1864 Liberty Head Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-6+. Proof-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS). Offered is one of the finest certified survivors from a classic Proof gold issue that is rare at all levels of preservation. Fully struck and heavily frosted, the design elements appear to float atop deep pools of reflectivity in the fields. The entire package is dressed in richly original golden-yellow color that appears to "go black" in the fields as the coin rotates away from direct lighting. A tiny planchet flake close in to the top of the eagles right wing and a few minor handling marks on Libertys cheek are mentioned solely for provenance concerns, for the surfaces are carefully preserved and generally pristine.<p>This Civil War era Proof gold rarity was produced to the extent of just 50 coins, all of which were delivered on February 11, 1864. These special pieces were offered to contemporary collectors as part of complete Proof sets, but amidst the political and economic chaos of the time there were few buyers. John W. Dannreuther (2018) conjectures that only about half of the mintage was actually distributed to contemporary collectors, the balance of the mintage destroyed through melting or disposed of by release into commercial channels. The author provides an estimate of just 14 to 16 survivors in all grades, which is roughly comparable to the <em>PCGS CoinFacts</em> estimate of 15 to 20 known. Our first offering for the issue in more than a decade, and a newcomer to the modern numismatic market, this recently certified Gem Proof 1864 eagle is sure to make quite an impression on advanced gold enthusiasts. We expect bidding on this lot to be highly competitive. PCGS# 98800. NGC ID: 28F2. PCGS Population: 4; 2 finer in this category (Proof-66+ Deep Cameo finest). From the Mocatta Collection.
