1062

1859-D $5 MS63 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1859-D $5 MS63 PCGS.
1859-D $5 MS63 PCGS. Medium mintmark. Variety 36-CC. (per Doug Winter's second edition and revised attribution system). Same reverse as on the 1858-D just offered. This is the more common of the two medium mintmark varieties. There is also a large mintmark variety, which is very rare.RARITY INFORMATION: With just 10,366 pieces struck, the 1859-D has the second lowest mintage figure of any Dahlonega half eagle. This is a fairly scarce coin in all grades and it is usually found in Extremely Fine. There are an estimated 28-32 examples believed extant today in AU and another seven to eight in Uncirculated. A few very nice examples are accounted for including a superb PCGS MS64 in the Duke's Creek Collection that is Ex: Pittman, Melish, and Ten Eyck. The Green Pond coin is tied with two others as the second finest known and these three are the total number graded as such by PCGS as of November 2003.STRIKE: The 1859-D half eagle is often seen with a below average strike. This coin shows much better detail than usual. The obverse is very sharp except for the curl below the ear of Liberty and star 2, which is flat at its center. The reverse is very sharp and has virtually complete definition. As on all 1859-D half eagles, there is some beveling noted on the edges.SURFACES: On both the obverse and reverse, there are some shallow, scattered marks noted. A small scrape at star 4 and a few marks above the beak are the most readily visible. This date is often found with particularly deep abrasions, and the surfaces on this piece are quite a bit nicer than usually encountered.LUSTER: This is a very lustrous coin. It is frosty with a somewhat more grainy texture in the protected areas. Most examples show poor luster, making this piece above average in this respect.COLORATION: Attractive rich medium orange-gold color can be seen on the obverse and reverse. This color appears to be original and it is similar in hue to the other high grade 1859-D half eagles we have seen.EYE APPEAL: This is an attractive, high grade 1859-D half eagle. It is very well struck and lustrous with good color and surfaces. It is the best example to appear at public auction since we offered the Chestatee PCGS MS63 in our 1999 ANA Sale.COMPARABLES: The finest known is a PCGS MS64 in the Duke's Creek Collection that was sold as lot 1022 in David Akers' Pittman I Auction (October 1997) where it realized $60,500. In our 1999 Chestatee Collection Sale a PCGS MS63 was offered as lot 7700 and it realized $17,250.PEDIGREE: Obtained via private treaty from Doug Winter in October 1998. Earlier Ex: Hancock and Harwell; Duke's Creek Collection. This is the plate coin in the second edition of the Winter book on Dahlonega gold. It is listed in the current Condition Census as being tied with two other coins as the third finest known 1859-D half 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.