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"1874 $10 Bickford Eagle, Judd-1374, Pol"

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
 1874 $10 Bickford Eagle, Judd-1374, Pol
<B>1874<$10> Bickford Eagle, Judd-1374, Pollock-1519, Low R.6, PR65 Red and Brown PCGS.</B></I> Ex: Garrett. The obverse depicts a bust of Liberty facing left with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and the date below. Liberty wears a diadem inscribed with the word LIBERTY and ornamented with six stars. The weight 16.72 GRAMS, the standard of the metal 900 FINE, and the word UBIQUE are centered on the reverse. Around the periphery is the U.S. denomination DOLLARS 10 and the following international equivalents: STERLING (Pound) 2.1.1; MARKEN 41.99; KRONEN 37.31; GULDEN 20.73; and FRANCS 51.81. According to the recent Judd revision, the Latin <I>ubique</B></I> translates as "ubiquitous, or existing everywhere." Struck in copper and gilt with a reeded edge. This pattern was part of an effort to create a gold coin convenient for European trade. Mint Director Henry Linderman apparently approved of Dana Bickford's concept, but Congress failed to pass the appropriate legislation.<BR> Judd-1374 appears at auction every few years, but the examples encountered usually have little or no remaining mint color. Neither NGC nor PCGS have certified any pieces as Red. Only two pieces have been certified Red and Brown, the present coin and another by PCGS at the PR65 level. The reverse of this well struck piece retains nearly all of its original salmon-pink color, while the obverse has much Red but shows light lilac-gray toning on the field and cheek. No abrasions are detected, but a couple of tiny carbon flecks are present, with one beneath the serif of the S in DOLLARS to identify the piece. In its Garrett catalog appearance, the cataloger noted, "This is probably the finest known specimen of this issue. Certainly we have never seen an equal or nicer one." An important, well-pedigreed example of this large diameter, high denomination pattern.<BR><I>Guttag Brothers to John Work Garrett, 5/27; Garrett Collection Sale 2 (Bowers & Ruddy, 3/80), lot 1092.</B></I>