1863 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar. OC-P1. Rarity-4. Proof-65 Cameo (NGC). Brilliant and snowy-white with subtle traces of vanilla patina throughout. The devices are blanketed in satiny luster and abruptly contrast the watery, reflective fields on each side. Remarkably smooth and without blemishes, though a horizontal lintmark to the left of Libertys rock is mint-made and has been spotted on at least two other examples. As with most Proof silver dollars of the era, the 1863 was largely distributed as part of the years silver Proof sets. With 460 pieces struck from two distinct die marriages, the 1863 issue enjoys a good rate of survival for a Proof Liberty Seated dollar of the No Motto type, especially compared to that of many pre-Civil War issues. This is perhaps because the suspension of specie payments in July 1862 made the acquisition and preservation of all silver coins particularly attractive. Specialist Dick Osburn and Brian Cushing suggest that around 130 survivors remain of the OC-P1 die pair, featuring a reverse die that would go on to strike Proofs again in 1864. Most of these estimated 130 pieces are found in grades of Proof-64 and lower, making the present Gem Cameo example a significant find for specialists. Just three coins have been certified finer by NGC in this category.
