Commemorative - Lots 2037-2067
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part I
Commemorative - Lots 2037-2067
Commemorative Silver Coins
Commemorative Half Dollar Group
2037 A selection of popular commemorative half dollar issues: I 1921 Alabama. 2X2. MS-62 I 1921 Alabama. Plain. AU-50 I 1935 Boone. MS-63 I 1935-D Boone. MS-60 I 1935-S Boone. MS-63 I 1892 Columbian Exposition. VF-20 I 1936 Elgin. AU-55 I1936 Gettysburg. MS-60 I 1924 Huguenot. MS-63 I 1920 Maine. MS-60 I 1921 Missouri. Plain. MS-60 I 1938 New Rochelle. MS-63 I 1936-D Texas. MS-63 I 1950 Booker T. Washington PDS set. MS-60. All of the coins display varying degrees of toning. (Total: 16 pieces)
2038 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial. MS-60. Pale golden toning is present on both sides of this lustrous key commemorative half dollar issue. What may be the mark from long term contact with a rubber band is noted on the reverse; for this reason we have placed a conservative grade on this coin.
Struck to commemorate the arrival of Captain James Cook in the Hawaiian Islands in 1778, the obverse depicts a portrait of Cook, while the reverse reveals a warrior chieftain set against a backdrop of Hawaii's panoramic beauty. Only 10,000 pieces were struck, of which just a few thousand exist today. Among basic design types the 1928 Hawaiian is the most desired of all commemorative halves (although some mintmarked varieties are rarer, this is the most elusive basic design).
From Paramount's Louisiana Numismatic Association Convention sale of the Tibbetts Collection, May 1966, Lot 191.
2039 1935 Hudson Sesquicentennial. MS-60. Rich smoky rose and blazing topaz iridescence on satiny lustrous surfaces. A pleasing specimen in all regards.
Struck to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Hudson, NY, named, of course, after the noted explorer Hendrik Hudson. His ship, the Half Moon, is shown on the obverse, while the reverse pictures the seal of the City of Hudson on the reverse. Oddly enough, Neptune sits facing left astride a whale in the design, while the whale is swimming to the right! Apparently, Neptune was more interested in where he had been than in where he was going. Just 10,000 examples of this were struck, but unlike the previously offered 1928 Hawaiian, nearly all of the 1935 Hudson issues went into numismatic hands, specifically Julius Guttag, who bought up nearly the entire issue and then distributed it at leisure, and at advanced prices.
From Paramount's Louisiana Numismatic Association Convention sale of the Tibbetts Collection, May 1966, Lot 192.
2040 1921 Missouri Centennial. 2•4. MS-61. Highly lustrous with rich iridescent champagne highlights. Certainly the most medallic of all the commemorative half dollar issues, possessed as it is with broad, square rims; the lack of either IN GOD WE TRUST or E PLURIBUS UNUM among the design elements produces a decidedly non-coin appearance. A lovely example for the grade, with decent design details present at the centers.
This attractive half dollar design celebrates the 100th anniversary of the admission of Missouri to the Union, the official celebration of which occurred in Sedalia, Missouri during August 1921. The 2-4 in the field represents Missouri as the 24th star in Old Glory's field.
2041 1935 Old Spanish Trail. AU-50. A pleasing blend of pink, lavender, and pale gold iridescence adds to the attractiveness of the satiny surfaces of this popular key commemorative half dollar issue. Strong lustre is present on both sides. Conservatively graded.
This scarce issue commemorates the 400th anniversary of the Spanish explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's trek across what would become Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the panhandle region of Florida. A cow's head is featured on the obverse, no doubt a reference to the explorer's surname, which roughly translates to "head of a cow" in English.
Only 10,000 were struck of this issue, but similar to the Hudson half dollar, most went into collectors' hands. However, considering that today hundreds of thousands of numismatists would love to own such a coin, the pieces are indeed rare in comparison to the demand for them.
From Paramount's Louisiana Numismatic Association Convention sale of the Tibbetts Collection, May 1966, Lot 193.
2042 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial. MS-60. Satiny silver surfaces show strong lustre with a touch of iridescent violet at the rims. Choice for the assigned grade.
These half dollars were struck at the San Francisco Mint, but someone forgot to put an "S" mintmark on the die. Today, all examples in all grades are fairly scarce.
From Paramount's Louisiana Numismatic Association Convention sale of the Tibbetts Collection, May 1966, Lot 186.
2043 1927 Vermont Sesquicentennial. MS-60. A brilliant, lustrous, and satiny example of this popular issue that commemorates the victory of Ira Allen (and New Hampshire's own John Stark of "Live Free or Die" fame) and other American colonial forces over the British at Bennington, Vermont. The event was an early victory for the colonists, one that turned the tide of the war in the favor of the American forces in the northern theatre of the conflict. An attractive design overall, and a pleasing coin as well.
From Paramount's Louisiana Numismatic Association Convention sale of the Tibbetts Collection, May 1966, Lot 190.
Commemorative Gold Coins
Proof 1903 Louisiana Purchase Gold $1
Jefferson Portrait
A Rarity, Just 100 Struck
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2044 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar. Jefferson portrait. Proof-64. Rich orange-gold toning on both sides. Deep mirror fields surround frosted devices, the fields in turn surrounded by high, "square" satiny rims. An unquestioned Proof, one of the first 100 pieces of the design type struck as such.
The Proofs of this issue (and Proofs of the related McKinley Portrait) were not distributed to numismatists, at least not widely, but were given to dignitaries, convention exhibitors, and others. Because of this, they have always been very elusive on the numismatic market, and probably no more than 20 or 30 have ever appeared. The distributor was none other than Farran Zerbe, who was discussed at some length under our offering of Thomas L. Elder medals in Session III.
The appearance of this lovely Proof will be greeted as a major opportunity by specialists. The coin combines beauty, rarity, and history.
2045 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar. Jefferson portrait. MS-64. A lovely satiny coin of near-gem quality, fully lustrous and richly toned in pale rose and olive.
The first commemorative issues of the denomination, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollars of 1903 are found with two distinct obverse styles. The first, as offered here, features the bust of Thomas Jefferson, President when the Louisiana Purchase was acquired from France. The second type features the bust of president William McKinley who sanctioned the exposition during his presidency; unfortunately, McKinley was assassinated during his term in office and never lived to attend the event. The designs of both types were by Charles E. Barber of the U.S. Mint.
In recent times all numismatists have joined Robert Hendershott in celebration of his 100th birthday (which occurred last year) and in admiration of his first-person accounts of having attended the Louisiana Purchase Exposition as a young boy. Indeed, he wrote a fine book on the subject.
St. Louis has long been a focal point of numismatic interest, not only for the memorabilia associated with the St. Louis World's Fair held in 1904 (despite these coins being dated 1903), but in many other contexts as well. On the dealer scene, Burdette G. Johnson was highly important in his time, was co-appraiser of the Virgil Brand Estate (with Henry Chapman), and through the good fortune of fellow citizen Eric P. Newman, assisted with the dispersal of many coins and other items from the fabulous numismatic estate of Col. E.H.R. Green. Regarding Newman, what can be said about his writings that would be better than noting that he seems to have had a stranglehold on Heath Awards given for excellence in preparing articles, by the American Numismatic Association; while we haven't counted, we suspect that he has had more than the next two or three contenders combined!
Some further mention of St. Louis, in passing, was given earlier in the catalogue under our description of the elusive Demand Notes of 1861, for which the St. Louis imprint is of highly special importance.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1130.
Proof 1903 Louisiana Purchase $1 Rarity
McKinley Portrait
Only 100 Produced
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2046 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar. McKinley portrait. Proof-64. Rich golden orange toning. Incredibly deep mirror fields surround frosted devices, the whole offset by satiny "square" rims on both sides. One of just 100 Proofs struck, the distribution being by Farran Zerbe, as noted in our description of the related Jefferson Proof dollar. The McKinley version is just as rare, just as desirable, and will attract just as much attention when it crosses the block.
Gem Mint State 1903 Louisiana Purchase
$1
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2047 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar. McKinley portrait. MS-65. A lustrous specimen with attractive golden orange toning highlights. A satiny gem of the highest order.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1131.
Choice Uncirculated 1904
Lewis and Clark Gold $1
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2048 1904 Lewis & Clark gold dollar. MS-63. A satiny and lustrous example of this popular issue, the first year of a two-year design type. Attractive rose iridescence present on both sides. A very nice example of the design.
Struck in 1904 and 1905, the Lewis and Clark Exposition gold dollars commemorated the 100th anniversary of this expedition's trek through the Pacific Northwest, a basically unexplored area of the country that came to us through the Louisiana Purchase. The anniversary celebration was held in Portland, Oregon, in 1905. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these coins was used to erect a bronze statue of Sacagawea (several alternative spellings are also used), a Native American who was helpful in the success of the expedition. This important individual will be highlighted on a circulating small-sized dollar coin scheduled to be released next year. Meanwhile, the situation has been the darling of the numismatic press, as various designs have been debated back and forth.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1132.
Lovely Choice Mint State 1905
Lewis and Clark $1
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2049 1905 Lewis & Clark gold dollar. MS-63. A lustrous golden coin with warm rose highlights. Frosty and satiny surfaces display all the quality and appeal of a higher grade. Of all commemorative gold dollars, this is the most elusive-for reasons explained in some detail in Dave Bowers' book, Commemorative Coins of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia. Marginally scarcer than its 1904-dated counterpart. A grand opportunity.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1133.
2050 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition gold dollar. MS-63. Velvety orange-gold surfaces show strong lustre.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1134.
2051 1916 McKinley gold dollar. MS-64. Satiny matte-like surfaces exhibit rich rose toning, particularly on the reverse. Struck in two years, 1916 and 1917, to raise funds for the erection of a memorial to the late president in his home town of Niles, Ohio.
The unsold remainder of the pieces went to B. Max Mehl, Fort Worth, Texas, who was rapidly becoming America's most famous rare coin dealer, bumping the Chapman Brothers, who were in the sunset years of their careers. Thomas L. Elder was also in the ascendancy, but he tended to conduct his affairs locally-in and around New York City-rather than on the national basis that Mehl did. Mehl achieved recognition through the publication of the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, which was sold by the zillions through advertisements in newspapers, magazines, and in the 1930s, on the airwaves. In the same decade, the 1930s, Elder decided to take a page from Mehl's book, and issued his own guide to rare coin values. Although many were printed, few were sold. Elder lacked Mehl's marketing ability and, probably, it would have pained Elder-who was a stickler for the truth-to have made some of the comments that Mehl did.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1135.
2052 1917 McKinley gold dollar. MS-64. Extraordinary lustre on satiny surfaces. Pale rose and olive highlights increase the eye appeal dramatically. The second and final year of the design type, and much scarcer than its 1916-dated counterpart.
While 15,000 McKinley gold dollars were issued in 1916, the next year of the design type, 1917, saw only 5,000 pieces issued. The elusive quality of the 1917 was not generally recognized until the present decade.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1136.
2053 1922 Grant gold dollar. Plain. MS-64. A glittering golden orange coin of near-gem quality, nicely struck and pleasantly preserved. The second type to be issued, the first being the Grant With Star issue.
The 1922 Grant half dollar and gold dollar commemoratives, both with and without star on obverse, were all designed by Laura Gardin Fraser, a prolific artist who was responsible for several other designs in the United States commemorative coin series, among those the Alabama half dollar of 1921 and the Oregon Trail half dollars of 1926-1939. She designed these with her husband, James Earle Fraser, best known to American numismatists as the designer of the Indian Head or "Buffalo" nickel.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1137.
2054 1922 Grant gold dollar. With Star. MS-63. Lovely olive highlights on satiny lustrous surfaces. Issued before the variety without the obverse star. Choice for the grade, with much eye appeal.
The presence or absence of a star on gold dollars of this design was intended simply as a marketing ploy, the star perhaps standing for a "brilliant idea," certainly for nothing memorable in Grant's life or anything else that historians have been able to determine.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1138.
Choice 1915-S Panama-Pacific $2.50
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2055 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition quarter eagle. MS-63. A lustrous and satiny coin with strong eye appeal. A touch of olive iridescence completes the picture.
This attractive commemorative issue was the result of the combined efforts of Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan. This is the second commemorative issued of the denomination, the first being the famous 1848 CAL issue. On the present coin, the obverse features Columbia seated on a hippocampus with a caduceus in her hand, typifying the use of the Panama Canal. The reverse eagle design is a resurrection of a design by Morgan that first appeared on a pattern half dollar of 1877, also on the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar-see our earlier catalogue descriptions.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1139.
Choice 1926 Sesquicentennial Quarter
Eagle
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2056 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence quarter eagle. MS-63. A dazzling array of lustrous iridescent rose, sky blue, and light olive toning graces the satiny surfaces of this tantalizingly beautiful commemorative quarter eagle.
Struck to commemorate the 150th anniversary of our nation's Declaration of Independence, the reverse features a depiction of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This design was swiped (more or less) for use on the reverse of the 1776-1976 bicentennial half dollar.
From Stack's sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1140.
Panama-Pacific Coin Set
History of the Exposition Coins
In 1915 visitors from all over the world converged on a veritable new city that had been built of lath and plaster on the San Francisco shore front. Building upon the tradition established by the 1876 Centennial Exhibition (Philadelphia), 1892-1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago), the 1900 Paris Exposition, the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, and other such events, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition showcased marvels of technology, art, history, and science. The official reason for the Exposition was to celebrate San Francisco's rebirth from the 1906 earthquake and fire and to observe the opening (in August 1914) of the Panama Canal.
After the event ended, nearly everything was torn down. An exception was the Palace of Fine Arts, which, while never intended to be a permanent structure, survived to be used to store fire engines and other municipal equipment. In recent times it has been restored. This building in 1915 was the numismatic focal point of the Exposition. Under its huge dome was Farran Zerbe's Money of the World exhibit and, after the fair's closing, his concession to sell the remaining Panama-Pacific coins by mail order.
Today the five different coins issued in connection with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition stand as the high-water mark among American commemoratives. In connection with the present offering, it is appropriate to give a sketch of the event which caused its production. The following is excerpted from Frank Morton Todd's book, The Story of the Exposition, published in 1921:
On the basis of federal legislation the Exposition instituted an official Coin and Medal Department, and put it under the direction of Farran Zerbe, as past president of the American Numismatic Association. The Act of Congress provided that a series of commemorative medals, a souvenir medal, the award medal, and the diplomas, were to be produced by the government and delivered to the Exposition at face value for the coins and at cost for other items.
In spite of the delay, whereby the coins were not ready until well after the fair opened, the Coinage Department took in $179,506 in the Exposition period, and $51,966 in the post-Exposition time. The whole net return of the Exposition's coin and medal business after deducting the cost of materials and all administration came to $65,555.09.
Sixty thousand commemorative half dollars were coined, of which 34 were reserved for assay. Of the 59,966 pieces available, 27,100 were sold and 32,866 were destroyed later at the Mint. 25,034 gold dollars were coined, of which 34 were used for assay and the balance all sold. 10,017 $2.50 gold pieces were struck, of which 17 were used for assay, leaving 10,000 available. Of these 10,000 there were 6,750 sold and the rest, 3,250 pieces, were melted.
There were 1,509 of the octagonal $50 pieces made, of which nine were used for assay, 646 were actually sold and 854 went to the melting pot. There were 1,510 round $50 pieces including 10 for assay. Just 483 were sold. 1,017 were melted.
All of the commemorative Exposition coins were struck at the San Francisco Mint and bear the "S" mintmark. For the coining of the $50 pieces a special hydraulic press weighing 14 tons, with a striking power of 450 tons, ordinarily used at the Philadelphia Mint for striking medals, was delivered to the San Francisco Mint.
The striking of the first octagonal $50 gold piece, the largest coin ever authorized by the government, and the first minted since 1852 of any other shape than circular, was made a notable occasion at the mint. The superintendent, Mr. T.W.H. Shanahan, extended invitations to various dignitaries and to members of the American Numismatic Association, to be present at 11:00 on the morning of June 21, 1915, when the first of these coins was struck.
Supt. Shanahan produced the first piece, incorrectly stating that he was about to strike the first $50 coin ever issued under authority of law in the United States. [In 1851-52, $50 pieces were issued by Augustus Humbert and the U.S. Assay Office of Gold, an official government agency.] He then pulled the lever and handed the resultant coin to Mr. Moore for inspection. Moore then operated the lever for the second piece, and other members of the party took their turns at making money, keeping up the delightful exercise until lunch time.
The various commemorative coins were in good demand. Advance orders amounted to a sales volume of $40,000. Prices were: half dollars, $1 each or six for $5. Gold dollars, $2 each, or six for $10. $2.50 gold pieces, $4 each, or six for $20. $50 gold pieces, either shape, $100 each. Complete sets mounted in metal frames or leather cases sold for $200. That both shapes of the $50 pieces were of the same design was a disappointment and in many cases limited the sale to one coin. On this account, toward the end of the Exposition, sets with a choice of one $50 piece were sold at $100 each.
Many sales were made to banks throughout the country. Usually they were of sets mounted in copper frames. With the close of the Exposition this exhibit was moved to the Palace of Fine Arts, where it looked very much at home and continued as a sales agency over the post-Exposition period until May 1, 1916. The Department was continued on mail order basis, down to November 1, 1916, when, at the request of the Exposition and by authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, most of the coins remaining unsold were returned to the mint and destroyed.
In the years since 1916, the Panama-Pacific coins have been highly prized by numismatists. Today, the large and impressive $50 coins are especially admired, and it is always an occasion when examples cross the auction block.
2057 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition half dollar. MS-64. An absolutely gorgeous coin, a splendid specimen with beautiful blue and gold iridescence hues over frosty surfaces, one of the nicest we have ever seen from a visual viewpoint. A true prize that will appeal to the advanced collector and connoisseur, just as it did to Harry Bass.
Each of the lots from 2057 through 2062 will be sold on a provisional basis. After Lot 2062 is sold provisionally, the total for lots 2057 through 2062 will be computed, 5% will be added to the total, and this will constitute the opening bid for Lot 2063. If the opening bid is met or exceeded, the provisional awards for lots 2057 through 2062 will be canceled. If it is not met or exceeded, then the lots will be sold at the provisional award prices.
2058 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition gold dollar. MS-64. Brilliant and lustrous with warm orange-gold highlights.
Each of the lots from 2057 through 2062 will be sold on a provisional basis, as described in Lot 2057.
Near-Gem 1915-S Panama-Pacific $2.50
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2059 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition quarter eagle. MS-64. Brilliant and lustrous with rose toning highlights. The satiny surfaces have a matte-like appearance. A desirable issue in frosty condition.
Each of the lots from 2057 through 2062 will be sold on a provisional basis, as described in Lot 2057.
This is one of the more curious legal tender designs in the American coinage spectrum. The obverse illustrates a mythological animal, the hippocampus (Greek for "river horse"), which is seldom seen in numismatics, except that we should mention that it appears on certain Civil War tokens made by William K. Lanphear, Cincinnati.
Outstanding 1915-S Round $50
Panama-Pacific "Slug"
Only 483 Pieces Distributed
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2060 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50. Round. MS-64. A delightful near-gem specimen of this singularly beautiful commemorative gold issue. Rich golden surfaces display some pale rose and sky blue iridescence and a modicum of reflectivity. Free of all but the most trivial marks and hairlines. This issue, along with the related octagonal format coin, are the only $50 denomination gold coins issued by the United States Mint, (until the recent advent of the American Eagle gold bullion coin series, which carry a $50 face value). Just 483 of the round $50 coins were distributed, thereby creating the rarest of all American commemoratives struck during the past century.
Each of the lots from 2057 through 2062 will be sold on a provisional basis, as described in Lot 2057.
Choice Mint State 1915-S $50 Octagonal
Just 645 Pieces Sold
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2061 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50. Octagonal. MS-63. Satiny and lustrous orange-gold with pale rose and sky blue toning highlights. Almost identical in design to that on the round-format coins, although somewhat reduced in size to properly fit the coin's octagonal shape. Eight tiny dolphins have been added to the border design on each side, outside the circle surrounding the legends, one dolphin at each angle. This version, made to the extent of 1,500 pieces, was slightly more popular with the public, due to the distinctive octagonal shape which reflected the historic $50 slugs of 1851-1852. When final accounts were tallied, it was learned that only 645 pieces of the original 1,500 had been distributed.
Each of the lots from 2057 through 2062 will be sold on a provisional basis, as described in Lot 2057.
2062 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition coinage case. EF overall. The clasp is not in working order. Textured leatherette with gold trim at the border. The interior is lined with purple velvet and satin, with both materials crisp and bright. There are recesses for each of the five coins in the series, including the half dollar, gold dollar, quarter eagle, round $50, and octagonal $50. The inside of the lid is stamped in gold as follows: PANAMA-PACIFIC / INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / 1915 - SAN FRANCISCO U.S.A. / COMMEMORATIVE COINS / AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS/ STRUCK AT SAN FRANCISCO MINT. An interesting item, one that is always desirable as a "home" to a quality five-piece Panama-Pacific Exposition commemorative set.
Each of the lots from 2057 through 2062 will be sold on a provisional basis, as described in Lot 2057.
Complete Panama-Pacific Set in Case
Including Both $50 Coins
2063 1915-S Panama-Pacific Set with case from the silver half dollar through both varieties of $50 gold as individually described in lot 2057 through 2062 above. At this point in the sale, the provisional awards for lots 2057 through 2062 will be totaled, 5% will be added, and that will constitute the opening bid for the current lot, Lot 2063. If this bid is met or exceeded, the provisional awards will be cancelled and the coins will be owned by the successful bidder on the present lot. (Total: 5 coins; 1 case)
2064 Pair of Norse-American silver octagonal medals representing both thick and thin style: I Thick planchet. AU-55 I Thin planchet. MS-60. Both are lightly toned. (Total: 2 pieces)
It was originally hoped that a commemorative half dollar would be authorized to commemorate this event, but this legislation did not become a reality, and medals were struck instead, at the Philadelphia Mint. Recognizing the semi-commemorative status, Wayte Raymond in his "National" holders provided spaces for these 1925 medals, thus making them extremely popular to a generation of numismatists. Today, the medals are not as well known as they were years ago, but they are still historical and important. Of the two varieties, the thin planchet is the rarer.
Splendid 1925 Gold Norse American Medal
Matte Proof Rarity
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2065 1925 Norse American Centennial. Gold. Matte Proof-64. Attractive olive highlights on satiny matte surfaces. A truly splendid near-gem specimen of a prized rarity. From a tiny distribution of just 47 Norse American medals struck in gold, all in the Matte Proof format. The issue was instigated by Congressman O.J. Kvale of Minnesota, and designed by James Earle Fraser of Buffalo nickel fame. Undeniably rare and just as undeniably beautiful, a prize for the connoisseur.
Weight: 241.1 grains. Diameter: 24.3 mm vertical, 23.8 mm horizontal.
Congressman O.J. Kvale of the 7th District, Minneapolis, a member of the Congressional Coin, Weights, and Measures Committee, was instrumental in the production of the Norse American medal series. As early as February 1925, Kvale visited the Treasury Department with his plans for a medal to recognize the accomplishments of the Norse-American settlers in his area of Minnesota. His initial plan called for round medals, but their proposed size would have conflicted with circulating coinage, hence the octagonal format. The silver for these medals was to come from Mint stock, thereby saving the newly formed Norse-American Centennial Commission the cost of procuring silver on the open market. The only cost incurred by the Commission was the production expense for up to 40,000 medals plus the cost of associated dies. On March 2, 1925, Congress authorized the production of 40,000 silver medals and 100 gold medals, all to be produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Records indicate that 39,850 silver and gold pieces were struck in May and June of 1925, 33,750 of which were on "thick" silver planchets, 6,000 on "thin" silver planchets, and 100 pieces on .900 fine gold planchets. The silver pieces were counted, bagged, and shipped to the Fourth Street National Bank of Philadelphia for delivery to the Commission. The cost to the Commission for each piece delivered was 45¢ for the "thick" version, 30¢ for the "thin" version, and $10.14 for the gold version. The Commission then sold the pieces at $1.25 for the "thick" and $1.75 for the "thin." According to an article by Anthony Swiatek in the June 1982 volume of The Numismatist, collector "Max E. Brail of Jackson, Michigan, remembers purchasing the gold specimen for $20 dollars back in 1925." The Centennial Commission retained first strikings of the silver and gold types. Additionally, it is known that Congressman O.J. Kvale received gold medal number two, the second piece struck, in recognition of his services to the commission.
See Lot 2192 for distribution figures.
Proof Set
1878 Proof Set
Cent to Trade Dollar
2066 1878 Proof Set: I Cent. Proof-65 RB I Nickel three cents. Proof-63. Pale golden highlights. A Proof-only date, just 2,350 pieces struck I Nickel five cents. Proof-66. Golden rose highlights. A Proof-only date, same mintage as the nickel three cents I Dime. Proof-63. Mostly brilliant with a whisper of lavender I Twenty cents. Proof-64. Reflective steel gray surfaces with splashes of golden orange. A Proof-only date, the final issue of this short-lived series (1875-78) I Quarter. Proof-62. Brilliant I Half dollar. Proof-63. Brilliant I Dollar. 8 Tailfeathers. Proof-63. Steel gray over reflective surfaces I Dollar. 7 Tailfeathers, Reverse of 1878. Proof-62. Pale grayish brown toning with some heavier toning on the reverse at the motto I Trade dollar. Proof-63/66. Splashes of rose toning at the peripheries. A series of abrasions are in the left obverse field, accounting for the split grade. The reverse is a stunning gem. (Total: 10 pieces)
Miscellaneous U.S. Coins
2067 A selection of popular type coins: I 1828 half cent. Breen-2. MS-63 BN. Nice for the grade I 1858 Flying Eagle cent. Small Letters. AU-50, lightly cleaned I 1938-D/S Buffalo nickel. MS-64 I 1826 half dollar. Overton-103. EF-40. Dark I 1828 half dollar. O-107. EF-40. (Total: 5 pieces)
