Lot 2133
1879. PCGS graded Proof 64+DCAM PQ. CAC Approved. Housed in a new secure plus holder. Only 30 Proofs struck. Wonderful golden toning. Very few Proof half eagles of this date are known, including one in the Smithsonian Institution. Walter Breen suggested that: "Survivors probably number less than a dozen, possibly less than nine" in his Proof Encyclopedia and Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth wrote in their Gold Encyclopedia that: "There are probably fewer than 10 survivors in all grades."
In our many years of coin auctions, this is the only time we have offered a Deep Cameo example to the best of our knowledge.
This piece, certified as a near-Gem Deep Cameo Proof with "plus" designation, is top-of-the-line in quality compared to most of the known 1879 Proofs. It has lovely (vibrant) yellow-gold devices with full satin frosted devices against deeply mirrored fields - which serves to attract the most serious minded rare gold buyers. A small mark in the left obverse field by the 4th star and a faint line below the first A in AMERICA are all that keep it from a Gem grade. Pop 1; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 98474) .
Estimated Value $30,000 - 33,000.
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| Realized $43,700 |
