1860 DT$10 K-3 Clark Gruber Copper Die Trial, BN PR(PCGS#10172)

1860 DT$10 K-3 Clark Gruber Copper Die Trial, BN PR (PCGS#10172)

The January 2013 Americana Sale

Lot Description: 1860 Clark, Gruber & Co. $10 Gold Die Trial. K-3. Rarity-7-. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-63 BN (NGC). Satin smooth and pleasing for the uniform dark chocolate brown in the fields, mountain and lettering as well as the eagle on the reverse. Clean surfaces that close examination finds little more than a couple of shallow marks and scuff over the eagle's head when caught in the light just so. The strike is full and deep, with the fanciful view of Pike's Peak as a towering tall mountain with extremely steep slopes far from what this mountain actually appears as, with its gentle slope and rounded top. However, coinage began as die steel was scarce and expensive then, with these handsome copper coins probably some of the first struck with the dies were the newest and freshest, thus imparting the mirror surface to the fields of the coins. Perhaps a dozen or so of these survive today in the copper format, in various grades and color combinations. All are rare and desirable.