Patterns - Lots 1379-1401
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part I
Patterns - Lots 1379-1401
1861 Pattern Eagle in Copper
GOD OUR TRUST
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1379 1861 pattern eagle. P-338, J-285. Rarity-7. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type, but with this die having the date low.
Reverse Design: Similar to the adopted type, with a scroll over the eagle's head inscribed GOD OUR TRUST.
Surfaces: Very sharply struck with dark brown surfaces highlighted by faint blue toning. Lightly mirrored fields are noted.
Narrative: This is an early entry into a series of copper impressions of $10 patterns that proved popular with numismatists during the decade, and which, in fact, developed as a stock in trade for numismatic personnel. This was related in a complaint by W. Elliot Woodward, who observed that Mint relatives went as far north from Philadelphia as Roxbury, Massachusetts (where Woodward lived and worked), endeavoring to sell such pieces in quantity. Some comment about this is given subsequently under our offering of P-357.
Today, the supply of such patterns is widely distributed, and individual examples are considered scarce. Many if not most of the GOD OUR TRUST patterns of this year and the next were struck on bronzed planchets, by the use of bronzing powder. Thus, there is no such thing as a "red" Proof; these pieces were brown Proofs to begin with. Exceptions are provided by some pieces that were cleaned at later dates and perhaps a few stray 19th-century strikings. The present coin is an interesting reminder of the times when the motto for American coinage had not been firmly decided upon, and a number of variants were tried.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 142.6 grains. Diameter: 27.1 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: A comparison of the obverse dies of P-338 and 340 is given herewith: On 338 the date, from a four-digit logotype, is positioned slightly lower in the field than on 340; the difference is most readily seen by comparing the distance of the lower right serif of the final date digit with the dentils below. On 338 the portrait of Miss Liberty is not fully punched into the die, with the result that the lowest tress on her neck is disconnected from the neck and has an area of field between it and the neck. On the other hand, the portrait on P-340 is punched very deeply into the die, and the tresses are in higher relief and without the space indicated.
From RARCOA's sale of the Harry X Boosel "1873" Collection, April 28, 1972, Lot 1026.
1861 Pattern Eagle, Gilt
GOD OUR TRUST
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1380 1861 pattern eagle. P-338 gilt, J-285. Rarity-7. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-63. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Adopted type as preceding, same die as preceding with date low.
Reverse Design: As preceding.
Surfaces: Bright yellow-gold with deep Proof surfaces and a few very minor hairlines. Sharply struck.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 134.8 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: See Die Notes under preceding lot.
From Superior's sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 19, 1973, Lot 1055.
1861 Pattern Eagle, Gilt
GOD OUR TRUST
Higher Date
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1381 1861 pattern eagle. P-340 gilt, J-285a. Rarity-7. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-60. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Adopted type, this die with the date higher in the field than on the preceding.
Reverse Design: As preceding.
Surfaces: Sharply struck. Lightly cleaned with very pale yellow-gold surfaces and light hairlines.
Narrative: Many 19th-century patterns, particularly copper strikings of gold denominations, are seen today with gilt surfaces. It is presumed that the gilding on most of these pieces was applied outside of the Mint. It would be interesting to investigate whether the Mint itself issued coins struck on previously gilt planchets (following, for example, what the Soho Mint, Birmingham, did with many coins such as the 1787 "cartwheel" issues).
Technical Aspects: Weight: 151.5 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: See Die notes under P-338.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 30, 1971.
1862 Pattern $10, Copper
Motto on Scroll
P-355, Bronzed Proof
1382 1862 pattern eagle. P-355, J-297. Rarity-6+. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). Copper, bronzed surfaces as issued with the special bronzing process. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Liberty Head as adopted for regular coinage, date low.
Reverse Design: Similar to the regular issue except for the addition of GOD OUR TRUST on a ribbon above the eagle's head.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with dark mahogany surfaces and matte-like lustre, the result of the bronzing process.
Narrative: This is the low date variety of Judd-297, with the digit 2 closer to the dentils. Four varieties exist of this obverse design. Two obverse dies were employed, one with the digit 2 closer to the dentils, as described here, the other with the digit 2 closer to the neck truncation. The varieties are delineated by Pollock as follows: P-355, J-297 and P-357, J-298 have low dates; P-356, J-297 and P-358, J-298 have high dates. All four Pollock varieties are offered in the present sale. It is likely that Harry Bass was the first to discover the date placement differences.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 138.7 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: Date low and close to dentils; this die was used to coin P-355 and P-357 in the present sale. The reverse of this issue was also employed in 1861 to strike patterns.
Purchased from Brinton T. Schorer, May 3, 1973. This may be the example from New Netherlands Coin Co.'s 61st Sale, June 1970, Lot 11.
1862 Pattern $10, Copper
Motto on Scroll
P-356, Bronzed Proof
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1383 1862 pattern eagle. P-356, J-297. Rarity-7. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-62 BN (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Liberty Head as adopted for regular coinage, date centered.
Reverse Design: Similar to the regular issue except for the addition of GOD OUR TRUST on a ribbon above the eagle's head.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with olive-brown surfaces and light blue toning. Light hairlines are visible.
Narrative: The high-date variety of Judd-297; the digit 2 is close to the truncation of Liberty's neck.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 137.2 grains. Diameter: 26.9 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: Date higher in the field than preceding, 2 about equidistant between neck and dentils; this die was used to coin P-356 and P-358 in the present sale. The reverse of this issue was also employed in 1861 to strike patterns.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, September 16, 1971.
1862 Pattern $10, Copper
Motto in Field
P-357, Bronzed Proof
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1384 1862 pattern eagle. P-357, J-298. Rarity-6. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). Copper, bronzed as issued with the special bronzing process. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Liberty Head as adopted for regular coinage, date low.
Reverse Design: Similar to the adopted issue, but with the motto GOD OUR TRUST in the field (not on ribbon) above the eagle's head.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with light mahogany surfaces and matte lustre.
Narrative: The low date variety of Judd-298.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 138.7 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: Date low and close to dentils; this die was used to coin P-355 and P-357 in the present sale.
Purchased from Joe Flynn, Sr. Coin Co., August 10, 1971.
1862 Pattern $10, Copper Gilt
Motto in Field
P-358, Copper, Gilt
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1385 1862 pattern eagle. P-358 gilt, J-298. Rarity-7. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-63. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Liberty Head as adopted for regular coinage, date centered.
Reverse Design: Similar to the adopted issue, but with the motto GOD OUR TRUST in the field (not on ribbon) above the eagle's head.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with bright yellow surfaces and moderate mirrored fields subdued by obverse die striae. Minor surface marks and hairlines are visible.
Narrative: The high-date variety of Judd-298.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 121.5 grains. Diameter: 26.9 mm. Die alignment: 170°. Die notes: Date higher in the field than preceding, 2 about equidistant between neck and dentils; this die was used to coin P-356 and P-358 in the present sale.
From our sale of the Robert Branigan Estate, August 21, 1978, Lot 1854.
1863 Pattern $10
GOD OUR TRUST
P-422, Gilt
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1386 1863 pattern eagle. P-422 gilt, J-350. Rarity-6. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-63. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: Similar to the adopted type, but with the addition of a scroll over the eagle's head inscribed GOD OUR TRUST.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with matte-like lustre. A small rim mark is noted at 6:00 on the obverse.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 139.0 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: The same obverse die was used to strike examples of P-422 and P-424 offered in the present sale.
From Stack's sale of the DiBello Collection, May 14, 1970, Lot 493.
1863 Pattern Eagle
GOD OUR TRUST
P-424, Bronzed Copper
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1387 1863 pattern eagle. P-424, J-352. Rarity-6. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). Copper, bronzed. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: As preceding.
Reverse Design: Similar to the preceding, but with the motto GOD OUR TRUST inscribed in the field (not on a ribbon) above the eagle's head.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with dark mahogany surfaces and matte lustre. One of the very nicest we have ever seen of any bronzed Proof.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 145.3 grains. Diameter: 27.1 mm. Die alignment: 180°.
On March 20-25, 1865, a sale conducted by W. Elliot Woodward, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, included a consignment from Daniel Bertsch. Years later, in his sale catalogue of June 28-29, 1886, under Lot 765, Woodward mentioned Bertsch, the copper 1863 $10 coins, and other matters on his mind:
"1863 Ten dollars; struck in copper; rev. 'God Our Trust'; Proof, rare. This and the following were purchased at a very large price directly from the Mint authorities when Mr. Pollock was superintendent, and acting in an official capacity, and if he or his assistants paid for them, a fact which I have always doubted, the government received for them a very large price, much in excess of the value of the genuine metals on which they should have been struck [gold]. Men of middle age will remember Mr. Seward's little bell, the tinkling of which consigned many a man to imprisonment without a hearing or a trial. Some of these men were probably heard from afterwards; others perhaps were not. The United States government now manages things differently; it, first, through its authorized agents, sells coins at an exorbitant, unheard of price, and next by other agents seizes them without apology, compensation, or, so far as we know, any legal right. As I expect to be deprived of these pattern coins, this statement is made in explanation to such correspondents as ordering this class of pieces will doubtless be disappointed by not receiving them." Under Lot 766 of the same sale, Woodward offered an 1863 pattern half dollar, copper, "God Our Trust," noting, "For several of these 'God-our-trust' patterns, received from Pollock's peddlers, I paid $50.00 each, and for a number of them, Daniel Bertsch, of Mauch Chunk, Penn., paid me $100.00 each."
From Stack's ANA Sale, August 11, 1971, Lot 495. Previously from Stack's David Golding Sale, June 1952, Lot 12.
1863 Pattern Eagle
GOD OUR TRUST
Bronzed Copper
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1388 1863 pattern eagle. P-424, J-352. Rarity-6. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). Copper, bronzed. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: As preceding.
Reverse Design: Similar to the adopted type, but with the motto GOD OUR TRUST inscribed in the field (not on a ribbon) above the eagle's head.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with light mahogany surfaces and matte-like lustre.
Narrative: Truly exceptional quality, a notable specimen.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 127.2 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 170°.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 5, 1971.
1865 Transitional Pattern Eagle
P-522, Copper, Gilt
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1389 1865 pattern eagle. P-522 gilt, J-450. Rarity-6+. Liberty Head, With Motto. Proof-64. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: Similar to the adopted type, but a year early; with motto IN GOD WE TRUST.
Surfaces: A lovely example, very sharply struck with a deep cameo appearance.
Narrative: This specimen, splendid in appearance, will be a prize for its next owner-the pattern specialist as well as the gold enthusiast, representing as it does a transitional issue. Few of equivalent quality exist anywhere.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 143.2 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: A very tiny, almost microscopic raised artifact is seen in the field between the right edge of the 8 and the neck truncation, closer to the neck; possibly a stray contact mark from the logotype, evidence of a so-called misplaced date.
Purchased from Abe Kosoff, August 3, 1971.
1866 P-611 Pattern Eagle
Adopted Design in Copper
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1390 1866 pattern eagle. P-611, J-548. Rarity-7. Adopted type. Proof-64 BN. Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: Very sharply struck. Dark brown with lilac and blue peripheral toning.
Narrative: A splendid specimen of a trial striking from dies believed to have been used to produce regular gold Proofs of the variety.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 145.0 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: The reverse of this piece is struck from the identical die used to strike P-522; identifiable by several minute markers including a weak and nearly incomplete vertical shield line, the upper left of the leftmost line in the second pair.
From Superior's sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 19, 1973, Lot 1060.
1868 P-735 Pattern Eagle
Longacre's Liberty Head Design
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1391 1868 pattern eagle. P-735 gilt, J-662. Rarity-6. Coronet Liberty Head. Proof-63. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: A profile bust of Miss Liberty faces left with her hair tied at the back of her head, flowing curls behind her neck. She is wearing a coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Thirteen stars circle the bust with the date, 1868, below. The general style is borrowed from Longacre's nickel three-cent portrait (first used on circulating coinage in 1865).
Reverse Design: An eagle with wings spread, holding an olive branch and three arrows in its claws. On a scroll above the eagle's head is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The legend, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, is around with the denomination, TEN D., below. The spacing of the letters and general appearance is reminiscent of some of the work done by Anthony Paquet, who did contract work for the Mint at the time; this is conjecture, however; the die is not signed. Indeed, a related comment given by Tom DeLorey appears in Andrew Pollock's text.
Surfaces: Satiny surfaces with considerable striae present, especially on the reverse. Sharply struck and choice.
Narrative: This issue represents one of relatively few opportunities to acquire a pattern coin of the $10 denomination with a truly distinctive design-apart from the normally seen variations on Gobrecht's Liberty Head.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 138.9 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: A die line joins star 8 and the border.
From New Netherlands Coin Co.'s 61st Sale, June 30, 1970, Lot 33. Previously from B. Max Mehl, Belden Roach Sale, February 1944, Lot 499.
1868 P-739 Pattern Eagle
Regular Dies in Aluminum
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1392 1868 pattern eagle. P-739, J-664. Rarity-7. Adopted type. Proof-65 (PCGS). Aluminum. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: Reflective light gray with considerable Proof contrast. Sharply struck and attractive. A knife edge is noted at 1:00 on the reverse.
Narrative: A splendid specimen that was probably included in one of a few aluminum Proof sets produced this year (an example of which appeared in our King of Siam Sale in October 1987).
Technical Aspects: Weight: 42.5 grains. Diameter: 27.1 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: A rather long line on the surfaces of the die is seen extending from the innermost point of star 6, just past the front of Miss Liberty's forelock, then disappearing, reappearing before her lips and chin. It would be interesting to know if this same die line exists on regular gold Proof strikings of the year.
From our sale of the Armand Champa Collection, May 20, 1972, Lot 1110.
1871 P-1315 Pattern Eagle
Regular Dies in Copper
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1393 1871 pattern eagle. P-1315, J-1173. Rarity-7. Adopted type. Proof-62 RB (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with light Proof surfaces. Lightly cleaned with bright orange and lilac toning.
Narrative: A rarity by any account. Added to the desirability is the general scarcity of this coin in gold form. The pedigree is given below, but the appearance of the piece indicates that it also may have been part of the King Farouk Collection (Palace Collection, Cairo, 1954).
Technical Aspects: Weight: 140.8 grains. Diameter: 26.9 mm. Die alignment: 180°.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, August 14, 1971.
1873 P-1486 Copper Pattern $10
Adopted Design
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1394 1873 pattern eagle. P-1486, J-1342. Rarity-7. Adopted type. Proof-64 RB (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type with Closed 3 in the date.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: Attractively toned blue, green, and lilac over considerable mint red. Very sharply struck with light cameo contrast and deep mirrored fields.
Narrative: A splendid specimen that was probably issued as part of an 1873 copper Proof set-a numismatic delicacy. The closed 3 dies, made for regular Proofs, were produced early in the year; in contrast, most true patterns (not off-metal strikes) of this year have the Open 3 configuration as discussed in passing under our offering of 1873 pattern trade dollars.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 138.5 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: The obverse of this issue has many interesting idiosyncrasies. On the neck of Miss Liberty around the bottom of the central curl are found many raised lines, mostly straight (and thus not lathe lines). The master die was not punched very deeply into the working die-although deeply enough to achieve the purpose-with the result that there is an area of field between the bottommost right curl and the neck; this is occasionally seen on other dies of this era. The reverse is the identical die used to strike 1865 transitional pieces and, no doubt, various other off-metal strikings as well as gold Proofs of the era; the incomplete stripe at the upper left of the second vertical die pair within the shield is a marker. On the present piece (and also in the following lot) there are minute signs of rust below the bottom of the ribbon in the field beneath ST (TRUST).
Notes: Over the years coins of this particular year have fascinated many numismatists. Harry X Boosel stands high in this regard and did much of the research concerning date sizes. However, Roy Harte-whose collection we showcased in a series of sales quite a few years ago-also found the year to be fascinating, as have two or three other specialists. The beauty part about concentrating on the coinage of a single year is that by studying the different pieces in their interrelationships, interesting conclusions and discoveries can be made. Moreover, contemporary American history provides a setting for the issuance of such pieces. Thus, the appreciation of a coin such as this can be enhanced by reading about what happened in America and in the world in 1873, and collecting a few magazines, newspapers, and other ephemera, nearly all of which are available at nominal cost (but require some poking around in book stores).
From RARCOA's sale of the Harry X Boosel "1873" Collection, April 28, 1972, Lot 689.
1873 P-1487 Pattern Eagle
Adopted Design
Aluminum Striking
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1395 1873 pattern eagle. P-1487, J-1343. Rarity-7. Adopted type. Proof-65 (PCGS). Aluminum. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: As preceding.
Reverse Design: As preceding.
Surfaces: A superb example, deeply mirrored with very heavily frosted cameo devices. This is a wonderful companion to the previous lot and certainly of considerable interest to the gold specialist.
Narrative: A splendid specimen, a gem and a rarity. This is a part of a spectacular complete 1873 Proof set struck in aluminum, here offered on an individual basis.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 40.8 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: Identical dies to the preceding lot.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, May 30, 1972.
1874 Bickford International $10
European Coinage Proposal
P-1519, Gilt
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1396 1874 pattern eagle. P-1519 gilt, J-1374. Rarity-6. Bickford's International proposal. Proof-63. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Distinctive head of Miss Liberty by William Barber, signed with raised initial B on neck truncation. The portrait depicts a young girl with full cheeks, rounded forehead, seemingly quite vigorous and healthy. Her hair is delineated in a series of prominent raised ridges and is tied at the back in a bun secured by a clip. A diadem is almost hidden in the hair above her forehead and temple, and is inscribed LIBERTY in raised letters, with five separate stars in the hair above, and a boomerang-shaped ornament at the point of the diadem. Across her neck is an olive branch with two ribbon ends at the right. Around the border appears the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in tall letters such as the type associated with punches created by Anthony C. Paquet. The date 1874 seems to be from a four-digit logotype punch.
Reverse Design: The reverse is distinctive and features six roped sections around a central inscription, in four lines, 16.72 / GRAMS / 900 FINE / UNIQUE. Each roped section is inscribed with the equivalent value in various international currency systems as: DOLLARS 10 / STERLING £2.1.1 / MARKEN 41.99 / KRONEN 37.31 / GULDEN 20.73 / FRANCS 51.81.
Surfaces: Sharply struck with matte-like bright yellow gilt surfaces. Numerous striae are noted, especially on the obverse. A truly lovely specimen, one with a great deal of eye appeal.
Narrative: One of the most interesting patterns of the era from a historical viewpoint.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 221.8 grains. Diameter: 34.8 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: On the obverse the raised letter B is from an exceedingly tiny punch and seems to have been added as an afterthought, but is very prominent and obviously was intended to reflect the engraver; normally, William Barber did not sign his patterns of this era. The D (UNITED) is defective at the upper left and may have been patched. The purpose of the olive branch across the neck is not clear, nor is the reason for the ribbons; as the branch did not surround the neck and is not tied in the front, it is simply laid across the neck in the portrait-it is not a collar or a necklace. The reverse lettering includes a doubled S (DOLLARS), the use of the British pound sign (this punch must have been awaiting such an opportunity in American coinage!); repunched 4 (41.99); slightly repunched N (GULDEN); 9 and F (900 FINE) leaning to left. Whether the Q is from a punch of that letter or simply has a tail added to an O we do not know, but suspect the latter; in any event it is slightly high and out of alignment. The word UBIQUE means omnipresent-existing everywhere at the same time-and while appropriate to an international coin its meaning would probably be lost on the average observer.
Dana Bickford, Traveler and Entrepreneur: Dana Bickford was an "idea man," not an artist or engraver. Bickford, who in the 1870s resided in New York City, had traveled widely in Europe and America and felt that an international coin would be a good idea. His friend, Mint Director Richard Henry Linderman, was warm to the idea, and the 1874 pattern $10 coins were the result. He felt that such a coin could be used in international commerce, such to bear inscriptions stating its value in different lands.
Bickford's 1874 pattern $10, which stated its value in six different world currencies (e.g., Kronen, 37.31) would have required a mathematician to use it effectively anywhere except in the United States. The idea died at the Mint, but remained alive in Bickford's mind. In 1897, Bickford privately issued eight "pattern dollars" for an international coinage, with inscriptions indicating that such pieces would be a boon to mankind: "Republican and Internat'l. This Combination Coin Will When Adopted be Good in All Nations/ Heal All Differences Between Gold & Silver Men/ and Fully Settle All Financial Questions/ Approved by All Good Business Men." (Such 1897 pieces are not particularly rare today, and appear with some regularity in inventories and auctions featuring tokens and so-called dollars.)
Overlooked by Bickford, and by just about everyone else who has proposed such notions, is that trading values of money fluctuate from one country to another, and what might be a certain ratio in one year and quite different from the ratio of a few years earlier. Currently (1999) the multi-national "Euro" unit is undergoing a test of fire in the world markets. Proposed as the almost heaven-sent answer to facilitating trade among European Common Market nations, it remains to be seen if it can maintain its integrity.
A few years after Bickford's 1874 $10 was made, others advanced the same thought with relation to the 1879 $4 "stella," and earlier, in 1868, some highly interesting pattern $5 coins denominated "5 DOLLARS, 25 FRANCS" had been struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
In another vein, in 1868 Bickford was busy with such enterprises as the Bickford Spinner and Knitting Machine Co., 260 Washington St., Boston, Massachusetts. Through this firm, he offered the Bickford Family Knitting Machine, a device with a hand crank featuring a clamp for mounting on a table. These machines were made in Brattleboro, Vermont (possibly he knew Walter Childs, of which much more will be said in our catalogue of the Childs Collection to be published later this year; Childs began his collection and lived in Brattleboro in the 1870s). Bickford's knitting patents included numbers 134,388 and 162,886.
From Stack's sale of the DiBello Collection, May 14, 1970, Lot 498.
1874 Bickford International Eagle
Plain Edge
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1397 1874 pattern eagle. P-1520 gilt, J-1375. Rarity-6+. Bickford's International proposal. Proof-63. Copper, gilt. Plain edge.
Obverse Design: As preceding, but plain edge.
Reverse Design: As preceding.
Surfaces: Very similar to the preceding. Some surfaces lines. Very sharply struck with pleasing deep yellow surfaces.
Narrative: Another attractive and historically significant piece.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 236.0 grains. Diameter: 35.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: Dies as preceding.
From Abner Kreisberg's "Quality" Sales Corp, November 30, 1970, Lot 1342.
1874 Pattern Eagle
P-1524, Copper
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1398 1874 pattern eagle. P-1524, J-1379. Rarity-8. Adopted type. Proof-65 BN (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: A splendid appearance with rich brown overlaid with magenta and iridescent toning. A visual treat!
Narrative: An exceedingly rare coin, and likewise a rare opportunity to bid on it. Andrew Pollock cites just three coins, one of which was the Farouk piece, described as EF, and the other two which may be the same as the piece offered here. If so, this would be the only high-quality specimen available in collector's hands. In any event, its rarity is extreme.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 137.3 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: This piece was probably struck from dies used to create gold strikings of the year. On the portrait of Miss Liberty are seen numerous raised lines, straight (and thus not artifacts of the reducing process). Below the lower central curl is a little raised "island." The date 1874 is probably from a logotype punch, the same used on the aforementioned Bickford $10. The reverse die, distinguished by the lightness of the upper left of the second vertical shield stripe, was used to strike other coinage of the era. The rust spots described under the preceding 1873 off-metal issues are not present here.
Purchased from Joe Flynn, Sr. Coin Co., August 10, 1971.
Important 1875 P-1591 Pattern Eagle
Proof Dies in Copper
Exceedingly Rare Date
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1399 1875 pattern eagle. P-1591, J-1446. Rarity-7+. Adopted type. Proof-66 RB (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: A delightful cameo Proof with considerable mint red, beginning to change to bright blue and vivid lilac. A true gem specimen, a gorgeous coin.
Narrative: The importance of this as an off-metal striking cannot be overstated, simply because the related $10 issues of this year in gold are great rarities. An extraordinary opportunity.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 138.8 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: The date 1875 is slightly closer to the dentils than to the bust above; such centering and positioning can fool the eye, and are largely due not to whether the four-digit date logotype is moved up or down, but, instead, how far it is to the right or the left. This observation is in addition to any high and low orientation seen on certain dies. The portrait of Miss Liberty is quite well finished on this date. Under high magnification a few stray idiosyncrasies are seen, including a tiny pit to the right of where the neck meets her chest; and a semi-circle on the neck opposite the interior end of the lowest curl behind the neck. On the denticle below the 7 (1875) and slightly to its left is a raised area. Around certain areas of the rim, the dentils, particularly near star 8, are some diagonal raised lines.
The reverse die, distinguished by the lightness of the upper left of the second vertical shield stripe, was used to strike other coinage of the era.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, February 1, 1972.
1875 P-1591 Pattern Eagle
Adopted Design
Copper, Gilt
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1400 1875 pattern eagle. P-1591 gilt, J-1446. Rarity-7+. Adopted type. Proof-64. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: The adopted type.
Reverse Design: The adopted type.
Surfaces: This lovely Proof has lightly reflective mirrored gilt surfaces with extremely sharp and frosted cameo devices.
Narrative: Another opportunity to acquire a specimen of a coin that simultaneously is a very rare pattern or trial striking and also a rare date within the eagle series.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 138.8 grains. Diameter: 27.0 mm. Die alignment: 360°. Die notes: Identical dies to preceding.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, September 16, 1971.
1878 P-1773 Pattern Eagle
Barber's Liberty Head
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1401 1878 pattern eagle. P-1773 gilt, J-1580. Rarity-6+. Capped Liberty Head. Proof-62. Copper, gilt. Reeded edge.
Obverse Design: Capped head of Miss Liberty, facing left, attributed to William Barber after a sketch by Christian Gobrecht (a depiction of which is found in Elvira Clain-Stefanelli's article, "From the Drawing Board of a Coin Engraver," p. 91). However, this particular rendition in die form is no tribute to Gobrecht and, in fact, if anything demonstrates the lack of artistry of William Barber in comparison to what George T. Morgan did in the same year. Miss Liberty's hair is mostly hidden behind a cap, folded at the top. In front of the cap is a band inscribed LIBERTY in incuse letters, too large for the design, particularly in comparison to the figures in the motto above and the date below. The hair is somewhat simplistically done-very bold but without a trace of elegance. To the left are seven stars, to the right six. Above is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, and below is the date 1878.
Reverse Design: The reverse depicts an eagle which has a grossly disproportionate left wing (to the observer's right), perhaps reflecting that the bird had been recently attacked by a cat or sustained some other trauma. The branch below is far too large for the eagle, and the same can be said for the size of the arrows. The motto above, E PLURIBUS UNUM, might have been better rendered in an arc matching the inscription above. Around the border is seen UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/10 DOLLARS. As we noted under Lot 379, the $5 counterpart to this coin, we will use the term Ugly Eagle for this reverse.
Surfaces: An attractive cameo Proof with considerable mirrored surfaces. The gilded surfaces show minor hairlines and other abrasions.
Narrative: Although the present observer is not enthralled with the design and would not designate it for display in the Louvre, this particular example of the design has a nice numismatic appearance-bright yellow-gold, well struck, etc. As such, it will be a fine addition to a cabinet of patterns.
Technical Aspects: Weight: 146.6 grains. Diameter: 27.7 mm. Die alignment: 180°. Die notes: Star 10 is dramatically double punched and shows extra rays in four of the six star angles. The date is from a four-digit punch, and for all we know may have been used somewhere else in regular circulating federal coinage (we haven't checked). On the reverse there is some slight double punching for several of the letters in PLURIBUS. The topmost of the three arrowheads is off center on its shaft, while the lowest arrowhead is assymetrical; little care was given during the die-making process.
Purchased from Lee Hewitt, April 17, 1972.
