1854 G$1 TYPE 2

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1854 Type Two Gold Dollar, Incredible Gem Preservation

1854 Type Two MS 65 NGC. This coin was previously offered as lot 7792 in our 1999 Chicago ANA Sale, where it was cataloged as: "Upon his appointment to the post of Mint Director in 1853, Colonel James R. Snowden enacted plans to modify the gold dollar that James B. Longacre had executed in 1849. While Longacre faithfully increased the diameter of the denomination from 13 to 15 millimeters and reduced the thickness proportionately, he seized upon the opportunity to redesign both the obverse and reverse devices. The chief engraver destroyed the gold dollar's similarity to the double eagle when he adopted his replica of the marble ''Venus Accroupie'' from the three dollar gold piece. The wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and tobacco that Longacre would eventually immortalize on the Flying Eagle cent also made the transition from the three dollar gold piece to the new gold dollar. Once the Treasury Department adopted the new design, coinage began on August 19, 1854. Unfortunately, the Mint soon realized the new design's ill-fated beauty. The relief of the obverse motif was too high and Longacre positioned it directly opposite the highest points of the reverse. This created poor metal flow into the die cavities and even the faultless Philadelphia Mint could not produce fully struck examples. Most pieces emerged from the Mint with weak devices and rapidly wore down to illegibility. The barely identifiable survivors that the Mint retrieved from circulation were melted as hastily as they had been designed. After two years of production at Philadelphia and token outputs at the branch mints that extended into 1856, Longacre completely reworked the denomination and created the Type Three gold dollar. Despite small mintages, heavy circulation, and widespread melting, the 1854 Type Two gold dollar is a surprisingly common type coin. Gold enthusiasts and type collectors, however, exert such tremendous pressure on the surviving high grade specimens that this issue always commands a lofty price. On average, it is only once every two years or so that we offer a boldly struck, Gem representation of this numismatic treasure. The reverse impression displays every central detail in a fashion that foreshadows the strike on a late date Type Three issue. Even though we note slight softness on the hair over the forehead, the balance of the obverse is just as crisp. Both sides of this jewel exhibit the stark die clashing that typifies survivors of the issue. The modestly frosted surfaces carry one or two trivial abrasions. A beautiful piece that would catapult any collection to new levels."

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25C3, PCGS# 7531, GSID# 8015)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 1.67 grams
AGW: 0.04838oz
Mintage: 783,943

View Certification Details from NGC