- 106
Silver Dollar, 1893-O, PCGS MS 65 DMPL (Deep Mirror Prooflike) CAC
Estimate
150,000 - 250,000 USD
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Description
- silver
An absolutely remarkable coin. With extraordinarily deep, nearly limitless mirrored fields on both the obverse and reverse; all the devices and legends exhibiting rich, cameo frostiness. The strike is sharper than the renowned Young/Goldfreed/Bodway/Lee coin, with which the present coin is tied for finest known; there is greater definition of the hair above Liberty’s ear, and the eagle’s feathers are virtually full. Both examples share the reverse weakness around the bow and ONE of the denomination. Few hairlines to distract, but a small tick or two are noted on Liberty’s nose and near her eye; there is also a small mint-caused inclusion above the 9 in the date. A small reverse mark to the left of the eagle’s wing can serve as an identifier, otherwise few marks of any distraction. There is the faintest hint of gold tone at the peripheries, otherwise essentially white. A splendid example of this significant rarity.
Provenance
Probably Jefferson Coin and Bullion; Ralph Stone Collection (before 1995); thence by descent.
Catalogue Note
THE ONLY DEEP MIRROR PROOFLIKE EXAMPLE OF THE DATE CERTIFIED BY CAC.
Fewer silver dollars were struck at the New Orleans mint in 1893 than any other year. Wayne Miller observed that, “the 1893-O is scarce in any grade” and continued that “prooflike specimens…are very rare.” The PCGS and NGC data both confirm his observations.
The provenance of the present coin prior to 1993-1995 is as yet uncertain. Based on the type of holder, it was encapsulated no later than February 1993. A review of the lists published by Highfill (2nd ed. 2017) of the prominent collections known in the late 1980s and early 1990s provide no tangible clue. Prior to the acquisition of the Bodway coin, Jack Lee’s DMPL graded MS 63; Highfill had no DMPL of the date; nor did Elliot Goodman, and Wayne Miller’s collection was similarly lacking. The only coin of comparable stature was the Auction 80, lot 1794 [Leo Young]-Auction 87, lot 1252 [Barbara Goldfreed]-George Bodway-Jack Lee example. That piece (lacking provenance in the catalogue) was last sold in 2005 (Heritage [$258,750]).
Certificate number: 3142285 (Generation 3 holder). PCGS records only two examples graded MS 65 DMPL, and none finer; NGC lists only one, and that too is unsurpassed. CAC has certified a single deep-mirror proof like example (this coin) and none finer. (02-18)
Fewer silver dollars were struck at the New Orleans mint in 1893 than any other year. Wayne Miller observed that, “the 1893-O is scarce in any grade” and continued that “prooflike specimens…are very rare.” The PCGS and NGC data both confirm his observations.
The provenance of the present coin prior to 1993-1995 is as yet uncertain. Based on the type of holder, it was encapsulated no later than February 1993. A review of the lists published by Highfill (2nd ed. 2017) of the prominent collections known in the late 1980s and early 1990s provide no tangible clue. Prior to the acquisition of the Bodway coin, Jack Lee’s DMPL graded MS 63; Highfill had no DMPL of the date; nor did Elliot Goodman, and Wayne Miller’s collection was similarly lacking. The only coin of comparable stature was the Auction 80, lot 1794 [Leo Young]-Auction 87, lot 1252 [Barbara Goldfreed]-George Bodway-Jack Lee example. That piece (lacking provenance in the catalogue) was last sold in 2005 (Heritage [$258,750]).
Certificate number: 3142285 (Generation 3 holder). PCGS records only two examples graded MS 65 DMPL, and none finer; NGC lists only one, and that too is unsurpassed. CAC has certified a single deep-mirror proof like example (this coin) and none finer. (02-18)