1881 G$1 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC....

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Extraordinary 1881 Gold Dollar, PR67 Ultra Cameo

1881 G$1 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC. Only 87 proof gold dollars were struck in 1881. The occasional offering of first-strike business strikes has tended to cloud the issue of this date's availability. As Breen points out, there are two obverse varieties for this date. Proofs show "heavy letters with partial extra outlines, but so do some business strikes (mostly UNC. with a minority of AU's ; often hard to tell from proofs)." This difficulty in discerning proofs from first-strike prooflike circulation strikes is best pointed out by Akers (1975): "The famous Leon Lindheim hoard of 54 'proofs' was purchased several years ago by Paramount. It included 46 circulation strikes and only 8 proofs. ... The true proofs of 1881 are distinguishable by a small unfinished area in the die between the lower left part of the D in DOLLAR and the wreath."
NGC has certified 29 pieces as proof, most of which are either Cameo or Ultra Cameo. Only two pieces have been graded PR67 Ultra Cameo, with none finer (1/08). PCGS has certified a similar number with 28 graded as non-cameo, Cameo, and Deep Cameo. There is, of course, a certain number of resubmissions and crossovers included in these totals, which significantly reduces the total number available--probably close to the 35 to 40 pieces estimated to exist.
This is a superlative example that has deeply mirrored fields that go absolutely black when angled just so under a light. The devices are very heavily frosted and give the coin its stark cameo appearance. Examination with a magnifier reveals the lovely orange-peel finish seen on many proof gold coins from this era.
From The Ultra Collection.(Registry values: P3)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25ER, PCGS# 97631, Greysheet# 8183)

Weight: 1.70 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

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