1879 PATTERN SILVER DOLLARVariety
equivalents:
Judd 1613 = Pollock 1809
Rarity: Very Rare
Metal content: Silver
Edge: Reeded
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Images courtesy of Ira
& Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.
Significant examples:
1. PCGS Proof-68 (illustrated
above). Ex - Wayne Miller Collection - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins &
Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3,
2000, Lot 602, where it was described (in part) as follows: "An
electric coin that is graced by deep blue toning around the
periphery, with fiery yellow and red hues on both sides. The centers
are lighter, and this coin has probably been stored in National Coin
pages for many years, as the toning is familiar to many coins we see
that have been stored that way. The surfaces are immaculate, without
signs of hairlines or contact, simply put, they are perfect. We can
not imagine how a finer coin could come down to us, let alone an
extremely rare pattern issue. This is confirmed in the PCGS
Population Report, they have graded a single coin as Proof 61, 3 as
Proof 63, 2 as Proof 64, and this lone Proof 68 monster coin. It is
identifiable by a small untoned spot at the top right of the S of
PLURIBUS. On the reverse, the colors stagger the imagination,
the periphery is dark blue with flaming yellow highlights, the
centers are deep blue with lavender highlights. Of course the strike
is superb, and the quality of preservation simply can not be
imagined. How did this coin survive, virtually as struck, all these
years? The only signs of age are the dizzying array of colors from
careful storage for decades. Somehow this one escaped the cleaning
frenzy of the past decades, and remains exactly as it should,
perfect in every way." - Mark Hagen. Displayed along with
Mark's other 1877 Morgan Pattern coins at the PCGS table at the 2005
ANA convention in San Francisco.
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