1034

1856-D $2 1/2 MS60 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1856-D $2 1/2 MS60 PCGS.
1856-D $2 1/2 MS60 PCGS. Variety 19-M. (per Doug Winter's second edition and revised attribution system). The only variety for this year. Reverse of 1850-1859.RARITY INFORMATION: The 1856-D quarter eagle is the rarest coin ever produced at the Dahlonega mint. With a mintage of just 874 pieces, it is the only coin from this mint with an original mintage figure of less than 1,000. There are an estimated 40-45 survivors known, including seven to nine in About Uncirculated. Two coins have been graded in Uncirculated by PCGS (the present coin and an MS60 in the Duke's Creek Collection), but specialists are strongly divided on the existence of a truly Mint State example. This, of course, has to do with the extreme difficulty of grading this date.It is important to reiterate that this is one of just two 1856-D quarter eagles to have ever been graded Uncirculated by a major third-party service and it is the ONLY one that will be available to collectors for many years to come.STRIKE: We feel that the 1856-D quarter eagle is the single worst produced coin ever struck at a United States branch mint. While some Dahlonega coins are extremely well struck (there are many examples of high quality D-mint coins in this sale...), this 1856-D is hard to really explain without viewing in person. The obverse is quite weak in the center and has the appearance of being struck from a rusted die. The stars are all weak in their centers but strong at the points and the denticles are quite well defined. The reverse is very flat in the center with a somewhat sunken appearance while the border is much stronger than usual. The overall detail is actually quite a bit above average for this issue.SURFACES: A few minor marks can be seen on the obverse including a few in the right field. The reverse shows a few light hairlines (not from cleaning) and a tiny toning spot below the right (facing) wing serves as a good identifier for future collectors. There appears to be a trace of light hazing that could be easily removed if the new owner so desires. The surfaces do not have the distinctively "pebbled" appearance that is seen on many 1856-D quarter eagles. Most importantly, this coin has no real wear and, in our opinion, justifies the grade assigned by PCGS.LUSTER: There is a substantial amount of soft, frosty luster on both the obverse and the reverse. This is extremely unusual for this issue, as most 1856-D quarter eagles have absolutely no luster present.COLORATION: The color is a medium to deep orange-gold with some russet and purplish-gold highlights on the obverse.EYE APPEAL: At first, we were only mildly impressed by this coin. But the more closely we looked at it, the more we liked it. The strike is well above average while the luster is superior to any other example we can recall having seen. The potential buyer needs to understand that most 1856-D quarter eagles literally look like buttons and the eye appeal that this piece exhibits is far above average.COMPARABLES: The other PCGS MS60 example, now in the Duke's Creek Collection, sold for $44,850 in our January 1999 North Georgia Collection Auction.PEDIGREE: Purchased from Doug Winter in October 1999; earlier Ex: Hancock and Harwell; Michigan Collection. This is the plate coin in the second edition of Winter's book on Dahlonega gold and it is listed (incorrectly) in the Condition Census as the fourth finest known. It is more likely the second or third finest known. Important notice: 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. 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.