The 1859 gold dollar is not rare in terms of absolute rarity but it is certainly not easy to locate in Gem Uncirculated. It is very rare in Superb Uncirculated with the finest I have seen a single MS68 graded by PCGS. All pre-Civil War gold, regardless of date or denomination, is highly desirable in MS65 and above.

This remarkable little coin is highly lustrous with lovely rich natural orange-gold, rose and green-gold hues on the obverse and reverse. The strike is sharp despite some clashmarks and there is better definition than normal on the hair of Liberty. The obverse of this coin approaches perfection and grades a full MS67 on its own; some minor mint-made planchet roughness at the central reverse is not detracting.

Heritage 8/11: 5333, graded MS66 by PCGS and approved by CAC, brought $5,463.

Only a handful of gold coins from this era are available in this lofty grade and an even smaller number off these can be purchased for less than $6,000!

CAC has approved three in this grade with three finer.