Heritage World Coin Auctions
Dallas Signature US Coin Sale 1261 2-3 Nov 2017
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Liberty Double Eagles
1851-O $20 MS62 NGC. Variety 1. Several minor die varieties exist for the 1851 New Orleans double eagles. This example, that ranks in the Condition Census for the issue, has myriad tiny rust lumps on Liberty's bust, especially on the neck and around the eye. A late die state, the obverse exhibits a fine die crack through star 7 to the coronet, tops of LIB, Liberty's hair, and the right field to star 12. A faint die polishing line is noted over the date. The reverse has a microscopic die crack through the denomination, with many die polishing lines.
This is the most plentiful double eagle issued at the New Orleans Mint, with a coinage of 315,000 pieces. That may not seem like a large mintage, but it is nearly double the next highest mintage New Orleans double eagle. The original gold deposit records for the Louisiana Mint are preserved at the National Archives branch in Fort Worth, Texas, and show that more than 90% of the deposits from 1850 to 1853 consisted of California Gold Rush-mined gold.
This impressive piece ranks high on the list of surviving examples. NGC and PCGS have each certified a single MS63 submission, followed by six and eight MS62 examples, respectively (9/17). The surfaces are brilliant lemon-yellow with sharp details, full luster, and reflective fields. A single mark on Liberty's cheek prevents a higher grade. The MS63 PCGS example that Goldberg Coins sold in June 2016 is from the same reverse die as this piece. Raised die lines within the constellation that we first thought were planchet rifts appear on the reverse of that coin as well, proving they are die defects. This coin is stunning, and destined for a top-quality collection of Liberty double eagles. The present offering is equal to the finest 1851-O double eagles we have offered in any of our auctions, and the second appearance of this piece in one of our Signature sales.
Ex: ANA Signature Sale (Heritage, 8/2004), lot 7552.
HID02901242017
1851-O $20 MS62 NGC. Variety 1. Several minor die varieties exist for the 1851 New Orleans double eagles. This example, that ranks in the Condition Census for the issue, has myriad tiny rust lumps on Liberty's bust, especially on the neck and around the eye. A late die state, the obverse exhibits a fine die crack through star 7 to the coronet, tops of LIB, Liberty's hair, and the right field to star 12. A faint die polishing line is noted over the date. The reverse has a microscopic die crack through the denomination, with many die polishing lines.
This is the most plentiful double eagle issued at the New Orleans Mint, with a coinage of 315,000 pieces. That may not seem like a large mintage, but it is nearly double the next highest mintage New Orleans double eagle. The original gold deposit records for the Louisiana Mint are preserved at the National Archives branch in Fort Worth, Texas, and show that more than 90% of the deposits from 1850 to 1853 consisted of California Gold Rush-mined gold.
This impressive piece ranks high on the list of surviving examples. NGC and PCGS have each certified a single MS63 submission, followed by six and eight MS62 examples, respectively (9/17). The surfaces are brilliant lemon-yellow with sharp details, full luster, and reflective fields. A single mark on Liberty's cheek prevents a higher grade. The MS63 PCGS example that Goldberg Coins sold in June 2016 is from the same reverse die as this piece. Raised die lines within the constellation that we first thought were planchet rifts appear on the reverse of that coin as well, proving they are die defects. This coin is stunning, and destined for a top-quality collection of Liberty double eagles. The present offering is equal to the finest 1851-O double eagles we have offered in any of our auctions, and the second appearance of this piece in one of our Signature sales.
Ex: ANA Signature Sale (Heritage, 8/2004), lot 7552.
HID02901242017