$180,000.00 USD
The Philadelphia Mint struck a relatively low production of just 98 proof Liberty double eagles for collectors in 1904, down considerably from the 158 proofs struck the year before. By contrast, the business-strike mintage for 1904 was a whopping 6.2 million pieces. The proofs were delivered in quarterly batches of 42, 15, 18, and 23 pieces, with the final delivery on December 23. A single pair of dies was used to strike all the proofs. The date slants slightly up from left to right on the proofs and there is some die polish in the bottom of the second and sixth clear stripes of the shield, making it possible to distinguish between proofs and prooflike business strikes. Many high-quality business strikes are available, so there has never been any date pressure on the small supply of proofs. John Dannreuther estimates the surviving proof population at 50 to 65 examples in all grades.
For some unknown reason, the Mint switched to an all brilliant finish, with an attempt for 0 cameo contrast for proof coins starting in 1902. The design elements were not heavily frosted purposely after that, drastically reducing the number of proofs with Cameo or Deep Cameo surfaces in later years. A fraction of the 1904 proof mintage, including the present coin, shows very rare field/device contrast to merit a Cameo designation, but Deep or Ultra Cameo examples are extremely to exceedingly rare for dates 1902-1907.
The coin offered here is an absolute spectacular Choice proof, with unusually frosty devices and deeply mirrored watery fields that create a bold deeper cameo effect when the coin is tilted in the light. The design elopements are fully struck and the well-preserved yellow-gold surfaces are free of mentionable distractions. Overall eye appeal is outstanding. We expect intense competition from series specialists and Registry Set enthusiasts. Very Rare
