1874 $5 JD-1, Low R.7, PR64 PCGS....

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1874 Liberty Half Eagle, PR64
Underrated Proof Gold Issue
Only 20 Examples Struck

1874 $5 JD-1, Low R.7, PR64 PCGS. Ex: H.W. Bass Jr. Collection. The 1874 is an overlooked rarity in the proof liberty half eagle series, outside of series specialists. For casual collectors, most of the attention is focused on the 1875 issue, because of its famously small business-strike mintage of just 200 pieces. However, while both issues claim a minuscule proof mintage of 20 pieces, researchers like John Dannreuther and David Akers believe the 1874 half eagle is even more elusive than its famous 1875 counterpart in proof format.

The Philadelphia Mint struck 20 proof Liberty half eagles for collectors in 1874, to accompany a small business-strike production of 3,488 pieces. The proofs were all delivered on February 14 and a single pair of dies was used to strike all the proofs. The obverse die has a raised lump on Liberty's cheek, behind the lower lip, that makes it easy to distinguish between proofs and prooflike business strikes. This was the only use of the obverse die, but the hardy reverse was used to strike proofs from 1866 through 1880. Both John Dannreuther and PCGS CoinFacts estimate the surviving population at just 10 to 12 examples in all grades.

The present coin is an impressive Choice proof, with sharply detailed design elements throughout. The vivid orange-gold surfaces include deeply reflective fields, with only minimal signs of contact. Overall eye appeal is terrific. We can find no public offering of any proof 1874 half eagle since August 2011, almost 14 years ago, making this lot an important opportunity for advanced collectors. Population: 2 in 64, 0 finer (3/25).
Ex: King Farouk; Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), part of lot 256; Harold S. Bareford; Bareford Collection (Stack's, 12/1078), lot 186; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; Bass Estate; Bass Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 1193; Jeff Garrett (Mid American Rare Coin Group); possibly Rick Sear and Ron Karp; the present consignor.
From The Barron Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 106837, Base PCGS# 8469)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 20

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