Liberty Head Eagle

1854 Liberty Head Eagle. AU-58 (PCGS).

Vivid honey-orange surfaces are sharply struck in most areas with much bright satin to semi-prooflike finish remaining. Even at an early date the 1854 eagle was regarded as scarce. An example is provided by lot 1265 in the Dr. James R. Chilton Collection sold by Bangs, Merwin, & Company in March of 1865: "1854 Good and scarce. Dickeson, page 172." The Dickeson reference is to the American Numismatic Manual, the most impressive work on American rare coins produced up to that point. In the years to follow, 1854 eagles appeared at auction now and then, never with frequency, as large denomination circulation strikes were not particularly popular. Among those that were offered, nearly all were in lower circulated grades, generally what we would classify as VF or EF today. This is still the case, and the present Choice About Uncirculated example an important condition rarity that deserves serious bidder consideration.

PCGS# 8613. NGC ID: 263G.

PCGS Population: 18; 15 finer (MS-64 finest).

From the Steve Studer Collection.

Estimate: $ 2000