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1854 D. round Half D, BG-424, Low Rarity 7

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
1854 D. round Half D, BG-424, Low Rarity 7
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday April 11, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
April 12-13, 2012
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Grand Ballroom #4
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday April 14th, 10am-1pm

1854 Similar obverse, but 14 stars around, no D, die crack from top of head to rim between stars 7 and 8, another die crack from truncation of bust to rim, rust in fields; wreath, CALIFORNIA GOLD HALF DOL around, star/ 1854/ D within. Signed by Deriberpie on reverse, but see note below. Extremely Rare: just 10 examples noted in Breen-Gillio going back to 1929, probably including some duplication, one of which was stolen and never recovered; an 11th was sold by Stack’s 9/8/2005, Lot 1684. BG-424 is one of the mysteries of the small California gold series. The named reverse die is used in no other combination, yet BG-424 was plainly struck after BG-425. Both examples for which weights are recorded are much too light for Period One: 0.36 g (Jay Roe) and 0.32 g [after cleaning] (Mike Locke, ex Stack’s 2005). Compare this to the average weights of BG-421 and BG-423, 0.54 g and 0.50 g. The two examples of BG-425 weighed measured 0.62 g and 0.67 g. The unused reverse die and the rusted obverse probably survived another five years into Period Two, when weights in this range are typical (i.e., for four pieces dated 1859, BG-1001 and BG-1002, 0.40 g; BG-1003, 0.32 g; and BG-1004, 0.38 g to 0.41 g) Ex Heritage Long Beach 2/3/1994, Lot 5711. Reddish toning except for yellow gold in central reverse, reflective surfaces obverse, darker patches both sides (loss of gilded surface?). PCGS MS62. Only one graded finer. Serial# 26703360 Totheroh Collection HKA#63582