both Ellsworth and Jackson became martyrs for their sides. PCGS 4, NGC 0, CAC 2. We think that the PCGS Population Report shows at least one coin duplicated in this grade, which was upgraded to NGC MS64. The rarity of this CHOICE and IMPORTANT coin is not reflected in the PCGS Price Guide, nor the CAC CPG. Knowing that this coin has been off the market for over a dozen years, we know it will bring a VERY STRONG price when the Southern gold specialists see this lot. A world class coin that will vault any collection into world class status. Cert. Number 5616676 PCGS # 8290.00