1487

1855-D G$1 MS64 NGC. Variety 7-I. The s

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1855-D G$1 MS64 NGC. Variety 7-I. The s
<B>1855-D<G$1> MS64 NGC.</B></I> Variety 7-I. The second 5 in the date is positioned completely beneath the A in DOLLAR. An early die state with a remarkable full date and a coin that lacks the die crack to the right of the mintmark seen on later die states.<BR> 1855-D gold dollars with a full date are extremely rare as such with no more than nine or 10 pieces known. The Duke's Creek example is the finest of these, and its sharpness of strike is easily the best seen on any 1855-D.<BR> The 1855-D is the second rarest Dahlonega gold dollar in terms of its overall rarity, but it is clearly the rarest in high grades. Of the 1,811 pieces produced, there are probably no more than 75-90 examples known. Four coins are extant that would qualify as Uncirculated by today's standards. This piece is clearly the finest, and it is one of just two Mint State pieces with a full date. A strong case can be made for calling this coin one of the two most desirable Dahlonega gold dollars in existence, along with the Duke's Creek 1861-D offered below.<BR> As mentioned above, this issue is plagued by weakness of strike. Nearly every known 1855-D shows considerable weakness on the 8 in the date, and sometimes on the first 5. Specialists have long regarded full date examples as rare and desirable, and in the past decade those with sharper dates have traded at premium prices over those with typical weak dates. The present example has a remarkably bold date. It is almost fully detailed on both the obverse and reverse, despite the fact that there are clash marks on each side. It is ironic, and appropriate, that the finest known 1855-D gold dollar is also the best struck.<BR> The surfaces are clean, with just a few fine hairlines (not from cleaning) in the fields. Under magnification, there is some slight roughness, as made. The above-mentioned clash marks are most noticeable at Liberty's forehead and in front of the face; the reverse has some rather extensive and interesting clash mark patterns in the center.<BR> Another amazing feature of this coin's appearance is its luster. Most 1855-D gold dollars are worn to the point that no luster is visible, and on the few higher grade pieces that are known, the luster is typically dull and flat. This piece has bright, frosty luster, with a texture more like a Philadelphia Type Two gold dollar than one from Dahlonega. The coloration is a light yellow-gold, with some greenish tinges.<BR> This is a truly remarkable coin that is certainly one of the highlights of the Duke's Creek Collection. We have been fortunate to sell many of the Condition Census examples of this date over the past few years. In the Platinum Night session of the January 2006 FUN Sale, the second finest known 1855-D gold dollar, graded MS64 by NGC, brought $109,250. While that coin was certainly a lovely example, it lacked a full date and, in our opinion, is therefore not as desirable as this piece. We expect the Duke's Creek 1855-D to set a record price for this date.<BR><I>Ex: Manfra, Tordella and Brookes via private treaty to Harry Bass in December 1974; Harry Bass Collection (Bowers and Merena, 10/99), lot 102, where it brought $92,000; Hancock and Harwell.</B></I><BR><I>From The Duke's Creek Collection of Dahlonega Gold.</B></I>