1882 Round 25 Cents. BG-892. Rarity-7+. "Young" Indian Head. MS-66 (PCGS). Combing absolute and condition rarity, this phenomenal premium Gem would serve as a highlight in the finest collection of California Small Denomination gold coinage. It is a stunning example with bright golden-yellow color to lustrous, semi-reflective surfaces. Both sides are sharply struck and so carefully preserved that they border on pristine. The BG-892 is attributed to Nast, Greenzweig & Co., San Francisco, and it is described in the 2003 edition of the Breen-Gillio reference on this series as:<p><em>"Part of a set consisting of 799CC, 966 and 1077. Their great rarity is attributable to the successful efforts of Secret Service Chief James J. Brooks to suppress small California gold..."</em><p>The Bob Leonard census published in that reference lists six examples, again with the usual qualifier "May include duplication." The present example is tied with only one other PCGS MS-66 as CC#1, that coin ex our (Bowers and Merenas) August 2011 ANA Auction, lot 9921 and Heritages January 2012 FUN Signature Auction, lot 6889. We believe that this piece is the finer of the two in that it lacks the minor carbon spots seen on the other specimen. Sure to sell for a record price to an astute collector of this challenging series. From the Oregon Collection.
