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The Certified $1 Gold Liberty 1855 AU58 Type 2 NGC is a fascinating and historically significant piece of American numismatics, representing a brief but important transition within the nation's smallest gold coin series. The Gold Dollar was first introduced in 1849 as part of America's response to the immense influx of gold from the California Gold Rush. While the original Type 1 design served adequately, by the mid-1850s concerns about the coin’s small size and legibility led the U.S. Mint to redesign the Gold Dollar. The result was the Type 2 issue, first appearing in 1854, which attempted to create a larger, thinner coin while still maintaining the same gold weight. The 1855 Gold Dollar, certified AU58 by NGC, offers collectors a near-Mint State example of a coin that holds a critical place in the story of American coinage evolution.
The obverse of the 1855 Gold Liberty Dollar Type 2 features an artistic departure from the previous Liberty Head design. Instead of the familiar left-facing bust, the Type 2 Gold Dollar showcases an "Indian Princess" motif designed by Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. This design depicts Liberty wearing a feathered headdress, similar to those worn by Native American princesses in popular 19th-century imagery, but adapted to classical European styling. The portrait is encircled by the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," finely inscribed in a narrow, delicate font. The central figure exhibits an elegant grace, with fine lines in the feathers and Liberty’s hair that are particularly well-preserved in an AU58 specimen. Though controversial at the time for its break from traditional Liberty representations, the Indian Princess obverse would become a defining visual element of mid-19th-century American gold coinage.
The reverse of the 1855 Gold Liberty Dollar Type 2 features a simple yet graceful wreath design, enclosing the denomination "1 DOLLAR" and the date "1855" within its center. The wreath is composed of corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat, symbolizing the agricultural wealth and economic diversity of the United States. The delicate nature of the reverse design required careful handling during the striking process, and many coins exhibit weakness at the high points, especially on the wreath’s details. However, on a Certified AU58 example, much of the original definition remains intact, allowing collectors to appreciate Longacre’s intricate and symbolic craftsmanship. The Type 2 reverse is notable for its attempt to balance elegance with practicality on the newly resized, thinner gold planchet, which posed considerable production challenges for the Mint.
The 1855 Gold Liberty Dollar was struck primarily at the Philadelphia Mint, although branch mints such as Dahlonega and New Orleans also produced Type 2 issues during this period. The Philadelphia Mint, as the nation's principal minting facility, handled the largest production volume. The 1855 issue saw a total mintage of approximately 758,269 pieces from Philadelphia, a moderate figure that was heavily impacted by the challenges associated with the Type 2 design. The thinness of the coins made them difficult to strike properly, leading to many poorly defined examples entering circulation. Additionally, the delicate surfaces and higher susceptibility to wear resulted in a low survival rate for well-preserved specimens. Finding examples today certified as AU58 by NGC, displaying strong detail and minimal wear, is relatively uncommon and highly prized among collectors of early U.S. gold coinage.
The condition of the Certified $1 Gold Liberty 1855 AU58 Type 2 NGC represents a near-uncirculated coin, exhibiting just the faintest traces of wear on the highest points of the design. In this grade, the coin retains nearly full mint luster, and the devices—particularly Liberty’s headdress, the facial details, and the delicate agricultural wreath—are still crisp and sharply outlined. Light friction may be evident on Liberty’s cheek and the tips of the feathers or on the bow of the wreath, but the coin’s eye appeal remains excellent. The surfaces are typically free of major distractions, with only minor handling marks consistent with brief circulation or cabinet friction. AU58 coins like this offer tremendous value, often capturing the look of a full Mint State example at a significantly more accessible price point, making them attractive to both advanced and emerging collectors.
NGC certification further enhances the desirability of this 1855 Type 2 Gold Dollar, providing independent verification of the coin’s authenticity and condition. NGC’s grading standards ensure consistency and credibility, and the coin is securely encapsulated in a tamper-evident holder that protects it from environmental damage and handling wear. The certification label provides key information, including the date, denomination, type designation, and grade, along with a unique identification number that allows collectors and dealers to verify the coin’s details through NGC’s online database. For a nuanced and historically important type such as the 1855 Gold Dollar, NGC certification gives buyers confidence that they are acquiring a genuine, accurately graded piece of American monetary history.
The historical context surrounding the 1855 Gold Liberty Dollar Type 2 makes it especially intriguing. The mid-1850s were a period of rapid economic expansion and technological advancement in the United States, but also of deepening sectional tensions that would eventually culminate in the Civil War. Gold discovered in California flooded the U.S. economy, enabling the Mint to produce vast quantities of gold coinage, but the difficulties with the Type 2 design reflected the technical limitations of the era. By 1856, the Mint had moved on to the Type 3 Gold Dollar design, which slightly modified the portrait to address the strike weakness issues that had plagued the Type 2. As a result, the Type 2 subtype was only produced for a brief period (1854–1856), making it a relatively scarce and highly sought-after segment of the U.S. Gold Dollar series.
The market for Certified $1 Gold Liberty 1855 AU58 Type 2 NGC coins remains strong among collectors who appreciate the combination of historical significance, relative scarcity, and artistic beauty. Type set collectors, who seek one example of every major design change, highly prize Type 2 Gold Dollars, and examples in high grades like AU58 are particularly desirable. Additionally, early U.S. gold coin specialists recognize the Type 2 Gold Dollar as a key component of any comprehensive gold collection, adding further to its demand. As time progresses and fewer high-quality examples remain available, the value and prestige associated with owning a near-Mint State certified 1855 Type 2 Gold Dollar are likely to continue appreciating.
The Certified $1 Gold Liberty 1855 AU58 Type 2 NGC captures a unique moment in American coinage, embodying both the artistic ambitions and technical challenges of the mid-19th century Mint. With its graceful Indian Princess portrait, finely detailed agricultural wreath, historical context rooted in the gold rush era, and short-lived production lifespan, the 1855 Gold Dollar stands as an essential piece for serious numismatists. In the superb AU58 grade, the coin offers near-Mint State beauty combined with the rich, tangible history of America's golden age, making it a timeless treasure for collectors who seek both aesthetic excellence and profound historical significance.