Lot 1232
GEM HIGH RELIEF WITH WIRE RIM. PCGS graded MS-65. One of the highlights of a collectors life is to own a gem example of this famous coin. For this isn't just any coin, but the high point of American artistry in coinage. The bold high relief design was extremely difficult to fully strike up, and each coin had to be struck several times in order to fill the upper recesses of the dies. Accomplishing a complete strike was highly damaging to the dies, and most show some die cracks or other types of coining strain.
As we know, these coins were made at the behest of Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber, who did his upmost to sabotage production of the high relief pieces as designed by the famous sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens. St. Gaudens died shortly before coinage began, and soon Barber got his way, a greatly reduced relief design was employed in late 1907, just months after the original design was adopted. The wire rim is seen on most examples struck, this is caused by metal flowing out from the three piece edge collar and dies producing a thin raised "fin" around part of the obverse and reverse, at the extreme edge.
Examination with a glass will note only a couple of very tiny tick marks, nothing important or distracting. The strike is, of course, full and complete. Liberty seems to walk right off the obverse, while the eagle's wings extend out across the Sun filled skies. One of the most beautiful coins ever struck, by any country.
PCGS reports that just 223 have been graded this high, with 65 graded higher, which places this coin within the top 2 percent of those struck. An opportunity to own one of America's proudest coins.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
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| Realized $24,150 |
