Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 80

June Pre Long Beach Sale

$1 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1648		1849-C. Closed Wreath. PCGS graded MS-60. Mostly untoned. Only 150 examples are estimated to have survived. Produced in the first year of the Gold Dollar series, the 1849-C is an popular coin among collectors who focus in this handsome and important denomination. Of course, C-mint collectors will also be fond of the '49-C, with its Closed Wreath variety. While not the great rarity of its Open Wreath counterpart, the Closed Wreath is a scarce coin all the same, one that becomes progressively more difficult to find with grade. In terms of overall rarity among C-mint gold dollars, the 1849-C Closed Wreath is surpassed by only the 1849-C Open Wreath, 1850-C, and 1859-C. The strike on both sides of this coin is outstanding for this often indifferently produced denomination. There is slight rounding of detail over Liberty's ear, but the balance of the hair and other devices are sharp. The color is light golden and fields somewhat Prooflike. Pop 4; 15 finer, 4 in 61, 6 in 62, 5 in 63 (PCGS # 7505) . Die Notes: On June 10 and on June 13, die pairs for 1849-C gold dollars were shipped from the Philadelphia Mint (where dies for branch mints were made) to Charlotte. On July 10, two more reverses were sent. Most probably, the shipment of June 10 had the "old" reverse with open wreath, as used on Philadelphia Mint coins earlier in the year, but in this instance with a tiny C mintmark creating the 1849-C Open Wreath of which just five specimens are known today. From the other dies were made the 1849-C Closed Wreath, to the extent of 11,634 pieces, a quantity just about half of that of the next smallest production, that of the Dahlonega Mint, and but a tiny fraction of that registered at Philadelphia. The 1849-C gold dollars were placed quietly into circulation, apparently without any ceremony or special notice. Not a single example was set aside for the Mint Cabinet, according to researches by the Harry Bass Foundation, which provides a wealth of information on the Gold Dollar series on its website. Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,344
Lot 1649		1850. PCGS graded Proof 60. Lovely golden toning on both sides. Only 2 known. Walter Breen, in his encyclopedia of Proof U.S. coinage (1977), cited this issue (along with the 1850 quarter eagle, half eagle, and eagle) as Unknown in Proof, but provided this supposition: "though at least one of each must have been struck in Proof for the set made up for the Congressional Committee on the Library, per Patterson letter 9/26/50." We wonder, could this piece be from just that set? We shall never know, but what is a especially pertinent is that the coin is downright magnificent even with the minimalist "60" grade assigned by PCGS. Yes, there are some a few light hairlines from possible old-time cleaning, but the strike definition is needle-sharp while the fields on either side exhibit flashy, full-depth mirrors. The mirror field is like that seen on the more regularly offered dates from 1858-on. Characteristic of early Proofs made before quality control procedures became formalized, there are scattered light lint marks in the field on the reverse, the most evident lint mark just to the left of the numeral 1, and a less visible one above the I in UNITED. Liberty's profile is gently frosted against the mirror polish in the field. Also noteworthy, the rims show excellent but not entirely complete rim denticles. The coin itself is accurately represented in its PCGS holder, with the entire warm toning as a further identifier. What this fascinating coin realizes at auction is up to you, the bidders, but we wouldn't be at all surprised if it easily surpasses our estimate, considering the breath of collecting nowadays in the Gold rarities of the United States. The collector who purchases this lot will be joining a highly select group of numismatists. Only a handful of collectors have ever had the opportunity to own a Proof 1850 Gold Dollar. Pop 1; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 7593) . From the original Heritage 1995 sale description: Friday, February 3, 1995, Long Beach, CA. Lot 5301, an 1850 gold dollar described as a "possible proof," comes up for auction. It starts a bidding war. The winner walks away with the coin for $7,480, a staggering sum for what was then a controversial piece. Walter Breen was on the record as proclaiming the one-time existence of a gold proof set for 1850, citing correspondence from Mint Director Robert M. Patterson, but the set and all coins in it were thought long-lost. Though a number of numismatic experts -- including "Jeff Garrett, Art Kagin, Julian Leidman, Jim Halperin, Sal Fusco, and John Pittman" -- believed the lot to be a proof gold dollar, none of the major grading services of the time (ANACS, NGC, and PCGS) would certify it as such. Time, of course, has vindicated the winning bidder and all the underbidders who drove this coin to its impressive final price. PCGS came around and certified the coin as PR60, and Jeff Garrett went on to write the Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins with Ron Guth, in which they included the following notes about proof 1850 gold dollars: "The only 1850 gold dollar that can lay claim to Proof status was last sold in 1995. The coin is fully mirrored and extremely well struck. There are scattered lint marks that would lend credence to die polish. Unfortunately, the coin has been lightly burnished at one time. Another example is rumored to exist in a museum collection in France." Unless that French museum decides to deaccession its rumored proof 1850 gold dollar or another example emerges from the woodwork, this is the sole proof 1850 gold dollar that is available to collectors. Though hairlined, its reddish-gold surfaces gleam with deep and reflective luster. Of note on the dies is a brief web of small cracks through the end of UNITED and the start of STATES on the reverse; depressions that can serve to identify this piece in the future include a lint mark between the I of UNITED and the rim as well as a narrow rectangular depression that appears as a horizontal "dash" to the left of the 1 on the reverse. Estimated Value $115,000 - 125,000. Ex Heritage 10/2012, Lot 5514; previously, Superior 7/2005 PCGS Proof 60, in earlier holder #21984735, Heritage 2/1995. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1650		1853-C. PCGS graded MS-63. CAC Approved. Mostly untoned with lots of mint luster. Much better struck than average on surfaces that retain their mint frost and color. Plenty of "bloom" remains from the die. Only 11,1515 minted. The strike on both sides of this coin is typical of the issue. There is some softness of detail on the obverse over Liberty's brow and on top of the hair curls; rim dentils are nearly all gone from insufficient metal flow into this region. There is a light hairline on the cheek. On the reverse, the dentils are again weak. The legends are relatively strong throughout including much of the date and the important large C mintmark centered in the open space below the ribbon bow. Extensive luster as on the obverse. Truly exceptional and Choice for the issue, which tends to come circulated and pretty banged up as a rule; Mint States are few and far between, and in the realm of surface preservation it has very few peers (see the population figures below). The fields are lustrous, not prooflike -- a feature that suggests it was struck later in the die's life. Vivid-gold color flows over both sides. Pop 4; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 7522) . Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,925
Lot 1651		1853-C. PCGS graded MS-61. Mostly untoned. Only 11,515 minted. This is a Mint State Charlotte Mint Dollar where both sides being essentially untoned with frosty, reddish gold luster. Save for the highpoints of the hair, the strike is above-average, if not sharp, in all areas. Some light hairlines but essentially free from marks, which places it ahead of the competition. Pop 5; 17 finer, 13 in 62, 4 in 63 (PCGS # 7522) . Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1652		1853-C NGC graded Unc Details. Improperly cleaned. Mostly untoned. Only 11,515 minted (PCGS # 7522) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,586
Lot 1653		1853-D. PCGS graded MS-62. A nice untoned coin. Only 6,583 minted. Lustrous light yellow gold with nice select surfaces tending toward somewhat prooflike condition. The quality of this example is exceeded by a few others, if any other survivors from the mintage are available just now, which doesn�t seem likely. Generally well struck with very slight weakness on the highest points of the hair and mostly confined to the rim dentils. The borders are rarely bold and complete on D-mint issues. It appears that three 1853-D reverse dies were supplied to the Dahlonega Mint, but that just one of these was used to produce the recorded mintage. Sufficient obverse dies still remained on hand. In his Encyclopedia Walter Breen comments: "usually poorly struck." The same remark could be repeated throughout the present sale or any other offering of Dahlonega Mint (or Charlotte Mint) issues. A comment in the section below explains why this Mint may have struck only Gold Dollars, Quarter Eagles, and Half Eagles, but nothing larger in its years in operation, 1838-61. Pop 3; 7 finer, 4 in 63, 3 in 65 (PCGS # 7523) . Historic note on the Dahlonega Mint: The remote location of this facility caused an array of construction and staffing problems. One would not expect to find skilled workmen and quality building materials in such a backwoods community, but the failure of the mother mint at Philadelphia to foresee and compensate for these problems only aggravated the situation. For example, the problems encountered with the making of brick could have been easily avoided by specifying granite or limestone, which were regional specialties, as just one instance. Juxtaposed with the rusticity of the community in which it was to operate, the mint was to be supplied with the latest in automated coining equipment. The most revolutionary were two steam presses, invented by Franklin Peale, a mainstay at the Philadelphia Mint, based on his recent observations in Europe, and first incorporated in the primary mint in 1836. The presses were probably the "small" version, rendering them incapable of producing coins larger than a half eagle. The presses, and other associated equipment, were shipped in 15 boxes to Savannah, Georgia, sent upriver to Augusta, then hauled overland by wagon to Dahlonega. Due to reports of the construction difficulties reaching Philadelphia, the primary mint dispatched its crack troubleshooter, Franklin Peale, who arrived in Dahlonega in November 1837, along with his daughter, after inspecting the Charlotte facility. Close scrutiny of the Dahlonega Mint edifice revealed many problems, the blame for which Peale assigned to "ignorance on the part of the contractor and the drunken and bad habits of the workmen." Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $11,456
Lot 1654		1853-O. NGC graded MS-61. A frosty, well-impressed gold dollar that has sharp stars. Only the "1" in the denomination is weak. Struck at the New Orleans Mint, which made Gold Dollars from 1849 until 1855 (skipping only the year 1854 when none were issued by this facility). We note two small planchet flakes at the point of the bust and nearby (PCGS # 7524) . Estimated Value $375 - 400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $529