1852 $5 MS66+ PCGS. CAC....

Description

1852 Half Eagle, Amazing MS66+
Sole Finest at PCGS by Two Grade Points
Garrett-Guth Plate Coin

1852 $5 MS66+ PCGS. CAC. This is a coin of simply exceptional, amazing quality. Fulsome luster on each side complements the uniform (and uniformly gorgeous) honey-gold patina and spectacular preservation that is clearly apparent throughout each side. The strike, while perhaps not quite full on Liberty's hair underneath IB and on the lowest-hanging curl, is extremely sharp, producing well-detailed radials in the centers of each star. The obverse die is in an advanced state of use, showing crumbling of the dentils just below the date, and some weakness at the extreme bottoms of the date digits. Stars 1-4 are connected by a die crack (with branching cracks) that continues on to the left side of the 1 in the date. The branching crack from star 2 to the rim appears on the verge of forming a cudlike shape. This miraculous piece must have been among the last coins struck from this die, on the verge of shattering. Another crack runs from a point of star 13 downward toward the right side of the date.

The reverse die is in better shape overall but does show clash marks underneath the eagle from the obverse. The strike on the eagle's feathers is again glorious, needle-sharp but just not quite full. A small indented planchet flaw appears in the lower-left field, below UN(ITED).

The 1852 half eagle, despite its mintage of well over a half-million pieces, is scarce in Mint State. Garrett and Guth's second edition opines that "fewer than 150 coins are known at that [Mint State] level. Choice examples are surprisingly rare." In point of fact, PCGS reports 10 submissions in MS64 and one in MS64+, but until this piece arrived recently at PCGS, there were none finer. It is now the finest graded at PCGS by two full grade points ahead of the sole MS64+. PCGS's CoinFacts service has kindly adopted this piece, as well, to be its largest plate coin at that website. This piece is also the plate coin in the second edition of Garrett and Guth's Gold Encyclopedia. We cannot stress enough the marvelous quality here. Bid liberally ... you will want this coin.
Ex: Edward Milas Collection (Stack's, 5/1995), lot 485, where it realized $66,000; New Orleans Collection / Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5340, as MS66 NGC-CAC, which brought $76,375.(Registry values: P4)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25UA, PCGS# 8250, Greysheet# 8898)

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 Certification Details from PCGS