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Images courtesy of Superior
Galleries
Significant examples:
"Brilliant
Proof". Ex - King Farouk - Sotheby & Company "The
Palace Collections", February 24, 1854, part of lot 184 - Kreisberg/Schulman,
October 2, 1959, Lot 1844 - Kreisberg Schulman, February 1960, Lot 2931 -
Ronnie Carr - Stack's "66th Anniversary Sale", October 16, 2001,
Lot 1041, illustrated, where it was described as follows: "1907-D
Brilliant Proof. Unique, the sole specimen known with no
other ever reported or even rumored. Fully mirrored fields are wonderfully
augmented by razor-sharp design features. The obverse stars, denticles,
and hair curls are all entirely complete. Likewise, the reverse shield,
feather details, rays and peripheries are meticulously struck. Much of the
lettering in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / TWENTY DOLLARS exhibits evidence
of rather noticeable doubling under a glass, as does the tips of the
longest rays at the upper right reverse. A few light lint marks are
visible near the obverse denticulation. The surfaces on either side have
been ever so gently cleaned, probably in an effort to diminish some very
trivial contact marks. Described in 1982 by our friend and colleague Dave
Akers as "At least one proof 1907-D was struck. It appeared in the
Farouk sale in 1954 and was offered five years later in a
Kreisberg-Schulman sale. Its present whereabouts is unknown and there has
never been any indication or rumor of a second specimen.'' More recently,
at the 2001 ANA convention in Atlanta, Akers was shown this coin and he
confirmed it as being the one he had written about back in 1982. Walter
Breen has also described the coin as unique in his Proof coins
encyclopedia, writing "Only one reported'' and suggesting that it was
struck on September 30, 1907. This unique rarity in the United
States gold series has never been seen or owned by any of the great
collectors of the past. None of the great names of yesteryear, like the
Norwebs, Pittman, Eliasberg and even the Garretts ever owned the unique
Proof 1907`D' Double Eagle. Here is an opportunity to acquire what is,
indisputably, the rarest of the rare, the only known 1907-D
Presentation Proof Double Eagle, a highly important coin with a
famous, royal past. With the ending of the Liberty Head type Double Eagle
in 1907, the Denver Mint seems to have sought some way of memorializing
the passing of this great coin design. Since the Mint had struck a few
Proof Double Eagles in 1906 to mark its start, Denver Mint officials
appear to have decided to do the same in 1907 to mark its end.
Accordingly, one Proof 1907-D Double Eagle was struck at the end of
September of that year, just before formal orders ending the type were
received in Denver. That Proof was carefully preserved immediately after
striking. We assume it was presented to a local Denver or Colorado
dignitary whose name has been lost to history. From his ownership, the
coin ultimately was acquired by Egypt's playboy king, Farouk I. When
Farouk was deposed by a coup of junior field grade military officers, his
collection of coins was seized and ordered sold for the benefit of the
Egyptian nation. According to the present consignor, this Proof 1907-D
Double Eagle is among the handful of great United States gold rarities
originally from the Farouk Collection that have recently appeared in
private hands. The Denver Mint appears to have been very aware of its
place in United States numismatic history. In 1906, the Denver Mint struck
a small handful of Proof Double Eagles for presentation purposes. Breen
first reported the mintage as 12 Proofs but later reduced that number by
half. Presumably, those special presentation strikes were made to mark the
recent opening of the Denver Mint and the beginning of Double Eagle
coinage in 1906. Only one 1906-D specimen has ever been auctioned to
the best of our knowledge, in Kreisberg-Schulmam's Adolphe Menjou sale
(1957). The details of its earlier history of ownership are unknown. It is
tempting to speculate that it might have been the 1906-D Double Eagle
grouped in lot 183 in the 1954 Farouk Sale, its Proof status being
overlooked as so much else of numismatic importance was in that auction. A
single specimen was struck in brass. It was given to the state historical
society of Colorado in 1906.", sold for $34,500.00
PCGS MS-66. Ex - Bowers and
Merena Galleries "The Rarities Sale", July 31, 2002, Lot 901,
illustrated, sold for $10,925.00
Recent appearances:
NGC MS-64. Ex - Heritage
Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s, "Summer 2001 Long Beach Signature
Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 9317, not plated, sold for $1,265.00
NGC MS-64. Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s, "Summer
2001 Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 9318, not
plated, sold for $1,265.00
PCGS MS-63. Ex- Heritage
Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale"
October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7974, not illustrated, sold for $1,092.50
NGC MS-63. Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October
2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7975, not illustrated,
sold for $920.00
MS-63. Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass,
Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 952,
illustrated, sold for $1,092.50 Purchased
from the Goliad Corporation, December 16, 1971
NGC MS-63. Ex - Superior Galleries' "The ANA 2001 National
Money Show Auction", March 8-9, 2001, Lot 930, sold for $1,035.00
AU-58. Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of
Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 292, sold for
$644.00
AU-53. Ex - Ira &
Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection,
Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 4166, not illustrated, sold
for $299.00
About Uncirculated. Ex- Stack's "The September Sale",
September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1848, sold for $322.00
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service
"Walter Breen's
Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1977" by
Walter Breen
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