Search: 7625

Skip to main content

Go to accessibility options

Auction 195 | Lot 7939 » Gold Dollars
1875 PR 63 PCGS. As rare, desirable, and well known as the business strikes are from 1875, the proofs are twice as difficult to obtain. Yet, they remain consistently overlooked, possibly because of the confusion in the past between legitimate proofs and prooflike business strikes that have been offered as proofs. This issue has been extensively studied over the past twenty years and the diagnostics of each are now well known, and this piece exhibits all the diagnostics for proofs. Only 20 were originally produced with the most generous estimate of the number extant today being "possibly 15" (Breen). While this piece is not among the finest known, the fields do still retain considerable depth of reflectivity in spite of a few light hairlines. Both sides exhibit light reddish patina and there are a few tiny contact marks scattered about, none of which are obvious enough to the unaided eye to warrant individual mention. Population: 2 in PR 63, 10 finer (10/98). (PCGS# 7625)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Service PCGS

Grade PR63

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 11, 1999

Auction Archives
Sold For: $12,650.00
Auction 422 | Lot 5360 » Gold Dollars
1875 G$1 PR61 NGC. The 1875 gold dollar is a classic rarity in both proof and business strike formats. Only 400 were made for circulation, along with 20 proofs. This low mintage makes the 1875 gold dollar one of the most desirable coins in the entire series. Paul Taglione, in his Reference to United States Federal Gold Coinage, wrote that the "1875 (proof) is extremely rare with but 9 or 10 distinct examples known including those in the Smithsonian and ANS collections." Walter Breen, in his Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coinage, suggested that "Possibly 15 survive." NGC and PCGS have seen, to date, a total of 12 examples ranging in grade from PR58 to PR65.

In the past, a number of business strikes have been offered as proofs. This is not particularly surprising, as Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth point out in their Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins that: "...most, if not all, business strike 1875 gold dollars are fully prooflike." There are, however, diagnostics that make identification possible. A small thorn-like projection is found below the chin on all business strikes. And proofs have heavy extra outlines on the wreath and DOLLAR, and the corner of the 5 in the date is minutely left of the tip of the A (Breen, p. 484).

The proof status of the present example is confirmed by the lack of the projection beneath the chin, by the presence of extra outlines on the wreath, and by the placement of the 5 in relation to the A. Yellow-gold surfaces display soft luster and a hint of greenish tint. The design elements are well impressed, with all of the letters in LIBERTY strong and most of the ribbing visible on the leaves on the reverse. Close examination reveals some wispy, inoffensive handling marks that largely account for the grade. Census: 1 in 61, 1 finer (12/06). (PCGS# 7625)
Bid Source: Live: Floor

Service NGC

Grade PR61

Auction Ended
Live Bid Now

Jan 6, 2007

Auction Archives
Sold For: $9,775.00

1

Results per page: 10 25 50