Liberty Half Eagles 1857-S $5 S.S. Central America

Liberty Half Eagles
1857-S $5 S.S. Central America #2 (with Pinch) MS64 PCGS. The debris field of the S.S. Central America shipwreck covered 10 acres -- a far larger area than first explored in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Isolated pockets of treasure went untouched until the second expedition in 2014 employed modern equipment to search those areas. Among the finds were U.S. silver and gold coins ranging from dimes to double eagles, as well as foreign gold coinage and several assayer ingots. A large amount of gold dust and many gold nuggets were found. This near-Gem 1857-S half eagle was freshly minted when lost at sea, and remains largely as struck. This example displays the Large S mintmark, with a thin veil of translucent gray patina over partially prooflike fields. Frosted mint luster remains throughout the sharply struck motifs with attractive, straw-gold color. A pinch of Central America gold dust accompanies the coin. Population: 7 in 64 (1 in 64+), 3 finer (8/23).

https://coins.ha.com/itm/liberty-half-eagles/1857-s-5-ss-central-america-2-with-pinch-ms64-pcgs/a/1365-3121.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-USCoins-1365-09142023

HID02906262019

© 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved