Feb. 24-25, 2003, The Benson Collection Part 3, Sale 17

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Liberty Seated Quarter Dollars

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Lot 408      1840. Drapery. MS-60+. Fiery blue and russet toning on both sides, especially so on the reverse. The obverse has a minor streak on Liberty, and a couple of tiny ticks near her shoulder. A downright colorful example of this early Seated quarter.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.
 


Lot 409      1840-O. Drapery. NGC graded MS-63. Light silvery gray in color over a lovely sunset glow in the fields. A couple of minor areas of slightly darker toning on both sides. Boldly impressed and very nice for the moderate grade.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,400.
 


Lot 410      1845. NGC graded MS-64. A better than average strike and loaded with satiny mint luster. This beauty is further enhanced by its natural light sunset tones equally spread on both sides. A decidedly rare coin in such high grade as NGC reports but 12 in this grade with 4 higher.
Estimated Value $1,800-2,100.
 


Lot 411      1848. NGC graded MS-64. Fiery blue and russet toning from decades long storage in an album or something similar. Exceptional eye appeal, and one tick in the right field from a gem grade.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 


Lot 412      1850. PCGS graded MS-62. Deep steel gray in color with blue at the edge and a bit lighter gold near the centers. A few minor ticks from choice. In an older green insert holder.
Estimated Value $950-1,050.
 

Toned Gem 1853 Liberty Seated Quarter No Arrows or Rays


Lot 413      1853. Recut date, no arrows or rays. NGC graded MS-66. Blazing luster in the fields beneath a large quantity of gold and even some blue green peripheral toning. Sharply struck and very appealing. Rare this nice, with few graded as such. Color photo.
Estimated Value $8,000-UP.
 


Lot 414      1853. Arrows and rays. PCGS graded MS-64. The lustrous surfaces are over laid with a blending of grayish-violet on the obverse with more mottled russet hues on the reverse.
Estimated Value $3,200-3,600.
 


Lot 415      1854-O. Arrows. NGC graded MS-62. Pleasing blue and gold toning over the usual gray hues on both sides. Better than average strike, but a touch weak on the high points. Scarce this nice.
Estimated Value $800-900.
 

The Eliasberg Gem Proof 1855 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar


Lot 416      1855. NGC graded Proof 66. Eliasberg. A stunning and magnificent gem proof of this important with arrows type coin. Further, this coin is from the Louis Eliasberg collection, and carries its own credentials. Toned with an array of greenish gold hues with hints of blue on both sides as well. Sharp save for a couple of stars which also have hints of adjustment marks at their respective centers. We note some very minor planchet adjustment marks running about horizontally near the date. The surfaces are nearly perfect in quality.
After reviewing the Population Reports of both NGC and PCGS we feel somewhat secure in making the claim that this coin is the "Finest Known". It is the only proof of the date graded this high, and both services combined have only graded 16 coins, and of course there may be some duplication between the services. In the grade of Proof 65 both NGC and PCGS have each graded 2 examples, with the others in grades below gem. Certain to be a major highlight of any collection, this pristine proof rarity will always be a crown jewel for the lucky buyer.
Estimated Value $20,000-25,000.
From the Harlan P. Smith Collection, S.H. and Henry Chapman, May 8-11, 1906, John H. Clapp, Clapp Estate 1942, Louis Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, Bowers & Merena's Eliasberg Sale, April 6-8, 1997, lot 1459.
 


Lot 417      1855. PCGS graded MS-64. Deep antique gray in color with shimmering luster in the fields beneath. Boldly struck and pleasing, although we note a slight roughness in the planchet. Housed in an older green insert holder.
Estimated Value $2,250-2,750.
 

Rare Proof 1856 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar


Lot 418      1856. Proof 64. Mostly white but with a hint of yellow in the color too. A boldly struck early proof that boasts good eye appeal and nice surfaces.
Estimated Value $4,000-4,750.
 


Lot 419      1858. PCGS graded MS-65. Totally white and frosty, with excellent satiny luster throughout. The strike is decent with a couple of stars weak at the center and a few feathers a touch weak. PCGS has graded 26 this high, with just 8 higher, all as MS-66 above. A scarce date and hard to locate this nice.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
 


Lot 420      1861. PCGS graded MS-65. Satiny and lustrous, with no signs of toning. Softly struck on the stars but sharp elsewhere. PCGS has graded 31 this high, with 11 higher.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
 


Lot 421      1862-S. MS-63. Soft gray in color and well struck throughout. A few ticks on Liberty's arm from a higher grade, but appealing enough. A nice choice coin for the date.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.
 


Lot 422      1873. Arrows. NGC graded MS-64. A very attractive arrows quarter with the lustrous surfaces exhibiting natural warm sunset toning on the obverse which darkens a bit on the reverse. This beauty should be well contested among type set enthusiasts.
Estimated Value $1,300-1,500.
 

Rare Proof 1874 Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar with Arrows


Lot 423      1874. Arrows. Proof 64 +. The obverse is a satiny gray color with deeper blue near the shield, while the reverse is a more dazzling russet in the center, iridescent blue around the rim affair. A tough type coin with the arrows at the date.
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.
 


Lot 424      1874-S. Arrows. NGC graded MS-66. A well struck specimen with totally white frosty mint surfaces throughout. An ideal example for a gem quality type set.
Estimated Value $4,400-4,800.
 


Lot 425      1882. NGC graded Proof 66. An exceptional coin with an exquisite blending of violet, rose and turquoise iridescent toning. Worthy of a premium bid for the natural toning.
Estimated Value $1,800-2,100.
 


Lot 426      1882. NGC graded Proof 65. A flashy milky white gem with excellent cameo contrast on both sides. Only 1100 proofs were struck.
Estimated Value $1,250-1,500.
 


Lot 427      1883. NGC graded Proof 67. A dazzling proof gem worthy of the finest collection. Boldly struck throughout with toning that seems to throw a spotlight across the figure of Liberty. The obverse exhibits vivid hues of violet, rose and electric blue while the reverse boasts of a blending of medium violet to electric blue. One of only 9 reported in this grade with none higher .
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 


Lot 428      1888. PCGS graded MS-66. Bright and flashy, but we note the luster is disturbed with a hint of hairlines right of the date and into the right obverse field. Overlayed with a light haze on the obverse while the reverse has a splash of gold at the center. Check this one out carefully, you'll be glad you did.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,250.
 
Lot 429      1888-S. PCGS graded MS-62. Well struck with surfaces over laid with vivid turquoise and dark golden toning.
Estimated Value $250-300.
 

Rare Mint State 1891-O Liberty Seated Quarter Dollar


Lot 430      1891-O. NGC graded MS-64. Hazy gray toning on both sides over lighter gray fields. Only 3 mint state coins have been graded by NGC, making this quite an opportunity for the specialist of the series.
Estimated Value $9,000-UP.
 
Lot 431      A group of Seated Liberty quarters as follows. Lot of 11 coins. This lot includes the following dates of Seated Liberty quarters: 1840-O No Drapery Good, 1853 Arrows & Rays Good, another XF, 1856 VG, 1862 XF, 1870 VF scratched, 1872 VF, 1874-S Fine, 1876 VG and 1877-S AG (2 pieces). An interesting group for the collector. Lot of 11 coins.
Estimated Value $250-UP.