1856-D
Gold Dollar - 1889 Gold Dollar: Set of Two Gold Dollars
The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
A Set of First and
Last Indian Head, Large Head Gold Dollars 1856-D and 1889
James B. Longacre designed
the Indian Princess, Large Head gold dollar. It was issued
from 1856 to 1889. Because the prior design, the Indian
Princess, Small Head, had striking problems, the new design
was created. The older design was often softly struck, especially
on Liberty’s hair and the numerals 85 in the date.
These were often so poorly struck that newly minted pieces
looked like circulated coins. Longacre remedied the problem
by making a larger portrait of Liberty in shallower relief.
The words of the legend were placed nearer the border. The
head was placed farther from the letters, and the feathers’
shapes, sizes, and locations also changed. After this change,
most gold dollars were struck with strong detail, except
for the Southern branch mint coins that continued to show
central weakness. Also in some cases, the word LIBERTY was
weak. Because most pieces did not circulate, except in the
West, many pieces exist today in XF condition and finer.
Longacre’s design
shows a truncated portrait of Liberty facing left wearing
a stylized headdress inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded
by the words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In using the Indian
Princess motif, Longacre felt that he was designing something
that was uniquely American rather than an adoption from
the classics. The reverse shows an open, elaborate wreath
of corn, cotton, maple, and tobacco with the numeral 1 in
the top center. Below it is DOLLAR followed by the date.
Longacre liked the wreath design so much that he adopted
it for use on the small cent of 1856.
1856-D
Gold Dollar - The 1856-D gold dollar
is a Southern branch mint piece with a tiny mintage
of 1,460. The discovery of gold in the early 1800’s
led to the establishment of two of the Southern branch
mints, Charlotte North Carolina and Dahlonega Georgia.
In 1835 an act of Congress mandated that these two
branch mints would coin only gold.
The New Orleans Mint also opened to
handle gold from Mexico. In 1838 the first Dahlonega
gold coins were made, and they were the Classic Head
half eagle type. Because of the local alloy’s
high silver content, Dahlonega gold coins often have
a green-gold cast. They are also often weakly struck
on irregular planchets. Dahlonega gold coins are eagerly
sought by collectors and investors because of their
low mintages and rarity. Modern D mint coins should
not be confused with Dahlonega coins. Today a coin
bearing the D mintmark was minted in Denver, which
began production in 1906.
With fewer than 100 known in all grades,
the 1856-D dollar is fundamentally rare and considered
a key of the series. Most examples of this date and
mint are weakly struck.
This 1856-D gold dollar is solid for
the grade with pleasant, even tones and delightful
eye appeal. The strike is above average despite the
weak “U” in United which is normal for
this date. Many specimens seen from this year have
been repaired or altered as well, further elevating
the status of original examples such as this one.
1889
Gold Dollar - The last year of the
Indian Princess type was 1889. It is one of the more
common dates of the type because it was saved by those
who wanted to keep a souvenir from earlier times.
Pieces from this year are usually frosty and have
red and copper color.
This incredible 1889 gold dollar shimmers
with mint luster on both sides. It is free of nicks
and scratches, which is consistent with the grade.
Although much of the mintage of this date survives
today, this beautiful Superb Gem piece is one of the
nicest. Interestingly enough, the coin also has a
rotated reverse, which NGC did not note on the holder.
All gold error coins are rare, and one of this grade
is particularly so.
