4204

[L#4204] 1851 $1 High Date NGC AU58

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
[L#4204] 1851 $1 High Date NGC AU58
In 1851 the excess of silver exports (including bullion, U.S. coins, and coins from other countries) over imports jumped to $23 million, up dramatically from just $2 million the year before according to Neil Carothers in Fractional Money. Coinage Laws of the United States reports an export figure of $6,635,839, much lower than Carother's figure but still showing a significant increase over the year before. In the years 1850 and 1851 the excess exports of silver were more than the entire face value of silver coinage for the preceding two decades! Much of this exportation was in the form of earlier-minted coins, including silver dollars, which tended to be of higher weight and better acceptability than foreign silver coins in domestic circulation. It is likely that large numbers of Liberty Seated dollars minted 1840-1850 saw destruction in this manner. New silver coins were made in very small amounts in 1851, therefore, and none was believed placed into circulation at the time.

For the above reasons, the Philadelphia Mint restricted its issuance of silver dollars: 1,300 in all were made in 1851. This is a sharp, nicely toned example with the date conspicuously set in the upper part of the gap between the ground line and the rim dentils. It has very choice surfaces and rims, without anything that could conceivably cause a bidder to turn away from it. Indeed, it is generally very handsome.