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1861-D G$1 MS63 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1861-D G$1 MS63 PCGS.
1861-D G$1 MS63 PCGS. Variety 12-Q. (per Doug Winter's second edition and revised attribution system). Struck from the same obverse die as the 1860-D gold dollar. Small date and mintmark. All were struck from a single pair of dies in May 1861.RARITY INFORMATION: The 1861-D is the rarest Dahlonega gold dollar in terms of overall rarity, but at least four or five other issues are rarer in high grades. However, it is far and away the most famous and desirable Dahlonega gold dollar because it is the only issue that is unquestionably produced by the Confederacy. Of the 55 to 65 pieces known, as many as 10-12 grade Uncirculated including the superb PCGS MS64 in an Alabama collection that is Ex: Elliot-Montgomery-Ullmer-Miles-Pierce.STRIKE: As a rule, the 1861-D gold dollar is a poorly produced coin, but this example shows a surprisingly strong strike. The U and N in UNITED are weak but partially visible while the rest of the lettering is fully squared. The denticles are complete from 11 to 7 o'clock, while the hair and headdress are almost completely detailed. The reverse shows extremely good detail on the wreath while the date and mintmark are full. The borders are weak from die polishing but the denticles are clear from 3 to 6 o'clock.SURFACES: The obverse is extremely choice for the grade with a few wispy hairlines, but the overall look of a borderline Gem. The reverse has some unobtrusive marks, including a few scrapes below the mintmark that serve as useful pedigree identifiers. There are no mint-made imperfections, as often seen.LUSTER: The luster on this coin is thick and very frosty and serves as an almost textbook example of what a 140+ year-old gold coin looks like when it has never been "messed with."COLORATION: Superb medium to deep green-gold and orange color can be seen on the obverse and reverse. This color is completely original and shows no signs of having ever been enhanced. There are not many 1861-D gold dollars known that show this degree of originality.EYE APPEAL: This is a gorgeous coin and its eye appeal is all the more special due to this being such a celebrated issue. It is very well struck with exceptional surfaces that show completely undisturbed luster and natural color. It is our sincere hope that the new owner of this coin will leave it undisturbed and enjoy it for what it is: the finest available example of the most in-demand issue from the Dahlonega mint.COMPARABLES: The finest known 1861-D gold dollar, later graded MS64 by PCGS, sold for $86,250 in Stack's March 2000 auction. None of the small handful of pieces graded MS63 by PCGS have appeared at auction in recent years. The Duke's Creek coin, now graded MS 63 by PCGS, sold as a raw coin back in Stack's January 1990 auction for $31,900 and we auctioned an NGC MS61 in the 1999 FUN sale for $31,050.PEDIGREE: Obtained from Doug Winter in August 2000; Ex: Bob Harwell and Jeff Garrett; Duke's Creek Collection duplicates, Hancock and Harwell, Tangible Investments of America; Sotheby's (6/96), lot 14 ($38,500); Eliasberg Sale (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/82), lot 49 ($16,500); John Clapp Jr.; John Clapp Sr.; I.M. Bates Sale June, 1895. To the best of our knowledge this piece has the oldest, most established pedigree of any 1861-D gold dollar. Plated in the second edition of Doug Winter's "Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861" and listed in the revised Condition Census as the second 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.