10329

Unquestionably the "finest known."

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Unquestionably the  finest known.
<TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#79735c><FONT face=arial color=#ffffff size=3><B>Description</B> </FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#ffffff><FONT face=arial size=2><B>1876 $5 MS65 PCGS.</B></I> When this coin was last sold as lot 7456 in our 1994 Detroit ANA Sale, it was cataloged as follows:<BR>"The study and pursuit of coins is a fascinating subject, and sometimes the stories behind the coins we handle can be just as intriguing as the coins themselves. To date, the story of this coin has two chapters. The first part is its sale in 1968 as a part of the legendary Miles Collection (Stack's, 10/68). The coin was lot 499 of that sale where it was described as: "Superbly struck, with full mint bloom, and proof-like. Probably the first coin struck from the dies. <B>Unquestionably the "finest known."</B></I> Each star, letter, and general design is so well defined that one would think it was a Proof. Wolfson had a Proof of this date, but we feel that an Uncirculated coin such as this is far rarer than a Proof. Though the Guidebook lists this coin in Uncirculated at $550 we feel that it will probably realize close to the Proof price of $1,000.00. Must be seen to be appreciated." Their estimate was on the money, and the coin did indeed bring $1,000. The purchase of such a high grade business strike for a price that was comparable to that of a proof shows remarkable prescience on the part of the new owner (and present consignor). The pursuit of finest known gold coins was certainly an underdeveloped area in U.S. numismatics in 1968. The only collectors that readily come to mind who actively pursued such coins were John Murrell, Harry Bass, and Ms. Norweb.<BR>The second part of this coin's story picks up 26 years later at the ANA Early Spring Convention in New Orleans. An elderly man offered a large group of U.S. coins to Heritage for outright sale. He spoke with Heritage's principal buyer, Jim Halperin, and quoted him individual prices. The gentleman had a Panama-Pacific set he wanted $70,000 for, but Jim told him the set was worth closer to $35-$45,000. He also offered to Jim the present 1876 half eagle for $5,000, and Jim informed him that this coin was worth far more than his quoted price, and under the right set of circumstances could bring as much as $40,000! After several other haphazard price quotes, Jim suggested that rather than sell parts of his collection too cheaply and being left with the balance, he should consider consigning everything to the summer ANA sale. Many of the coins in this sale were submitted to the grading services by Heritage on behalf of the consignor. One of the results is the coin offered here.<BR>Only 1,432 business strikes were produced in this centennial year, the lowest production of any With Motto five. Naturally, any coin of this issue is rare, regardless of condition, and this piece is unquestionably the finest known example. It is unrivaled in condition for this year and, is also the earliest dated With Motto half eagle certified by PCGS in gem condition. In fact, it would not be an overstatement to say that this is one of the finest preserved coins from the earlier years of the With Motto series. It is extremely unlikely that another specimen could approach the condition of this piece as nothing has turned up in public auction or at the grading services since this piece was last sold in 1968.<BR>The typical 1876 half eagle has prooflike surfaces. On this coin the fields have a pleasing glimmer, a mild semi-prooflikeness, with much cartwheel luster intermixed. The strike is well brought up but not completely full on the highpoints of the design. The most noticeable marks that could serve as identifiers for pedigree purposes are: a luster scrape between stars 1 and 2, and another faint field mark out from stars 3 and 4. There are also three faint alloy spots on the obverse, one in the hair curls in front of Liberty's ear and two on the neck. Another can be seen at the top of OF on the reverse (this second one plainly shows in the photograph in the Miles catalog).<BR>An outstanding piece of rare date U.S. gold that is certain to generate much interest at this historic sale. "<BR>This coin, in spirited bidding from the floor, realized $48,300 in 1994. While much has changed in the intervening decade, the rarity and desirability of the present coin has not. While there are now two pieces certified at the MS65 level by PCGS, with none finer (4/03), this is still perhaps the finest representative of this rare issue in existence. It is a storied coin with a well-chronicled pedigree, and combines both terrific technical merit and outstanding aesthetic appeal. It is likely to be among the "highlight of highlights" of this sale, and is an offering that is not likely to soon be duplicated. </FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><A name=PricesRealized></A><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#79735c><A name=PR><FONT face=arial color=#ffffff size=3><B>Previous Prices from Heritage Auctions</B> </FONT></A></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#f6f6ed><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width="33%"><B>Date</B></TD><TD align=middle width="33%"><B>Service</B></TD><TD align=middle width="33%"><B>Price</B></TD></TR><TR bgColor=whitesmoke><TD width="33%"><B>07/30/1994</B></TD><TD width="33%">PCGS</TD><TD width="33%">$46,200.00</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff><FONT face=arial size=1 ?>PLEASE NOTE: All prices realized reflect the final hammer price PLUS the buyer's premium in auctions that charge a buyer's premium. Each item has a notation at the top of the listing indicating whether that lot included a buyer's premium. Example: A item that sells with a final hammer price of $100 and a 20% buyer's premium will display with a price realized of $120. All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. Please use this guide carefully and inform us of any inaccuracies. </FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#79735c colSpan=6><FONT face=arial color=#ffffff size=3><B>Price Guide*</B> </FONT></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#f6f6ed><TD align=middle><B>Grade</B> </TD><TD align=middle><B>Coin World<BR>(Trends)</B> </TD><TD align=middle><B>Numismedia<BR>Retail</B> </TD><TD align=middle><B>Numismedia<BR>Wholesale</B> </TD><TD align=middle><B>Coin<BR>Universe</B> </TD><TD align=middle><B>Heritage<BR>Value Index</B> </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD align=middle>64</TD><TD align=right>$30,000.00</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>$26,500.00</TD><TD align=right>$38,000.00</TD><TD align=right>$20,666.67</TD></TR><TR style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" bgColor=#cccfdd><TD align=middle>65</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>$39,500.00</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>$36,900.00</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD align=middle>66</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>---</TD><TD align=right>---</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD colSpan=6><FONT size=1>*All information listed is intended to be as accurate as possible, but errors are possible. No item may be returned or refused based on this information which is provided as a service to our customers. You should contact each pricing source directly to determine the accuracy of this information. </FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#79735c><FONT face=arial color=#ffffff size=3><B>Population Guide</B> </FONT></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD align=middle><!-- Begin Output of Population Grid--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center><TABLE cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=1 cellsadding="3"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle bgColor=#f0f1e8 colSpan=2 <CENTER><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>PCGS Pop </B></FONT><CENTER></CENTER></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle bgColor=#f0f1e8 colSpan=2><CENTER><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>NGC Pop</B></CENTER></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center><FONT face=Arial size=2>(65)</FONT> </TD><TD vAlign=center align=right><FONT face=Arial size=2>2</FONT> </TD><TD vAlign=center><FONT face=Arial size=2>(65)</FONT> </TD><TD vAlign=center align=right><FONT face=Arial size=2>0</FONT> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center><FONT face=Arial size=2>(&gt;65)</FONT> </TD><TD vAlign=center align=right><FONT face=Arial size=2>0</FONT> </TD><TD vAlign=center><FONT face=Arial size=2>(&gt;65)</FONT> </TD><TD vAlign=center align=right><FONT face=Arial size=2>0</FONT> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- End Output of Population Grid--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR> Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. On occasion eBay live bid software cannot keep up with the pace of the auctions where 4-5 lots per minute can hammer down, so we recommend that you place a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.