1873

1875 $5 Liberty PCGS PR64

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:25,000.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 65,000.00 USD
1875 $5 Liberty PCGS PR64
Essentially unmatched in its delightful Proof 64 quality: Glittering mirror fields complement precise and lightly frosted reliefs with deep coppery orange patina. This is a thrilling date for collectors from any perspective. It claims only 20 Proofs and 200 business strikes. Attrition over the intervening years has, of course, further concentrated the availability of this important date in any state. An idea of the on-the-ground rarity of this historic coin can be grasped by paying particular attention to the 10-year Dannreuther-Garret auction listing, which features only six business strikes and exactly three Proofs, all in the same high grade of the present coin. The startling rarity of this Proof date is demonstrated by its appearance or absence in the great name sales of the recent past.

Left base of 1 right of center of dentil (on the extremely rare business strikes, it is left of center). Minute rust mark between tops of LI. Sometimes weakly struck on lovelock, on hair above and behind ear, on eagle's neck, chief horizontal stripes, and arrow feathers, for instance, as on the Eliasberg coin; others seen of this date show different degrees of these same weaknesses.

One of only 20 made, February 13. We estimate that 8 to 10 survive. Modern auction records are very few -- even fewer than one would expect, representing only five coins: (1) Ely, Woodward, Garrett 3/76:454 (less weak), $81,000, Auction '90:1776, $115,000; (2) Mumford, Clapp, Eliasberg:536, $60,500, Superior's Mendelson sale 2/91:2804, $78,100; (3) Farouk:256, Kosoff, Bareford:189, $76,000 (12/78; less weak but hairlined), reappearing in Auction '89:1394, $93,500; (4) Superior's 3/91:2804, $78,100. PCGS Proof 64; (5) Heritage6/87:4432, later in Trompeter graded Proof 65; (6) Bowers 7/97:369, PCGS Proof 64; (7) Superior 2/98:3416, PCGS Proof 64 #9932335 reappearing in Superior 6/99:3538, $74,750; (8) Heritage 1/99:8145, PCGS Proof 64 (adjustment lines through eagle); (9) Stack's 3/2005:1968 "Very Choice". (#8470)