Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 2

Coins, Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

$10 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1811		Notable 1798/7 Overdate Eagle 9x4 Stars. PCGS graded AU-53. Solidly graded by PCGS, this coin exhibits all the qualities of a decent AU. Well struck overall, with a delightful presentation of the Heraldic Eagle. Diebreak through the L to the center of Liberty's cap. No marks beyond what is to be expected for the grade. A nice one for the collector of early gold varieties. View details	Unsold
Lot 1812		1799 Small Stars. NGC graded MS-62. Breen-3A. Taraszka-4A. Rarity-7 variety. It may be rare as sin, but this is also a beautiful coin! Other than a short scratch near the L in LIBERTY, we can't find anything worthy of critical comment on this specimen. It is blessed with a great strike in all aspects on both sides, loads of gleaming luster, and that so-appealing bright yellow gold color that the best of these early pieces exhibit. So, if you are a variety collector and you truly appreciate quality, this coin threatens to do some damage to your checkbook, because we expect spirited bidding for it. No question of its desirability; only question is, how much to bid for it. Best to come to the sale in person, examine it carefully beforehand, then get that hand into the air and keep it there! An American numismatic prize, no doubt about it! View details	Unsold
Lot 1813		The Finest Known 1803 Eagle! PCGS graded MS-65. A stunning and magnificent coin of this seldom-seen variety. Both the obverse and reverse exude mint bloom. No toning here, no place to hide faint hairlines (if there were any to hide) or other detriments. Nothing but undiminished fields and devices--even under a strong glass, the surfaces remain pristine. Furthermore, there are no annoying adjustment marks which so often uglify early precious metal coinage. While many attempt to justify such adjustment marks by saying that they are part of the mint process, and shouldn't lower the value of a coin, who are they kidding? File marks on a gem? Silly. Anyway, not an issue here, as there are no adjustment marks to contend with on either side. Liberty's face has a couple of microscopic marks on her cheek, but they are not distracting either. The strike is typical of the date, a touch weak on Liberty's lower drapery line, and on the eagle's right claw holding those wartime arrows. All else is sharp and defined. One of the finest of the type to exist, and apparently the finest of the date to have been graded. This is the best there is in an 1803 Eagle, as reported in the PCGS and NGC Population Reports. It is the only coin graded MS65, with nothing higher. If you want a better one, forget it--make your own! View details	Unsold
Lot 1814		Frosty, but lightly damaged 1803. Sharpness of AU-50 but scratched on the reverse. The obverse is choice, but the central reverse has several scratches on the eagle and surrounding areas. A coin that should be inspected, as the scratches are visible to the naked eye, but are not as apparent as one might expect. Frosty, lustrous and well struck throughout. View details	Unsold
Lot 1815		Really Choice 1804 Eagle. NGC graded MS-63. Frosty mint luster explodes from the fields. Well struck on the devices, with full stars on both sides and full curls on Liberty. Even the arrows and claw show some definition. There are some minor hairlines in the fields, but these are to be expected on coins of this grade. A rare date and always in feverish demand by collectors. One of 5 so graded by NGC, with none graded higher, placing this coin squarely in the top half dozen known of the date. View details	Unsold
Lot 1816		1804. NGC graded AU-58. Strong luster and quite a presentable strike make for a nice example of this "charmed date." The color is a mellow yellow. A fine scratch protrudes itself onto Liberty's bust, from the bottom of the chin to the base of her garment, but it doesn't touch her cheek or extend to the date. The heraldic shield shows a number of adjustments, from 7 o'clock up into the base of the right wing. Possibly from the collection of Dexter (of 1804 dollar fame) as there are four minute punched capital Ds in the clouds.You've got to really look for these, though, so they are more of a positive than a detriment--get in line with a famous previous owner of this coin! View details	Realized $13,800
Lot 1817		An American Gold Numismatic Masterpiece. NGC graded Proof 67 Ultra Cameo. A superb specimen of this two-year type coin. The devices are deeply frosted, with ultra-black fields from perfectly polished dies. The Philadelphia Mint, having last struck eagles in 1804, began producing these, our largest gold coins of the time, again in 1838 with a new style designed by Christian Gobrecht. That new design of a more vibrant Liberty was itself slightly modified in mid 1839, with the curl over Liberty's ear which had first swooped up gracefully altered to a crinkly curl, and the truncation flattened out just above the date and last star. This Proof specimen is the earlier type, with Large Letters on the reverse, and with the graceful flowing hair and curved truncation on Liberty. Needless to say, perhaps, but worth emphasizing, here's a splendid piece of 1830s artistry in stunning condition--a masterpiece of American numismatic art! Amazingly well preserved, this particular coin has graced numerous famous collections over the decades, including those of Clapp, Jenks, Chapman, Parmelee and Eliasberg. The Philadelphia Mint apparently made only 3 proofs this year of these 1839 Large Letter eagles; one is permanently impounded in the Mint Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, next is this coin, and there exists one other previously offered by New England Rare Coin Galleries and not seen by either Breen or Akers at the time of the writing of the Eliasberg gold sale in 1982. The condition of the latter coin is not known, as it is not included in either the NGC or the PCGS Population Report at this time. As stated by Q. David Bowers in the Eliasberg catalog from 1982, "The 1839 large letters or type of 1838 eagle has traditionally been one of the most desired issues in the series. Specimens are very elusive in high grades, and in Proof grade this piece ranks as one of the most important rarities in the field of American numismatics. A marvelous opportunity for the specialist." We agree, and feel that every numismatist should take a few minutes during the busy lot-viewing time just to study this magnificent coin. Once sold, it could well be decades before there's a chance to see it again. Quickly identifiable by a small planchet flake just left of the 1 in the date, visible in the photo from the Eliasberg Gold Sale from 1982. From the Chapman brothers sale of the Parmelee Collection in 1890, later in the John Story Jenks Collection, sold in 1921, purchased by John H. Clapp, who sold his entire collection to Louis Eliasberg in 1942, auctioned by Bowers and Ruddy Galleries in 1982, as lot 662, and appearing again today. Historical tidbit: When considering this coin, it is easy to forget the fairly primitive era out of which it issued. While the Industrial Revolution had reached frantic proportions in Britain (with a commensurate advance in the coining art), here at home it was in 1839 that the very first anthracite coal mined in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, was used to smelt iron. Prophetically, perhaps, it was also in 1839 that one John Sutter founded a Swiss settlement in an out-of-the-way mission town named Sacramento, in the Spanish lands of sleepy California. View details	Unsold
Lot 1818		1839 Large Letters (Type of 1838). EF-40. Probably cleaned some time ago, with a smattering of hairlines in the fields, and with some coppery toning near the date. Popular two-year type design, which was modified in late 1839 to the style which continued until 1907. The all-important obverse is presentable, with no problems worthy of note, the reverse has one small bruise located over the E of AMERICA near the rim. Well struck. View details	Unsold
Lot 1819		Rare Choice Mint State 1839/8 Eagle. PCGS graded MS-63. An extremely rare type coin in this grade! The total for both years' (1838 and 1839) mintage of 33,001 is represented today by 13 coins in various so-called "Mint State" according to PCGS. NGC for its efforts enumerates a total of 6 in Mint State grades. This choice coin resides in the middle of this select group of Mint State survivors. Color is superb: ranging over the lustrous fields is a delicate rosey-gold hue. Strike: sharp and defined on all the important central devices, the only weakness noted is on a few of the obverse stars at the central radial points. Condition: defined as Mint State 63, but far better in actual appearance. This original Gobrecht design was quickly modified in late 1839, altering Liberty's hair above her ear to the style which remained in fashion until 1907. If you were unable to acquire the gem Proof just offered, perhaps this coin will be worth stretching for. View details	Unsold
Lot 1820		Outstanding 1842 Mint State 63 Eagle. PCGS graded MS-63. Early dated gold in Mint State is virtually unobtainable. People simply couldn't afford to put these away and save such a large amount of money. Hence these circulated far and wide. How this one was saved is unknown. It tells no story to us now. The fields have minor handling marks, even a few hairlines, as one expects for the grade. Rose-gold toning on both sides attesting to the original quality. PCGS has only graded this coin as Mint State 63, with 2 coins graded higher. An opportunity for the specialist. View details	Unsold
Lot 1821		1842-O. NGC graded AU-58. Only a couple of lower condition Mint State pieces stand above this coin, which is tied with four others for the same conditon. Lots of small bagmarks, probably from being in bank bags. Old gold color, luster diminished by the abrasions. View details	Unsold
Lot 1822		1848. NGC graded MS-61. Now here's a flashy coin. Abundant luster beneath a myriad of abrasions, only one (above the first star) of any size. Decent enough for this period--remember, there wasn't a lot of native ore to turn into quantities of coin at this point. Charming to real collectors for its magic date: it was in January of this year that James Marshall stumbled onto some shiny pebbles at Sutter's sawmill on the American River, and altered the course of our history forever. View details	Unsold
Lot 1823		1850 Small Date. NGC graded AU-58. Lots of abrasions, some of them rather heavy, but these cannot take away from the charm of this coin. It has loads and loads of luster and a simply wonderfol oldtime mellow gold color. Only 4 have been graded AU58, and two MS60, with none better. However, the cataloguer disagrees with NGC's opinion and thinks this piece is strictly Uncirculated, its only detractions being the abrasions, probably entirely from storage in bank bags. A prize! View details	Unsold
Lot 1824		1851-O. AU-50. Light marks from circulation, but with some luster near the devices. This date has the curious "O" ring at the top of the second vertical line in the shield. This strange feature is also seen on some 1837-38 Half Dollars, and must have been some sort of die set up compass mark. View details	Realized $920
Lot 1825		1853. PCGS graded MS-61. Another "old dirty" gold piece which, being original as all hell, should be worth a nice bid. Usual abrasions and strike. This one's "okay." View details	Unsold
Lot 1826		1853/2. NGC graded AU-58. Another scarce, large gold coin that has lots of abrasions, but this one's color is a yellow orange. Not the most pleasing to look at, but rare: tied with 2 others for second best one graded at NGC. View details	Unsold
Lot 1827		1854-O. NGC graded MS-61. Large Date. A rare issue, with perhaps just one graded nicer--a sole MS63 at PCGS and another MS63 at NGC (one might suspect they are the same coin). While this specimen does have a number of abrasions, which distract from the pleasure given by its luster, it remains a truly beautiful coin! Overall the strike is "okay": some weak areas, as just about always seen on New Orleans pre-Civil War gold, but also some spots like the stars and the eagle's talons, that are well done. Best of all, however, and overriding this cataloguer's objections to the abrasions, is this piece's lovely, lovely color. It glows with that luscious old-gold orange toning that means the coin has sat unfussed-with for many years. So it should be worth a good, solid bid--especially if you are intrigued by the coinage issues of this quiet period of plantations and grand landowners and frilly ladies in the Old South. View details	Realized $7,763
Lot 1828		1858-O. NGC graded AU-55. A model for Southern issues of this period: lots of abrasions, but good luster beneath them all, and quite a nice strike on both sides. No bagmarks out of the ordinary. Scarce and desirable (see our comments under the 1854-O Eagle). View details	Unsold
Lot 1829		1859-O. Sharpness of EF-40 or better but polished. Too bad about the surfaces on this coin, because it's a real rare critter. Just 2300 were made! Nobody's graded one higher than AU55. Actually, the more you look at this coin, the closer it seems to have been to Mint State before it was fussed with. Has some repair at NI on UNITED, which may just be more polishing. Despite its condition, this coin should be the object of somebody's desire. Shouldn't it? View details	Realized $4,140
Lot 1830		1860-O. NGC graded AU-58. There must be a million bagmarks on this coin, but still in all it's tied with 20 others for the highest graded. It has history going for it, though: a horrid war loomed on the horizon down there Naw-leans way, near where the good folks were busy making this coin. View details	Realized $3,335
Lot 1831		1865-S over 186. Sharpness of EF-40 but polished and cleaned. Perhaps polished a bit, and now retoned to a more natural copper gold color. The overdate is very clear on the last digit. A scarce variety and always popular. The fields and devices show only a few contact marks and the only detriment is the cleaning. View details	Unsold
Lot 1832		Low Mintage 1877 Eagle in AU 50. PCGS graded AU-50. An extremely rare date that is still unknown in Mint State, at least according to the grading service population reports. In fact, only 6 have been graded this high, with a mere 10 graded higher. Moderate handling marks in the fields over the always prooflike surfaces. One healthy scratch in the left obverse field. View details	Unsold
Lot 1833		The Finest Known 1878 Eagle, PCGS graded MS 65. PCGS graded MS-65. This is the Finest Graded 1878 Eagle. It is the only gem graded by either PCGS or NGC. The obverse boasts a full strike with every detail crisp and complete. Similar on the reverse, even the tiny feather tips and knotty claws show every detail. Radiant luster throughout, and awash in mint bloom. A glass will locate a variety of tiny tick marks, but this coin is so far and away better than the typical baggy Mint State hoard coin, that comparison is futile. If you demand the Finest, then here is the coin for you. View details	Unsold
Lot 1834		Mint State 62 1879 Eagle. NGC graded MS-62. A scarce coin in this grade, one of 20 so graded by NGC, with only 14 graded higher. Liberty's face does not show marks, but appears to have been struck by worn dies. Most of the stars are sharp, except for the twelfth, which displays a bit of weakness. Frosty luster, and free of all but a few stay marks. A very nice, PQ coin. View details	Unsold
Lot 1835		1879-CC. NGC graded AU-53. We are proud to present one of the Finest Known 1879-CC Eagles, with an extremely low mintage of 1,762. Together, NGC and PCGS have only graded a total 47 coins of this date (no doubt including multiple submissions). Of these 47 submissions, a total of 7 have been graded About Uncirculated 53, with a single coin graded About Uncirculated 58. There are no coins that have been graded Mint State by either service. As to this particular specimen, the fields show some of the original luster and have a scattering of tick marks, as always seen. Liberty's face is free of deep or distracting marks, as are the fields and balance of the devices. As to the strike, it is full with every feather on the eagle and curl on Liberty sharply struck. An exceptional opportunity for the date or "CC" collector to put away one of the really tough dates to locate in high grade. View details	Unsold
Lot 1836		1879-O. NGC graded AU-55. A very low-mintage date with a scant 1,500 struck, of which a single coin has been graded Mint State by NGC, none by PCGS. Therefore, this is about as nice as these can be found. The fields show a blending of bagmarks and circulation marks from a very brief time as pocket change. Actually, the upper curls on Liberty and wing tips show very little wear. Lustrous and boldly impressed, and a rare date in very high condition. View details	Unsold
Lot 1837		Tied for the Finest Graded 1879-S Eagle. PCGS graded MS-62. A condition rarity that is fresh from a mint bag in appearance. Frosty luster; free of toning and nearly a grade better. Minor hairlines in the fields; boldly struck throughout. One of 8 so graded by PCGS, with none graded better. This may be the finest one around. View details	Unsold
Lot 1838		1879-S. NGC graded MS-61. A scarce date in Mint State and curiously one which hasn't been found even in choice Mint State 63 condition as of yet. This particular coin has full luster and a scattering of contact marks, none deep or heavy, on both sides. It is well struck throughout and pleasing to behold. View details	Unsold
Lot 1839		1882-CC. NGC graded AU-58. Really dirty old-gold color, which means for certain that this coin is original as can be. Even has some fine dirt stuck among the legends, etc. Usual quota of bagmarks and bank-to-bank circulation abuse. If you like 'em original, this coin is definitely for you. View details	Unsold
Lot 1840		1884-CC. VF-30. Struck from the "cancelled" obverse die with chisel marks visible on Liberty's neck. For some reason this obverse die was cancelled by the Carson City Mint by using a chisel to mark Liberty's face, then the die was pressed into service, perhaps by accident. The marks appear on many of the eagles from this date. Popular with collectors as such. View details	Realized $690
Lot 1841		1891-CC. MS-60. Frosty mint color throughout and with only moderate bag marks. Well struck. View details	Unsold
Lot 1842		1892-CC. VF-20. Cleaned and starting to retone. One mark on Liberty's cheek, otherwise typical for the grade. View details	Realized $322
Lot 1843		Scarce MS 62 1893-O Eagle. PCGS graded MS-62. Frosty and bright for the grade; with the normal handling marks seen from the time of issue. A curious stain on the reverse is noted, surrounding the first T of STATES, it is small though and appears to be from an ink well. Scarce, with 14 so graded and only 2 graded higher. View details	Realized $1,495
Lot 1844		1893-S. PCGS graded AU-58. A coin which probably never circulated, as it retains full luster and clean surfaces. There are some typical bag marks, but none heavy or annoying. Liberty's cheek is clean. Scarce in full Mint State, and this one may qualify at that level. View details	Unsold
Lot 1845		1894. PCGS graded Proof 61. A very rare Proof Eagle, a tiny 43 were minted, of which 6 have been graded by PCGS. Most were either spent or otherwise impaired. This example boasts deep contrast between the fields and devices, with a scattering of marks, perhaps even bagmarks, noted in the fields and accounting for the grade. The coin is obviously a Proof and was made during some of the highest quality years of the Philadelphia Mint, as excellent contrast and deep mirror fields were the rule during the 1890s. If a collector is lucky enough to be able to afford to collect Proof Gold, then the 1890s offers fertile ground for finding an excellent specimen. View details	Unsold
Lot 1846		Tiny Mintage 1897-O in MS 62. PCGS graded MS-62. Lustrous and bright, with a scattering of tiny tick marks from a higher grade. Scarce, with a mintage of 42,500 and only 10 graded higher by PCGS. View details	Realized $920
Lot 1847		1897-S. PCGS graded MS-62. A frosty Mint State coin with fewer bag marks than one usually expects for the grade. Original copper toning specks on both sides confirming this one was never cleaned or fussed with. View details	Realized $978
Lot 1848		PCGS graded MS 66 1901-S Eagle. PCGS graded MS-66. Wow, what a great coin! The surfaces are extremely clean for a gold coin, especially a large Eagle piece. Toned with original gold haze over sparkling luster. One tiny nick hidden on Liberty's nose. Fully struck. View details	Realized $5,520
Lot 1849		One of the Finest Known 1910 Eagles. NGC graded MS-67. One of the Finest Known of the date, NGC has only graded 3 coins this high, while NGC has graded only 2 this high. Neither service has graded any higher. That confirms that this is one of the very Finest Known of the date. Radiant luster in the fields and very boldly struck. While this is considered a common date, in this superlative grade it is as rare as hens' teeth. Identifiable by a tiny spot just before Liberty's headband, and in NGC holder #564986-002. View details	Unsold
Lot 1850		1911. PCGS graded MS-63. Dipped luster, with some sizable marks on the Indian and the eagle. View details	Unsold
Lot 1851		1911-D. NGC graded MS-61. Old gold color and enough luster for the grade assigned. Pretty nice in terms of surfaces--not many abrasions. View details	Unsold
Lot 1852		Important 1911-S rarity in Gem. PCGS graded MS-65. Seldom offered in full gem, this key date Eagle came from a tiny mintage of 51,000. Of these, only 18 have been graded as such by PCGS, with but 7 graded higher. There simply aren't enough gems to go around for all the date collectors. Frosty luster abounds in the fields, and the devices are boldly struck. Liberty's face is especially clean, with no signs of significant contact. Two right to left downward slanting reverse marks will serve to identify this coin, one above the eagle's head, the other near the outer wingtip. In PCGS holder #7381517. View details	Unsold
Lot 1853		1912-S. PCGS graded MS-64. A scarce date in this grade, with only 7 coins graded higher by PCGS. The fields are alive with satiny luster, which dances across the devices as well. For a change, and this is so important, there are very few signs of contact marks anywhere on the coin. Liberty's cheek is fresh and undiminished. Similarly, the proud eagle is clean, without the proverbial bagmarks or problems that are so typical to these large, soft gold coins. An important rarity in this grade and worthy of a gem collection. View details	Unsold
Lot 1854		1913-S. PCGS graded MS-64. A rarity in this 20th-century series. Mintage was just 66,000 coins, unbelievably low for a coin needed for commerce in this century. This specimen has a terrific eye-appeal, sporting bright old-gold color and clean surfaces. The marks are few and far between, but there is a small area of scratching right in front of and above the eagle's beak. Six graded as MS64, with 2 graded better. View details	Unsold
Lot 1855		A 1913-S in Very Choice PCGS MS 64. PCGS graded MS-64. One of the most difficult to locate dates in this series, the 1913-S just hasn't turned up in large quantities. The few that do show up in Europe or South America invariably are baggy from decades of shuffling about in 1,000 coin bags. Over the past 13 years of precision grading, PCGS has built quite a data base of coins. Their Population Report enumerates a scant 3 in this grade with 2 graded higher. If you are collecting Indian Eagles, then here is one of those rare opportunities to purchase a truly rare coin in superlative condition. Abundant luster in the fields; and sharply impressed by the dies. Free of annoying marks or hairlines, this coin is certain to please the fastidious collector. View details	Realized $33,350
Lot 1856		Low Population 1914-S in MS-64. PCGS graded MS-64. Frosty luster thoughout; without toning of any kind. Well struck for a San Francisco product with most of the eagle's feathers sharp and defined. One of just 12 so graded by PCGS, with only 4 graded higher. A tough date to find this nice, and nearly impossible to find better. View details	Unsold
Lot 1857		1932. MS-64. Fresh and bright as the day it was issued. A few trivial handling marks from a full gem, but worthy of a good bid. View details	Realized $1,035
Lot 1858		1932. NGC graded MS-64. Frosty and bright with original luster, a few tick marks from absolute gem, but very nice for the grade. The last affordable date of United States gold coinage. View details	Realized $1,035