1874 Liberty Head Half Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC.This phenomenal rarity is making its first appearance in the numismatic auction market in more than 30 years. Its last appearance was in David W. Akers session of Auction 89, where the noted gold expert described it as follows:"1874, Choice Uncirculated 63+. The "Finest Known" business strike of this very rare date, unequalled and unapproached by any other specimen known to us. In fact, this is the only strictly uncirculated 1874 Half Eagle we have ever seen. It is a magnificent specimen in all respects, fully struck and almost fully prooflike except for some patches of mint frost. The coin has blazing mint lustre and brilliance and excellent color. A few hairlines and small abrasions are visible on the obverse but the revere is essentially gem quality. The reverse has a myriad of raised die scratches indicating the dies were highly polished prior to striking."</em>As of this writing PCGS and NGC combined report 14 grading events for Mint State 1874 half eagles, so Akers comment that this is the only Uncirculated example of the issue extant is no longer valid. His other comments about this coins rarity are, however, just as relevant today as they were 32 years ago. It is still the finest known circulation strike 1874 half eagle, and the only one that approaches full Gem Mint State quality. Truly a "magnificent specimen," as described by Akers, this coin belongs in the finest gold cabinet.After an unusually generous mintage of 224,895 coins in 1873, circulation strike half eagle production at the Philadelphia Mint returned to pre-1873 standards with a mintage of just 3,488 pieces. Survivors are few and far between and, as can be surmised by the foregoing, most are circulated in grades such as EF or low end AU. This is our first offering for a Mint State coin at any level in at least 15 years.PCGS# 8333. NGC ID: 25WN.From the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection. Earlier ex David W Akers session of Auction 89, July 1989, lot 1393; Stacks.
