Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 81

The Pre-Long Beach Sale

$5.00 Capped bust

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1271		1825/1. NGC graded AU Details, Cleaned and Reverse Repaired. Nice light golden toning on both sides. Signs of repair on the reverse. Only 29,060 struck. As we noted, a cleaned example, this being an underrated and significant rarity. Some light surface roughness, and a couple of small depressions on Liberty�s neck. Light golden color toning has settled on both sides, offering. As expected at this grade level, there are scattered cleaning swirls and abrasions, none of which stand out individually. We do note several deeper burnished areas on the reverse, one above the eagle, and the other below IT of UNITED. Most specimens of this issue are in the EF-AU range but often have problems. Most estimates peg the total number of survivors around 30, though this seems high to us. The appearance of this rarity on the marketplace represents an excellent opportunity for the many cabinets which lack this date entirely. Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,344
Lot 1272		1834. Plain 4. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice semi prooflike surfaces. An elevated degree of blistering luster springs to life beneath rich gold highlights surrounded by the aforementioned reflective quality in the fields. Somewhat yielding at the obverse where Liberty's lovelock curl is modestly flat, though much more detail can be found on the other hair detail than on the typical example of the date. A respectable Choice MS63 that will be a centerpiece in someone�s early gold Type Set. This item is plainly superior to lot 1783 from our Auction #78 which hammered for $13,500. Worthy of a premium bid. Coinages of the new 1834 No Motto design far exceeded even the Mint's most optimistic expectations. The coins went at once into circulation and stayed there, few being saved as souvenirs. As a result, Uncirculated survivors are very rare, though Fine to Extremely Fine specimens are plentiful. They are mementos of a period of rapid change, growth, and experimentation at the Philadelphia Mint, immediately succeeded by decades of what Breen in his Encyclopedia describes as "stereotypy" (meaning the succeeding Coronet Design). Pop 40; 43 finer, 38 in 64, 2 in 64+, 2 in 65, 1 in 66. (PCGS # 8171) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1273		1838-C. PCGS graded AU-53. Well struck and lightly toned. Only 17,179 struck. A burst of golden luster, lightly abraded from a few months' circulation had begun to tone in the outer areas when this was placed in its grading holder. Stars are somewhat lightly struck, resulting in them being rounded on their tops, and the date and the date and mintmark are also lightly impressed into the die. The initial year Half Eagle production for this Georgia Mint. Charlotte struck half eagles until 1861, when wartime conditions forced it to close. Scarce in all grades. Very elusive in About Uncirculated, which most collectors would describe as Rare. Desirable AU53 grade, note how few are graded in this and higher grades by PCGS: Pop 4; 7 finer, 3 in 55, 3 in 58, 1 in 63. (PCGS # 8177) . Historic Note on the 1834-38 William Kneass "Classic Head" pieces: The reverse depicts an eagle with a shield on its breast, holding an olive branch and three arrows in its talons. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 5 D. surrounds. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, used earlier, was discontinued. The authorized Half Eagle format was reduced from 135 grains to 129 grains via the Act of June 28, 1834. This was put into effect on August 2, 1834, and coins struck on and after that date were of the new lighter standard. The strategy to dissuade speculators from accumulating these for export by reducing the weight somewhat proved successful; it was no longer profitable to melt or export coins for bullion, and gold coins circulated at par for the first time since the War of 1812. From 1834 through 1838 large quantities were produced with bullion supplied from gold production in North Carolina and Georgia and by gold shipments received from France as an indemnity for spoliation against American commerce during the Napoleonic Wars. Most of the mintage was accomplished at Philadelphia. In 1838, the branch mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega produced coins for the first time. Such mintmarked pieces are, as we noted, quite rare today. Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,688