1853-O $10 MS(PCGS#8612)

The Johnson-Blue Collection

拍卖行

Stack's

批号

1109

等级

SP61

价格

2,140,472

详细说明

1853-O Specimen-61 (NGC). An incredible rarity and obvious Specimen striking that is Unique! No others are known and the rarity and importance of this piece cannot be overstated. The fields are wholly reflective and the devices slightly frosted. As to the strike is it absolute, precise and bold, and undoubtedly the result of a two or more blows from the dies. Surface quality is finer than one would expect, although moderate hairlines are present from a past careless wiping. There are some minor nicks as well, blending into the fields and devices, normal handling evidence for a large gold coin of the period. The obverse shows a trace of a wire edge on the left side, while the reverse has a more pronounced wire edge on the lower right, a feature not found on regular business strikes. The reverse fields show considerable roughness in areas which must have been caused by grease on the die, and this created a texture that is wholly unusual in the fields. Again the strike is sharp on all devices on that side as well. Another feature of note is the presence of a die crack through the final star at the upper two points which extends to the curl on the back of Liberty's neck. On the reverse the hollow ring is found at the top of the second (from left) vertical stripe, this hollow ring is believed to have been some remnant from the master hub layout, used to create new dies for eagles. This hollow ring or similar device marker is known on other coins as well, but only appears sporadically on eagles. Why was this coin struck? This question has never been approached for some reason by Walter Breen or others who have handled this exact coin in prior auctions over the generations. The most logical explanation we can think of is the 50th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, which placed New Orleans under the government of the United States instead of the French or Spanish, as their prior history dictates. Under the able guidance of Thomas Jefferson a vast swath of land was purchased for a total of $15 million in 1803, extending the United States territory from Louisiana to the Canadian border. Much of this land was inhabited by native Americans and had only been explored by a few mountain men and trappers brave enough to venture into what was literally the Wild West. The Louisiana Purchase launched the famed exposition of Lewis and Clark, who mapped large sections of this territory and brought back tales of the vast wonders incorporated in this purchase. This purchase was recognized as a very important event at the time, recorded as such, and celebrations continue to this day to commemorate these events in 1803. It is entirely logical that the present coin was specifically struck for some celebration that particular year. As a footnote to history, New Orleans was invaded with a terrible outbreak of cholera and yellow fever in 1853, and over 7,000 people died that summer, so celebrations of any sort were subdued. Provenance: From the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, October 1999, Lot 1422).