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Mail Bid Auction 57

Auction ends on January 5, 2024 6:00 pm EST

This auction has been finalized. Prices realized are shown.

 
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Lot # Date Variety Rarity Grade Description Number of Bids High Bid Maximum Bid Total Price Photos
1 1807 50/00 O.112 R.1 PCGS AU 55+ Exceptional luster hallmarks this beguiling 1807.  The strike is equally impressive, with weakness confined to the eagle’s head.  Note especially the high rims, sharp stars and crisp detail in Liberty’s curls, drapery and cap.  Iridescent toning circles the stars and legend.  The fields are free of distractions; a few grazes confirm short term circulation.  In all, a top flight example of the first year of John Reich’s capped bust design.

Estimate: $4,500 to $5,500
7 $4,700
Reserve met
$5,288 $5,170  
2 1809 O.106 R.2 PCGS AU 55 Handsomely toned, with shades of gold, turquoise and aqua dominating the obverse.  Top of left wing soft, as usual.  Otherwise nicely impressed.  A very shallow depression in the planchet runs from the lower ribbon to 09 of the date.  It blends with the toning and has virtually no impact on the coin’s strong eye-appeal.  Choice AU 1809s are always in demand.  

Estimate: $1,400 to $1,800
3 $1,251
Reserve met
$1,400 $1,376  
3 1811 Sm. 8 O.110a R.1 PCGS MS 62 Blazing luster throughout.  Copper toning at the peripheries suggests album storage.  The untoned centers are wonderfully detailed despite the later die state.  Not a hint of friction on the devices.  A perfect coin for the date or type collector.  

Estimate: $3,000 to $4,000
7 $2,888
Reserve met
$3,001 $3,177  
4 1817 O.111a R.2 PCGS AU 55 Ex Tim Osborne: MB 53, Lot 11, Jan. 2022 @ $3,300.  Lightly toned centers, with flashes of gold.  The stars and legend display darker, iridescent toning.  Luster befits the grade.  Smooth surfaces are a bonus.  A nice 1817 that was in Tim’s collection since he found it at a local coin show in October 1989.  Mike Brelsford prevailed in a bidding war with an advanced Michigan collector, confirming the adage that nice coins bring nice prices.  

Estimate: $1,800 to $2,500
5 $2,725
Reserve met
$3,500 $2,998  
5 1818 O.109a R.2 PCGS AU 55 An 1818 with extravagant luster, one might say too much for a “55.”  Lovely russet toning dances across the fields and devices.  As with most of the Brelsford coins, the strike is first rate – including the eagle’s claws and Liberty’s drapery.  Headed to a 58 holder?  

Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500
6 $1,764
Reserve met
$2,050 $1,940  
6 1819/8 Lg. 9 O.102 R.1 PCGS "rattler" XF 45 Housed in a first generation PCGS holder known today as a “rattler.”  (Coins tended to rattle as they moved around inside the capsule.)  PCGS overlooked the overdate, labeling the coin “1819.”  Heritage also missed the overdate when it offered this coin in the Internet session of its Long Beach Sale, Sept. 2012, lot 8387 @ $,1,527.50.  Gorgeous toning sparkles with underlying luster.  The holder has a few blemishes, notably at 6 o’clock on the reverse, through 50 C, and across the shield.  The coin is unscathed and will almost certainly earn an AU designation should the next owner choose to reholder it.  One can only wish that all XF 45s were this nice!  To be in the hunt, treat this treasure as a nice AU 1819/8.  

Estimate:  $1,300 to $1,750
6 $1,350
Reserve met
$1,622 $1,485  
7 1819 O.114 R.2 PCGS "rattler" AU 55 Another PCGS “rattler,” lot 8388 from the same Sept. 2012 Heritage sale as the preceding 1819/8.  It brought $2,354.  Brilliant centers, dazzling luster and a welcome halo of russet through the stars and legend.  Q. David Bowers sold the coin to the Heritage consignor during a 1974 Long Beach Show as “UNC with rub.”  No argument.  There are traces of friction on the portrait; the fields are unscathed save for a contact mark twixt left wing and neck.  Well struck throughout.  Maybe a hint of weakness, lower drapery.  A virtual lock to grade “58” today.  Kraft envelope accompanies, memorializing the 1974 purchase from QDB.

Estimate:  $2,000 to $2,500
1 $1,500
Reserve met
$1,500 $1,650  
8 1821 O.103 R.1 PCGS AU 53 Full cartwheel luster rolls beneath a copper and gold patina.  The smooth surfaces display scant signs of circulation.  I suspect that PCGS docked the coin a few grading points because of softness in the obverse portrait.  High grade 1821s have always been a favorite.  
Estimate:  $600 to $800
3 $670
Reserve met
$875 $737  
9 1823 O.106a R.2 PCGS MS 62 Wonderfully detailed curls, claws and feathers complement the bold luster on this mint state 1823.  Lightly toned, obverse and reverse.  Minor contact marks, none deserve mention.  A paradigm MS 62.  

Estimate: $1,750 to $2,250
11 $2,200
Reserve met
$2,500 $2,420  
10 1824 O.105 R.2 PCGS MS 62 A gossamer veil of gold envelops both sides of this charming coin.  Turquoise iridescence showcases stars 4-11 and the reverse rims.  Brelsford’s decision to procure only coins with strong eye appeal is on display with this offering.

Estimate:  $1,500 to $1,800
3 $1,500
Reserve met
$1,500 $1,650  
11 1824 O.115 R.2 PCGS OGH AU 55 CAC Another fully lustrous, beautifully toned coin, awaiting upgrade for those so inclined.  Amber dominates the centers, a bit lighter on the reverse.  Rings of iridescent toning frame this noteworthy 1824.  

Estimate: $650 to $850
11 $1,350
Reserve met
$1,550 $1,485  
12 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.117 R.3 PCGS MS 64 CAC A stunning coin.  No surprise, given the PCGS grade and CAC seal of approval.  Brelsford found the coin 15 years ago in Heritage’s Jan. 2009 FUN Show sale, lot 2824, when floor bidding was still de riguer.  He prevailed at $4,321.50.  This coin triggered his interest in the Capped Bust series.  It was his first bust half.  “I just fell in love with the coin,” he says.  The obverse displays gold and iridescent turquoise toning.  The reverse is blazing white.  Weakness in the motto is offset by razor sharp feathers, talons and leaves.  Tied for #3 in the Condition Census.

Estimate: $3,200 to $4,000
5 $4,100
Reserve met
$4,100 $4,510  
13 1831 O.108 R.1 PCGS MS 63 CAC Caky luster, lovely surfaces, all encased in a glorious veneer of iridescent rose and turquoise.  Spectacular eye appeal!  Here is a common date, common variety in a decidedly uncommon state of preservation.  A coin with runaway potential!

Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500
0 $0
$0 Not Sold  
14 1831 O.118 R.3 PCGS MS 64 Oh my!  Scintillating luster glistens beneath pastel shades of rose and gold.  The central devices are framed by captivating circles of turquoise and aqua.  Smooth surfaces befit the lofty grade.  A condition census example of the O.118 die pair.

Estimate: $2,500 to $3,250
12 $3,201
Reserve met
$3,201 $3,521  
15 1832 Sm. Lets O.105 R.3 MS 61 Ex Dr. Charles Link, noted on the PCGS label.  A flashy coin with bold luster and colorful peripheral toning.  The surfaces are immaculate.  Why only MS 61?  A guess is that the worn obverse die influenced the PCGS graders.  (This late die state was labeled O.105a until the BHNC delisted the subvariety.)  The 1832 O.105 is a “sleeper” in high grade.  The Brelsford coin is plated on PCGS’ CoinFacts.  No example is graded higher.  https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1832-50c-overton-105-small-letters/39862.

Estimate:  $1,500 to $1,800
7 $1,700
Reserve met
$2,200 $1,870  
16 1832 Sm. Lets O.118 R.1 PCGS OGH AU 58 Another late date with alluring toning: steel grey, with subtle blue and rose highlights.  Unbroken luster save for friction on Liberty’s cheek.

Estimate: $900 to $1,200
3 $882
Reserve met
$1,325 $970  
17 1833 O.108 R.1 PCGS "rattler" AU 58 CAC A true “rattler!”  The ancient holder allows the coin to shift inside the capsule.  No harm done.  Original antique grey, rose, gold and blue toning beget an eye-catching 1833.  Strong luster and a full motto complement this CAC approved 1833.  (Pre CAC photo of slab.)

Estimate:  $1,000 to $1,300
4 $920
Reserve met
$920 $1,012  
18 1834 Lg. Date & Lets O.102 R.1 PCGS "rattler" AU 58 CAC A 4th rattler from the Brelsford Collection!  The holder, not the coin, has suffered from the less than firm hold on its captive.  Note the circles of haze, obverse and reverse, on the inside surface of the capsule.  The coin is magnificent -- beautifully toned, original and dripping with luster.  The late die state accounts for drawn stars and indistinct dentils.  (Pre CAC photo of slab.)

Estimate: $1,000 to $1,300
18 $1,550
Reserve met
$2,011 $1,705  
19 1836 O.118 R.3 PCGS AU 58 You will envision a $20 gold piece when you first gaze at this beguiling half-dollar.  Evenly toned with raucous cartwheel luster and lovely surfaces.  A showpiece coin for your date set!

Estimate: $900 to $1,200
11 $1,458
Reserve met
$1,700 $1,604  
20 1838 RE GR-2 R.3 PCGS AU 58 Exquisitely detailed devices, booming luster and pleasing surfaces set this coin apart from the pack.  Whether you collect the reeded edge series by date, die variety or just need one for your type set here is your coin.  A fitting end to the Brelsford consignment.

Estimate: $1,200 to $1,500
10 $1,700
Reserve met
$1,700 $1,870  
21 1809 15% Off Center O.106 prime R.4 PCGS Genuine - Gd. Details A jaw-dropping off-center bust half.  Low grade with scratches.  The surfaces are otherwise smooth and naturally toned.  Major bust-half errors are exceedingly rare.  The few significant collections may be counted on one hand.  Stew Witham, Russ Logan and Henry Hilgard were stewards of major bust-half errors from the 1960s through 2013.  Logan acquired Witham’s best pieces when Stew stopped collecting in the early 1980s.  Hilgard already had an important error collection and stepped up when Logan’s collection was auctioned in 2002.  When Henry passed away in 2013 I sold his still unrivaled collection intact to Dr. Charles Link.  Photos and descriptions of the Hilgard/Link collection are available on my website: https://www.sheridanscoins.com/hilgard.php.  The coin offered here appeared unheralded, unattributed and without comment or provenance in an April 2022 auction conducted by Great Collections (lot 1146334).  Jeff spotted it and against stern competition prevailed at $2,644.  It is worth noting that the Hilgard/Link collection includes an 1809 O.105 15% off-center, graded VG 08 by PCGS.  (Coin #5 in the list on my website.)  The Oertel coin retains more detail than the Hilgard/Link coin.

Estimate: $2,000 to $3,000
8 $3,525
Reserve met
$4,010 $3,878  
22 1810 O.101/101a R.1 PCGS XF 45 CAC Naturally toned with exquisite surfaces for the grade.  The stars and legend feature iridescent gold and ocean-blue toning while the centers are antique blue-grey.  Jeff acquired the coin in an NGC XF 45 holder and crossed it to PCGS.  The NGC label accompanies.  If this is your grade level, this is your coin!

Estimate: $650 to $800
10 $1,150
Reserve met
$1,451 $1,265  
23 1810 O.105 R.2 PCGS AU 50 CAC A crust of antique grey toning envelops this wholly original 1810.  Album storage accounts for the iridescent colors through the stars and legend.  A pretty coin despite the late die state!

Estimate: $900 to $1,150
0 $0
$0 Not Sold  
24 1811 Sm. 8 O.110 R.1 PCGS MS 61 Pastel gold toning, darker at the obverse rims and lighter on the reverse.  Full cartwheel luster and well struck.  The color and eye appeal will hit the sweet spot of veteran collectors.

Estimate: $2,000 to $2,300
0 $0
$0 Not Sold  
25 1812/1 Large 8 O.101a R.5 PCGS Genuine - VF Details From the collection of the late Van Harvey.  Offered in MB 45, Aug. 2017, lot 63, bringing $4,070.  Light grey, with hairlined surfaces.  Hints of luster in star crevices are consistent with significant feather detail in the eagle’s wings.  Liberty’s central curls are blunt, as usual – a victim of the “sprung” or “warped” die that turned most of this noted rarity into “rockers” when placed face down.  Without the cleaning, this is a 5-figure coin.  The culprit, however, may deserve forgiveness.  By reducing its value he expanded the number of suitors eligible for the chase.  Is it time to complete your set of 1812’s? 

Estimate: $4,000 to $5,000
0 $0
$0 Not Sold  
26 1817 Single Leaf O.106a R.2 PCGS AU 53 An amazing strike for the issue.  Note the detail in the central devices and the prominent single leaf feature.  Encased in an even blanket of deep blue-grey toning.  Red Book and die variety collectors vie for high grade examples of the `17-Single Leaf.  The Oertel coin last appeared in Heritage’s July 2016 sale, lot 3527, bringing $3,173.

Estimate: $1,800 to $2,500
7 $2,450
Reserve met
$2,588 $2,695  
27 1818/7 Lg. 8s O.101a R.1 PCGS AU 53 A handsome, original coin.  The obverse sparkles with colors of a tropical sunset.  The darker reverse offers iridescent blue and antique grey.  Late die state but still a coin for the connoisseur.

Estimate: $1,300 to $1,800
2 $1,100
Reserve met
$1,325 $1,210  
28 1819/8 Lg. 9 O.102 R.1 PCGS AU 58 CAC Delicate blue and silver toning graces the obverse of this magnificent coin.  The reverse, draped in a protective blanket of “grey dirt,” proclaims the coin’s originality.  With magnification, a few contact marks are seen.  I doubt the coin ever entered circulation.  My only criticism is the PCGS label.  It mistakenly reads small 9.

Estimate: $2,500 to $3,000
3 $3,500
Reserve met
$3,500 $3,850  
29 1822 O.109 R.3 PCGS AU 55 The obverse displays silver and gold toning; the reverse is a tad darker, with a drift mark atop the eagle’s right wing (as struck).  The surfaces and luster befit a choice AU designation.

Estimate: $500 to $600
7 $730
Reserve met
$730 $803  
30 1823 O.107 R.3 PCGS AU 55 CAC The photo does no justice to this coin.  In hand, the 100% original toning triggers a thank you to its guardians over the last 200 years.  The dusty grey patina shimmers with golden iridescence.  The CAC sticker was automatic.

Estimate: $600 to $750
14 $1,137
Reserve met
$1,137 $1,251  
31 1823 O.112 R.1 PCGS AU 55 CAC Similar color and quality to the preceding 1823.  The surfaces and golden toning bespeak originality.  Friction is confined to the high points.  Elton Dosier, my primary mentor, often reminded me that rub in the fields demotes the grade to XF.  PCGS doesn’t always agree.  In this case, however, there is no argument.

Estimate: $600 to $750
10 $830
Reserve met
$830 $913  
32 1824 O.116 R.3 PCGS 62 The pale blue color of an ocean archipelago found its way to this sensational offering.  Vibrant luster underlies the toning, yielding a coin that rates “A” for eye appeal.  A double profile and tiny planchet indentation on the cheek contribute to the intrigue of this mint state coin.

Estimate: $1,400 to $1,800
14 $2,700
Reserve met
$2,710 $2,970  
33 1826 O.106a R.2 PCGS AU 55 CAC Richly toned, the peripheries infused with a breathtaking halo of iridescent blue.  The patina clearly developed over many decades, blanketing the few signs of circulation.

Estimate: $550 to $800
10 $2,361
Reserve met
$2,550 $2,597  
34 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.140 R.4 PCGS AU 53 This die pair is among the toughest R.4s in any grade.  In high grade it is a distinct rarity.  I recall handling but one mint state example (PCGS MS 63, MB 23, lot 93, Feb. 1999 – to Charles De Olden).  The Oertel coin is blessed with iridescent album toning through the stars and legend.  It offers the coveted triumvirate: rarity, high grade and eye appeal.  If you have chased die marriages for a few years you know when to have patience and when to pounce.  Enough said.

Estimate: $800 to $1,200
8 $950
Reserve met
$950 $1,045  
35 1828 Sq.2, Sm.8, Lg. Lets O.110 R.2 PCGS AU 58 CAC Original!  Antique grey with flashes of gold.  Caky luster rolls beneath the patina.  Just a whisper of friction on the cheek and lovely surfaces to boot.

Estimate: $800 to $1,200
14 $1,900
Reserve met
$1,975 $2,090  
36 1829/7 O.102 R.2 PCGS MS 62 CAC Deep, blue-grey toning, rim to rim, with Liberty’s tresses surfacing in fiery orange.  The overdate feature is prominent.  (Not always the case.)  A golden opportunity for those assembling a mint state Red Book set.

Estimate: $1,800 to $2,300
2 $2,400
Reserve met
$2,450 $2,640  
37 1829 O.114 R.3 NGC AU 50 CAC One for aficionados of grey dirt.  First rate luster and surfaces.  Rub is noted on Liberty’s cheek, highest curls and cleavage.  I doubt that the coin ever saw circulation.  The unquestioned originality strongly suggests a higher grade: a coin toss between AU 55 and AU 58.

Estimate: $400 to $600
11 $565
Reserve met
$600 $622  
38 1830 Sm.0 O.104 R.4 PCGS AU 55 CAC Light grey with hints of gold.  A sweet, original 1830, struck from a scarce die pair.

Estimate: $425 to $550
16 $1,000
Reserve met
$1,055 $1,100  
39 1832 Sm. Lets O.115 R.1 NGC MS 62 CAC Pastel shades of rose, gold and turquoise are the likely products of album toning.  Soft luster makes its way through the patina.  Razor sharp talons and wing feathers.  The motto, deferring metal flow to Liberty’s drapery folds, is soft.

Estimate: $1,100 to $1,400
1 $1,000
Reserve met
$1,250 $1,100  
40 1833 O.103 R.2 PCGS AU 50 Classic grey dirt.  The antique grey patina glows with virtually unbroken luster.  Friction on the cheek and breast.  That’s it!  Blemish-free surfaces are dessert for the winner of this undergraded 1833.

Estimate: $400 to $500
13 $525
Reserve met
$700 $578  
41 1833 O.112 R.2 PCGS AU 58 Wildly toned with electric blue peripheries and rose colored centers.  Late die state, with shallow rims, drawn stars and weak dentils.  But who cares?!  The surfaces are dandy and the color is off the charts.

Estimate: $900 and up
2 $825
Reserve met
$900 $908  
42 1836 Bar Dot O.121 R.5+ PCGS VF 30 The rarest die pair in the Oertel collection.  The `36-121 was unknown to Al Overton when he published his 1st edition in 1967.  He rated it R.7 in his 1970 revision (2nd ed.).  Don Parsley settled on R.5 in 1990 (3rd ed.) and the BHNC has since added a + to the R.5 rarity rating.  This example last appeared in MB 44, lot 100, Jan. 2016: “On everyone’s short list of killer R.5’s.  Medium grey fields, lighter devices.  Luster hides in the star crevices.  The consignor acquired this rarity from Dr. Glenn Peterson.”  The coin brought $2,200, Oertel winning a tie, having entered his bid first.

Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500
2 $1,850
Reserve met
$1,851 $2,035  
43 1813 O.105 R.1 PCGS AU 50 OGH Antique grey with golden highlights.  Short drift mark between stars 2 and 3.  A charming, original coin that has held a place in Davignon’s die variety set since he acquired it (raw) in 1985.

Estimate: $750 to $900
5 $861
Reserve met
$1,281 $947  
44 1820 Lg. Date, Sq.2, No Knob O.108 R.2 PCGS AU 50 CAC When offering his consignment, Keith said this about the 1820, “Poster child grey dirt; love the original, antique toning; can’t tell you how many offers I’ve had over the years for this lowly AU 50.  It was part of a lot (with the preceding 1813) in B&M’s Nov. 1985 Emery/Nichols Sale.  They were the first bust halves I ever bought.  I kept both as my Overton set pieces.  So rare for circulated coins to be so attractive, original and well preserved.”

Estimate: $1,100 to $1,500
8 $1,831
Reserve met
$1,831 $2,014  
45 1822 O.104 R.2 PCGS MS 62 OGH Fully prooflike reverse.  The obverse is 95% prooflike.  In a word, WOW!  Keith fancies 1822s and I gave him first shot at this coin when selling Don Parsley’s collection last March.  Don and (father-in-law) Al Overton stored their coins in kraft envelopes.  The pale gold patina on this coin probably came from one of those envelopes.  A hint of cabinet friction on Liberty’s cheek accounts for the conservative grade.  The surfaces are free of contact marks.  The strike is superb.

Estimate: $2,000 and up
14 $3,350
Reserve met
$3,450 $3,685  
46 1822 O.106a R.3 PCGS MS 62 Keith found this “color monster” at the Oct. 1995 Bay State Show in Boston.  It appeared the previous month in B&M’s Greenwood & Jackson Sale, lot 553.  An Old Master’s palette of colors graces the surfaces.  Cartwheel luster further enhances the eye appeal.  Cabinet friction on Liberty’s cheek explains the modest grade.

Estimate: $2,000 and up
10 $3,025
Reserve met
$3,288 $3,328  
47 1822 O.115 R.3 PCGS AU 58 CAC A third 1822 from Keith’s hoard of fantastic 1822s.  I find it hard to believe that he is letting them go.  This pristine coin oozes luster beneath a protective layer of antique grey dirt toning.  Keith’s wry comment is worth repeating, “Put this one under a halogen lamp and enjoy the show.”  He has enjoyed it since March 2012 when it was offered in Stack’s/Bowers Baltimore auction, lot 3263.

Estimate: $1,500 and up
5 $1,850
Reserve met
$1,909 $2,035  
48 1823 O.105 R.1 PCGS AU 53 CAC A masterpiece for the assigned grade.  Keith had to bid nearly $1,000 to harvest this 1823 for his collection.  (Heritage lot 7550, Dec. 2015.)  Original toning and surfaces.  Antique grey centers, surrounded by colorful album toning.  Gorgeous!

Estimate: $700 to $900
9 $1,211
Reserve met
$1,211 $1,332  
49 1823 O.106a R.2 PCGS MS 62 A semi-prooflike, fully struck, lightly toned 1823.  There are a few handling marks, nothing significant, and nary a hint of friction on the high points.  Acquired from me at the 1999 Chicago ANA Convention; earlier in B & M’s Westchester Sale of Feb. 1987, lot 1782.

Estimate: $1,500 to $1,800
4 $1,450
Reserve met
$1,450 $1,595  
50 1825 O.113 R.1 PCGS AU 53 CAC Eric Newman stored most of his coins in 2 7/8” x 1 3/4” brown envelopes.  Over time a golden-brown patina developed.  Here is a classic example.  (Lot 34457 in the Nov. 2013 Heritage sale of the Newman collection, as NGC AU 53, bringing $1,087.)  Luster sparkles around the devices.  The original NGC label accompanies.

Estimate: $500 to $800
10 $800
Reserve met
$800 $880  
51 1829 O.107 R.3 PCGS AU 58 Lot 34471 from the Newman sale as NGC AU 58.  I was the unknowing underbidder to Keith’s $1,469, confirming our mutual fascination with high grade, originally toned bust halves that come with unblemished surfaces.  The NGC label accompanies.

Estimate: $1,100 to $1,300
5 $1,350
Reserve met
$1,400 $1,485  
52 1830 Sm.0 O.113 R.1 PCGS AU 58+ From MB 53, my Jan. 2022 FUN Show Sale, lot 96.  The sale featured Tom Sears’ #1 rated PCGS Everyman Registry Set of bust halves.  Dazzling luster.  A delicate ring of copper toning frames the brilliant centers.  Decently impressed with a full motto, often a problem on dates in the 1830s.  Here is a wonderful coin for date collectors and Registry Set participants.  From MB 51, lot 79 @ $2,696.  Keith prevailed at $2,145.

Estimate: $1,500 to $1,900
14 $1,951
Reserve met
$1,951 $2,146  
53 1832 Sm. Lets O.112 R.2 PCGS MS 65 “Dash date” obverse (also found on the R.7+ 1832 O.123.)  Only the MS 66 Eliasberg coin is finer.  Silver-grey toning, a bit darker on the reverse.  Keith found this gem in Heritage’s NY Signature auction, Nov. 2015, lot 3253, @ $7,050.  “Love the originality of this one,” he writes.  The “look” and pristine surfaces remind this cataloguer of the Plimpton family coins, hoarded and described by Keith in recent JR Journal articles.

Estimate: $5,500 to $7,000
1 $5,000
Reserve met
$5,500 $5,500  
54 1833 O.112 R.2 PCGS MS 62 Brilliant centers with album toning at the rims.  Full motto, weak reverse dentils.  Plenty of luster for the grade.  Acquired in Stack’s/Bowers’ Nov. 2021 sale, lot 1395 as NGC 62 with a CAC sticker.  Keith offers, “Nice eye appeal; I liked the Plimpton ‘look.’”

Estimate: $1,250 to $1,500
3 $1,357
Reserve met
$1,400 $1,493  
55 1834 Lg. Date, Sm. Lets O.105 R.1 PCGS AU 55 Delectable grey dirt toning.  Absolutely original surfaces.  Friction on the cheek and breast.  Nowhere else.  Deserves an AU 58 designation.  Lot 34479 from the Nov. 2013 Newman sale @ $1,057.50, where Keith again outbid me!  He later crossed the coin to PCGS, losing the CAC sticker.  NGC AU 55 label accompanies.

Estimate: $500 to $700
3 $600
Reserve met
$977 $660  
56 1834 Lg. Date, Sm. Lets O.106 R.1 PCGS AU 55  Original, the centers with typical grey-brown toning from storage in a kraft envelope.  Colorful iridescence brightens the stars and legend.  Lot 34477 in the Newman sale as NGC AU 53 CAC.  Davignon crossed it to PCGS.  NGC label accompanies.

Estimate: $500 to $700
9 $975
Reserve met
$976 $1,072  
57 1835 O.107 R.1 PCGS AU 55 A fifth and final offering from Keith’s mini-hoard of Newman coins.  Envelope toning with splashes of iridescence at the peripheries.  Lot 34481 as NGC AU 55 CAC.  My records show that Keith again outbid me, taking home the coin at $940.  The NGC label accompanies.

Estimate: $500 to $700
12 $950
Reserve met
$1,050 $1,045  
58 1794 O.107 R.5+ PCGS VF 20 Ex Dr. Charles Link

In the beginning ….   That is, when Overton published his 1st edition in 1967, there were 8 known die pairs from 1794.  The O.108 (then called “O-15.”) was unique.  (Nine or 10 are known today.)  The O.102 and O.107 vied for 2nd place, each with fewer than a dozen known examples.  In 1980 Robert P. Hilt II published his tome on die varieties of early U.S. coins.  He disclosed, described and proclaimed his unique 1794 O.109 to be the “Emperor of United States coins.”  Two years later Jules Reiver spotted another unlisted 1794, the O.110.  (A dozen or so have since surfaced).  Finally, in March 1993, Andrew Pollock came across the 1794 O.111 discovery coin while cataloging a sale for Bowers & Merena.  The O.109 (if we ignore a pair of copper die trials) and the O.111 remain unique.  Hilt’s O.109 sold for $705,000(!) in April 2015.  I purchased the O.111 for my friend Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Schertz in 1993 and later placed the coin in the Overton Collection, owned today by an anonymous collector.  With this short history in mind I offer a suggestion to those who would collect flowing hair half-dollars by die variety.  Do as William Sheldon did for large cents: treat extreme rarities, here, the unique 1794 O.109 and 111, as “NCs,” non-collectibles.  That leaves a manageable group of 9 die marriages.  At the front of the pack (in terms of rarity) are the O.108, O.110, O.102 and O.107.  

In volume 1 of his Early U.S. Half-Dollars Steve Tompkins noted that no uncirculated 1794 O.107s are known.  He added, “In fact, examples of this marriage are unknown above VF!”  That was true in 2015.  In April 2017 Heritage offered an example from Terry Brand’s estate graded NGC XF 45.  It stands first in the Condition Census.  (An AU “details” O.107 appeared in 2019.  It was corroded, scratched and cleaned.  In short, disgusting.)  The Link coin is likely #2 in the Condition Census.  Tompkins placed it ahead of Charles De Olden’s NGC VF 20 (Heritage Jan. 2008 FUN Show sale, lot 2828 @ $25,300).  Both are plated at p.33 of Tompkins’ book, the Link coin in first position.  It is light grey, evenly worn with some adjustment marks on the reverse.  Link purchased the coin from Harry Laibstain in November 2015.  Its earlier provenance is unknown.  

Estimate: $15,000 and up
1 $15,000
Reserve met
$15,000 $16,500  
59 1805 O.111 R.3 PCGS AU 55 OGH Ex James Bennett Pryor   In the 1970s and 1980s Jim Pryor assembled a stunning collection of bust half-dollars, rivaled only by the Eliasberg, Norweb and Overton collections.  Brain cancer took him from us in 1991.  He was only 55.  He owned two 1805 half-dollars, an 1805/4 (ex Ed Milas) graded AU 58 by PCGS and this coin, purchased from Wade Hinderling in July 1984.  Deep blue, copper and gold are the dominant colors on this remarkable piece.  Herrman places it in a tie for 4th in the Condition Census for the variety.  The appearance of any AU 1805 is a cause for celebration.  (Compare the population with those of 1806 and 1807.)  An AU 1805 with exceptional eye appeal and a royal provenance demands attention from serious collectors.  Be not shy with your bids!  Lot 9 in Bowers & Merena’s January 1996 sale of the Pryor Collection.  

Estimate: $8,000 to $12,000
1 $7,500
Reserve met
$7,500 $8,250  
60 1806 Pt.6, No Stem O.109 R.1 PCGS AU 50 CAC Silver toning with strong luster for the grade.  A common die pair but distinct Red Book variety.  So many draped bust half-dollars have been abused in misguided efforts to improve them.  Here is a delightful exception!

Estimate: $2,900 to $3,400
3 $3,000
Reserve met
$3,000 $3,300  
61 1807 O.111a R.4+ AU 53 OGH CAC Ex James Pryor, George Hamilton, Dr. Charles Link, Alan Sontag   An old friend.  I sold the coin to Jim Pryor on April 16, 1989, ending his search for an AU or better example of the Bearded Goddess.  Some collectors reserve that moniker for the later die state, O.111b.  Pryor pointed to the full “beard,” chest to chin, and worried not that the die break ended before entering Liberty’s cap.  In January 1996 Mark Borckardt had the pleasure of cataloging the Pryor bust halves.  He echoed my belief of the time that the Pryor “Bearded Goddess” was 4th finest known.  (A couple of higher grade examples have since appeared.)  He continued, “[The strike] is bold, with very slight weakness on the drapery, ribbon and clasp….  Very choice surfaces, with deep blue-gray peripheral toning.  The central portion of obverse and reverse are pale gray.”  I would add that the luster is exactly what one expects from the assigned grade.  

When the Pryor sale was announced I was assaulted by collectors seeking comment and representation at the auction.  My notes in the Pryor catalog are reminders that George Hamilton and Gehring Prouty retained me to enter bids on the “Bearded Goddess.”  It turned out they were the top two bidders, with Hamilton bludgeoning Prouty, $9,000 to $5,500.  The hammer price became $5,750; $6,325 with the buyer’s fee.  Hamilton kept the coin until he passed away.  Heritage offered his collection at its August 2016 ANA Sale in Anaheim, CA.  Mark Borckardt, having switched horses from B&M to Heritage, once again cataloged this coin.  He repeated his views from 1996, concluding “The Bearded Goddess is an ultimate goal of all Bust half variety collectors, and this well-pedigreed example is a true feather in the cap for some fortunate bidder who recognizes its memorable quality and importance.”  Dr. Charles Link agreed.  He was the winning bidder at $14,688.  

In 2017 Dr. Link sold the coin to Alan Sontag.   Alan is a patient and knowledgeable collector of early United States coins, with a superb eye for quality.  His date and Red Book set of bust halves, assembled over many years, is among the finest extant.  Few of us in the numismatic community know that Alan holds multiple national and world championships in his chosen field, contract bridge.  Bridge is one of the most intellectually demanding and rewarding sports on earth.  “Sonty,” as his bridge colleagues know him, was admitted to the American Contract Bridge League Hall of Fame in 2007.

Estimate: $15,000 and up
1 $14,000
Reserve met
$14,000 $15,400  
62 1810 O.109a R.4 PCGS AU 50 Ex Dr. Charles Link.   Link provenance noted on the PCGS label.  The 1810 O.109a is a sticky R.4.  I find no record of a PCGS graded example higher than VF 30 offered at auction in the last several years.  This delicately toned example features full cartwheel luster.  A feathery drift mark (imperfection in the planchet) runs through the left wing from the legend above.  The surfaces, while clashed and lightly wiped, are virtually free of contact marks.  Acquired privately from Eye Appealing Coins for $2,900.

Estimate: $1,000 and up
3 $1,101
Reserve met
$1,700 $1,211  
63 1811/10 O.101 R.1 NGC AU 58 Coveted early die state; the strike and “dot” between 81 and effaced 0 are as bold as any I’ve seen.  The fiery orange toning is highlighted by a circle or aqua and turquoise iridescence.  In all, a spectacular overdate!

Estimate: $3,500 to $4,500
5 $4,855
Reserve met
$4,855 $5,340  
64 1811 Sm. 8 O.112 R.4- PCGS AU 53 CAC The PCGS label incorrectly attributes the coin as O.112a, an R.5 subvariety.  Heritage overlooked the error when offering this coin in its Feb. 2018 Long Beach Sale of Chris Merrill’s collection.  (Lot 4587 @ $2,160.)  That said, the die pair is still worth a premium as a sticky R.4-.  Natural grey toning, soft luster and an attractive halo of iridescence earned this one a CAC sticker.  Merrill acquired the coin in Stack’s Nov. 2009 Anniversary sale, lot 1375.

Estimate: $1,000 to $1,300
3 $1,200
Reserve met
$1,200 $1,320  
65 1811 Sm.8 O.112a R.5 PCGS XF 40 CAC The requisite obverse and reverse die cracks confirm the attribution.  Here is a wonderful coin for the grade, even forgetting the R.5 rarity rating.  Immaculate surfaces and natural toning are all we might ask of an XF coin.  CAC was equally impressed.  If this is your grade level, carpe diem, you will not find a better example.  From the Kings Park Collection.

Estimate: $750 to $950
14 $1,000
Reserve met
$1,500 $1,100  
66 1812/1 Sm. 8 O.102a R.2 PCGS AU 55 A handsome coin with original surfaces and toning.  The antique grey centers are surrounded by golden iridescence.  Luster dances beneath the patina.  The overdate feature is distinct on this late die state.  The coin is essentially without faults.

Estimate: $1,600 to $1,900
2 $1,550
Reserve met
$2,700 $1,705  
67 1813 O.102 R.3 PCGS AU 55 CAC Grey and gold toning throughout.  Well struck for the issue and decent luster for the grade.  The surfaces have no significant marks.  A few toning spots are exaggerated in the photo.  Ignore the R.3 rarity rating, this is a tough die marriage, especially in higher grades.  Check the PCGS pop report for this die pair: zero AU 55s.  From the Kings Park Collection.


Estimate: $1,400 to $1,800
2 $1,250
Reserve met
$1,357 $1,375  
68 1814 O.107 R.2 PCGS MS 63 OGH Ex George Hamilton, Heritage Aug. 2016 ANA Sale, lot 4554 @ $4,465.  A superb, fully lustrous coin with pale champagne toning and lovely surfaces.  Clash marks come with the territory on early bust halves.  A couple of short drift marks allow for instant identification of this Condition Census coin.  The intermediate die state matches that of the 2 or 3 known 1814 platinum pieces.  An important coin for the advanced collector.

Estimate: $3,500 to $4,200
3 $4,200
Reserve met
$4,250 $4,620  
69 1815/2 O.101 R.1 PCGS XF 45 Soft luster and a halo of album toning grab the eye.   The reverse is lighter, with more luster.  The surfaces were gently wiped but are remarkably free of contact marks.  Here is a wholesome example of the often abused key date to the Capped Bust series.  Is it time to fill that hole in your date set without shelling out 5 figures?

Estimate: $5,500 to $7,500
6 $6,600
Reserve met
$8,888 $7,260  
70 1817 O.108a R.4+ PCGS XF 45 CAC In a word, beautiful!  Album toning surrounds a grey and amber patina of truly ancient origin.  The die pair, long underrated, is RARE: R.7 without obverse die breaks, R.4+ with the breaks, as here.  I note that a PCGS VF 25 brought $1,000 in the Aug. 2022 Great Collections ANA Sale, lot 1149321.  This XF 45 will fit nicely in an AU set.  From the Kings Park Collection.  

Estimate: $1,000 and up
17 $2,201
Reserve met
$2,201 $2,421  
71 1818 O.107 R.1 PCGS MS 62 Brilliant with fabulous cartwheel luster and immaculate surfaces.  Dipped, of course, but never cleaned or wiped.  A toning spot inside star 5 is the sole distraction.  The strike is remarkable.  Every detail of the central devices is sharp.  This coin was featured in The Scotsman’s Nov. 2021 sale of an old collection that was rife with fresh-to-the-market, high grade bust halves.  It took $6,142 to land this remarkable 1818.  Yes, it’s that nice!  

Estimate: $4,000 and up
4 $4,601
Reserve met
$4,818 $5,061  
72 1818 O.108 R.2 PCGS XF 45 CAC The “pincher 8s” variety.  Scrumptious antique grey and pale copper toning.  The surfaces are a marvel for an XF coin.  Kudos to its caretakers over the past 2 centuries.  From the Kings Park Collection.  

Estimate: $800 to $1,100
16 $1,080
Reserve met
$1,251 $1,188  
73 1819/8 Lg. 9 O.103a R.3 PCGS AU 55 CAC Natural antique grey toning with smooth, unblemished surfaces.  Soft luster throughout, especially at the peripheries where it brightens the stars and legend.  The rarity rating recently slipped from R.4 to R.3, a surprise to this cataloguer.  The eye appeal and originality of the piece made it easy for John Albanese to reward it with a CAC sticker.  PCGS chose this coin to illustrate the subvariety on Coin Facts: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1819-8-50c-overton-103a-large-9/39558/55Ex Skidaway Island Collection, Heritage, Feb. 2015, lot 3752 as NGC AU 55 at $3,525.  

Estimate: $2,400 to $3,000
11 $3,175
Reserve met
$3,205 $3,493  
74 1819/8 Lg. 9 O.105 R.4 PCGS XF 45 CAC Blue-green toning dominates the obverse; grey and russet encompass the eagle.  Both sides feature colorful iridescence at the peripheries.  Minor luster breaks in the fields account for the XF designation.  The coin would doubtless fit an AU date or Red Book set.  Another coin with exceptional eye-appeal, as expected from coins bearing the Kings Park provenance.

Estimate: $700 to $900
14 $1,351
Reserve met
$1,351 $1,486  
75 1819 O.108 R.3 PCGS AU 58+ CAC If you are familiar with the “look” of Louis Eliasberg’s bust halves you would swear this was among them.  Not so.  But it did grace the collection of Tom Sears, whose PCGS Everyman Registry Set was #1 before he broke up the collection.  Luster spins beneath a crust of ancient silver-grey toning.  You’ll have to tell me where the friction lies.  The coin could easily grade MS 62 on another go-around at PCGS.

Estimate: $2,500 to $3,500
4 $3,450
Reserve met
$3,500 $3,795  
76 1819 O.115 R.3 PCGS AU 58 CAC A trace of friction on the cap and atop the eagle’s left wing.  Otherwise mint state.  Primordial shades of grey toning blanket the softly lustrous surfaces.  Slight weakness in the motto and the drapery lines opposite.  From the Kings Park Collection.  

Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500
7 $2,400
Reserve met
$3,500 $2,640  
77 1821 O.106a R.1 NGC AU 58 CAC Glittering luster gambols under the diaphanous antique grey toning.  Copper iridescence accents the stars and legend.  In short, terrific eye appeal!

Estimate: $1,600 to $2,100
3 $1,659
Reserve met
$1,681 $1,825  
78 1822 O.106a R.3 PCGS AU 55 CAC Pale russet and gold, flanked by copper and turquoise iridescence through the stars and legend.  Decent strike with no significant contact marks.  A pretty coin.  From the Kings Park Collection.  

Estimate: $700 to $950
8 $1,150
Reserve met
$1,295 $1,265  
79 1823 O.109 R.5 PCGS Gen. VF Detail A noted rarity.  Die variety collectors – be ready.  The opportunity to acquire a reasonably priced 1823 O.109 is itself a rarity.  As with many early U.S. coins, this circulated half-dollar was cleaned up and put in a Wayte Raymond holder by an unknown collector, probably in the 1930s or 1940s.  Album toning restored its appearance.  Aside from less than obvious hairlines, the surfaces are free of distractions.  Last offered, unheralded and largely ignored, in the Internet session of Heritage’s Founding Father’s Sale of Dec. 2021.  

Estimate: $500 to $700
2 $450
Reserve met
$526 $495  
80 1824 O.108 R.3 PCGS AU 55 Brilliant centers, circumnavigated by a ring of copper, gold and turquoise iridescence.  Gaudy luster pushes this offering to the top levels of eye candy.  A very nice coin!

Estimate: $700 to $900
22 $1,152
Reserve met
$1,153 $1,267  
81 1824 O.108a R.4 AU 55+ CAC A spectacular – and original - 1824.  The surfaces showcase a panoply of colors.  Luster runs deep into the fabric of the coin.  The surfaces are virtually free of marks.  I wonder whether PCGS worried about the late die state which accounts for some softness in the strike.  The coin puts many AU 58s to shame.  From the Kings Park Collection.  

Estimate: $800 to $1,000
16 $1,901
Reserve met
$2,275 $2,091  
82 1826 O.103 R.5- PCGS AU 58 CAC A spectacular yet disconcerting coin.  At first sight it appears to be the Frederick-Logan-Davignon coin offered in MB 44 (Jan. 2017, lot 51 @ $5,528).  The PCGS grades and CAC certifications are identical.  The unusually sharp strike (for the issue) is a match.  I had to compare photos to be sure they were different coins.  The Frederick coin was brighter with a few hairlines.   This piece is mark-free with delicate auburn toning.  I place it at #3 in the Condition Census.  Here is a rare and important opportunity for the advanced collector.   From the Kings Park Collection; earlier in the Skidaway Island collection as NGC MS 61 and the collection of David Kahn.  

Estimate: $4,500 to $5,500
0 $0
$0 Not Sold  
83 1826 O.106a R.2 PCGS AU 58 Blazing mint luster, undiminished by a beguiling gloss of russet toning.  Cabinet friction on the cheek and breast.  The coin never circulated.  Another capped bust half-dollar with exceptional eye appeal.

Estimate: $800 to $1,200
13 $1,325
Reserve met
$1,325 $1,458  
84 1826 O.112a R.2 PCGS MS 63 Richly toned, with splashes of turquoise, copper, jade and gold.  Nifty coin for a high grade date or type set.

Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500
2 $1,500
Reserve met
$1,750 $1,650  
85 1826 O.119 R.4 PCGS AU 58 CAC A magnificent, original example of this moderately scarce die pair.  Luster runs deep under a protective blanket of antique grey toning.  Pristine surfaces are a welcome bonus for this special coin.  

Estimate: $850 to $1,250
12 $1,328
Reserve met
$2,425 $1,461  
86 1826 O.120a R.4- PCGS AU 55 CAC A lovely golden patina, interrupted by occasional splashes of rose and turquoise.  Yet another coin for color mavens.  Friction noted on the high points; luster and smooth surfaces readily support the AU 55 designation.  From the Kings Park Collection.  

Estimate: $600 to $800
18 $2,355
Reserve met
$2,561 $2,590  
87 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.109 R.4- PCGS AU 55 Light grey and pale auburn centers.  Album toning decorates the peripheries.  The luster and surfaces are spot-on for the assigned grade.  From the Internet session of Heritage’s Dec. 2021 Founding Father’s Sale, bringing $840.  

Estimate: $500 to $700
13 $983
Reserve met
$1,059 $1,081  
88 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.117 R.3 PCGS AU 53 Ex Floyd Farley and Charlton Meyer   Brilliant and untoned with nice surfaces and way too much luster for a “53.”  It became Charlton Meyer’s set piece after he acquired it from Floyd Farley at the August 1975 ANA Convention in Los Angeles.  Farley, newcomers should know, was cofounder of the Bust Half Nut Club and the first to assemble a complete set of capped bust halves by Overton variety, including a choice VF 1817/4.  He dipped his coins (“I want to see what’s there,” he explained) then stored them in paper envelopes.  The Meyer provenance is noted on the PCGS label.  

Estimate: $400 to $550
7 $500
Reserve met
$557 $550  
89 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.122 R.5 PCGS AU 50 Deep rose centers, surrounded by multihued iridescence.  Cartwheel luster illuminates the patina.  This is an important coin, barely outside the Condition Census for this rare die pair.  The obverse die of the `27-122 was in its 3rd use, after the O.121 and O.123.  Drawn stars and a soft portrait were the result.  Eye appeal is usually a problem.  Not here!  

Estimate: $2,000 and up
9 $2,950
Reserve met
$3,660 $3,245  
90 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.131 R.2 PCGS AU 58 CAC Sharply struck with pale russet and gold toning.  Luster rolls, undisturbed, across the fields and devices.  A handsome, problem-free 1827, sanctified with a green CAC sticker.  

Estimate: $800 to $1,000
3 $832
Reserve met
$851 $915  
91 1827 Sq. Base 2 O.148 R.6 PCGS Gen. VF Details For many, the most important coin in the sale.  How many remember when this rarity was called the 1827 DT-1?  Dan Thornhill discovered the variety, a cleaned XF, in 1971, after Overton published his 2nd Edition.  Soon thereafter Floyd Farley pried it loose in a trade with Thornhill.  In June 1987 Farley offered the coin to BHNC members via private auction.  Charlton Meyer, of course, prevailed.  Over the past 50+ years other examples have been uncovered, dropping the rarity rating from R.7 to R.6.  An odd fact is that many of the known examples are struck from spoiled planchets, including brockages, off-center strikes and flip-over double strikes.  The coin offered here is new.  There is nothing unusual about the planchet.  It was cherry-picked “raw” in August 2023 at a small show in Las Vegas.  The light grey obverse was cleaned.  The nameless culprit left the reverse alone.  Thus the two-tone appearance.  The coin had emerged unscathed from circulation.  No marks deserve mention and no argument with PCGS’s sharpness grade of VF.  Interesting aside: The sharp-eyed consignor spotted another unattributed 1827 O.148 30 years ago.  He sold it privately to the late Jerry Killingsworth, an early BHNC member.

Estimate $10,000 and up
1 $8,000
Reserve met
$8,000 $8,800  
92 1828 Curl 2 w/ Knob O.107 R.1 PCGS AU 58 Brilliant with caky, undisturbed luster, begging for a Mint State designation.  Red Book collectors covet the “curl 2 w/ knob” variety.  Only the O.107 and rare O.106 qualify. An accompanying tag shows that the coin was purchased from Stack’s in May 1971.  It’s been away for a LONG time!  

Estimate: $1,000 to $1,300
1 $1,000
Reserve met
$1,257 $1,100  
93 1829 O.108a R.3 PCGS AU 58 CAC  Golden toning encases this fully lustrous 1829.  A trace of friction on the eagle’s left wing denied this little beauty a mint state designation.  A sweet, CAC approved 1829.  

Estimate: $850 to $1,150
3 $932
Reserve met
$1,200 $1,025  
94 1830 Sm. 0 O.101 R.1 PCGS AU 53  Ex Charlton Meyer.  A brilliant coin with robust luster.  Sharply struck with few signs of actual circulation.  Meyer provenance noted on the PCGS label.  Charlton acquired it from Ivan Leaman in the 1970s or early 1980s.  Leaman and his BHNC clubmate Donald Gunnet compiled the authoritative emission sequence for the capped bust series.  You will find it at p.9 of Steve Herrman’s AMBPR.

Estimate: $400 to $500
8 $510
Reserve met
$510 $561  
95 1830 Sm. 0 O.117 R.2 PCGS AU 58 CAC Intense luster immediately grabs your eye.  Delicate sprays of copper toning contribute to the eye appeal of this wonderful 1830.  A whisper of rub on Liberty’s cheek, or we’d be arguing for an MS 63 designation.  


Estimate: $850 to $1,000
5 $926
Reserve met
$1,057 $1,019  
96 1832 Sm. Lets O.110 R.1 NGC AU 58 CAC Blatantly original!  Luster rises from the depths and flows without interruption across the coin.  Friction is confined to Liberty’s highest curls.  Note, also, the detail in the central devices.  Only Liberty’s lower drapery is soft.  Here is a classy 1832 for the discerning, savvy and patient collector.  

Estimate: $850 to $1,000
2 $725
Reserve met
$727 $798  
97 1834 Sm. Date & Lets O.111 R.1 PCGS Gen. (Edge Error) Ex Lester Merkin, Donald Frederick, Charles Link   A fully prooflike, choice AU 1834 that PCGS rejected as cleaned.  To be sure, the delicate surfaces reveal some hairlines.  Reasonable minds will differ on whether the distraction is sufficient to justify a “no grade.”  This is lot 3319 in the April 2010 Heritage sale of Don Frederick’s collection.  Don placed it in his nearly complete die variety collection after winning it in Lester Merkin’s sale of June 15, 1974, lot 455.  (Merkin envelope accompanies.)  Dr. Charles Link was the astute buyer at the Frederick sale.  He was drawn to the coin by both its prooflike surfaces and an unlisted (in Overton’s early editions) edge error.  The lettering reads FIFTY CENTS HOARLF A DOLLAR.  In all, a glamorous coin – in appearance and provenance.  

Estimate: $500 and up
10 $600
Reserve met
$650 $660  
98 1836 O.116a R.5+ PCGS AU 58 Ex John Tidwell and Dr. Charles Link   Link provenance noted on PCGS label.  Barry Broyde’s (pseudonym: E. Horatio Morgan) prooflike PCGS MS 62 was the discovery coin and continues its reign as the finest known O.116a.  It brought $13,200 when offered at Heritage’s April 2020 Central States auction, lot 3509.  I have traced the current offering to my August 2004 Selected Rarities Sale from the Tidwell Collection, lot 20, where it brought $6,771.  It is tied with one other coin at #2 in the Condition Census.  Although the reverse die was heavily lapped, removing all signs of the double zero (and some arrow feathers and berry stems) the centers of this remarkable coin are razor sharp.  Liberty’s curls are complete..  The eagle’s feathers and talons lack no detail.  While the coin was dipped to show off its dazzling luster, the surfaces are free of hairlines or handling marks.  Attribution of this subvariety, when offered in lower grades, is often suspect.  Was the double zero never there or just the victim of wear?  Same question with respect to the missing olive stems and arrow feathers.  How nice it is to eliminate such doubts with a near mint state coin.   

Estimate: $7,000 to $9,000
3 $6,500
Reserve met
$6,850 $7,150  
99 1836 Bar Dot O.122 R.2 PCGS AU 58 Brilliant obverse, lightly toned reverse.  Full luster.  Cabinet friction on the cheek.  A nice coin with which to conclude the sale.  The mysterious dot next to the date is distinct.  Has anyone offered a sensible explanation for this repeating artifact?  

Estimate: $750 to $950
13 $1,275
Reserve met
$1,300 $1,402  

Sheridan Downey, Numismatist
4400 Keller Ave., Suite 140, PMB 398
Oakland, California 94605
sdowney3@aol.com
(510) 479-1585

©2024 Sheridan Downey