1864-S $5 AU50 PCGS....

Description

1864-S Five Dollar Liberty, AU50
Green Label Holder, Beautifully Preserved

1864-S $5 AU50 PCGS. Like its ten dollar counterpart, the 1864-S is one of the great rarities of the Liberty half eagle series. A single Mint State example is known, although all other surviving examples are circulated or even impaired. Curiously, PCGS assigns this issue a survival estimate of 20 to 30 pieces -- higher than the 1864-S ten dollar -- but the half eagle appears at auction about half as often. We have handled an 1864-S half eagle on only 17 prior occasions.

The current half eagle is fresh in our auctions and represents one of the most attractive examples we have handled. Barely a trace of wear is apparent, and satiny luster remains in the fields, such that this AU50 presents as nicer overall than some higher-grade AU coins. Localized strike softness on the fletchings and talons is not wear, nor is the weakness on the upper obverse border stars. Examining the eagle's feathers and the high points of the portrait, it is clear that this coin hardly circulated. A few light marks are also not bothersome, with the fields being especially clean. Visually speaking alone, this piece is on par with the AU58 PCGS CAC coin in our FUN Signature that realized $192,000. Housed in a generation 3.1 green label holder, this coin was certified in the mid-1990s, and was one of the first pieces to be graded at the lofty AU level. It is visually and technically spectacular for the issue.

Roster of Significant 1864-S Half Eagles, Provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency
1. MS65+ PCGS. Thomas G. Melish Collection (according to Del Bland, Kosoff paid Melish's widow to use his name for the sale; the gold coins were from R.E. "Ted" Naftzger, Jr.) (Abe Kosoff, 4/1956), lot 2122, $70; Norweb Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 875, $110,000; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 1150, $178,250; Stellar Collection.
2. AU58 PCGS CAC. Fairmont Collection - Hendricks Set (Stack's Bowers, 4/2022), lot 5110, $264,000; Gold Lover Collection (PCGS Set Registry); Drumwright Family Collection / FUN Platinum Session II (Heritage, 1/2025), lot 4788, $192,000.
3. AU55 PCGS. Probably from the William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1828; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 509, $2,530; Kennywood Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 1/2005), lot 957, $17,825; D.L. Hansen Collection.
4. AU55 NGC. Steve Ivy, sold privately in 4/24/1974; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 1151, $12,650; Guadalupe Collection (Heritage, 1/2006), lot 3489, $19,550; Dr. William M. Aden Collection (Stack's Bowers, 11/2023), lot 3176, $90,000.
5. AU53 PCGS CAC. H.R. Lee Collection (Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. duplicates) (Stack's, 10/1947), lot 1431; James A. Stack, Sr. Collection (Stack's, 10/1994), lot 1180, $37,400; Richmond Collection [Bradley Hirst], Part I (David Lawrence, 7/2004), lot 1416, $31,050; Donald E. Bently Collection (Heritage, 3/2014), lot 30318, $79,313; Drumwright Family Collection / FUN Platinum Session II (Heritage, 1/2025), lot 4787, $72,000.
6. AU53 PCGS. Stanley Kesselman, sold privately in 4/1967; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 500, $23,000.
7. AU50 PCGS OGH. The present coin.
8. AU Details, Cleaned NGC. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1/2003), lot 678, $11,500; Dr. Tory Prestera Collection (Stack's, 6/2007), lot 1790, $7,475; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 6711, $14,100.
9. AU Details, Damaged, Cleaned ANACS. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 5/2001), lot 8987, $4,600.
10. XF45 PCGS CAC. Fairmont Collection - JBR Set (Stack's Bowers, 8/2022), lot 3095, $93,000.(Registry values: P9)
From The Charles Hirsch Collection, Part I.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25VV, PCGS# 8297, Greysheet# 9042)

Weight: 8.36 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

View all of [The Charles Hirsch Collection, Part I ]

View Certification Details from PCGS