5517

1898 $5 PR68 Deep Cameo NGC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1898 $5 PR68 Deep Cameo NGC.
<B>1898<$5> PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC.</B></I> In 1898, just 75 proof half eagles were coined, less than half the mintage of the quarter eagle of this same year. Like most proof gold issues from this time period, it is generally believed that about half the original mintage still survives, or about 35 coins. Of all the survivors, we are unable to imagine any that have a higher degree of aesthetic appeal or overall technical quality than this piece. Aside from a few mint-made defects, it is essentially a perfect coin, just like the day it was made. It is far finer than the PR64 example in the Bass Collection, for instance, and also finer than the Choice Proof example in the Pittman Collection. Perhaps only the Trompeter coin, described as a Superb Gem could possibly rival this piece.<BR> A tiny u-shaped lint mark is evident in the obverse field, just southeast of star 3, and an additional tiny "lint patch" can be seen at the northwest point of star 12. Every facet of the strike is exquisitely detailed, right down to the fine die polishing lines within the white spaces of the shield on the reverse. The surfaces are deeply mirrored with the desirable wavy appearance in the fields. All of the devices have exceptional mint frost, with brilliant yellow-gold color on each side. The rims on each side appear to have a deeper lemon-yellow color to serve as a frame for this work of art. This example is the single finest piece graded by either PCGS or NGC, and is almost certainly the finest known proof half eagle of the date.<BR><I>From The Belle Glade Collection.</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Important notice: