1874 Liberty Head Eagle. MS-63 (PCGS). Exceptional in both execution and preservation, this is one of the finest survivors from this issue that we have handled in the past two decades. The surfaces are incredibly lustrous and satiny, remaining particularly untouched on the reverse. Subtle hints of pinkish-rose hues glow from the protected areas, offering a faint accent amidst the overall golden-blonde coloration. A tiny bagmark above star 13 serves as a convenient pedigree marker for following this piece through future cabinets. Quite attractive to examine in-hand. The 1874 is the first circulation strike eagle since 1861 to have a mintage in excess of 50,000 pieces. The Philadelphia Mints relatively generous delivery of 53,160 eagles this year was achieved as part of the federal governments attempt to replace worn gold coins in expectation of gold and paper money achieving parity in the market (which did not happen until December 1878). While the 1874 is one of the more available eagles from the 1870s, circulated examples are scarce in an absolute sense and Mint State survivors are rare. With only 7 coins certified finer by PCGS, this Choice example is an important bidding opportunity for the advanced collector specializing in this challenging classic gold series.
