Although there is some weakness above Liberty’s ear, and the eagle’s breast feathers are not entirely full, this is a sharper strike than usually encountered. So, too, the lustre is atypically fresh. There are scattered ticks, consistent with the grade, and a small mint-caused flaw in the hair above Liberty’s brow. An overall creamy hue, with peripheral toning of electric green to purple to russet.

Certificate number: 286638-004 (NGC 5 holder). As noted by most specialist authors, the date is plentiful in MS 64 and lower grades, but only one hundred and ten MS 65 examples are recorded by NGC with only ten finer in all designations (MS 66 the finest). In this designation, CAC has certified twenty-five at this grade, and none finer. (02-18)