LOT #5775 |
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1883-CC $1 PR65 Cameo NGC....
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Sold on Aug 9, 2013 for:
$170,375.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
Description
1883-CC Branch Mint Proof Dollar, PR65 Cameo
Only Two Pieces Believed Known
1883-CC $1 PR65 Cameo NGC. Only two examples of the branch
mint 1883-CC dollar are known today, and only two were believed to
have struck by the Chapmans, as mentioned in their June 1889
auction. In that sale, it was simply stated: "1883 Carson City
mint. Brilliant proof. Extremely rare." This little-known
but important auction had a run of five branch mint proof dollars:
1883-O, 1883-CC, 1884-O, 1884-CC, and 1885-O. The 1883-CC proof
dollar brought $4 at a time when a circulation-strike example was
worth approximately half that amount.In 1995 we had the opportunity to examine eight branch mint proof dollars in the Anita Maxwell Trust. The opportunity to research these coins was irresistible and an article was subsequently published in Coin World with diagnostics of each coin from the Trust. This is the coin from that historic 1995 auction. At that time we noted seven obverse markers and six on the reverse. Several die scratches are noted in the article. What is perhaps most easily seen and telling for a branch mint proof dollar is the lack of complete die polish between closely set design elements. This is especially noticeable on this coin below the 18 in the date and behind the eagle's neck and wing. Numerous crisscrossing die polish lines were also not completely polished out of the die, most notably above the field between the eagle's left (facing) wing and neck, and another area of pronounced die striations outline the left (facing) wing. These are significant because all branch mint proofs show such incomplete areas of die polish, not the same ones as seen here obviously, but predictably they are present in the close spaces between design elements. We believe this is because branch mint personnel were unfamiliar with exactly how proofs were made. They knew of them, and may have seen them, but were not accustomed to producing proof coinage such as that seen from the Philadelphia Mint. Nevertheless, great care was taken to produce a deeply reflective, high-quality coin.
The physical description of this piece bears repeating here, as nothing has changed on the coin since 1995:
"The fields have an unfathomably deep reflectivity that we can remember only seeing on proof strikings. There are also numerous tiny lint marks in the fields. Their presence suggests that the dies were wiped with a cloth prior to striking, and static electricity caused minute pieces of lint to adhere to the dies, and the impression of these were in turn imparted to the coin. This is not evidence of a proof striking per se, but it does suggest that an unusual degree of care was used to produce this coin. Lint marks such as seen on this coin are common to proof strikings, but are usually not seen on business strikes. The design elements are also completely brought up. Every bit of hair detail over Liberty's ear is fully defined on this coin as well as individuated feather detail on the eagle. The interior portions of each side are mostly brilliant with a light golden-brown patina clinging to the peripheries."
Only two coins are known of the proof 1883-CC dollar and the roster is brief, but it prevents confusion between the two coins.
Roster of 1883-CC Branch Mint Proof Morgan Dollars
1. PR65 Cameo. Possibly the coin in the Fine Greek, Foreign and United States Coins Collection (S.H. & H. Chapman, 6/1889), lot 249; unknown intermediaries; San Diego Sale (Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions, 9/1986), lot 1069; Auction '87 (Superior, 7/1987), lot 1856; Anita Maxwell Trust of Silver Dollars (Heritage, 8/1995), lot 7505; the present coin.
2. Proof. Another example in a private collection mentioned in the Chapmans' catalog of June 1889 above; possibly Amon Carter Family Collection (Stack's, 1/1984), lot 318. Walter Breen indicated this might be a branch mint proof, but it was called Choice Brilliant Uncirculated with prooflike surfaces in the catalog. Present whereabouts unknown.
From The Greensboro Collection, Part IV.
View all of [The Greensboro Collection, Part IV ]
Auction Info
2013 August 8 - 10 US Coins Signature Auction - Rosemont #1188 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2013
8th-10th
Thursday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 11
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 7,920
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
17.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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