1858 $5, DCAM PR(PCGS#98448)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

3309

Erhaltungsgrad

PR66DCAM

Preis

504.000

Losbeschreibung

A landmark rarity in the early Proof half eagle series that we have been privileged to handle for auction several times over the last four decades. Its highly attractive yellow gold surfaces exhibit profound contrast between satiny devices and deeply mirrored fields. The strike is typical of the issue, and also not unusual for a pre-1890s U.S. Mint Proof gold coin. While virtually all features display razor sharp to full definition, the eagle's neck is a trifle soft with some minor blunting of the features in that area. The incredible eye appeal and surface quality are simply extraordinary. This is somewhat miraculous as this coin was struck 167 years ago and is in such amazing condition today. The delicate fields show little evidence of handling, with their highly reflective mirror finish intact, as is the light satin texture on all the devices and lettering. Each of the known specimens of this issue can be identified by various minute planchet lint marks or flaws which have helped to maintain their provenance through the span of time. For the present example we note tiny reverse lint marks at the base of the first letter S in STATES, below the upright of the letter E in AMERICA, and above the upper right corner of the letter F in FIVE. A fourth, in the shape of a capital letter T, is located below the second and third feathers along the bottom of the eagle's left wing. Virtually pristine in preservation and a delight to behold, this impressively pedigreed specimen is sure to see spirited bidding at auction.<p>There are believed to be just five specimens known for this rare early Proof half eagle issue, one with an unknown mintage that John W. Dannreuther estimates as eight pieces in his 2018 reference <em>United States Proof Coins</em>. Two of these are permanently impounded, and of the three in private hands that offered here is the second finest. The known specimens of the 1858 Proof half eagle are as follows:<p>1 - <strong>NGC Proof-67 Ultra Cameo</strong>. Ex B. Max Mehl's sale of the James Ten Eyck Collection, May 1922, lot 224; John H. Clapp; Clapp estate, 1942, to the following, via Stack's; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.' our (Bowers and Ruddy's) sale of the United States Gold Coin Collection (Eliasberg), October 1982, lot 488; Ed Trompeter; Heritage Auctions and Sil DiGenova, circa 1998; Heritage customer, by private treaty; Heritage's FUN Signature Auction of January 2015, lot 4348; Duquesne Collection; Heritage's sale of the Duquesne Collection, Part V, August 2023 ANA Signature Auction, lot 3199.<p>2 - <strong>PCGS Proof-66 Deep Cameo</strong>. Ex Donald H. Hopkins; our (Stack's) sale of March 1985, lot 807; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV, November 2000, lot 469, as PCGS Proof-65; Heritage's Exclusively Internet Auction of December 2003, lot 14326, as NGC Proof-66 * Ultra Cameo; Heritage's Continuous Internet Auction of August 2005, lot 24472, as NGC Proof-66 * Ultra Cameo; Heritage's Continuous Internet Auction of December 2005, lot 24520, as NGC Proof-66 * Ultra Cameo; Heritage's Palm Beach Signature Auction of March 2006, lot 1892, as NGC Proof-66 * Ultra Cameo; our Baltimore Auction of March 2014, lot 4085, as NGC Proof-66 * Ultra Cameo; Heritage's FUN Signature Auction of January 2023, lot 3852, NGC Proof-66 * Ultra Cameo. <em><strong>The present example</strong></em>.<p>3 - <strong>NGC Proof-64 Cameo</strong>. Ex George Seavey, part of a complete 1858 Proof set, including minor, silver, and gold coins, probably purchased directly from the Mint in 1858; William Strobridge's Seavey Descriptive Catalog, June 1873, lot 820, not sold through auction as the entire collection was purchased by the following ahead of the sale; Lorin G. Parmelee; New York Coin & Stamp Co.'s sale of the Lorin G. Parmelee Collection, June 1890, part of lot 1292, which also included the Proof quarter eagle and eagle from the Seavey set; William H. Woodin, exhibited at the 1914 ANS Exhibition; Waldo C. Newcomer; F.C.C. Boyd; Numismatic Gallery's sale of the World's Greatest Collection (Boyd), January 1946, lot 412; Jacob Shapiro (aka J.F. Bell); Numismatic Gallery's Memorable Collection Sale, March 1948, lot 359; King Farouk of Egypt; Sotheby's sale of the Palace Collections of Egypt, February 1954, lot 253; Gaston DiBello, per his annotated copy of the Farouk sale; our (Stack's) Theodore Ullmer Collection sale, May 1974, lot 446; Mocatta Metals, exhibited at the 1976 ANA convention; New England Rare Coin Auctions' ANA Convention Auction of July 1979, lot 176; our (Bowers and Merena's) Dr. Nelsen Page Aspen Collection sale, August 1989, lot 551; Superior's session of Auction '90, August 1990, lot 1323.<p>4 - <strong>Proof-64 Deep Cameo</strong> (per Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth). Mint Cabinet, 1858; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.<p>5 - <strong>Proof</strong>. Ex John Colvin Randall; J.P. Morgan; New York Museum of Natural History; American Numismatic Society in 1908.