1029

1851-D $2 1/2 MS61 NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1851-D $2 1/2 MS61 NGC.
1851-D $2 1/2 MS61 NGC. Ex: Pittman. Variety 14-M. (per Doug Winter's second edition and revised attribution system). The only die pair used this year. Reverse of 1850-1859.RARITY INFORMATION: The 1851-D is a much scarcer date than the 1849-D or the 1850-D although the three dates are comparably priced. Around 100-110 pieces are known with an estimated 18-23 that grade About Uncirculated and five verified Uncirculated examples. The finest known is an MS64 in the Duke's Creek Collection. There are also two coins graded MS62 by PCGS, a PCGS MS61, and the Green Pond Collection NGC MS61 that we are currently offering for sale.STRIKE: The 1851-D tends to show a much better strike than the other Dahlonega quarter eagles from the early 1850s. The Green Pond/Pittman coin has excellent detail. The obverse shows nearly full hair, sharp denticles and has full radial lines in the stars. The reverse is also bold with sharp feathers noted on the neck and wings. There is some minor weakness on the eagle's right (facing) talon and left leg, as always, plus an incomplete area on the denticles from 4 to 6 o'clock.SURFACES: There is one fine horizontal hairline (not from cleaning) in the left obverse field and a few other extremely light marks are visible on the obverse and reverse, including some located below OF. The overall quality of the surfaces is very good and this is an original, attractive coin that has not been cleaned or over-dipped.LUSTER: A considerable amount of frosty luster can be seen, and there are some minor breaks in the luster in the fields as a result of some minor cabinet friction.COLORATION: Light green-gold and orange-rose hues can be seen on the obverse and reverse with the former a bit lighter in hue. It is very difficult to locate an 1851-D quarter eagle that has good color as most have been cleaned or dipped.EYE APPEAL: This coin has good eye appeal. It shows a very good strike and has problem-free surfaces that are covered with nice original coloration.COMPARABLES: We sold a PCGS MS61 in our 1999 FUN auction as lot 7648 for $28,800. In our 1999 ANA Sale, a PCGS MS62 brought $12,075.PEDIGREE: Purchased through Heritage Rare Coin Galleries from David Akers' May 1998 Pittman Collection Sale, lot 1771, where it brought $8,250; earlier from Abe Kosoff's Melish sale, April 1956. This is the plate coin in the second edition of Doug Winter's "Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861" and it is listed in the current Condition Census as the fourth finest known 1851-D quarter eagle. Important notice: Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid.