1895 $5 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC....

Description

1895 Half Eagle, PR67 Ultra Cameo
Tied for Finest Certified of the Issue

1895 $5 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC. This 1895 half eagle, certified as a Superb Gem proof Ultra Cameo by NGC, combines several important attributes into a coin of great significance. Of the well over a million coins in our Permanent Auction Archives, only four times in the past have we offered half eagles certified as PR68, none of which were an 1895; all were in the date range from 1898 to 1900. (PCGS has never certified a Liberty half eagle at the PR68 level, and, in fact, it has certified precious few--three coins--at the PR67 level. NGC has certified 16 coins for the type in PR68, including non-Cameo, Cameo, and Ultra Cameo examples, and a single 1900 half eagle in PR69 Ultra Cameo. As usual, although we say "coins," there is the distinct possibility of duplication in the population data.)
At the PR67 grade level, NGC has certified nearly five dozen Liberty half eagles--58 pieces, to be exact. Of those, some 31 specimens are PR67 Cameos, with 27 examples certified PR67 Ultra Cameo. Of those coins, only two of them, including the present piece, are 1895-dated coins, and there are none certified finer of this date in any contrast level (6/10).
The original mintage of the proof 1895 half eagle was 81 pieces, a nominal amount within the series context. Of those coins, perhaps 20 to 25 examples survive today, including specimens cached away in permanent museum holdings such as the Smithsonian Institution and the American Numismatic Society. Garrett and Guth deem the issue to be "quite rare in Proof."
The present piece is tied with one other coin for the numerically finest certified 1895 half eagle at NGC, regardless of contrast level. Of course, from an aesthetic rather than technical standpoint, the contrast level is quite significant and startling. Phenomenally deep, blindingly mirrored fields, reflecting against the thick mint frost liberally covering the devices, create the gold-on-black effect that connoisseurs of proof gold value so highly. The fully struck surfaces are medium yellow-gold and display some orange-peel effect typical of proof gold of the era. For pedigree purposes we note a couple of minuscule contact marks between Liberty's nose and star 4, and a tiny dark toning fleck in her hair.
This coin offers a rare opportunity to obtain one of the finest certified of the 1895 date, and a coin that is also aesthetically among the finest representatives of the Liberty Head, With Motto type. Census: 2 in 67 Ultra Cameo, 0 finer (6/10).
From The Jarosi Collection.(Registry values: P2)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28CZ, PCGS# 98490, GSID# 9271)

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

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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