1035

1857-D $2 1/2 MS61 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1857-D $2 1/2 MS61 PCGS.
1857-D $2 1/2 MS61 PCGS. Variety 20-M. (per Doug Winter's second edition and revised attribution system). The only dies used this year. Reverse of 1850-1859.RARITY INFORMATION: Despite a very low original mintage of only 2,364 coins, the 1857-D is among the more available Dahlonega quarter eagles in high grades. It is assumed that a hoard existed at one time as this date is more likely to be found in AU grades than it is in Very Fine. There are an estimated eight to ten fully Uncirculated pieces currently known with the highest graded of these being solitary MS63 examples at both PCGS and NGC. PCGS has graded a total of four different coins in MS62 as of November 2003 and at least three distinct MS61s.STRIKE: It is one of the great miracles of Dahlonega coinage that the 1857-D quarter eagle is found with a very good strike, one year after the 1856-D holds the "honor" as the worst struck American gold coin of all time. Both the obverse and the reverse are sharp with strong details noted in the centers as well as the borders. This sharpness of strike makes the 1857-D an excellent choice for the collector seeking a single Dahlonega quarter eagle for type purposes.SURFACES: There are some hairlines on the obverse and reverse, probably from a light cleaning that occurred many years ago. Were it not for these, this coin would easily grade MS62--if not MS63. Under a glass, a few truly tiny marks and scrapes can be seen including one that runs the length of stars 10 and 11.LUSTER: As on most of the higher grade 1857-D quarter eagles that are known, the luster on this coin is soft and frosty with a very distinctive semi-grainy appearance. Despite some light hairlines, the luster has not been severely disturbed.COLORATION: The color on both the obverse and reverse is a light greenish-yellow hue. It is quite attractive, as are a number of higher grade 1857-D quarter eagles.EYE APPEAL: This is an extremely attractive coin with a great strike, nice color and surfaces, and good luster. To the naked eye it looks considerably finer than MS61, and it has as much eye appeal as any 1857-D quarter eagle we have seen in recent years.COMPARABLES: We sold a PCGS MS61 as lot 8094 in our January 2001 auction for $14,375. In our January 2003 sale, an NGC MS62 (lot 4708) brought $14,950.PEDIGREE: Purchased from Doug Winter and Jack Hancock in November 1998; earlier from John Hamrick. This is the plate coin the second edition of the Winter book on Dahlonega gold and it is listed in the current Condition Census as tied with a small group of other coins as the fourth finest known 1857-D quarter eagle. 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.