The June 4, 2000, Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection Parts II & III, Sale 5
Lot 1147 
1855-D. Type 2. Sharpness of EF-40 but repaired on the right side. Only 1,811 were struck for the year, and this is all too typical of the survivors. The right obverse rim AME has been repaired, as well as the opposing edge on the reverse. The coin now has a slightly wavy appearance and there are tooling scratches in the right fields on both sides. Struck from clashed dies, and while this may not win a beauty contest it is still a very rare coin that will sell for a fraction of the price of an original example. This is far and away the rarest of the Type II gold dollars.
Lot 1148
1856. Large head, upright 5. AU-50. Lustrous and well struck at the centers, a whisper weak on the right obverse and on the dentils.
Lot 1149
1859-C. Sharpness of VF-20 but cleaned and repaired. The obverse is okay, but the reverse has many central scratches extending through the date and rim to rim, so perhaps this coin was mounted as a button with the mount carelessly removed. Still a scarce date which is seldom found in any grade. One that should be inspected by prospective buyers.
Lot 1150 
1859-D. PCGS graded MS-62. Only 4,952 struck for the year, most of which circulated or were lost. This is one of the very best to survive, in fact only 12 have been graded this high by PCGS with a scant 2 graded higher (both MS 63). The surfaces are bright and lustrous, and no breaks in the luster are noted. A couple of very trivial handling marks can be seen in the right obverse field, behind Liberty's head, and minor hairlines are visible with a glass. Orange-gold in color, and a delight to behold. Struck from dies which don't show the usual clash marks, making this coin even more desirable.
Lot 1151
1860. AU-58. Frosty and lustrous, with only a few signs of handling on both sides. Original and pleasing.
Lot 1152 
1860-S. PCGS graded MS-63. Here is a scarce date that is in amazing condition. A paltry 13,000 were struck, of which only 6 have been so graded by PCGS, and none have been graded higher, making this tied for the Finest Known. The surfaces show a scattering of tiny marks, and the lustrous fields are overlaid with a delicate golden tone. Remarkably well struck, with full device details throughout, no weakness noted. An opportunity for the advanced numismatist to obtain truly the best available.
Lot 1153
1862. EF-45. Lovely coppery-gold in color and well struck. There are some minor handling marks on both sides.
Lot 1154
1864. Sharpness of EF-45 but slightly bent. Lustrous in the fields and well struck. There are a couple of rim nicks and reeding marks in the right obverse field and a pair near the denomination on the reverse, and the coin appears to be very slightly bent. A low-mintage date and overall most collectors would be very satisfied with this piece.
Lot 1155
1866. EF-45. Frosty and lustrous, with trivial handling marks in the fields and rims. Scarce with only 7,100 struck.
Lot 1156
1869. AU-55. Minor handling marks in the fields but the coin is enhanced by original orange to copper toning. Sharply impressed by the dies, and one of just 5,900 struck.
Lot 1157
1870-S. Sharpness of VF-20 but polished and repaired. A coin that should be inspected as the reverse has areas which have been damaged, buffed down and repaired. Polished and with a decent appearing obverse. The reverse is not as pleasant with buffed down scratches and metal movement all over that side. Low-mintage date.
Lot 1158
1874. EF-40. Original and pleasing.
Lot 1159
1874. Sharpness of EF-40 but lightly scratched in the left obverse field. A glass notes some light scratches in the left obverse field before Liberty's face.
Lot 1160 
1875. Sharpness of VF-20 but cleaned and repaired. A coin that has been repaired and cleaned, with signs of metal movement through STATES and on the reverse below the wreath, possibly holed and repaired. A worthy coin to repair, with only 420 minted, making this one of the scarcest dates of the series. One that should obviously be inspected before bidding. Rare and seldom encountered in any grade, this would make an affordable filler for the date collector who appreciates the rarity of this issue and can purchase this for a fraction of the price of a choice piece.
Lot 1161
1879. AU-58 Prooflike. A choice coin for this grade, with excellent surfaces and abundant mint color. A rare, low-mintage date (3,000) that is seldom seen. Slightly prooflike, and probably struck from the same dies that issued proofs. Diagnostic weakness on BER of LIBERTY and struck from clashed dies, as were all business strikes. Breen notes that only 15-18 survive, but he apparently didn't know about a few rolls which were disbursed around 1960 in the Philadelphia area. A recent PCGS Population Report shows over 200 graded.
Lot 1162
1879. AU-50. With a bit of wear on the upper devices and minor handling marks in the fields. Light yellow gold toning and well struck. Only 3,000 struck for circulation.
From The Charles Kramer sale, Stack's/Superior, November 30, 1988, lot 68.
Lot 1163
1880. MS-60. A lovely coin with choice color and resplendent surfaces. A meager 1,600 business strikes were issued, of which perhaps a few hundred remain in varying grades of Mint State. Here is a lovely coin for the grade, with only a few light handling marks visible with a glass. An opportunity for the date collector to purchase a delightful condition rarity.
Lot 1164
1881. AU-53. Choice and original with a bold strike and graced with a delicate orange-gold tone. Perfect for the date collector who doesn't want to spend the additional money for a mint state example.
Lot 1165
1882. MS-61 Prooflike. Slightly prooflike, and with the ever-present faint hairlines in the fields. Well struck and scarce. Light coppery toning on the reverse and pleasing eye-appeal.
Lot 1166
1886. AU-58. Coppery toning atop the lustrous fields. All is well struck, with full devices at the centers and periphery. A glass will locate trivial contact marks, keeping this from the choice class and this was struck on a slightly rough planchet.
Lot 1167
1887. PCGS graded MS-63. Clean surfaces for the grade, and free of contact marks; some minor hairlines visible with a glass, however. Seldom found appreciably better. The reverse die was rotated about 20 degrees counter clockwise.
Lot 1168
1888. MS-60. Choice in appearance; however, there are some light scratches through MERI on the obverse and there is a faint reverse hairline scratch through the R of DOLLAR, extending above and below that letter within the wreath. Frosty luster and a scarce date.
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