LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2007 Jan (FUN) Heritage Signature Coin #422  / 

3362

1861-D G$1 MS64 NGC. Variety 12-Q, the only known die

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:70,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 2.00 USD
1861-D G$1 MS64 NGC. Variety 12-Q, the only known die
<B>1861-D G$1 MS64 NGC.</B></I> Variety 12-Q, the only known die marriage. With an unknown, but tiny mintage that is estimated in the range of 1,000 to 1,500 pieces, the 1861-D gold dollar is a great rarity and easily the rarest Dahlonega gold dollar. It is also the rarest and most in-demand of the Type Three gold dollars, whether in circulated or Mint State grades. NGC and PCGS list 79 examples in all grades. Additionally, it is the <I>second-rarest of all gold dollars,</B></I> surpassed only by the near-unobtainable 1849-C Open Wreath issue. Only 55-65 pieces are believed known today of the 1861-D with an estimated 10-12 coins in mint condition. This piece is certainly at the top of the Condition Census, and in fact may be tied for finest known with the "Alabama Collection" PCGS MS64. Green Pond and Duke's Creek both had an MS63, but this does not appear to be either of those pieces.<BR> The unrecorded mintage of 1861-D gold dollars was struck by the Confederate States of America after it took over the Dahlonega Mint in April 1861. Mint Director George Kellogg resigned, and the 1861-D dollars were struck by "amateur minters," as Winter terms them, in May 1861. Winter says the coins were produced from an obverse die left over from the 1860-D dollar, despite the fact that Breen reports that "two pairs of dies" were shipped on Dec. 10, 1860, from the Mother Mint in Philadelphia, arriving on Jan. 7, 1861, before Georgia seceded from the Union in April. This issue is the only coin emission manufactured solely and exclusively under the auspices of the CSA.<BR> Winter notes that on all known examples, the U and N in UNITED are weak, and sometimes the IC in AMERICA also show weakness (as seen on this coin). Unlike most known 1861-D gold dollars, this piece shows smooth surfaces that are free from most of the planchet distractions usually encountered. The only areas that show any (barely) visible signs of planchet problems are a couple of shallow swipes of granularity in the central to upper portion of the reverse. The surfaces are frosted and the coin displays rich orange-gold coloration. This near-Gem example is one of three so graded at NGC and PCGS combined, with a single example graded finer at NGC (10/06).<BR><I>From The Freedom Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coin/Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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