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| Name: |
1872 pattern quarter. J-1199, P-1339. Rarity-7+. |
| Description: |
Aluminum. Reeded edge. Bright silver gray, a lovely cameo gem with frosty motifs and
deeply mirrored fields; the cameo designation is not forthcoming on the PCGS holder,
however. Struck from the standard dies of the date, but from aluminum, a "new"
metal to the U.S.Mint, and an element that was, at one time, considerably more valuable
than platinum, silver, or gold. Aluminum patterns of this year were once distributed in
complete aluminum Proof sets. Reverse of '72, raised horizontal die line at viewer's left
of shield just below the horizontal stripes; this die was used for the regular Proof
coinage of the year as well. An impressive gem, the only specimen certified by PCGS. NGC
has never certified a specimen. Despite the conclusion of the authors of the
uspatterns.com website saying "only two or three known," this is the only
specimen certified by either service and Pollock lists only one appearance known to him --
the example sold in the 1954 King Farouk sale. The editors of the 8th Edition of the Judd
book, who underestimated the rarity of this issue at Rarity-7+, found only one additional
offering, from M.H. Bolender's sale of March 1955, certainly a re-appearance of the same
coin Farouk owned, and catalogued as such. Farouk was named as a consignor to the Bolender
sale, probably by virtue of many purchases made by Americans at the 1954 Farouk sale
finding their way into the auction. We think a very good case could be made that this is
quite possibly the only specimen known unless a complete 1872 aluminum Proof set exists
that has not yet been certified, which is actually possible. In any case, this is the only
specimen available to collectors and is an extraordinary rarity which we feel fortunate to
offer.PCGS Population: 1; none finer.From Sotheby's sale of the Palace Collections of
Egypt, February 1954, Lot 1904; M.H. Bolender's sale of March 1955, Lot 526.
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| Price: |
$26,450.00 (2005-06-23) |
| Original page: |
http://www.stacks.com/lotdetail.aspx?lri
d=AN00024853
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