1851 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar. Restrike. OC-P3. Rarity-6-. Centered Date. Proof. AU Details--Repaired (PCGS). Here is a significant offering for advanced Liberty Seated dollar enthusiasts. It is restrike of one of the rarest and most famous dates in this challenging 19th century silver dollar series. While not a perfect example, this coin retains sharp to full striking detail in most areas, as well as remnants of the original reflective finish in the fields. There is light to moderate hairlining and evidence of smoothing, as well as a touch of glossiness evident under a light. Both sides are starting to retone and exhibit iridescent golden-gray with a few glints of warmer sandy-russet.<p>The rarity of the circulation strike 1851 silver dollar and the absence of original Proofs from that year made this a prime candidate for restriking. These restrikes were quickly recognized as rarities once numismatics as a hobby began to flourish in the United States during the late 1850s. This is an unofficial restrike for, while it was produced under Snowdens authority alongside similar pieces, striking was conducted in secret and sales went through Mint officials and employees rather than through official government channels. Even so, todays collectors can be thankful for this extensive manufacturing activity, as otherwise many important rarities from the earliest decades of U.S. Mint operations would be unobtainable.<p>Writing in the 1993 reference <em>Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia</em>, Q. David Bowers estimates that 50 to 100 restrike Proof 1851 silver dollars were produced beginning in 1859. (Dick Osburn and Brian Cushing, however, take a more conservative view with an estimate of just 45 pieces in their 2018 reference <em>Liberty Seated Dollars: A Register of Die Varieties</em>.) No original Proof 1851 dollars have been confirmed and, as previously stated, none are believed to have been produced (although some prooflike pieces have been designated as such in the past). No original Proofs are known from contemporary sets, and none were offered for public sale in 1851. Given their rarity, the absence of original Proofs of this date, and the scarcity of circulation strike 1851 silver dollars, restrike Proof 1851 dollars enjoy strong demand among silver dollar date collectors and specialists in Liberty Seated coinage. Examples rarely remain on the open market for long, and an aggressive bidding strategy is advised for the present offering.<p>The reverse die from which this coin was struck is readily identifiable by the presence of several tiny lumps within the eagles left wing. As this die was used to strike all known Proof 1859 Liberty Seated dollars, this restrike 1851 was probably made either that year or the next. From the Lincoln Square Collection.
