This delightful premium Gem 1889 gold dollar displays vivid orange-gold patina with intermingled reddish-gold highlights that are more pronounced on the obverse. The devices are fully struck, satiny in texture, and offer appreciable contrast to reflective fields. This would be a likely candidate for a Cameo designation based on todays third party certification practices. Superior technical quality and strong eye appeal.By the 1880s the gold dollar had long since outlived its usefulness as a circulating medium of exchange. The denomination was originally introduced in 1849 at a time when rising silver prices due to the influx of gold from California resulted in the disappearance of coins such as the silver dollar from domestic circulation. The gold dollar was a viable alternative, and also served alongside the newly introduced double eagle as an outlet for the vast quantities of gold flowing into the Mint. The situation had changed by the 1880s, however, and yearly mintages for circulation strikes during that decade were small. At the same time, contemporary numismatic interest in saving these coins spiked, likely the result of the low mintages. Many circulation strikes were hoarded, resulting in the relative availability of even high grade Mint State examples in todays market. By 1884, in fact, interest had spread to Proofs and yearly mintages climbed above the 1,000-coin mark for every year through the series end in 1889. That end saw a record production of 1,779 Proof gold dollars.Per Dave Bowers carefully-researched <em>The Official Red Book of United States Gold Dollars 1849-1889,</em> Whitman, 2008, in the mid- and late 1880s there was a great demand for gold dollar from jewelers, who used them in necklaces and other products. The Mint refused to sell circulation strikes in quantity to them, so they bought Proofs. Most such Proofs were lost to numismatics. Today in 2016 the highest-mintage Proof, the 1889, is far and away the rarest Proof dollar of the decade!The Gem Proof gold dollar offered here fortunately avoided circulation or damage and would make an impressive addition to any advanced numismatic cabinet.<br />,,PCGS# 7639. NGC ID: 25EZ.,PCGS Population: 7; 2 finer in this category (both Proof-67).,From the Bull Run Collection.
