 1849 Gem Brilliant Proof. A gorgeous coin that has rich teal blue and russet near the rims while the centers are bright silver. The devices are well frosted, not as contrasting as seen on the 1848 Proof, but deserving praise in their own right. There are a couple of minor hairlines and an extremely short, faint scuff on Liberty's chest. Identifiable by the magnificent color and a tiny dark carbon speck in the field between Liberty's left hand and her neck and a minute tic on her neck. On the reverse there are no signs of contact.
Diagnostics include a small raised lump near the top of the '1', some very short die lines extending up toward the rocky base on the right. The reverse die is the same used to coin the 1847, 1848, and 1849 Proof Half Dollars in this sale, a feature apparently not reported in Breen.
David Akers considers this one of the rarest dates of the 1840s, and stated that only 5 examples were known, all in private hands. Needless to say, this is another fantastic opportunity for the astute numismatist who has been waiting to purchase one or even several of these extremely rare early Proof issues. NGC PF66.
Ex The Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, August 1999, lot 205); John J. Pittman Collection (David Akers, May 1998, lot 1536); Grand Central Sale (Paramount, 1967, lot 1017).
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