This handsome premium Gem is largely brilliant save for a faint golden hue. The strike is uniformly bold, with a particular sharpness to the eagles feathers on the reverse that challenges even the most well executed Proofs. A serpentine die crack links the right obverse stars. Two different reverse hubs were used to produce 1875 and 1876 trade dollars. The Type I Reverse has a berry beneath the eagles left talon (viewers right); Type II, represented here, has no berry beneath the eagles talon. The discovery of these two varieties is attributed to Elliot Landau, who published his findings in 1953. PCGS has certified just a few dozen Mint State 1875 trade dollars of both types, mostly in the MS-62 to MS-64 grade range. Gem-quality pieces are extremely rare with just six coins graded by PCGS above the MS-64 level. The presently offered example is the second finest certified by PCGS and would serve with distinction in the finest type or date set.
