Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 70

The September 2-5, 2012

Patterns

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1984		1836 Pattern Dollar. Silver, Plain Edge. Judd-60. Pollock-65 Rarity 1. PCGS graded Proof 62. Original coin alignment. A splendid specimen, as graded, of this, one of the most important of all American silver coins. Both obverse and reverse are lightly toned, nicely blended, yielding a treat to the eye. Just 1,000 of these pieces were minted in December, 1836, all with Proof finish. Some of them were presented here and there, including two to President Andrew Jackson, others to Treasury officials, and a few to numismatic cabinets. Afterwards, many hundreds were simply placed into circulation for face value! This is the first (but not only) instance in which a coin made from polished dies, deliberately with Proof finish, proved to be a circulating issue. For many years the variety was considered to be a pattern, designated as J-60 (Pollock-65), but this is misdirected. The pieces were regular issue, not patterns or experimental in any way. Mint Director Patterson desired to redesign the silver coinage, replacing the John Reich motif, known today as the Capped Bust design, which had been in use for a long time. In its adopted form the Gobrecht silver dollar appeared as here, with a Liberty Seated figure on the obverse, name inconspicuously on the base, and with the eagle flying onward and upward on the reverse, amid a galaxy of 26 stars, 13 large and 13 small. At the time there were 35 states in the Union, but it was not long until Michigan became the 26th (in 1837). In early 1837 additional Gobrecht dollars from these dies were struck, of a different standard under the authority of January 18, 1837, and differentiated from the originals by having the dies aligned differently. Still later, restrikes were made at the mint, probably through the early 1870s. Pop 36; 35 finer, 22 in 63, 13 in 64 (PCGS # 11225) . Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $24,150
Lot 1985		1838 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver Reeded Edge. Judd-72. Pollock-75 Rarity 5. PCGS graded Proof 66. CAC Approved PQ. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Lovely rich golden toning. Many new Patterns for half-dollars and dollars were produced in 1838 and 1839 as a result of the passage of the Act of 1837, which authorized a uniform standard of .900 fine for the coins of both silver and gold and reduced the weight of the silver dollars to 412 1/2 grains and that of the half-dollar to 206 1/4 grains. Mint head James Ross Snowden states that this obverse die with the draped bust of Liberty was made by Mr. Kneass. Since Mr. Kneass was unable to work after suffering a stroke on August 28, 1835, this die must have been prepared before that date and apparently is the last work executed by him. The original Pattern half-dollars were struck on planchets weighing approximately 206 grains, while the restrikes were made with planchets weighing approximately 192 grains as authorized in 1853. The reverse depicts an eagle with spread wings holding an olive branch and four arrows. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and denomination HALF DOLLAR below. The strike is strong at the periphery, but a little softness shows in the hair and eagle's breast. The surfaces are undisturbed and reflective, with warm golden toning over each side supported by a base of neutral silver-gray. Vivid relief is evident on both sides, resulting in the finely engraved detail. Complete stars. A sterling example! Pop 3; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 11282) . Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. Ex: Superior Auction October 1995 Lot 891. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,650
Lot 1986		1838 Pattern Half Dollar. Silver, Reeded Edge. Judd-72. Pollock-75 Rarity 2. NGC graded Proof 64. CAC Approved. A hint of tone around the edges otherwise white. The William Kneass design completed by Christian Gobrecht after Kneass's stroke. Sharp in the usual areas but also showing diminished design detail in the center (a design challenge that failed to be overcome in this unadopted design). Very choice surfaces with natural light color obtained over decades of careful storage, no doubt in some long-ago collector's coin cabinet. Pop 4; 6 finer, 5 in 65, 1 in 66 (PCGS # 11282) . Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1987		1866 Pattern Dollar. Copper, Reeded Edge. Judd-541. Pollock-606 Low Rarity 6. NGC graded Proof 64 Red & Brown. Lovely partial red toning. Regular dies bust struck in copper. Lovely variegated color from warm lavender-reds to stealth-blue over natural mellow brown. Razor-sharp on all devices plus the added benefit of being free of carbon spotting. Pop 2; 1 finer in 66RB (PCGS # 70739) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,750
Lot 1988		1869 Pattern Dime. Silver, Plain Edge. Judd-703. Pollock-782 High Rarity 6. PCGS graded Proof 64. CAC Approved. Lovely rainbow toning. The year 1869 marked the advent of a remarkable series of Pattern pieces, known as the Standard Silver series, which were intended to be used to replace the fractional currency. This consisted of denominations of fifty, twenty-five and ten cents which were smaller in size and lighter in weight than the regular United States coins of equal denomination. They were to be struck in the same silver alloy as the authorized United States silver coins, but the weight of the half dollar was to be reduced from 192 to 154 grains, the quarter from 96 to 77 grains and the dime from 38 1/10 to 31 1/2 grains. The intention of the reduced weight was to prevent hoarding and exportation. The value was to depend upon the authority of their issuer rather than upon their bullion value so that they might be current whether gold was at par with paper money or not. William Barber made dies for three different obverses for each denomination after designs by J. B. Longacre. These sets of nine pieces each were struck in silver, copper and aluminum with plain and reeded edges and sold at the mint for fifteen dollars a set. Pop 7; 5 finer (PCGS # 60928) . Estimated Value $1,900 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,725