$194,650.00 USD
Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. The obverse features a head of Liberty facing left, with 13 stars around, similar to the regular issue dies, but without a date. Struck in copper with a reeded edge, gilt. This design was also struck in silver (Judd-126, Pollock-148).
USPatterns.com notes this was Longacre's second design for the double eagle, created as a replacement for the high relief motif used on the unique 1849 double eagle, which would not stack properly. Pollock listed the silver examples as P-148, and mentioned the Bass coin in his roster, but did not list it separately as a gilt copper piece. This design was also rejected and a third design was finally adopted for regular-issue production.
This coin first surfaced in the remarkable collection of George Woodside (New York Coin & Stamp, 4/1892), lot 92:
"(1859) Double Eagle: same as regular issue, but no date: copper: gilt: uncirc.; rare."
This spectacular Choice proof exhibits sharply detailed design elements throughout. The lustrous honey-gold surfaces show a few specks of amber on the reverse. No mentionable distractions are evident and the high quality within the grade is confirmed by CAC. This unique and historically interesting pattern should find a home in the finest collection or Registry Set.
Ex: George Woodside Collection (New York Coin and Stamp, 4/1892), lot 92; William H. Woodin, exhibited at the 1914 ANS Exhibition; Waldo Newcomer; Abe Kosoff; purchased by Harry W. Bass, Jr. on August 3, 1971; Harry Bass Core Collection, HBCC #15126.
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part I.
