1801 $10 MS(PCGS#8564)

August 2011 Chicago ANA - Rarities Night

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

7722

Grade

MS63

Price

46,000

Lot Description

1801 Capped Bust Right Eagle. Taraszka-25, HBCC-3194, BD-2. Rarity-2. MS-63 (PCGS). OGH. Highly desirable for the majestic quality of this rare type coin, which is seldom found in mint state and rarely so appealing. The fields boast slight reflectivity, which induces a cameo effect on Liberty as she is frosted and shows lighter yellow-gold color than the deeper gold fields. Minimal handling marks are present, a few stray lines and whatnot, tiny scattered nicks under close scrutiny, but nothing the merits attention or proves distracting. For identification, there is a minor nick on Liberty's chest, just right of the right-most curl tip above her drapery line. Minor die clashing evidence on the obverse below her bust and behind her curls, the reverse with heavier clashing evidence in the fields. Trace adjustment marks are noted on the extreme edge of the obverse, although a strong loupe is required to find them as the force of the strike virtually obliterated this feature. These gold planchets had to be carefully produced, first by melting whatever gold was submitted for coinage, getting the purity to the exacting standards for coinage with alloys and acids, then casting the molten gold into bars for cooling. Once the bars were ready, they were rolled through the mill to flatten the gold into the correct thickness, then planchets could be punched out from the strip. Each planchet was weighed and adjusted to the exact weight needed by filing just enough gold off the rim. Any planchets that were drawn and cut that were too light in weight had to be melted again and the process started over. An American treasure so well preserved and certain to enhance the most advanced collection.