Sept. 23-24, 2002, The Pre-Long Beach Auction

Sept. 23-24, 2002, The Pre-Long Beach Auction, Sale 16
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Dollars

Liberty Seated Dollars

Lot 543
1844. SEGS graded MS-61 Retoned, our net grade is AU-58. This coin has been cleaned and retoned, and we note the surfaces show numerous ticks and marks from handling. Still a scarce coin, and the obverse is toned lighter golden gray, while the reverse is darker with mauve and blue hues.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.

Lot 544
1850. ANACS graded MS-60. This is one of Breen's "open 5s" in the date, his number 5443. Steel gray in color and lighter in color on the devices. Wells struck throughout and free of all but minor handling marks and the expected hairlines in the fields. A rare date with a mintage of only 7,500.
Estimated Value $3,000-3,500.

Choice Mint State 1853 Liberty Seated Dollar

Lot 545
1853. PCGS graded MS-63. Deep steel gray in color and well struck. We note a few minor hairlines in the fields which account for the grade, and there are traces of an old spot in the field over the eagle's head. Reddish gold in the obverse fields, with blues near the rim and similar colors on the reverse. PCGS has graded 15 this high, with just 6 graded higher.
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.

Mint State 1855 Liberty Seated Dollar

Lot 546
1855. ICG graded MS-61. Light gold toning over luster and pleasing to the eye. Well struck throughout, but we note a scattering of ticks from handling. A rare date that is seldom offered in mint state, and popular as such.
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.

Lot 547
1859-O. PCGS graded MS-61. Blazing luster and flash on this coin, with no signs of toning. The surfaces show the expected bagmarks, this almost certainly from one of the three bags of this date that turned up in 1962-3 when the United States Treasury cleaned house and found hundreds of bags of silver dollars. In what must be considered a quintessential bureaucratic decision, these coins were "released" at face value, after moldering for 103 years in Treasury vaults, a mere year or two before silver coinage production stopped, and the price of silver soon increased on these to far above face value, not to mention the obvious numismatic value!
Estimated Value $900-1,000.

Lot 548
1860-O. PCGS graded MS-60. Bright and lustrous, but we do note that there are several bagmarks on this specimen, expected for the grade. History tells us that 6,000 of these were released in the Treasury house cleaning of 1962-3 and these mint state coins entered the numismatic marketplace. Most were pretty nicked up, after over 100 years of inventories and shuffling about by bank guards and vault cleanings, as seen here. Nevertheless, this date would be virtually unobtainable in mint state were it not for this hoard, which gives many collectors a chance to own a brand new silver dollar struck before the Civil War. This one is sharply struck, and quite flashy.
Estimated Value $700-750.

Lot 549
1861. PCGS graded MS-64. A frosty and lustrous example that has light gold toning over the well frosted devices. Boldly executed by the dies, with ample curls on Liberty's head and all the upper devices sharp, including the peripheral stars. Close examination with a glass will note a couple of trivial ticks on Liberty's head and neck, and above the eagle in the open field. Rare this nice, PCGS has graded 15 as such, with a scant 6 higher, all as MS-65 above.
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.

Lot 550
1866. With motto. PCGS graded Proof 65. Here is one of the finest graded of this date by PCGS, the surfaces are toned a desirable light golden gray color with deeper shades of blue around the periphery. Well frosted on the devices, all of which boast a golden sunset glow, with fiery reflective gold and blue in the fields. Exceptional eye appeal and quality for such and early, large proof issue, and downright rare this nice. PCGS has graded only 16 in this grade (2 are deep cameos), and a scant 2 graded higher of this date. This is the first year of the with motto reverse, and an important type coin as such.
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.

Frosty Gem Proof 1867 Liberty Seated Dollar

Lot 551
1867. NGC graded Proof 66. A stunning and magnificent gem proof coin that has well frosted devices and is virtually untoned, save for a delicate ring of gold at the rim. This one may qualify as a "cameo" under today's revised grading standards, as the devices show such complete frost. Further, the coin shows little toning so the contrast is undiminished between the mirror fields and frosted devices. Worthy of a most advanced collection. NGC has graded 7 this high, with just 3 coins graded higher in proof including the cameo and ultra cameo designations as well as their named holder inserts. In NGC holder #960872-001.
Estimated Value $13,000-15,000.

Lot 552
1867 recut date. Proof 63. Listed as Breen-4 in his book on Proofs, the date shows interesting recutting, apparently the half dollar punch was used, then corrected as the recut digits are too small. They are most visible at the tops of the 186. Most likely discovered by Breen when he was reviewing the Gilhousen coins from that 1973 Superior sale. This particular example is stark white and reflective, with well mirrored fields and generally clean surfaces. Likely dipped in recent times, and a touch dull today. Thought by Breen to represent a small minority of the 625 proofs struck this year.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,200.

Lot 553
1868. ANACS graded Proof 63 Cameo. Bright and untoned on both sides, with deep cameo frost on the devices. The delicate mirror fields show light disturbances and handling, but this coin remains in the choice category. This cataloger (JMM) feels these cameo proofs are undervalued as compared to the normal proof issues. Cameos are far rarer as a rule, and have special eye appeal that when compared with a normal issue, is well worth the nominal premium for the cameo devices. A sparkling jewel.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.

Gem Proof 1870 Liberty Seated Dollar

Lot 554
1870. PCGS graded Proof 65. A rare date in such superlative condition, this one boasts especially white frost on the devices the fields particularly well mirrored. In an older style green insert PCGS holder, and this one may be resubmitted to see if it would become a Cameo designation by todays further proof grade divisions. Superb surfaces, color and strike. PCGS has graded 25 this high, with 5 graded as PR-66, and one more as PR-67 at the top.
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.

Lot 555
1873. PCGS graded Proof 64. A beautiful example of this final year of issue in Proof. Nearly a gem, as the watery surfaces show few signs of handling and only the faintest hairlines. Toned lightly around the periphery, with the balance of the coin a hazy gray color, and very well frosted on the devices. Under todays revised standards, this one may be a cameo proof. This one was graded some time ago as the PCGS insert is the old green type. Perfect for the date or type collector who needs this coin.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.

Rare and Important 1873-CC Liberty Seated Dollar

Lot 556
1873-CC. PCGS graded AU-50. A rare and desirable example of this most difficult Carson City issue. Although 2,300 were coined, many were melted prior to release, and the number that survived is likely much fewer. PCGS for all its years of grading coins, has certified only 60 examples of this date! Further, just 7 are graded as AU-50, with 2 above in each of the 53, 55, and 58 categories and a single MS-60 at the very top of those graded. Hence, this is a very rare coin in top grades, and any date or Carson City collector would do well to purchase this example.
This coin has light silvery gray surfaces with traces of luster in the protected recesses. We note a small nick in the drapery folds just above Liberty's tummy, and there is a minor jagged scrape at the top of the reverse. Sharply struck by the dies, and quite pleasing overall for this final year of issue.
Estimated Value $19,000-21,000.

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