1898'O' Choice Brilliant Uncirculated with claims to the Gem category. This impressive coin certainly eclipses the overwhelming majority of this date in every imaginable way. The strike is very assertive although it is not entirely sharp at every location. The fields of this deep champagne-lavender and iridescent golden example, furthermore, are very noticeably mirrored thereby leading us to raise the possibility that this majestic coin is more than just a simple circulation strike. Indeed the characteristics of this jewel are such that this example could very well be a specimen or presentation striking of some sort. With Breen reporting at least one proof of this issue, the case certainly can be made that the New Orleans Mint found reason to produce a very tiny number of specially prepared coins of this date. The rare and unusual piece offered here quite possibly can be numbered among such coins.
We should point out that the coin offered here was purchased privately by the consignor from New England Rare Coin Galleries as a Branch Mint Proof and is quite possibly the same coin described as a proof by Breen; that coin being ex Public II Sale (New England Rare Coin Galleries, July 23, 1976, lot 1140).
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