Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 53

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Half Dimes

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 431		1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime. . LM-10, V-4, a single outer berry below the left wing. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice even toning on both sides. The Flowing Hair half dimes of 1794-95 were designed by Robert Scot, the chief engraver of the Mint. His design was different than that found on Birch's 1792 half dismes (the spelling of "disme" would gradually evolve to "dime." On the 1792 coins, the denomination is spelled HALF DISME). Scot's design features a head of Liberty facing to the right with distinctive flowing hair. Fifteen stars, arranged 8x7, surround the head with the date below and the word LIBERTY above. On the reverse, an eagle stands amid an olive branch with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it. There is no indication of this coin's value on either side, nor would there be until the Capped Bust design was adopted in 1829. Powerfully original color covers everything like a soft, smooth blanket on the satiny, largely untouched surfaces of this choice specimen. A flicker of light lavender accents the uppermost features of Liberty's likeness, with comparable glints of the same color occur on the reverse. Portions of the design are weak from a slightly uneven strike (such as the right wing and most of the eagle's head and body), along with the lowermost curls on Liberty. There is a light hairline from the 5th star to the back of the head. Pop 44; 37 finer for this date at PCGS. (PCGS # 4251) . Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $13,225
Lot 432		1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime. PCGS graded AU-50 LM-8, V-5. Lightly toned. Here, too, we are pleased to describe a first-rate specimen in its grade, a coin of the finest order whose natural toning adorns antique silver surface. Piercingly sharp for the date, easily finer in sharpness than many in nominally higher grades. All hair waves clearly displayed, as are the stars. The distinctive die break from the rim through the Y to Liberty's nose plainly visible. There is a tiny scuff in the surface by the 4th star. Turning next to the reverse, it is on this side where some adjustment marks occur through the right wing and a portion of the left. The surface is equally choice and a little bit lighter in color but still original old-silver patina. All letters in the legends are bold; as are the leaves in the wreath. Pop 1; the only one graded at PCGS for this variety. (PCGS # 38592) . Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,325
Lot 433		1796 Draped Bust Half Dime. "LIKERTY" error. . LM-1. PCGS graded MS-62 PQ. Lovely green and lilac toning on both sides. A wonderful coin. There were no 1795 half dimes with the Draped Bust coined, however a 1795-dated obverse die of the new design did get prepared, then overcut with a 6 to create the familiar 1796/5 selection (LM-2). A further non-overdate obverse for 1796 was paired with a another reverse, creating the LM-1 variety. Hence, there are the only two die marriages known for the year. Both, however, feature a weak B in LIBERTY from a faulty letter punch. The sought-after LIKERTY variety, with the top and bottom of the B weaker still, resulted from a late, lapped die state of the LM-1. This gorgeous toned beauty is immensely sharp in the centers. All hair curls show magnificently, as does the drapery at the shoulder and lower bust. Meanwhile, the eagle's crisp detail compares favorably with some of the finest struck examples of this issue. The mint luster spreads softly and to its full extent beneath the toning, which itself gathers together into the deepest hues around the margin, leaving the centers to play with the colorful kaleidoscopic effects. No adjustment marks are seen. The only marks of any note on either side are a couple of light abrasions in the lower reverse field near the second S in STATES, which may be useful to the future provenance tracer and also a faint hairline scratch across the neck at the merger of the throat and upper chest. The lovely patina grabs your attention at once and never lets go. Pop 3; 4 finer; 2 in 63; 1 in 64; 1 in 67. (PCGS # 94254) . Historic note: 1796 June 1 Tennessee became the 16th State to join the Union, after the dies were made for the 1796 half dimes, accounting for the 15 obverse stars. On Sept. 17, 1796, before he left office, George Washington issued a "Farewell Address" to the American people, but he did not deliver it orally. Instead, it was published in the Philadelphia American Advertiser. A long-established custom still observed in the Senate and House of Representatives today is to convene on Washington's Birthday for an oral reading, by one of their members, of the famous address. In it Washington said: "My first wish is to see this plague of mankind-war banished from the earth." Estimated Value $33,000 - 36,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 434		1796 Draped Bust Half Dime. "LIKERTY" error. PCGS graded AU-50 LM-1, V-1. An evenly struck example on a wonderful problem-free planchet all overlaid with uniform antique toning. CAC Approved. The design for half dimes was changed in 1796 after the mint decided to discontinue the Flowing Hair style for Liberty. Robert Scot was instructed to create a new, uniform design for the current silver denominations. The half dime, dime, quarter dollar and half dollar of 1796 all have a Draped Bust obverse which is coupled with the Small Eagle reverse. This design had debuted on the silver dollars of 1795. Mint officials considered the standardization of coinage design -- in all metals -- to have great merit, as they strove for a high degree of uniformity. The 1796 half dime has eight stars on the left and seven on the right, representing the fifteen states, including the new states of Vermont (#14) and Kentucky (#15). In 1796, there is this late die-state example with a broken "B" in Liberty that appears as "LIKERTY" and an overdate. Pop 2; 12 finer (PCGS # 94254) . Although only two die varieties are known, the Guide Book of United States Coins continues to list three different entries for the date, including the Normal Date, the Overdate, and the LIKERTY variety. This latter issue is merely a die state of the Normal Date variety. John McCloskey and the late Russ Logan, authors of the current half dime reference, made no mention of the LIKERTY die state. This example is a later die state with several obverse and reverse cracks. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 435		1800 Draped Bust Half Dime. . LM-1, V-1. PCGS graded AU-58 PQ. Nice blue and gold toning on both sides. Only 21,760 struck for this year. This is the first year of issue for the new Heraldic Eagle reverse design paired to the venerable Draped Bust Liberty obverse. Perfect LIBERTY with the upper inside point of star 1 close to the small middle curl. Seldom seen with perfect dies. All four digits in the date are equally spaced on this variety, and the first star is low in the field. There is some minor strike-weakness on the shield and wing. Pop 11; 39 finer. (PCGS # 4264) . Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 436		1830 Capped Bust Half Dime. . LM-4.1, V-3. NGC graded MS-66 Prooflike. Well struck with lovely blue and lilac colors. A total of 14 die marriages are known for the half dime coinage dated 1830. This coinage was accomplished through the use of six obverse and eight reverse dies. Total mintage for the year was 1,240,000 coins, however, many of these were coins dated 1829, while other examples dated 1830 were actually struck in 1831. In fact, one marriage dated 1830 was minted after all 1831 coins were struck. Displaying a uniform satiny brilliance on each side. Full, bold transfer from the die to planchet seen in the main devices. A jewel! A slender die crack through the first star helps to identify this variety. Pop 1; finest graded prooflike example. Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,715
Lot 437		A partial collection of Bust Half Dimes in an old Wayte Raymond folder. Consists of: 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832 (2 pcs), 1833, 1835 and 1836. Coins grade Very Fine to Extremely Fine, all nicely toned. Lot of 8 coins. Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details	Realized $2,760
Lot 438		1837 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded MS-66. Star. Wonderful green, blue and golden toning. Pop 1; 15 finer. In a new 4 pronged NGC holder. Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,250. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,025
Lot 439		1839 Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded MS-67. Old green holder. Lovely blue and golden toning. A nice bold strike.Spectacular for the grade. Very few survivors could possibly equal the Superb technical merits and originality of this piece. In addition to its strong strike and nearly flawless surface quality, both sides are gleaming with mint brilliance. Precision strike on every device. Pop 5; none finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 4319) . Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,325
Lot 440		1849 Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded Proof 64. Primarily untoned with traces of golden colors here and there. Approximately half a dozen minted in Proof condition. In the 1977 book Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins: 1722-1977, the author accounts for three die marriages of the Proof 1849 Half Dime. This seems odd for an issue with an unknown, although presumably very limited mintage, but it may have been the case that these coins were prepared for collectors at different times throughout the year. The mostly brilliant surfaces present a near-Gem appearance. The mint finish is uniformly reflective and still vibrant despite a century and a half of "mellowing." A razor-sharp strike would be nice, but a few areas on this piece are slightly uneven on both sides; still everything we see helps to confirm this coin's status as a Proof. Pop 1; 1 finer in 65. 1 finer at NGC in PF66CAM (PCGS # 4425) . Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 441		1854 Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded Proof 65. Nice even toning on both sides. Well struck. A sharply detailed example of this key three year only type. Both the obverse and reverse show the full design engraved into the dies. Liberty's figure is bold and clear along with the stars and hair, and not to be overlooked is the wreath on the reverse, which is just as sharp and shows full inner definition. Well toned overall with a muted steel to dusky blue hue that includes some iridescence. Originality and freshness like this spring to mind when examining World Class coins of the past, and clearly this 1854 Proof Half Dime belongs in that classification. This is a very rare issue in Proof. The precise mintage of Proof Half Dimes struck in 1854 is unknown. Breen simply stated in his Proofs encyclopedia that they were very rare. The Pittman cataloger, when that example was sold, gave his opinion that 15 to 20 survived, a view that is generally held among specialists. Pop 4; none finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 4432) . Estimated Value $11,000 - 13,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,925
Lot 442		1858 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded MS-63. Evenly toned over frosted surfaces. Estimated Value $175 - 200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $196
Lot 443		1859 Liberty Seated Half Dime. NGC graded Proof 66. Lovely blue and golden toning. Only 800 Proofs struck. Lustrous and most impressive for its color. A very pleasing example of this Stars Obverse seated dime. Unlike many Proofs which are not quite as carefully preserved, this marvel of precision minting shows all regions crisply detailed including the centers and with glowing surfaces characteristic of the finest available. Pop 26; 8 finer. In a new 4 pronged NGC holder. Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,175
Lot 444		1860 Liberty Seated Half Dime. Obverse of 1859, reverse of 1860. NGC graded MS-67 J-267, Rarity-4. Wonderful blue, gold and green toning. The coin without a country! One of the more famous pattern issues, the obverse retains the 1859 and prior design with the stars surrounding Liberty, while the reverse is the new style with the larger wreath, as was adapted in 1860. The problem with the design is, there is no identifying which country issued it! Only 100 were struck, sort of as a pattern issue, but they have been included in all the mainstream collecting references for decades, such as the Guide Book, Breen's Encyclopedia and others. Hence, everyone wants one, and there are precious few to go around. PCGS has graded just a few dozen of these, and this one sits solidly within the Condition Census. In a new 4 pronged NGC holder.Pop 4; 1 finer in 68. The surfaces are pristine, and the frost literally jumps of the surfaces. Around the edge we note deep honey red blue toning turning to indescribably beautiful shades of blue through the obverse stars and reverse wreath and centers. The strike is not quite complete on just three of the stars, perhaps because of the wreath on the reverse, as this aspect is seen on many of the high-end survivors. One of the most famous of all pattern issues, and always in feverish demand. To find one so fresh, so pristine is quite a test, and no doubt this one will be snapped up be an eager collector who demands the absolute best available. Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,625
Lot 445		1868 Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded Proof 67. Lovely gold, green and blue toning. 600 struck. This lovely Superb Gem is blazing with reflective luster underneath the iridescent color, but we are hard pressed to find even a single carbon fleck or visible hairline on either side. Having that in mind for the mint originality, we see as well a full, bold transfer from die to planchet notable in all the main devices along with the letters in the legends and a bold date. A glorious specimen. After viewing this piece, unsuccessful bidders in the sale will sense the injustice of fate in letting this one get away from them! Maybe next time. Pop 2; none finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 4451) . Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,300. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,450
Lot 446		A collection of Liberty Seated Half Dimes in an old Wayte Raymond holder. Consists of: 1838, 1839, 1840, 1842, 1850, 1850-0, 1853 Arrows, 1853-0 Arrows, 1854 Arrows (2 pcs), 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1869, 1870, 1871 (2 pcs), 1872, 1873. Coins range in grades from Fair to AU with most being attractively toned. Lot of 23 coins. Estimated Value $300 - 325. View details	Realized $1,553