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1851-D G$1 MS65 NGC. Variety 3-E. All f

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1851-D G$1 MS65 NGC. Variety 3-E. All f
<B>1851-D<G$1> MS65 NGC.</B></I> Variety 3-E. All four digits of the date are lightly recut, with this showing most clearly below the upright of the first 1. Intermediate die state, with some cracks on the reverse. There are two varieties known, of which this is the more common; an estimated two-thirds of the 1851-D gold dollars struck employ this die pair.<BR> This is among the more important condition rarities in the Duke's Creek Collection of Dahlonega gold dollars. This coin has long been regarded as the finest known 1851-D, and it has a long pedigree that includes some of the more famous branch mint gold collectors from the past half century. It is also an important enough coin that the late Dahlonega specialist, Jack Hancock, bought and sold it at least four times (!).<BR> The strike is extremely sharp for the issue, with full radial lines noted on the stars. The hair has fully defined curls, while the wreath is bold. Both the obverse and reverse show a number of clash marks, most prominent on the reverse. The surfaces are very clean, as one would expect from a Dahlonega gold dollar that has been accorded an MS65 grade by NGC (none has been graded this high at PCGS, either). When the coin is tilted just right, it is possible to see a small cluster of thin hairlines below the bust; there are also a few small ticks in the obverse fields, but none of these is deep enough to merit individual mention. Perhaps the best feature of this coin is its superb, frosty luster. The 1851-D tends to have better luster than nearly any other gold dollar from this mint, but even by this standard, the Duke's Creek piece is remarkable. Both the obverse and reverse show light green-gold color, with pale yellowish highlights. The overall level of eye appeal is very pleasing, and this is a handsome coin that truly deserves to be called a Gem.<BR> This coin ranks as one of the three or four nicest Dahlonega gold dollars known of any date. It would make a great type coin for the collector seeking a single high quality Dahlonega gold dollar, or it would greatly improve a specialist's date collection. This is the only 1851-D gold dollar graded MS65 by either service (2/06).<BR><I>Ex: Hollinbeck (11/47), lot 1418; Bareford Collection (Stack's, 12/78), lot 15; Hancock and Harwell; Arthur Montgomery Collection; Auction '84 (Stack's session, 8/84), lot 1297, where it brought $9,900; Hancock and Harwell; Georgia collection; Hancock and Harwell; Leon Farmer Collection; Hancock and Harwell. Plated in the first edition of Doug Winter's</B></I> Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861.<BR><I>From The Duke's Creek Collection of Dahlonega Gold.</B></I>