1857-S $5 MS(PCGS#8275)

March 2021 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

5764

Grade

AU58

Price

5,760

Lot Description

1857-S Liberty Head Half Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC. Warmly patinated in deep honey-rose, this is a sharply defined and uncommonly smooth Choice AU half eagle from the earliest days of San Francisco Mint coinage. This issue saw extensive commercial use during the California Gold Rush era, and most of the 87,000 pieces produced have long since been lost. Among the few survivors, low grades through VF are the norm. In fact, this issue would be almost unobtainable in AU and Mint State were it not for the fact that a handful of higher grade pieces were discovered as part of the S.S. Central Americatreasure. Despite this find, the 1857-S remains an important rarity in the highest grades. The example offered here possesses superior quality and eye appeal (it is nota shipwreck find) that are sure to tempt the discerning gold enthusiast. Provenance: From the Fairmont Collection. PCGS# 8275. NGC ID: 25V6. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.