Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 65

The Pre-Long Beach Auction

Colonial Coinage

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 459		(1782) Libertas Americana Medal in Bronze Betts-615 NGC graded Unc Details, Environmental Damage. Glossy light chocolate brown. The strike is deep and bold and there is no trace of friction on even the highest points of the design. Unfortunately there is a swipe of very shallow verdigris or other darker olive brown crud near the edge from K-7 to K-9 on the obverse and from the upper half of Minerva across into the field above the lion on the reverse. The remainder of the planchet is smooth and choice offering excellent eye appeal. This medal has significant importance for the United States and it is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful medals ever produced. The capped Liberty design became the model for our early Federal coppers, including the half cents of 1793-1797 and large cents of 1793-1796. The reverse designs represent how our struggle for freedom was assisted by France. Minerva holding a sword and shield adorned with three fleur-de-lis represents France, the lion represents Great Britain attempting to pounce on the infant, and the infant represents the fledgling United States. Examples were struck in silver, bronze, white metal, and possibly in gold. Although 200 examples were reportedly struck in bronze, less than 40 originals are known to exist today and even fewer are known in silver. The dies were engraved in 1782 by Augustin Dupre with significant design input from Benjamin Franklin, and the medals were struck in Paris for presentation to highly placed French officials and other dignitaries. Franklin is reported to have presented several of these medals in person to thank the French for their assistance in defeating the British and securing freedom for America. We can only guess who may have been presented the specimen offered here. Weight 51 grams; diameter 47.7 millimeters. Housed in a special oversize NGC slab. Estimated Value $3,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,188
Lot 460		(1667-69) St Patrick Farthing Breen-208, Griffee G1-2/1b Rarity-7 F12. Type with nothing below the king. Sharpness VF20 but there is a rather deep scratch in the field behind the king. Otherwise this piece is nice for the grade, especially for a St Patrick farthing. The surfaces are smooth except for a few shallow planchet voids on the left edge of the reverse. Glossy chocolate brown blending to darker olive brown in protected areas. The brass splasher on the crown is small and heavily toned. Weight 95.9 grains. Estimated Value $400-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $834
Lot 461		1773 Virginia Halfpenny Breen-181, Newman 8-H AU50. Choice glossy chocolate brown with underlying frosty luster showing through in the fields and protected areas. Virtually flawless in every respect. Only a trace of friction on the highest points. Variety without a stop following GEORGIVS and 7 harpstrings. Weight 117.5 grains. Estimated Value $300-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $546
Lot 462		Group of 8 Connecticut Coppers grading G4 to VG10. Includes one dated 1786 and seven dated 1787. Average grade is VG7. Some are slightly sharper with defects. All but one has an easily readable date. Seven different die varieties are represented. Lot of 8 coins. Estimated Value $150-UP. View details	Realized $311
Lot 463		Pair of 1787 Connecticut Coppers. Includes Maris 8-O R3 G5 and Maris 33.37-Z.9 R6 LDS G6. Both have a complete, clear date. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $80-UP. View details	Realized $127
Lot 464		1788 Massachusetts Cent Ryder 13-N Rarity-2 EF40. Choice glossy light to medium chocolate brown with underlying frosty luster showing through in protected areas. A beautiful example. The 17 in the date is softly impressed and the tops of ON in COMMON are a bit weak as well, but everything else is sharp. Great eye appeal. Weight 147.0 grains. Estimated Value $400-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,006
Lot 465		1787 New Jersey Maris 42-c R5 VG10. Slightly sharper but the fields are covered with microscopic roughness while the devices are smooth. No verdigris, and the only notable mark is a shallow planchet void near the rim at K-7 on the reverse. Slightly glossy chocolate brown with lighter steel brown toning covering the devices. The date and legends are complete and easily readable except for the second 7 in the date, which is faint. Not perfect but not bad for this tough variety. Comparable to the Frederick Taylor-John Griffee example (1995 C-4 Sale, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 10/21/95:69). Estimated Value $250-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $299
Lot 466		Pair of 1787 New Jersey Maris-48-g. Includes an EDS example grading VG7 and a very late state example with a bisecting die crack across the reverse grading G5. Both are slightly sharper with defects. The date on the first is weak but easily readable and the date is only partially visible on the second. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $60-UP. View details	Realized $92
Lot 467		Trio of State Colonial Coppers. Includes 1788 Massachusetts Cent Ryder 12-I R4 VG10, 1787 New Jersey Maris 43-d R1 VF20, and 1788 Vermont Ryder-20 R3 VG10. The first two are slightly sharper but lightly cleaned and retoned. Overall a decent group. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $250-UP. View details	Realized $552
Lot 468		Quartette of Colonial Coppers. Includes 1723 Wood's Hibernia Halfpenny Martin 4.61-Gc.7 R5 VF25, 1760 Voce Populi Nelson-4 EDS R3 F12, 1767 French Colonial Copper Sol with RF counterstamp Breen-701 VF20, and 1785 Nova Constellatio with pointed rays Crosby 3-B R1 F15. A couple are slightly sharper with minor defects but overall this is a nice group. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $350-UP. View details	Realized $810
Lot 469		Group of 7 Colonial Coppers. Includes 1724 Wood's Hibernia Halfpenny G5, 1773 Virginia Halfpenny AG3, 1783 Nova Constellatio with pointed rays AG3, 1787 Connecticut with "Horned Bust" AG3, 1788 Massachusetts Cent VG7 (1792-95) Washington Success Token (Breen-1188 in brass with large, straight nose) AG3, and a 1787 Fugio Cent G6. Some are sharper with defects. Lot of 7 coins. Estimated Value $200-UP. View details	Realized $414
Lot 470		Trio of Colonial Coppers. Includes 1760 Voce Populi AG3, 1787 New Jersey VG10, and 1785 Vermont VERMONTIS landscape EF40 but corroded and holed. All have a strong date. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $100-UP. View details	Realized $265
Lot 471		Pair of Colonial Coppers. Includes 1723 Wood's Hibernia Halfpenny Martin 4.38-Gc.25 R4 VF20 net VG7 for granularity and 1783 Nova Constellatio Crosby 2-B R1 Pointed Rays VF25 net VG8 for dents and fine roughness. Both have a clear date. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $80-UP. View details	Realized $98
Lot 472		1783 Washington & Independence Cent with Large Military Bust Breen-1203 AU50. Choice frosty chocolate and light olive with lighter golden brown and tan toning in protected areas. The only mark is a tiny tick on the rim over the E in UNITED. Sharply struck and very attractive. Weight 115.1 grains. Estimated Value $250-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 473		Trio of Washington Colonial Copper Cents. Includes UNITY STATES Breen-1188 VF30, Washington & Independence with Small Military Bust Breen-1202 VF25, and Washington & Independence with Large Military Bust Breen-1203 VG10. The last two are slightly sharper with defects. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $150-UP. View details	Realized $322
Lot 474		Quartette of Washington Copper Cents. Includes 1783 Washington & Independence Draped Bust without button Breen-1189 F12, another with button Breen-1198 VF30 net VG7 for light corrosion, another with Large Military Bust Breen-1203 F12, and a Double Head Cent Breen-1205 VF25 net F12 for a small punch mark. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $125-UP. View details	Realized $276
Lot 475		1787 Fugio Cent Newman 13-R Rarity-4. ANACS graded VF-20. Mostly glossy chocolate and darker olive brown. Probably lightly cleaned and retoned. The surfaces are smooth, free of any corrosion or verdigris. No contact marks, but there is a planchet flaw at the edge left of the sun and at the opposing area on the lower left of the reverse. Later die state with strong die clashmarks on the obverse. Estimated Value $400-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 476		Trio of 1723 Wood's Hibernia Coppers. Includes one farthing grading F15 choice, a halfpenny in EF40 net F12 for light roughness, and another halfpenny Martin 4.71-Fa.2 Rarity-6 in F12 with smooth, attractive surfaces. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $120-UP. View details	Realized $196
Lot 477		Group of 5 Colonial Copies. Includes a Sommer Islands Sixpence VF, 1652 NE Shilling in silver VF, 1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling in silver XF, 1737 Higley 3 pence (Becker copy) Fine, and 1776 Continental Dollar in Silver (Becker copy) XF. Deceptive die-struck copies, skillfully executed. Lot of 5 coins, all copies. Estimated Value $100-UP. View details	Realized $552