30632

1855 G$1 MS67 PCGS. Superb! One of the finest known. 1855 G$1 MS67 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1855 G$1 MS67 PCGS. Superb! One of the finest known. 1855 G$1 MS67 PCGS.
1855 G$1 MS67 PCGS. Superb! One of the finest known. <B>1855 G$1 MS67 PCGS.</B></I> <I>Superb!</B></I> One of the finest known of this date and type, and a coin which is stunning in every regard. Note the blazing luster in the fields which comes alive when examined under a light. The strike too is excellent for this notoriously weak issue, with full curls on Liberty, strong peripheral lettering, and the wreath shows all the desired details. If one must find some fault, then the top of the 18 in the date is slightly weak. Both the obverse and reverse show thin die cracks through the peripheral lettering or wreath devices. Close examination induces the viewer to marvel at the Superb quality of the surfaces, were this just <I>any</B></I> gold dollar it would be spectacular, but as a Type II, this quality is legendary. There is a faint and very fine die line which is seen near the left edge of the reverse, a small leftover remnant from the preparation of the dies, and the left most corn husk has been separated from the wreath by lapping, and floats all alone in a satiny sea of luster near the wreath. The combined NGC and PCGS population reports tally seven coins graded this high, with none seen finer.<BR> The Type II Gold dollar is the rarest type coin which is included in the majority of gold type collections. Therefore demand for this issue has always been very high, and very few Choice or Gem mint state coins have been found to satisfy collectors wants. The present coin is one of the very finest graded not only of this date, but of the entire type, and will certainly be one of the highlights of even the most advanced collection.<BR> The decision to strike gold dollars along with silver dollars was the brainchild of government officials. In theory, the price of silver and gold would be held at a set level and both would circulate alongside each other and be interchangeable in commerce. Naturally, coinage began in 1849, just as the floodgates from the California Gold Rush opened up, sending a crushing supply of gold onto the world market. The price of gold fell making silver more valuable in a relative sense. Hence, people spent gold coins and hoarded silver coins as the 1850s began. By 1853 widespread and profitable melting of silver coinage was rampant, and something had to be done to get silver coins back in circulation. The silver content was slightly reduced on fractional coinage in 1853, and the mints turned up the coining presses to inundate the market. The tiny Gold dollars were being minted in large numbers by the Philadelphia Mint, and the branch mints were also helping out. After a few years in circulation the Gold dollars were determined to be too small, measuring a scant 13 millimeters. Engraver James B. Longacre produced new dies in late 1854 which increased the size of the Gold dollar to 15 millimeters and depicted Liberty as an Indian Princess with a small head, but used the same amount of gold in the planchet. This design lasted until mid year 1856 when Liberty's head was modified once again to the large head or Type III design. These changes created a very elusive type coin for collectors in the Type II Gold dollar. This is a premier rarity in this lofty grade, and a coin which any collector would be thrilled to own.<BR><I>From The Paul Taylor Collection of Finest Known PCGS Registry Gold Type Sets.</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> 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. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. 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. This lot is being auctioned in conjunction with a live floor auction by Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers. All final auction and invoice information will be supplied by Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers, and all other information should be considered preliminary. Lot:30632