A marvelous accident of survival.An astonishing gem, a marvelous accident of survival and preservation at which even the most jaded numismatist will marvel. Thorough and unabated satiny luster encircles both sides over a lush tone of deep yellow gold, highlighted in areas by transparent silver-blue with hints of pale violet. The surfaces are fresh in appearance and nearly immaculate, with only a few of the most inconsequential contact marks: a short thin scratch right of star 7, a shallow abrasion under B of LIBERTY, a singular contact point under R of AMERICA. The appearance is so beautiful, so original, and so new that in-hand examination evokes a visit to the Mint in 1807. The strike is sound from center to rims, each obverse star has its center, and the often-soft central reverse is nearly full. The die state is early, crisp, and uncracked. The surfaces are so pristine that tracking the provenance of this coin, which undoubtedly has graced many fine cabinets, is nearly impossible, as there just arent enough visible issues to match in photographs. While this issue is common in the context of early quarter eagles, this state of preservation hasnt been common since 1807.PCGS CoinFacts records upwards of 30 offerings of a Mint State coin from the two services, but only one auction appearance of a coin graded finer than MS-63 by either service. This coin, two points finer, represents that sole auction event. This is the only MS-65 graded by either service.
