1904-S $5 MS67 PCGS. CAC....

Description

1904-S Liberty Half Eagle, MS67
The Exceptional Bass Coin
CAC, Top of the Condition Census

1904-S $5 MS67 PCGS. CAC. Ex: Bass. An illustrious coin pedigreed to the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection. In 1903 the San Francisco Mint produced 1.85 million half eagles, but in 1904 the number dropped precipitously, to only 97,000 pieces. An undoubted reason for the paucity of half eagles coined this year was San Francisco's prodigious output of double eagles, amounting to more than 5 million pieces. Concerning the 1904-S half eagle Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth write, "Most of the coins seen for the date are Extremely Fine or About Uncirculated. Mint State examples are quite rare; choice and gem specimens are seldom seen. There are just a couple of superb coins known, one of which is from the famous Eliasberg/Clapp Collection. There has been a very small number of coins offered at auction in the last two decades, the finest of which is the Harry W. Bass Jr. example, which graded MS-67 and sold for $29,900."

Years after the publishing of Garrett and Guth's assessment, the Bass coin remains at the top of the Condition Census, being one of two coins known in MS67, and the only one this fine with CAC approval. Sharp definition and frosty, pristine mint luster adorn the glittering wheat-gold and rose-lilac surfaces of this stunning example. Eye appeal is simply unmatched. Population: 2 in 67, 0 finer. CAC: 1 in 67, 0 finer (3/25).
Ex: Dr. D.C. Montgomery Jr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, 2/1976), lot 2181; Bass II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 1284; The Palakika Collection / Central States Signature (Heritage, 5/2007), lot 2306.(Registry values: N7079)
From The Prospect II Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25Z5, PCGS# 8410, GSID# 9105)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 97,000

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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