$1 Gold Liberty Type 1 - PCGS MS65 (Random Year)

Buyback price:  $1,428.25
Bullion Standard Pro Buyback price:  $1,448.55

Product ID: BST-000521839F

Specifications

Random Year Status Random Year
Precious Metal Type Gold
Bullion Coin Type Liberty Head Dollar
Format Coin
Country of Origin United States
Brand/Mint U.S. Mint
Mint Mark Various
Purity 0.9
Weight 0.0483 oz
Thickness (mm) 1 mm
Diameter (mm) 12.7 mm
Grade MS65
Grading Service PCGS

Product Details

Overview of $1 Gold Liberty Type 1

The Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollar is a one-dollar gold coin produced by the United States Mint, weighing 0.0483 troy ounces with a gold purity of .900 fine. It represents the smallest denomination in the American gold coinage series and is one of the most historically significant small-format gold coins produced during the nineteenth century. The coin carries a face value of one dollar and is recognized as legal tender, though its numismatic significance far exceeds its nominal denomination.

We offer this coin in PCGS MS65 condition, meaning each example has been independently graded and encapsulated by the Professional Coin Grading Service. The specific year will vary, as these coins are drawn from available inventory across the years of Type 1 production. Every example meets the same grading standard regardless of year, with MS65 indicating a gem uncirculated specimen with strong luster and only minor contact marks not readily visible without magnification.

History and Background

Congress authorized the one-dollar gold coin through the Coinage Act of 1849, and the United States Mint began striking them that same year. The Type 1 design, featuri

Overview of $1 Gold Liberty Type 1

The Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollar is a one-dollar gold coin produced by the United States Mint, weighing 0.0483 troy ounces with a gold purity of .900 fine. It represents the smallest denomination in the American gold coinage series and is one of the most historically significant small-format gold coins produced during the nineteenth century. The coin carries a face value of one dollar and is recognized as legal tender, though its numismatic significance far exceeds its nominal denomination.

We offer this coin in PCGS MS65 condition, meaning each example has been independently graded and encapsulated by the Professional Coin Grading Service. The specific year will vary, as these coins are drawn from available inventory across the years of Type 1 production. Every example meets the same grading standard regardless of year, with MS65 indicating a gem uncirculated specimen with strong luster and only minor contact marks not readily visible without magnification.

History and Background

Congress authorized the one-dollar gold coin through the Coinage Act of 1849, and the United States Mint began striking them that same year. The Type 1 design, featuring a small Liberty head, remained in production from 1849 through 1854, when it was replaced by the larger Type 2 design. During this brief window, coins were struck at multiple mint facilities, including Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, and San Francisco, resulting in a wide range of mintages and relative scarcity across dates.

The Type 1 era coincided with the California Gold Rush, a period that dramatically increased gold supplies flowing into the American monetary system. The one-dollar gold denomination was introduced partly to absorb this new gold and provide a practical small-denomination coinage for daily commerce. Production challenges, low mintages at branch facilities, and the coin's small physical size meant that many examples were lost to circulation or simply wore quickly, making well-preserved specimens far less common today.

Design and Aesthetics

The obverse of the Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollar features a small coroneted portrait of Liberty facing left, encircled by thirteen stars representing the original colonies, with the date positioned along the lower rim. The design was executed by James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and reflects the neoclassical aesthetic typical of mid-nineteenth century American coinage. The portrait is modest in scale given the coin's tiny diameter, which required precise die work to render the fine detail clearly.

The reverse carries a simple wreath of corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat encircling the denomination "1 DOLLAR," with "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" running along the outer border. The wreath design reflects the agrarian and commercial identity of the young nation. On gem examples graded MS65, both the obverse portrait and reverse lettering retain sharp definition, and the original mint luster remains largely intact across the coin's surfaces.

Fractional Size and Accessibility

At just under one-twentieth of a troy ounce, the Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollar is among the smallest gold coins produced by a sovereign mint. Its physical footprint is notably compact, which historically made it easy to lose or mishandle, contributing to the relative scarcity of high-grade survivors. For collectors today, the coin's small size is part of its appeal, as owning a gem example demands careful handling and appropriate storage from the moment it changes hands.

The PCGS encapsulation addresses the handling challenge directly, as the coin is sealed within a hard plastic slab that protects the surfaces and stabilizes the grade. This format makes the coin accessible to a wider range of collectors, including those who might otherwise be hesitant to handle a tiny, delicate nineteenth-century gold piece in raw form.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Each coin in this listing has been authenticated, graded, and encapsulated by PCGS, one of the most respected third-party grading services in numismatics. PCGS employs a multi-step review process that includes authentication, grading by experienced numismatists, and physical encapsulation in a tamper-evident holder carrying a unique certification number. The encapsulation itself serves as a permanent record of the coin's grade and authenticity.

We are an authorized PCGS dealer, which reflects our direct relationship with the grading service and our commitment to handling certified material through legitimate channels. Buyers can verify the certification details of any PCGS-slabbed coin using the certification number printed on the holder and the PCGS online verification tool. The combination of third-party certification and our authorized dealer status provides a clear and verifiable chain of authentication for every coin we offer in this series.

Condition and Packaging

MS65, or gem uncirculated, is a high-grade designation within the Sheldon coin grading scale. A coin graded MS65 by PCGS will exhibit full mint luster with above-average strike quality and only a small number of light contact marks that are not immediately obvious to the naked eye. At this grade level, the coin has never circulated and retains the visual character of a freshly minted specimen, though minor surface interactions from original mint handling are acceptable and expected.

Each coin is delivered in its original PCGS slab, which functions as the primary protective housing. The slab is a rigid, sonically sealed plastic holder that prevents direct contact with the coin's surfaces. When shipped, slabbed coins are further protected with appropriate padding to prevent movement and surface impact during transit. Because each example is individually certified, quantities are handled on a per-coin basis rather than in bulk tubes or boxes.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollars in MS65 reflects both the underlying gold value and the numismatic premium associated with the series. The coin's spot metal value is based on its 0.0483 troy ounce gold content at the current gold price, but for a certified gem example, the numismatic component typically represents a substantially larger portion of the total price. Factors including year, mint mark, certified population data from PCGS, and current collector demand all shape the premium above intrinsic metal value.

Because this listing covers a random year, pricing reflects the general market for MS65 Type 1 examples rather than any specific date premium. Certified population reports published by PCGS are a useful reference for understanding relative rarity within the series, and we encourage informed buyers to consult those resources alongside current market pricing when evaluating any certified coin. Our pricing reflects real-time market conditions rather than fixed retail structures.

Selling and Liquidity

Certified nineteenth-century American gold coins maintain strong collector interest and trade actively through both auction platforms and dealer-to-dealer markets. The PCGS MS65 grade provides a universally understood quality benchmark that facilitates resale, as buyers in the secondary market can evaluate the coin based on its certification without relying solely on visual assessment. This standardization supports broader market participation and more consistent pricing discovery.

We operate a two-way market, meaning customers who purchase through us can also sell back through the same platform. For collector coins like this one, liquidity considerations include certification status, population data, and prevailing demand for the specific series, all of which we factor into our competitive buyback pricing. Understanding resale context before purchase is part of our broader philosophy around transparent and informed buying.

Why Buy the $1 Gold Liberty Type 1 in PCGS MS65?

A gem-certified Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollar occupies a specific and respected position in the American numismatic canon. The series ran for only five years, production at most facilities was modest, and the coin's small physical size resulted in survival rates far below many other nineteenth-century issues. Finding an MS65 example means locating a coin that survived over 170 years without meaningful wear or damage, which is genuinely uncommon for coins of this era and size.

The PCGS encapsulation adds a layer of confidence that raw examples cannot provide. Buyers receive a coin with a locked-in grade, verified authenticity, and a certification record that travels with the coin through every subsequent transaction. For collectors building a type set of American gold coinage, the Type 1 is a required piece, and acquiring it in gem condition at the MS65 level represents a meaningful quality threshold that supports long-term collector appeal.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a precious metals and numismatic dealer since 2010, and our reputation within the industry is built on pricing transparency, product integrity, and consistent customer support. As an authorized PCGS dealer, we handle certified material with direct access to grading service relationships that reinforce the authenticity standards our customers expect. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects the consistency of that approach across thousands of transactions.

Our memberships in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflect our commitment to professional standards in both the numismatic and bullion segments of the market. We price our products based on real-time market conditions and display bid/ask spreads transparently on our product pages, giving buyers a complete view of the transaction economics rather than just the purchase price. Whether you are buying a single certified coin or building a broader position in American numismatic gold, our platform is designed to support informed decisions at every step.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live, executable wholesale bid and ask pricing across a wide range of precious metals products, including certified numismatic coins. For buyers evaluating the Type 1 Gold Liberty Dollar, Pro provides real-time portfolio valuation using current wholesale bid prices, which offers a more accurate picture of liquidation value than estimated retail comparisons. Members can also access proprietary analytics covering premiums, bid/ask spreads, and market conditions that help contextualize pricing within the broader certified coin market.

For a product like this one, where numismatic premiums and certified population data both influence pricing, access to objective market intelligence becomes particularly relevant. Pro's product research tools allow members to evaluate certified coins using measurable data rather than assumptions, making it easier to understand how supply, demand, and graded population levels affect pricing over time.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to make every transaction straightforward and secure. Customers can pay using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, as well as PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, or cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each payment option is integrated into a secure checkout process designed to protect your financial information throughout the transaction.

Having multiple payment pathways means you can choose the method that fits your preference and the size of your order without sacrificing convenience or security. Our checkout process is designed to be clear and efficient from the first step to final confirmation, with the same pricing transparency that carries through every part of the platform.

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