1839 Proof Liberty Head Eagle - 1839/8, Type of 1838

Coin Details

Auction Record

$690,000 PR67 09-19-1999 Goldberg Auctioneers

Description

The 1839 Proof Liberty Head Eagle - 1839/8, Type of 1838 is a proof Gold Eagle struck at the Philadelphia Mint, part of the Liberty Head Eagles 1838-1907 series. This is an overdate variety — the 1839 date was punched over a die originally dated 1838. In the early U.S. Mint, dies were expensive to produce, so rather than discard a die engraved with the previous year's date, Mint workers would punch the new date digits over the old ones. The traces of the original date remain visible under magnification, creating a die variety prized by collectors and cataloged by die variety specialists. With a mintage of 5, this is an extremely rare issue — the higher-mintage of the two mint variants, representing 0% of production. The obverse features Liberty facing left wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY and the reverse displays a heraldic eagle with shield on breast, olive branch and arrows in talons, with a banner reading E PLURIBUS UNUM. Minted during the age of Jacksonian democracy and the rise of the common man, as new branch mints opened in Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans. As a proof issue, this coin was struck multiple times on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields and frosted design elements prized by collectors. Struck at the original U.S. Mint facility, in continuous operation since 1792. Estimated market value is approximately $1954K. Struck in 90% gold, 10% copper, weighing 16.7 grams, 26.8 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #8771.