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1861-D G$1 MS60 PCGS. Winter 12-O, the only known dies. At the end of 1860, on December 7 to be exac

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,790.00 - 3,720.00 USD
1861-D G$1 MS60 PCGS. Winter 12-O, the only known dies. At the end of 1860, on December 7 to be exac
1861-D G$1 MS60 PCGS. Winter 12-O, the only known dies. At the end of 1860, on December 7 to be exact, the Engraving Department at the Philadelphia Mint shipped two pairs of dies south for production of the 1861-D Gold Dollar. These dies arrived in Dahlonega on January 7, but were not immediately used. On January 19, Georgia seceded from the Union, the fifth Southern state to do so, and on March 6 she ratified the Confederate Constitution. The following month, the bombardment of Fort Sumter opened in Charleston and the Civil War began. In May, rebel authorities, who had previously taken control of the Dahlonega Mint, mated one of the 1861-dated reverses with the old obverse of the 1860-D to strike an unknown number of 1861-D Gold Dollars. Winter (1997) estimates that 1,000-1,500 coins were produced at this time. The lack of a federal 1861-D Gold Dollar delivery, as well as the absolute rarity of this date, explains why the '61-D is, in the opinion of many Southern gold specialists, the most desirable Gold Dollar from the Georgia branch mint. With a mere 50-55 coins believed extant (again, per Winter), the 1861-D is the rarest D-mint Gold Dollar in an absolute sense. A surprisingly high number of Mint State coins are known for an issue with such a small mintage, but such coins are rare when viewed in the wider context of U.S. numismatics. Of course, the historical significance of this issue and its indelible link to the Southern Confederacy also explain why high grade '61-D Gold Dollars always see spirited bidding at auction. The present example is well above average in striking quality for this often poorly defined issue. The U in UNITED is very weak--a diagnostic feature of the date--but the N in UNITED and the IC in AMERICA are sharper than those seen on the plate coin in Winter's book Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint: 1838-1861. All other devices save for some of Liberty's hair curls are appreciably bold. The olive-gold and orange-gold surfaces are a little subdued beneath light, mottled haziness, but both sides are uncommonly free of sizeable abrasions. It is a pleasure for us to be offering this important bidding opportunity to the numerous advanced gold collectors among our bidders.From the Ashland City Collection. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. Sometimes eBay Premier live bid software cannot keep up with that pace, so we strongly recommend that you place a realistic proxy bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Premier carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.