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Sale 36
Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction
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Description |
Realized |
Lot 3073 |
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1836 Gobrecht Dollar. Designer's name on base. Circulation issue. PCGS graded Proof 61 Original, Coin Alignment. Well struck with considerable mirror surface still intact plus very attractive multicolor toning. And while there is an assortment of light hairlines and minor scratches on both sides, none too severe, this is a bold Gobrecht dollar whose aesthetic appeal cannot be denied. Most of these are well struck, since they were made as Proofs instead of single-strike circulation pieces. And yet, circulate they did, which is almost unheard-of in U.S. numismatics, to find a group of Proof quality coins destined for circulation. Fortunately this nicely struck example never got into circulation. Attractive light multi-color toning. Pop 18. 32 in 62, 23 in 63; 11 in 64.
The United States Mint had ceased issuing silver dollars in 1804. Although the denomination was the "flagship" monetary unit, in fact the standard for One Dollar as defined in the Coinage Act of 1792, demand for it came mostly from a few bullion depositors, so that few dollar coins actually circulated in the beginning of the 19th century. Much of each year's mintage was either melted at home or exported. In 1836, a new attempt was made to revive the silver dollar, and this marvelous design by Christian Gobrecht is the result. Regular production of Gobrecht dollars began sometime in December of 1836. The 1,000 regular issue dollars of 1836 were struck at the old 1792 standard fineness of .8924. The same date was used for the 600 coins minted in March, 1837, but these pieces were produced from planchets .900 Fine -- as authorized by the Mint Act of 1837 (PCGS # 11225) .
Estimated Value $19,000 - 21,000.
The Victor Kramer Collection.
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| Realized
$24,150 |
Lot 3074 |
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1836 Pattern Dollar. Silver, plain edge. . J-60 Restrike. . P-65. PCGS graded Proof 62 Die alignment 1. Name on base. Beautifully toned. Iridescent bluish-green borders and violet centers. A beauty. This example is one of the most attractive. This lovely Proof is alive with full featured color, pleasing choice surfaces, but we are hard pressed to find even a single carbon fleck or abrasion to note down in the description. In order to understand the grade better, notice that it is struck with care only now and then found even on one of these handsome Gobrecht pieces. When it comes to the usual softness at the center of the shield or some of the eagle's feather detail, this piece, on the contrary, received a full blow by the dies. Pop 23; 21 in 63; 7 in 64. (PCGS # 11227) .
This year also marks the beginning of coinage with the steam press. The first silver coinage using this power was that of the silver half?dollars with a reeded edge, which began November 8, 1836.
Preparations to resume the coinage of silver dollars were begun soon after the enactment of the Coinage Act of 1834, since it was anticipated that the fineness of standard silver would be changed. The dies for the dollar were executed by Christian Gobrecht from an obverse design of Liberty seated by Thomas Sully and a reverse design of a flying eagle by Titian Peale.
In preparing the reverse die Gobrecht eliminated the arrows and branches from the eagle's claws as "contrary to nature and good taste." Instead of the 13 stars of equal size arranged stiffly in line around the edge, he used a constellation of 26 stars, equal to the number of states, distributed irregularly over the sky supposed to seem beyond the eagle.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 24,000.
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| Realized
$29,900 |
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