1871 Liberty Head Half Eagle. AU-55 (NGC).
An exceptional Choice AU survivor delivering both impressive preservation and eye appeal. The surfaces are remarkably lustrous, with tinges of honey-gold iridescence glowing from the protected areas. Uniformly and gently worn, the design elements remain bold and shows just faint traces of friction across the highest points. Well struck for the issue and free from any distracting marks. The 1871 issue continues a trend of low mintage circulation strike half eagles from the Philadelphia Mint that began early in the Civil War. In this particular case only 3,200 coins were struck. With fewer than 100 examples known, the 1871 is similar in overall rarity to the other early Motto issues of the late 1860s and early 1870s. This very well preserved specimen is vastly superior to the typically encountered example, usually seen in VF or EF.
PCGS# 8322. NGC ID: 25WC.
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