1864-S $5 AU53 PCGS. CAC....

Description

1864-S Liberty Half Eagle, AU53
Quietly Rare, Always Challenging To Find
The Fifth Finest Example Known

1864-S $5 AU53 PCGS. CAC. This notably rare half eagle is well-recognized by advanced collectors, but the issue is sometimes overlooked by those not fully aware of its place among Liberty fives. Quietly rare, it is surpassed in scarcity only by the 1842 Large Letters, 1843-O Small Letters, 1875 (just 200 minted), and the legendary 1854-S. That makes the issue rarer than all the charismatic C and D-mint half eagles as well (when popularity is put aside). With a tiny mintage of just 3,888 pieces, it is rare in an absolute sense although the mintage, small as it is, masks its true challenge. An estimated survival of fewer than 30 examples in all grades makes it more difficult to obtain than the 1865 issue, for example, which has a smaller mintage of just 1,270 pieces but a larger number of survivors.

This CAC-endorsed AU53 example came out of the 2004 Richmond Collection and was previously owned by James A. Stack, Sr. The coin displays a delightful, orange-gold color with lilac overtones. A few small abrasions are scattered on the coin, but nothing substantial or unexpected for the grade. Strong details remain on the devices, which protect a large amount of remaining mint luster. Even advanced collections may not have an example of the 1864-S five so nice, or with such an impressive pedigree. Our roster below, provided researched by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency, enumerates all known examples of this issue in AU or better condition. Only six coins make the cut, and this is the fifth finest known. Population: 2 in 53, 3 finer. CAC: 1 in 53, 2 finer (11/24).

Roster of 1864-S Half Eagles in AU50 or Finer Grades
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). The next lot in this auction.
3. AU55 PCGS. Possibly 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. 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. The present coin.
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.(Registry values: P9)
From The Drumwright Family Collection.

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

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 3,888

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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