May 28, 2001, The Fairchild Family Trust Collection, Sale 10
Lot 843
1795. Two leaves beneath
each wing, Bolender-10, Rarity-7. PCGS graded VF-35. Here is a
foremost rarity in any grade, and this is one of the better coins seen of the
variety. For many years, collectors have mistakenly believed that this was
rarity-6 or lower, but a recent in depth study published in the John Reich
Journal (January 2001) by world famous numismatist W. David Perkins confirmed
that this is a true rarity-7 variety. The present coin was not listed in that
study, and was likely tucked away in various type collections for the last
several decades. It came to us without an attribution, so the owner was likely
not aware of its significance as a variety.
The coin itself has a dark arc
of toning through LIBERTY and a couple of stars on the right, and is silvery
gray on the rest of the obverse, the reverse is the opposite, dark tones
ranging through greens, golds and dark gray on the lower eighty percent,
lighter at the top. Identifiable by a small nick on the right side of the
eagle's neck, and a tiny ding over the I in AMERICA. There is a small field
mark above the highest curl on the back of Liberty's head and a tiny dig in the
lower right obverse field. In the PCGS holder it is hard to see if the rims are
clean, but they certainly have no significant bumps or bruises. In PCGS holder
#3653761.
As a variety, this one is often overlooked. It shares the common
obverse seen on the Bolender-1 variety with the weak curl third from the
bottom. The reverse is similar to the B-1 also, but the B-1 has 10 berries on
the right branch, while the B-10 has just 9 berries. In addition, the B-10 has
a die lump just below the right ribbon end. This obverse die was also paired
with another reverse to make the ultra rare B-16, of which just 2 coins are
presently known.
This cataloger has owned 3 different examples of this
variety over the last 20 years, and this is certainly one of the better ones
known. The Condition Census would presently read as follows: MS60, 1949 ANA,
Stack's Bareford 10/81, Stack's 400 sale, 1/88; EF40, east coast collection ex:
NERCG 79 ANA sale; VF35 recently discovered and sold by J.J. Teaparty
privately; VF35 the present example; VF30 Bowers Brooks Sale 6/89; VF20 ex:
Bolender; VF20 O.K. Rumbel 1951; F-12 Heritage ANA 82, misattributed as B-1,
scratches obverse field. The only recent sale we know of was the other VF35
coin which traded hands privately in the high four figures over a year ago. The
last one of these offered at public auction was the Roland Willasch coin in
1990! With the prices of rare bust dollars dramatically increasing the past few
years, we would not be surprised to see this coin bring a runaway price, which
it heartily deserves.
Estimated Value $5,000-UP.
Lot 844
1795. Three leaves beneath
each wing. Bolender-5, Rarity-1. PCGS graded EF-45 Premium Quality.
This coin has a dark arc of toning on the left side of the obverse through
most of the stars, while the balance is toned a silvery gray color. Well struck
for the variety, with good separation on Liberty's curls. Especially pleasing
on the reverse, with most of the wing feathers present, and some breast
feathers too. Some luster in the fields and typical handling marks for the
grade. Perfect for the type collector.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.
Lot 845
1797. 9 stars left, 7
right, large letters, Bolender-1. Steel gray and pleasing, but the coin has
been holed and plugged at 12 o'clock on the obverse, and minor surface
scratches are noted where the plug was filled. One tiny edge cut is noted above
the R in AMERICA.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 846
1797. 10 stars left, 6
right, Bolender-3. PCGS graded VF-30 Premium Quality. A beautiful
coin for the grade, medium silvery-gray in color with some luster hidden near
the stars. Typical soft strike, but very appealing for its clean surfaces and
defect free rims, fields and devices. It would be hard to improve on this coin
for the grade.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
Lot 847
1798. Small eagle reverse,
15 stars on obverse, Bolender-2, Rarity-3. PCGS graded Fine-15.
Lovely steel gray in color on the obverse, with darker hues in the fields,
and some sunset tones around the lower peripery. The reverse is weakly struck,
as always, and we note minor adjustment marks around the rims. Remember, this
reverse die was used every year from 1795 through 1798, with seven different
obverse dies, and this was its final usage. It is apparent that the reverse die
had been ground down by the Mint to remove clash marks or perhaps light die
cracks, and thus the devices are very shallow. Clean rims and surfaces for the
grade, and perfect for the type collector.
Estimated Value $1,700-2,200.
Lot 848
1798. Heraldic eagle
reverse, large eagle, 10 arrows, Bolender-14a, Rarity-3. PCGS graded
EF-45 Premium Quality. This coin has some dark toning at the centers which
may have been carefully removed. Toned with lovely colors around the edges,
with some luster near the devices. The dies were lapped before this one was
produced so the devices are not as sharp as on early die states. Further, this
is one of the scarce "star cross" pattern reverses, where the stars over the
eagle's head are arranged in straight lines rather than arcs as normally seen.
The straight line arrangement is truer to the Great Seal of the United States,
but doesn't "fit" well under the arc of clouds.Typical scrapes and nicks from
circulation, but still a nice example of this variety.
Estimated Value
$1,500-2,500.
Lot 849
1799. Normal date,
Bolender-5, Rarity-3. AU-58. This one is very high grade, but we
note a long rubber band burn on the upper obverse from the rim through IB of
LIBERTY and out the rim through stars eight and nine, another streak is noted
below. The coin was also cleaned, with full flashy luster elsewhere, and
remains untoned. One small disturbance above the left corner of the shield. A
coin to be inspected, as all high grade bust dollars are rare, and worth a good
price despite its problems.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.
Lot 850
1799. Normal date,
Bolender-7a, Rarity-5. AU-58. This is a scarce variety in higher
grades, especially with the encircling die cracks on the reverse. Nice surfaces
that show moderate handling marks, and the coin is toned a glowing rose shade
on both sides. Well struck and preserved, free of problems on the rims and
fields, with no signs of adjustment marks. An opportunity for the dollar
specialist to nab one of the more difficult 1799 varieties.
Estimated Value
$4,000-6,000.
Lot 851
1799. Normal date,
Bolender-12a, Rarity-4. PCGS graded AU-53. A fairly common variety
but this one is well preserved and remains in very high grade. Note the light
silver devices and mottled flecks of toning in the fields. Examination with a
glass will note a very thin scratch from Liberty's neck out to the tenth star,
and a couple of ticks on the eagle's breast and the field nearby. Toned around
the upper reverse, but mostly silver white in color. Excellent rims and fields
otherwise, and free of adjustment marks or other problems. This is a coin most
collectors will love for its interesting die cracks through the date, and clean
unmolested surfaces.
Estimated Value $3,000-3,500.
Lot 852
1799. Normal date,
Bolender-10, BB-163, Rarity-2. SEGS graded AU-55. This coin should
be examined by prospective buyers, it obviously has been cleaned, and many
areas have been scratched. Probable PVC residue on the reverse, where green
remnants are noted in the devices. Several letters and devices have tiny pin
scratches where something has been carelessly removed. The toning is mottled,
mostly on the reverse.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Lot 853
1799. Normal date,
Bolender-5, Rarity-3. EF-45. This one was lightly cleaned and is
toned a steel gray on the obverse, the reverse much darker, with deep toning
around the periphery and lighter at the centers. There are some minor rim ticks
and marks in Liberty's hair as well as light pin scratches in the field before
her face. Not the best preserved example, but a decent coin for the grade.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,800.
Lot 854
1799. Normal date,
Bolender-14, Rarity-3. PCGS graded EF-40. One of the scarcer
varieties of the year, this one has steel gray tones with darker brown in the
devices. The reverse has especially nice color, with hints of gold near the
devices, silver gray elsewhere, and deeper shades around the periphery. A nice
example for the variety specialist.
Estimated Value $1,200-1,500.
Lot 855
Silver dollar type set.
This type set includes the following dollars and grades: 1799 B-19 Bust
dollar AG-3, cleaned; 1873 Seated Liberty dollar, VF-20; 1877 Trade dollar,
damaged; 1886 Morgan Dollar, AU-55; 1924 Peace dollar EF-45; 1973-S Ike dollar,
proof, but with corrosion on both sides; 1976-S Ike dollar MS-63; 1981-S SBA
dollar, Proof. Mounted in a Capital Plastics holder. Lot of 8 coins.
Estimated Value $200-225.
Lot 856
1800. "Dotted date" from
die breaks, Bolender-14, Rarity-3. PCGS graded EF-45 Premium Quality.
A choice example of this popular variety, the coin has delicious blue, gold
and green toning around the periphery, silvery-white on the stars and devices,
and even more intense color on the reverse. The surfaces show the usual tiny
handling marks, but they are small, unimportant and seen on all circulated
silver of the period. This is an early die state, and the die lumps in the date
are smaller than seen on later strikes. The hair on Liberty is sharp and shows
good separation, and this coin could easily be called a grade higher in terms
of wear and abundant eye appeal. Popular as a Redbook coin and with variety
collectors, this one should realize a strong price.
Estimated Value
$2,500-3,000.
Lot 857
1800. Only 12 arrows,
Bolender-17, Rarity-2. PCGS graded EF-45 Premium Quality. This coin
is obviously from an old album collection as it has identical toning to the
1800 dotted date in this sale. The obverse has peripheral toning of blues,
golds and greens, while the reverse has the same colors but covering the entire
side. Frosty mint luster in the fields, this one with a bit more wear on the
upper curls. The strike is a bit weak on the left obverse stars, and the rims
and fields show no evidence of bumps or adjustment marks. Although a common
variety, this coin is exceptional for its eye appeal and quality for the
grade.
Bolender had trouble back in 1950 when he wrote his book on Bust
Dollars. At that time clash marks were not understood, and were called
"suction" marks, or sometimes "die breaks" to describe the familiar arc break
through OF into the clouds on the reverse. These are from the dies clashing
together without a planchet between them and are the outline of Liberty's bust
and drapery. Above Liberty's chest is a curious raised area, this is also a
clash mark from the upper wing where it joins the cloud, and appears on several
die varieties.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Lot 858
1802. Narrow normal date,
Bolender-6, Rarity-1. MS-60 Plus. This one has been darkly toned
artificially, and the surfaces are fairly clean, but some ticks are noted on
Liberty. We note minor horizontal adjustment marks on the reverse through ST
and the clouds, but they are light. Well struck on most of the stars, with a
few showing weakness, but most bold. Excellent details on Liberty, with high
curls and problem free for the most part. A common variety which is often
purchased by type collectors as it can be found in high grade.
Estimated
Value $10,000-12,000.
Lot 859
1802 Bolender-6.
Fine-15. A common die variety. This one is steel gray in color and
nice for the grade.
Estimated Value $550-650.
Lot 860
1803. Large 3, Bolender-6,
Rarity-2. AU-53. This coin has been cleaned and nicely retoned, it
is dull and without luster now, but the color looks appealing enough. Medium
gray and with pinkish highlights in the devices. Well struck by the dies, with
strong details throughout. Minor adjustment marks down through Liberty and out
the rim. The surfaces are much cleaner than one would expect for the grade, and
few handling marks can be found even with a glass, and the rims are excellent.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.
Lot 861
1839 Pattern Silver Dollar,
Judd-104, Pollock-116, Rarity-3. Silver, reeded edge. NGC graded Proof
65. This important pattern issue is often collected with the Seated
Dollars, so we placed it there instead of with the pattern issues. The obverse
is by Christian Gobrecht with the seated Liberty design, the reverse is an
eagle in full flight with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR
around. The strike is as crisp as a Minnesota Winter morning, and the toning
must be seen to be appreciated. Deep shades of charcoal gray throughout, with
nary a mark to found on the surfaces. Hints of blue and yellow can be seen in
the colors, but gray predominates. NGC has graded 6 this high, with none graded
higher! Die alignment IV (Pollock), when the coin is turned like a medal, the
eagle is flying level. This is the more common die alignment, and these are
believed to be restrikes circa 1858 or later during the "high" flying Robert
Coulton Davis years of free flowing laudenum for Mint employees, who supplied
Mr. Davis with various delicacies from the Mint's die library. We should praise
these early indiscretions at the Mint, for many of our most popular coins were
made to order during the free wheeling days before the various scandals broke,
and the "restrikes" were brought under control, at least for awhile. Today, we
seem to be getting errors made to order, penny-dimes, dollar/quarter
combinations etc... People don't seem to change, and manage to take advantage
of any situation. Color photo.
Estimated Value $30,000-40,000.
Lot 862
1843. PCGS graded
AU-58. The fields retain some prooflike reflectiveness from the dies, and
this coin is appealing overall. We note minor surface hairlines and scattered
handling marks on both sides, and there is a small planchet lamination touching
the O of OF on the reverse. Faint gold toning around the extreme rims of both
the obverse and reverese. Nicely struck by the dies and very little wear on the
upper devices.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 863
1845. NGC graded
Proof 64. Light silvery gray in color with gorgeous blue and gold toning
around the periphery. Of course the devices are all boldly struck, including
the stars and fine details on Liberty. Similar on the reverse, which has smoky
gold around the rims, and hazy gray at the centers. Identifiable by a couple of
minor spots, one located in the right obverse field near Liberty's knee, and
another on the rim below the 1 in the date. Examination with a loupe will note
a minor disturbance in the delicate mirror field on the left side of the
obverse, near the first couple of stars, and decidedly few signs of handling
elsewhere. Liberty is well frosted by the dies, and shows up with excellent
contrast for an early proof issue.
As to the rarity, is it estimated that 15
survive of this extremely rare early proof, of those NGC has graded 8 coins,
three of which as PF-64, the other 5 are graded higher. PCGS reports they have
graded 6 coins, the best of which is PR-64, and the rest in lower grades,
including two mishandled specimens. The date is clearly repunched on this coin,
with the 84 showing below the final punching as seen on most of the known
survivors in proof.
Over the decades these early proof issues (struck prior
to 1858) are seldom seen. Collectors search for decades to locate an example of
a particular date, and it is highly unusual to find one in very choice
condition as offered here. What few are found are usually offered when famous
name collections are sold, and many years can pass before certain dates are
seen. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a coin worthy of a kings
collection, in choice proof condition.
Estimated Value $30,000-UP.
Lot 864
1846. NGC graded
Proof 64. This coin has been dipped as the surfaces are untoned and look a
touch hazy now. Without question, this is a proof as the date is strongly recut
low (Breen-1) and the strike is needle sharp even on the highest devices. Note
the frost on the devices and smooth, mirror fields surrounding. We see minor
hairlines in the fields, as always seen on these early proofs, but these do not
detract significantly from the grade. NGC has graded 9 this high in proof, and
just a single coin higher. Currently in NGC holder #1295024-004.
Estimated
Value $30,000-35,000.
Lot 865
1847. PCGS graded
AU-53. Medium silver in color, with two dark spots on the right side of the
obverse, and a curious line of lighter colors at the top of the reverse. Minor
circulation hairlines.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 866
1850. PCGS graded
Proof 62. As the Nineteenth Century reached its midpoint, about 20 silver
dollars were coined in proof. Breen notes that two obverse dies were used to
coin them, this one has the repunched base of the 0 in the date (Breen-3), but
does not have the die crack through the base of the date. This one has several
tiny handling ticks on both sides, and minor hairlines, accounting for the
grade. The coin is generally untoned save for a beautiful band of album toning
around the periphery of the obverse and reverse. PGCS has graded 1 coin as
such, with 7 graded higher (all PR-64) some of which may attempts at upgrades,
but we don't know for sure.
Estimated Value $15,000-17,500.
Lot 867
1860-O. NGC graded
MS-66 Pittman. One of the finest graded dollars of the entire year, and
with glorious colors surrounding the periphery. Cartwheel luster cascades about
the fields and the surfaces are stunning for such a large coin. The only marks
worthy of note are a short series of scratches near Liberty's upper right arm,
which scarcely show. Toned with deep blue around the obverse edge, and russet
at the center, the reverse is less organized with speckled gold toning evenly
distributed there. As to the strike, it is sharp and shows few signs of
weakness on the design elements. Trivial hairlines can be seen beneath the
toning, but they are shallow and obscure.
The NGC Population Report shows
only 3 graded this high, with none graded higher, while PCGS has not graded any
higher than MS-65. An exceptional coin for the advanced numismatist. Color
photo.
Estimated Value $35,000-UP.
From the John J. Pittman
Collection sale.