Obverse
Reverse
Obverse
Reverse
Obverse
Reverse
Ex: Amon G. Carter, Jr. Collection. Excellent striking details and delectable electric-blue and reddish-brown peripheral toning are hallmarks of this extremely rare specimen. Curly lint marks reside on Liberty's right collar bone and just above the upper right corner of the shield. The watery fields are unmarked but display a few faint, grade-limiting hairlines. As with all know proofs of this date, the present example use the shared reverse of 1840 to 1850. This issue is a great rarity, with an estimated mintage of between 15 and 35 pieces, and with few survivors. Although a total of 16 examples have been graded by NGC and PCGS, this number is almost certain to include multiple submissions of individual coins. A lovely and highly desirable coin.
A sharply struck specimen hallmarked by partial wire rims and crisply defined chin and shoulder which stand out boldly from the field. The prooflike fields on both sides are covered in delicate tawny orange-gold toning. The late Walter Breen and researcher Weimar White note that only 1,300 original business strikes were made from a single die pair distinctly different from the Proof Restrikes produced later. The date has long been sought by collectors of this increasingly popular silver dollar series, and an idea of its rarity can be gained by the fact that only 15 examples appeared at auction in 1995-2005 according to the Dannreuther-Garrett Official Red Book of Auction Records. One of the nicest example of this key date we have handled.
Like the Restrike 1851 Seated Dollar, the Restrike 1852 was produced solely for the benefit of collectors and in proof finish only. There exists some confusion regarding the status of originals and Restrikes, and much more research in this area is required. However, most reverse seen have been from the same dies as the proof 1859 specimen. There is one example reported of a proof 1852 (the ANS specimen) that is paired with the common reverse of 1840 to 1850. The 1852 is much rarer than the 1851 especially in proof. The present specimen is sharply struck with a hint of lavender and gold toning. Interestingly, this specimen appears to have been struck twice after rotating or struck over another Seated Dollar. There are faint remnants of the struck over coin. Formerly in a NGC PF-64 holder.
Aside from the proof-only 1858, the 1852 has the lowest mintage of any Philadelphia Mint Seated dollar. The mintage was just 1,100 pieces, less than any of the four rare Carson City issues. Only the non-existent 1873-S has a lower recorded business strike mintage. The 1870-S mintage was undoubtedly less than that of the 1852, but that mintage went unrecorded. The California gold rush was the reason for the uncommonly low 1852 mintage. Significant production from gold camps near San Francisco reduced the value of gold, relative to silver. But the government ratio of silver to gold was fixed. The result was that gold coins circulated, since their bullion content was undervalued relative to face. Silver coins were hoarded, and melted by speculators, since their face value was less than their intrinsic value. Production of silver coins by the Mint depended upon private deposits of bullion. But it was undesirable to deposit bullion at the Mint, and receive coins of lesser face value than what depositors could instead obtain with the raw bullion from an assayer. As a result, mintages of silver dollars fell dramatically between 1849 and 1852. Mint production of the era was instead focused on the gold dollar. Between 1851 and 1853, approximately 10 million gold dollars were struck. In 1852, there were few numismatists in the United States. The handful of collectors of the day pursued early products of the Mint, instead of contemporary issues. It is unsurprising that most surviving 1852 Seated dollars are in XF to AU grades. They circulated briefly, then were set aside because their value exceeded face. The present example is brilliant and lacks highpoint wear. The strike is bold aside from Liberty's hair and stars 8 and 9. Marks are limited to minor contact on the right obverse field and a concealed abrasion at the base of Liberty's shield. A hint of granularity is noted above the eagle's beak. The eye appeal is pleasing for the MS62 level. An important opportunity for the advanced Seated specialist.
Overall, this date is the second rarest Seated Dollar next to the fabled 1870-S Dollar. This rarity has original light to medium gold and brown. Slightly better struck for this issue with some minor weakness on the obverse stars and in Liberty's hair as is normally seen on this key date. This is our favorite date!
Breen 5449. The sharpest of strikes results in partial wire rims and clearly visible "whiskers" between Liberty's chin and shoulder. Fields on both sides boast the deepest mirror gleam with clear glowing gold and clear blue toning creating exceptionally colorful yet understated beauty and appeal. Breen's researches in U.S. Proof coinage revealed that only 12 Proofs of this date were struck in late 1862 or early 1863. One of the rarest of the early proofs in an "affordable" condition.
While this issue's mintage of 63,500 pieces appears substantial for its time, the failure to adjust the weight of silver dollars meant that exportation and melting of that denomination remained profitable. The piece offered here is an attractive survivor. Light golden-brown toning covers parts of the otherwise pearl-gray surfaces. One of the best struck example seen with only minor weakness on the eagle's left leg displays.
Obverse
Reverse
An attractively toned near-Gem example, with excellent design definition. A rare and popular Civil War era issue of the largest silver denomination. Both sides of this piece have a few grade-limiting abrasions beneath the mottled golden-brown and iridescent toning.
Obverse
Reverse
Obverse
Reverse
The 1871-CC has the lowest mintage of any silver dollar issue from the Carson City Mint, and is second in rarity only to the 1873-CC. This piece is well struck, with tan coloration over each side and iridescent red and gold accents prominent on sides. Only slight highpoint wear is observed on Liberty's head and hair, and on the eagle's neck feathers and wing tips. Definitely appears undergraded by at least five points by PCGS!