1864-S Liberty Head Half Eagle. EF-45 (PCGS). CAC. Here is a noteworthy rarity from the early San Francisco Mint. Featuring a bold blend of deep honey-orange color and subtle frosty luster, the surfaces are attractively original in preservation. There are no troublesome marks, and the strike is pleasingly bold even with characteristic softness to the top of Libertys portrait and the bottom of the eagle. Virtually unimprovable in an EF survivor of the issue, and sure to sell for a strong premium to an advanced Liberty Head or Civil War enthusiast.<p>The year 1864 is a magic one within many U.S. coinage series. Not only is it the final full year of conflict in the Civil War, but it also saw the creation of many low mintage issues that now rank among the key dates for their types. The 1864-S half eagle is no exception; the mintage was a paltry 3,888 pieces and survivors number only 30 to 35 coins after the rigors of commercial use took their customary toll. The finest -- and only -- Mint State survivor is the extraordinary Harry W. Bass, Jr. specimen, now certified MS-65+ by PCGS. The survival of that example is one of the great anomalies of American numismatics. Ranking behind it as CC#2 for the issue is the Fairmont-Hendricks specimen, the only AU-58 certified by PCGS and approved by CAC, which realized $264,000 in our Spring 2022 Auction. Given how few examples CAC has approved throughout the numismatic grading scale, the JBR specimen offered here is nearly as significant, and is also destined for inclusion in another advanced collection. PCGS# 8297. NGC ID: 25VV. PCGS Population: 2; 7 finer, including a single MS-65+.<p>CAC Population: 9 in all grades. From the Fairmont Collection - JBR Set.
