The June 4, 2000, Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection Parts II & III, Sale 5
Lot 1169 
1796. Stars on obverse. Sharpness of Very Fine but extensively repaired and cleaned. One of the rarest coins ever issued by any United States mint, this with stars 1796 quarter eagle boasts a mintage of just 432 pieces. Most disappeared altogether, this one must nearly have been one of those. The surfaces have been repaired on the first three stars, below the date, in both fields and through LIBERTY. Similar on the reverse, with repairs noted below the eagle's tail and around parts of the rim. The lines through TAT of STATES are from the die and are seen on all known specimens of this variety. It does not appear that this coin was holed, but either bent or otherwise defaced in some manner, then further defaced by a non-talented amateur who probably did far more harm than good.
As a year, 1796 saw the beginnings of quarter eagle production, the no stars obverses were struck first, then later in the year the with stars were made. All 1796 quarter eagles are rare, and seldom offered. This coin is obviously a filler and close personal inspection is mandatory in order to formulate a bid.
Lot 1170 
1798. Sharpness of VF-20 but poorly repaired. This coin was probably bent and straightened a little too much, as it appears to have been flattened and is now slightly out of round and still bent. Repaired on the left wing of the eagle and around the tail, and around the obverse rim especially above LIBERTY. The fool that repaired this didn't bother to note the extra star added near the L of LIBERTY, hence this is perhaps the only 14 obverse stars quarter eagle made. The surfaces are pitted from an acid bath which is often done to make the fields and devices uniformly textured after extensive buffing and tooling has been done. A disaster, on par with the 1796 with stars just offered.
Inspection by prospective bidders is mandatory, as this filler is certainly a rare coin and one that is seldom offered in any grade.
Lot 1171 
1802. 2 over 1. Sharpness of VF-20 but lightly cleaned. Nicely retoned on both sides, with minor evidence of the past cleaning. There are a couple of minor marks in the right obverse field and some rim ticks. Only 3,035 made in all, very few of which survived. One of the most difficult type coins to find in acceptable grade.
Lot 1172 
1806. 6 over 4. Sharpness of VF-20 but repaired. To the unaided eye this coin looks like a typical circulated gold coin of the period, but a glass notes that the entire left obverse field has been buffed down, leaving a profusion of circular marks out to between some of the stars and up to Liberty's curls. This appears to be the only area that was repaired, as the balance of the surfaces, including the reverse, show normal to heavy circulation marks. Perhaps some initials were removed from the field. Better than the other fillers just offered, but still a coin that requires careful inspection to properly calculate a bid.
Lot 1173 
1824. 4 over 1. Sharpness of F-12 but repaired. This coin was probably mounted on the obverse center, which has been removed and the head of Liberty has been entirely buffed down and partially reingraved. Minor buffing in the surrounding fields. The reverse is much better, normal handling marks and surfaces for a moderate grade coin. Only 2,600 struck, virtually all of which disappeared. A filler for the collector who needs this type coin.
Lot 1174
1835. MS-60. Light hairlines and other field abrasions are noted. The so-called "tall head" variety. Light yellow gold in color and with reflective luster. An impressive example of this early type coin and one that provides a lot of value in today's collector market. Well struck at the periphery, but slightly weak at the centers. One tick mark above the first T of STATES, and this is the common variety with AM well apart on the reverse.
From the recent Harry Bass, Jr. Sale by Bowers and Merena, October 1999, lot 282, previously from Lester Merkin's Sale, June 1972, lot 363.
Lot 1175 
1836. Script 8. Sharpness of Extremely Fine but initials have been buffed off the reverse. Nice appearing on the obverse, with fully struck stars and curls on Liberty. One minor die crack down through the sixth star to the L of LIBERTY and beyond. On the reverse, there were probably some initials above the eagle's head which someone has buffed out leaving minor swirl marks and disturbed fields in that area. A coin that should be inspected, as the true value should be determined by bidders.
Lot 1176
1839. VF-35. A nice appearing coin for the grade. The devices are surrounded by a delicate brownish-gold color on both sides. Sharply impressed by the dies, with only light wear on the upper areas. The Guide Book notes that the last digit is not an overdate but was made by a "defective punch", sure looks like an overdate to us though. Whatever the truth, this is a lovely coin for the grade.
From Superior's Piedmont Sale, January 29, 1996, lot 2181.
Lot 1177 
1839-C. Sharpness of VF-20 but solder on rim and cleaned. The solder on the rim has been carefully removed but telltale signs of metal movement are noted over some of the reverse letters. Possibly repaired in the reverse fields, as there appears to be faint swirl marks under the eagle's wings and in the surrounding areas. Inspection mandatory as the coin still has a nice appearance. Popular for the bold obverse mintmark above the date.
Lot 1178 
1841-C. Sharpness of EF-40 but repaired and cleaned. The very minor repair work is over the eagle where some ink or other dark stain has been partially buffed off, some of the stain can be seen with a glass over the eagle's head and on the rim above the first S of STATES and additional buffing is noted on the second T of STATES. In addition to the repair work, the coin was harshly cleaned leaving a profusion of lines on the obverse, less so on the reverse. A scarce coin in any grade, and this one isn't as bad as we make it sound.
Lot 1179
1847-C. Sharpness of VF-20 but harshly cleaned. The surfaces have been harshly cleaned and now look rather pebbly in appearance. There was also a small rim bump that has been filed down near the last star on the obverse, and a mark is noted on Liberty's jaw. Other areas on the obverse rim may have been carefully touched up to remove minor tick marks, but on a coin of this grade it is hard to tell. Sharply struck and a scarce coin in any grade.
Lot 1180 
1848-C. Sharpness of VF-20 but expertly repaired. The repair work appears to be in the fields where marks or other minor problems were carefully smoothed out. This is virtually undetectable, and most collectors wouldn't notice or care. Lightly toned around the edges. This coin has a curious incuse star (3 points) located on the edge below the right wing of the eagle.
Lot 1181 
1848-D. Sharpness of AU-50 but lightly cleaned. Another scarce date from the Dahlonega Mint. Fully struck on the devices, with ample curls on Liberty and full separation on the eagle, right down to his tiny claws. Curiously, the "D" Mintmark is quite large and completely covers the lower arrow feathers and even touches the branch stem. In the fields, there are minor hairlines from cleaning, and close examination of the rim shows a rim mark above AT of STATES that has been filed down so that it is scarcely noticeable. An excellent coin for the money despite its minor problems.
Lot 1182 
1848-D. Sharpness of AU-50 but cleaned and repaired. Close inspection, and we mean close reveals that this coin was probably mounted at one time. The reeding on the edge shows some darker areas within some of the tiny reeds, and these appear to have been carefully buffed down. The obverse and reverse rim show some strange depressions, all of which have been smoothed down as to be scarcely noticeable. This is a rare and valuable coin in high grade, and the repair work is expertly done and is virtually invisible.
Well struck for the date, with full details on Liberty and even complete thigh feathers on the eagle. Well worth inspecting as even the light cleaning fails to make this coin less desirable. One to view carefully before the sale and calculate a reasonable bid.
Lot 1183
1850. VF-35. Typical surfaces for the grade, with a dig on the second star noted.
Lot 1184 
1850-O. PCGS graded AU-50. Only 84,000 struck in all, few of which could approach this lofty grade. The fields and devices show moderate handling marks, including a dull scrape hidden on the eagle at the junction of the body and left wing. Boldly impressed and very seldom found in full mint state.
Lot 1185
1852. EF-40. Light handling marks as usual for the grade, lovely color and well struck for the date.
Lot 1186 
1854-O. PCGS graded MS-62. A nice example of this date, the fields have a subtle orange-gold tone, and luster glows up from underneath. Well struck for the date, with only slight weakness on the upper curls of Liberty and on the eagle's thigh and right claw. Only a single coin graded in this category with 4 graded higher by PCGS, that makes this one of the best available of the year.
Lot 1187
1854-O. PCGS graded EF-40. Typical mid-50's New Orleans strike: soft in the centers but sharp in all the stars. Lovely coin here, an honest EF with luster and old-time deep golden orange toning. Fields cleaner than most--in fact, hardly a bagmark anywhere. Jumbo "O" mintmark.
Lot 1188
1855. EF-40. Lightly cleaned long ago and retoned today with natural coppery colors in the field and lighter gold shades on the devices.
Lot 1189 
1856-D. PCGS graded AU-50. A choice example of this rarity. Mintage: 874 pieces only. Today, perhaps 30 survive, this certainly in the top half of those. The recent PCGS Population Report states that only 7 have been so graded, with 8 graded higher. Striking characteristics for the date are that the obverse is always a bit weak on the curls below Liberty's ear, and on the reverse the weakness is evident on the eagle's thigh, wing and neck. As to the surfaces, they are simply splendid on this coin, without problems or cleaning lines. A foremost rarity for the specialist, so few were struck and as a date this is seldom offered. One of the great opportunities to purchase this date that is not likely to be repeated anytime soon.
Lot 1190 
1856-S. ANACS graded AU-50. Tough date, much rarer in this denomination than the much more dramatic looking Twenty. This piece has all the detail of a nice AU but not much sparkle. Deep-gold color. Mintage was only 72,120 coins, way back when.
Lot 1191 
1859-D. Sharpness of EF-40 but repaired in the left obverse field. Apparently some scratches were partially buffed out of the left obverse field, then the coin was polished and finally the inept fool gave up and sold this as is. Only 2,244 were struck in 1859 at Dahlonega and few survive today. Hence, if you need the date and don't mind a filler coin, then bid for this one. Well struck and seldom offered.
Lot 1192 
1860-C. Sharpness of VF-20 but damaged on the reverse. The obverse appears fairly normal for the date and grade, but the reverse has numerous marks as if this coin was lost and spent a day or two reverse side down in gravel on a road. It is a rare date, and should be valued accordingly.
Lot 1193
1861. PCGS graded AU-58. New Reverse. Dull looking at first glance, but its slightly baggy surfaces are fresh, never dipped, and are a tawny gold color.
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