1855-D Gold Dollar. Type II. Winter 7-J. AU-53 (NGC).

This is a superior 1855-D gold dollar with pleasing color in soft honey-gold. The strike is typically soft for the issue, Liberty's brow blunt and the central reverse devoid of detail, but the definition is appreciably sharper toward the borders. Traces of satiny mint luster remain to surfaces that reveal no sizeable marks as the coin is admired in hand. One of the rarest of the gold dollars struck at the Dahlonega Mint, if not the entire series, the 1855-D is also the only Type II gold dollar minted at the Georgia facility. A scant 1,811 coins were produced, all in February of the year. The rather "rustic" nature of the issue is part of the charm. The vast majority were struck on imperfectly made planchets and often show considerable weakness at the center, especially at the 8 in the date on the reverse. In addition, the dies clashed early on in the production run, so that these clash marks are often prominent features on surviving specimens. A top condition rarity, the vast majority of the estimated 100 or so extant pieces are found in VF or EF condition and the issue becomes prohibitively rare any higher. Doug Winter (2003) estimated that perhaps just five pieces qualify as Mint-State. This AU example is among the rarest of the rare and a sure prize for any cabinet.

PCGS# 7534. NGC ID: 25C6.

Estimate: $ 17000