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Though there are more similarities than differences between the Ultra
High Relief, pictured on the left, and the High Relief, pictured on the right, the differences are there.
The rim of Ultra High Reliefs has a sharp knife-like appearance because there's no border between it and the coin's
concave surface as there is with High Reliefs. Some find this less attractive. With the Ultra High Reliefs, Liberty's
dress to the outside of her right leg has two major folds instead of several smaller ones. The Capitol Building,
tucked away under the hemline, is smaller on the Ultra High Relief. On the reverse of the Ultra High Relief, 14
rays extend from sun instead of 13.
One Ultra High Relief has a plain edge. All other Ultra High Reliefs and High Reliefs, and all subsequent Saints
in general, have edges lettered with "E PLURIBUS UNUM," which is Latin for "From many, one."
High Reliefs were struck in two major varieties, the flat rim and the wire rim, the flat rim being rarer and more
expensive.
Another difference between Ultra High Reliefs and High Reliefs is pricing. Ultra High Reliefs are prohibitively
expensive for most, with recently auctioned Ultra High Reliefs realizing $825,000, $660,000, and $242,000.
All of the two dozen or so Ultra High Reliefs are proofs, while fewer than a dozen of the 11,250 High Reliefs were
struck as proofs. One recently auctioned High Relief proof went for $92,000.
Regular High Reliefs are also quite expensive, though unlike with Ultra High Reliefs you don't need to be a millionaire
to afford one. The better uncirculated specimens typically go for $10,000 to $25,000, while you'll be out a trifling
$3,000 for a specimen considered circulated.
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