1901 $5 PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC. CAC....

Description

Premium Gem 1901 Liberty Half Eagle
Rare Ultra Cameo Specimen
Only Two Finer Examples at NGC

1901 $5 PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC. CAC. A fairly generous mintage of 140 proof Liberty half eagles was accomplished in 1901, but that total is much smaller than the 230 pieces struck in 1900, or the 162 examples minted in 1902. In their Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins, Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth opine:

"Although the 1901 Liberty Head half eagle is not the rarest date in Proof format, it still must be considered quite rare. There are an estimated 50 to 60 coins known, most of which fall into the PF-64 category."

Walter Breen also notes, "Rarer than mintage figure suggests." It seems likely that not all of the proof mintage was distributed, and some coins were probably melted after the end of the year.
The Mint would switch to an all-brilliant finish for proof coins in 1902, but the 1901 proofs retained the old frosty devices, and cameo specimens are seen with more frequency than in future years. The present coin is far superior to the usual proof examples of this year, which are often encountered with tiny lintmarks in the field caused by being polished with a technician's cloth. This delightful Premium Gem displays rich mint frost on all design elements with deeply mirrored fields that show the slight orange-peel texture of the best proofs of this era. This coin exhibits a startling black-on-gold cameo flash when tilted in the light. The bright yellow-gold surfaces are virtually pristine and show attractive green highlights. Eye appeal is terrific. This coin should find a home in one of the finest collections of Liberty proof gold. Census: 4 in 66 Ultra Cameo, 2 finer (6/12).(Registry values: P1)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 28D7, PCGS# 98496, Greysheet# 9289)

Weight: 8.36 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper

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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