Bill Jones' complete gold coin type set
G$1 Type 2 1854-1856


Obverse
Enlarge  
Reverse
Enlarge  

Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: GOLD DOLLARS
Item Description: G$1 1854 TYPE 2
Grade: PCGS MS 64
Owner: BillJones
 
Winning Set: Bill Jones' complete gold coin type set
Date Added: 11/5/2010
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

Complaints about the tiny size of the Type 1 gold dollar resulted in this change in design mid way through 1854. The Type II gold dollar weighed the same as it predecessor, but it had a large diameter and the planchet (coin blank) was thinner.

The U.S. mint system issued this short lived type for all or parts of just three years from 1854 to 1856. As such collectors have long viewed this type as a very scarce item, especially in Choice to Gem (MS-63 to 65) Mint State.

Soon after this design was put into production, it was found the relief on Ms. Liberty's head was too high given the thin planchets that were required for the larger diameter gold dollars. As a result the hair detail on the obverse was almost never full struck, and of even greater concern, the date in the reverse was often weak and unreadable. This resulted in the rapid modification to the design.

The example shown above is a very well struck example of this scarce type. It has a minimum number of scratches and none of the clash marks that are often seen on Type II gold dollars.

To follow or send a message to this user,
please log in