The appearance of IN GOD WE TRUST on United States coinage resulted from the religious revival that swept through the Union during the Civil War. This Motto was first featured on two-cent pieces in 1864 and was added to gold coinage in 1866. While the San Francisco Mint also stuck small quantities of the older No Motto design type in 1866, the Philadelphia Mint only struck gold coinage of the new With Motto design. This coinage is scarce to rare in today’s market.
With just 3,750 coins struck, the 1866 Motto $10 was an absolute rarity upon its inception, and heavy circulation and melting has further reduced the population. We are delighted to offer an incredible representative of this desirable issue in lot 1165 of our Spring 2019 Baltimore Expo Auction. It has been certified MS-61 by PCGS and approved by CAC. It is among the finest of just 75 to 100 in numismatic hands, and it is the sole finest and only Mint State example certified at PCGS. It is numerically tied with one example graded MS-61 on the NGC Census, which also lists an MS-61+ and an MS-64+. For the advanced Liberty Head gold specialists, this offering represents an important opportunity.
Vibrant yellow-gold surfaces support tinges of deeper tangerine color scattered throughout. Flashy prooflike reflectivity is apparent across both sides, courtesy of die polishing in the fields. The devices are richly frosted and sharply defined, free from significant abrasion across even the highest points. The date shows dramatic repunching as is seen on all examples of this issue, with the errant digits clearly impressed just to the right of the prominent ones. A stippled texture is visible around the ribbon on the reverse, though only seen under magnification. Beautiful to examine and certainly choice for the assigned grade.
This magnificent 1866 Motto $10 will be featured in lot 1165 of the Rarities Night session of our Spring 2019 Baltimore Auction. The sale is now available for viewing and bidding on our website www.StacksBowers.com, or you may contact our offices to secure a printed catalog. To speak with a numismatic representative, please call 800-458-4646 or email [email protected]. Also, download our mobile app to view and participate in our auctions via your Android or Apple device.
