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[L#0123] 1864 1C L ON RIB PCGS PR64 RD POP: 3/0

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:60,000.00 USD Estimated At:100,000.00 - 150,000.00 USD
[L#0123] 1864 1C L ON RIB PCGS PR64 RD POP: 3/0
Iridescent orange and pinkish red resonate off of the surface of this pristine Gem of one of the rarest one-cent coins in American numismatics. Desirable with this controlled strike as occurs on all Proofs struck at the time, every nuance of the design incorporates needle-sharp detail, from the feathers on the headdress to the tiny initial L at the base of the hair band (just behind Liberty's neck). To date, possibly as few as 8 examples are known from the two original obverse Proof dies for 1864: Seven from one die pair and only a single example is known from the other. When Proof 1864 With L cents became known to collectors is unrecorded. It may have been within a year or two of their issue. By 1869 the coin was in demand sufficiently to warrant someone at the Mint to strike additional pieces. This was most likely done by Mint Assayer William DuBois, who also worked as Curator of The Mint Collection. An additional 10 specimens were struck using a refurbished obverse die and the regular Proof reverse die from the 1868-1871 period. Today, an extant 1864-L Proof cent draws a lot of attention whenever one appears for sale.

The origin of the bronze cents of 1864-1909, including this treasured 1864-L Proof can be described briefly. Mint Director Pollock's objections to copper-nickel as a coinage metal were based on many reasons: It was difficult to melt and more difficult to work, it was hard enough that the planchets damaged dies, and perhaps worst of all, it had become so expensive that copper-nickel cents cost more than face value to make! This was independent of his political opposition to Joseph Wharton, nickel's monopolist and promoter. Accordingly, Pollock pushed his friends in the Senate and House to hasten passage of a bill to authorize cent and 2c coinage in "French bronze" (see preceding section), which became the Act of April 22, 1864. These pieces were to have a limited legal-tender quality, unlike any of their predecessors: a provision of dubious constitutionality.

Earlier cents coined under this new act are from the same hub seen on 1860-64 nickel cents, with rounded tip to bust, and no engraver's initial. Later ones (at least 18 obverse dies, probably more) show a narrower, sharper bust point and Longacre's initial L on ribbon: the famous 1864 L cents. These are common in business strike grades (mostly too worn for the L to show), but almost unobtainable in Proof. The L continued on all Proof Indian cents through 1909.