1900 $5 MS68 PCGS. CAC....

Description

1900 Liberty Half Eagle, MS68
CAC Approved
Possibly the Finest Known

1900 $5 MS68 PCGS. CAC. How does one assign a value to perfection? It is true, MS68 is not absolute perfection, but it is essentially so according to the eye of all but the most experienced graders. And, for the 1900 half eagle, MS68 is, for all intents and purposes, perfection. Only one example of this date survives so fine at PCGS (with a nod given to two pieces reported so fine at NGC). A few others come close, including four NGC coins and three PCGS examples awarded the grade of MS67. Several of these "almost perfects" -- the MS67s -- have changed hands at auction in recent years, and at least six of the reported seven in that grade are confirmed to exist and are not duplications.

Less is known about the provenance of the MS68 pieces. Neither of the NGC coins reported this fine have been seen, and the lone PCGS coin makes its auction debut here. Are there three coins in this top grade? Perhaps not. There may be two, though, as CAC reports having stickered two different MS68 pieces. Even so, the current coin is the only MS68 piece in a PCGS holder, and with its quality endorsed by CAC, many would argue that it is the finest. Until an NGC piece in the same grade appears, it is difficult to deny this coin standing as the top survivor.

What does "perfection" look like on a Liberty half eagle? Well, on this piece it looks like glistening, frosty mint luster that ever so delicately shimmers when the coin is turned in hand. The luster would perhaps be done a disservice to merely describe it as "cartwheel luster"; there is a cartwheel effect of sorts, but it might more accurately be called a rolling luminescence. The lightest touch of metal contact on the crest of Liberty's eyebrow is perhaps what prevents consideration of an even finer grade, while on the reverse, the only faintly discernible interruption in the coin's "skin" is a thin, barely-there graze in the field beneath the eagle's left (facing) wing. The strike on this piece has no faults, and is, truthfully, akin to perfection. And finally, a tiny threadlike strike-through (as made) on Liberty's neck truncation above the 19 of the date serves as a pedigree marker. You will not find a better type coin for the 1900 date. Population: 1 in 68, 0 finer. CAC: 2 in 68, 0 finer (11/24).(Registry values: N1)
From The Drumwright Family Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25YU, PCGS# 8400, Greysheet# 8946)

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.

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