1874 Liberty Head Eagle. JD-1, the only known dies. Rarity-7. Proof-64 Deep Cameo (PCGS). CAC. Offered is one of the rarest, most significant Proof Liberty Head eagles that we have ever handled. It is a fully Choice specimen with delightful pinkish-gold surfaces. The finish is deeply cameoed and features fully struck, satiny design elements set against highly reflective fields. We note only a few wispy handling marks to preclude a full Gem grade, none of which are even remotely distracting to the eye.<p>This is an exceedingly rare Liberty Head eagle date in Proof format, made even more desirable by the low mintage (53,140 pieces) and elusive nature of the Philadelphia Mints identically dated circulation strike. Regarding the Proof 1874 $10, only 20 specimens were struck, all on February 14, and John W. Dannreuther (2018) estimates that just seven to nine have survived. Market appearances are understandably few and far between and, indeed, this is our first offering for the issue in more than a decade. An old friend of our firm as the Norweb specimen, this coin now ranks as the only PCGS-certified specimen in the Deep Cameo category and the only Proof 1874 eagle to have been confirmed by CAC in any grade or category. A rarity of the highest order eagerly awaiting inclusion in a world class numismatic cabinet. PCGS# 98814. NGC ID: 28FC. PCGS Population just 1 in all grades in the DCAM category.<p>CAC Population: 1 in all grades and categories. From a Private New Jersey Collection. Earlier ex King Farouk of Egypt; Sothebys sale of the Palace Collections of Egypt, February 1954, lot 205; R. Henry Norweb; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Norweb Collection, Part II, March 1988, lot 2203; Manfra, Tordella and Brookes.
