LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Jan. FUN Signature Coin Auction #454  / 

3184

1854-D $5 Large D MS64 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:19,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1854-D $5 Large D MS64 NGC
<B>1854-D $5 Large D MS64 NGC.</B></I> Variety 31-X. Branch mint gold guru Douglas Winter notes in his <I>Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint </B></I>that the 1854-D issue comes in two distinct and dissimilar appearances: "The majority are flatly struck at the borders and have an almost sunken appearance. This is the result of the centers being so much sharper than the border. Many have nearly complete hair detail with just a touch of weakness on the curls near the face of Liberty. The stars are mostly sharp while the denticles are blurry and indistinct. The reverse shows the same appearance with strong detail on the feathers of the eagle and the claws but weakness on the denticles. <I>Some are known which are stronger at the border and which show less pronounced beveling of the rims. These pieces are quite rare." </B></I>(Emphasis ours.)<BR> This wonderful piece is an example that shows both a good strike at the borders as well as in the centers of each side. All of the denticles are well articulated on both sides, and there is little beveling in evidence. A bit of strike softness shows on the fletchings and the hair just below ER, but overall the strike is marvelous for the issue. The surfaces are peach-gold and remarkably unabraded for a D-mint gold piece, and the luster is equally marvelous and radiant.<BR> Winter notes that the 1854-D is one of the more common D-mint half eagles, especially in higher grades, but that it is much rarer in Mint State than the frequently seen 1853-D. The highest-graded example Heritage has ever offered is an MS65. Census: 1 in 64, 2 finer (12/07).<BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Christian Gobrecht<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot