LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 April Rosemont, IL (CSNS) US Coin #1104  / 

2350

1866 $1 Motto PR67 Star Ultra Cameo NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:65,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1866 $1 Motto PR67 Star Ultra Cameo NGC
<B>1866 $1 Motto PR67 </B></I><img src="/images/star.gif" width="10" height="10" alt="" border="0"><B> Ultra Cameo NGC.</B></I> The horrific War Between the States, also known as the Civil War, was an internecine conflict the like of which the United States had never seen before and, it is to be fervently hoped, will never see again. As a result of the upsurge in religious sentiment during the war, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on the nation's coinage, beginning with the two cent piece in 1864 and extending by 1866 through the nickel five cent, the quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar, along with the gold half eagle, eagle, and double eagle. (Apparently the Mint decided that the smaller coins--the Indian cent, silver and nickel three cent, the silver half dime and dime, and gold quarter eagle--were too small to comfortably accommodate the motto within their borders.)<BR> It is unclear why proofs of this issue, produced to the extent of only 725 coins, all issued in the silver proof sets of the year, were produced from three different obverse dies. The present specimen is produced from what Bowers calls Die Pair 2. On the obverse, the date is entered low in the die, and slants upward noticeably to the right. The reverse shows a small die "spine" extending northwest from the top of the third olive leaf. Although unmentioned in Bowers, there are also some curious, interesting raised die lines running almost laterally, one through the top of N and the bottoms of GOD, another through the left ribbon fold to WE. GOD WE TRUST shows hub doubling (but not IN). <BR><I> </B></I>Bowers says that most proofs seen are from Die Pair 1, so this piece, in addition to the rest of its many charms, is from a rare die pairing. The surfaces are incredibly lustrous and appealing, stone-white throughout and lacking any trace of noticeable color beyond a faint hint of champagne at the rims. The profoundly deep mirrors make a stark contrast with the frosty devices, and this is a coin that requires no loupe to confirm its grand and obvious appeal. While NGC has graded six PR67 Ultra Cameo coins of this date, this is the only one to achieve the coveted Star designation for superior eye appeal (3/08). The single finest certified at either service, and the finest we have ever offered.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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