1852-D G$1 Liberty Head Gold Dollar Mint Error PCGS AU58 (Rotated Dies)

Here’s a rare gold piece with a dramatic mint error (rotated dies) that would be a great addition to your collection. The 1852-D has the most distinctive look of any Type One gold dollar from the Dahlonega Mint. PCGS has graded 20 as AU58 with only 20 finer. Collectors Universe prices this rare issue at $7,250.00 in AU58. This rarity has a mintage of only 6,360.

Gold specialist Doug Winter writes, “The 1852-D gold dollar is scarce in all grades. It is most often seen in Extremely Fine-40 to About Uncirculated-55. It becomes quite rare in the highest circulated grades and very rare in any Mint State grade. A majority of the Uncirculated pieces which exist are not choice and this date remains unknown above Mint State-62.”

Students of North Georgia College practice a military drill in front of the old Dahlonega Mint in 1877 or 1878. The college used the building from 1873 until it burned down in 1878. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

“The quality of strike varies greatly,” continues Winter. “It is possible to find an 1852-D gold dollar which is reasonably well struck, but most are weak in the centers as a result of heavily clashed dies. The stars are usually well defined and the hair shows surprisingly good detail in spite of the aforementioned clashmarks. The reverse is better struck than the obverse with a sharp wreath, full date and strong lettering. The rims are much sharper than on the previous issues from this mint with the milling fairly clear on both the obverse and the reverse.”

However, this offering from AUCM, despite the clashmarks, is a well-struck and attractive piece. Please take a look at the images provided.