Eagles - Lots 1384-1480
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part II
Eagles - Lots 1384-1480
Especially Nice
1848-O Eagle
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1384 1848-O AU-50. Lustrous bright greenish gold with sharp design details, even including most stars. Very pleasing surfaces despite a few minor hairlines.
Another Notable
1848-O $10
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1385 1848-O AU-50. Bright greenish yellow gold with sharp central design details and very minor abrasions. Lightly reflective surfaces.
This reverse has a hollow ring at top of second vertical shield stripe, a characteristic generally noted for issues from the early 1850s.
1386 1848-O EF-40. Bright yellow gold with some lustre remaining.
1387 1849/8 Overdate. AU-53. Bright yellow gold. Highly prooflike on the obverse. A splendid specimen of the variety (see notes) and grade.
Breen’s 1849/1848 described as follows: "Date 1848 first punched very high, slanting up the right, then repunched with 1849 logotype; at left of 9 is much of lower loop of 8." Breen notes that the first coin appeared in the Kreisberg-Schulman sale of February 1960, Lot 2779. Further: "Apparently unknown Uncirculated."
Is this an overdate or is it not? Under magnification it is seen that there is a lower date, but the primary question is whether the last digit was intended to be a 9, thereby making the present coin simply a repunched date, or whether it was the logotype 1848. We have no clear answer to this, as only the top of the last digit is visible. The same seems to be true of the Breen plate coin, although he does note that much of the lower loop of the 8 is visible on other pieces he has seen. Perhaps the present piece has been relapped, removing that feature. In Harry Bass’s notes, he originally called it "1849/8," then amended his notes to "recut date." Perhaps the most accurate description is this: The present coin is Breen’s 1849/1848, which may be an overdate, although the present cataloguers are not able to verify this.
As further markers for the present die, on the obverse light cracks are seen intermittently from stars 3 to 8, and again faintly at stars 11 and 12, close to star 13. As the Breen plate coin shows a prominent crack to the right side of the 4, the Breen plate coin must be a later die state than this. A puzzlement is created, as how can Breen’s later die state show evidences of the bottom part of the 8 that are not visible on the present specimen? Perhaps that is why Harry Bass abandoned the idea of it being an overdate.
From Superior’s sale of February 1972, Lot 644.
1388 1849 Breen-6885. AU-55. Much lustre still remains. Another exceptional coin of this date.
Date logotype slighlty high and lightly impressed into die.
Reverse with multiple cracks beginning at M (AMERICA) and intermittently continuing clockwise through D (UNITED).
From Lester Merkin’s sale of April 1970, Lot 751.
1389 1849 Breen-6885. AU-50. Another example of this popular year.
Date logotype quite high. Extensive die striae on obverse and reverse indicate that this is a very early striking.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, November 19, 1973.
1390 1849 Breen-6886. Double 1. AU-58. Deeply lustrous surfaces. Sharply struck. Although enough handling marks are visible to have us call this AU-58 (although MS-60 would be another possibility), it is still one of the finest we have seen in a long time. Extraordinary condition for the date.
Breen-6886, doubled 1 in date, traces of first digit cross the upright of the 1. Date logotype slightly high. Cracks through 184 extending left to star 1. Another crack connects stars 2-4, is intermittent, then continues from star 5 clockwise to star 9.
Regarding 1849 $10 pieces in general, the large mintage of 63,618 no doubt employed many different dies. Breen mentions knowledge of at least eight varieties and delineates four of them.
Purchased from William K. Raymond, February 29, 1972.
1391 1849 Breen-6886. Double 1. AU-50. Light yellow gold surfaces.
Breen-6886, doubled 1 in date. Logotype slightly high.
From Stack’s sale of the Shapero Collection, October 1979, Lot 1090.
1392 Pair of 1849 Liberty eagles, both with strongly repunched dates, and both graded EF-45. Both are from a late obverse die state, with prominent obverse die crack. (Total: 2 pieces)
1393 Pair of 1849 Liberty eagles: I EF-40 I VF-20. Both have strongly repunched dates. Both are from an early obverse die state, without the prominent obverse die crack that later develops. (Total: 2 pieces)
Notable 1849-O Eagle
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1394 1849-O AU-55 (PCGS). Bright yellow gold. Somewhat prooflike in protected areas. A very nice specimen, among the finest seen, of what Douglas Winter calls the "second rarest New Orleans eagle to be struck during the 1840s," and more importantly from the same writer, "It is, in my opinion, the single most underrated eagle from this mint and is among the most difficult dates of this entire type to locate in higher grades." The present coin will attract wide attention as it crosses the block.
PCGS Population: 5; 3 finer (AU-58 finest).
Obverse die deeply basined (with fields curving toward border more than on certain other dates). Logotype deep into die and well centered. Some extra material is at the upper right of the opening of the 4.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 2237.
Another Exceptional
1849-O $10
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1395 1849-O EF-45. Some rubbing or friction on the obverse portrait and field. Not a match for the preceding, but still quite exceptional for the date and mint.
Obverse die basined as preceding. Logotype slightly low. Interior of 4 without extra material, but with some shading of the background.
Reverse with ring at the top of the second vertical shield stripe, a feature seen on various other $10 varieties of this era.
From Superior’s sale of February 1973, Lot 646.
Yet Another Nice
1849-O $10
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1396 1849-O Net EF-40; sharpness of AU-50. Bright yellow gold. Scratches behind the neck keep this out of a higher grade designation. Prooflike and (otherwise) attractive.
Date logotype well centered and with extra material at the upper interior of the 4; the die described earlier. Reverse with ring at top of second group of vertical shield stripes, also described earlier (but with a different obverse).
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of July 1967, Lot 357.
A Final 1849-O $10
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1397 1849-O EF-40. Another nice specimen of a variety usually seen in lower grades.
Date logotype well centered. Extra material at upper part of interior of 4. The die described earlier.
From Parke-Bernet Galleries’ sale of the McGraw Collection, Lot 138.
Prooflike 1850 $10
Large Date
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1398 1850 Large Date. MS-61 (PCGS). Highly prooflike, quite possibly intended as a presentation coin—but who knows? This is certainly among the nicest we have ever seen of the date and variety. Breen notes that one Proof was struck; could it have been from this die pair? That solitary Proof is not presently known to exist.
As a date the 1850 is quite plentiful, as the mintage of 29,451 suggests. However, nearly all examples in numismatic hands are worn, typically VF or EF. The present coin is quite exceptional.
Date in large numerals. Positioned slightly low (with reference to the first digit), but overall seemingly quite low from beginning to end—this being somewhat of an optical illusion caused by the basined fields (and the low position of the final digit). Logotype boldly punched into the die, with knob of 5 touching the upright. Some light raised die lines below ear lobe and a small line extending from the lower right of I (LIBERTY) serve to identify this die in case the aforementioned Proof should come to light and be compared.
On the reverse the lower horizontal shield stripe is irregular and broken at the left, possibly evidence of a ring feature being removed from the die.
All told, the present 1850 $10 is a very interesting piece from a technical aspect.
From Steve Ivy’s sale of August 29, 1980, Lot 325.
1399 1850 Large Date. AU-55 (PCGS). Bright yellow gold. Somewhat prooflike.
Date logotype somewhat lightly punched into the die, high and about three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. The knob on the digit 5 is distant from the upright, although the logotype is the same used earlier. Extensive die cracks are seen from star 6 to the tip of the coronet. Another crack connects star 7-9 and enlarges as it approaches the border. A further crack extends from star 11 to very close to the border, with an almost imperceptible branch toward star 10.
The reverse displays minute die striae oriented at about a 45° angle from upper left to lower right, and seems to be an early impression.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, May 30, 1972.
1400 1850 Large Date. AU-50. Lustrous, frosty surfaces.
Date logotype very lightly punched into the die, quite far to the left, and closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. The 5 is open. In various series, including the 1850 $10 (Breen-6890) Walter Breen discusses whether or not the knob on a given 5 touches the upright above, perhaps not being aware that this was strictly a function of how deep the date logotype was impressed into the working die. If the punch was deeply and heavily impressed, the knob of the 5 typically touched. If it was lightly impressed, the knob of the 5 was close or even distant.
Further concerning the obverse, a delicate crack is seen from the border to star 5, continuing slightly toward star 6.
On the reverse there are cracks from the border at the upper left of the wing tip, ditto at the upper right. Further, two cracks extend from the border, one through A (STATES) and the other through the second T, meeting or coming close in the field below, extending to the back of the eagle’s head, the neck, and to the wing at the right. Under close observation additional cracks can be seen within the wing at the right.
From Stack’s sale of September 1968, Lot 382.
Lustrous 1850 Small
Date $10
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1401 1850 Small Date. AU-50. A very nice example of a variety that Walter Breen called "Very rare," further noting: "Date smaller than on cents or previous eagles since 1842, from logotype intended for half eagles."
The present coin, with warm yellow gold surfaces and much lustre, is very pleasing to the eye.
Date logotype small as described. Positioned slightly closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. A major crack extends from the border through star 5 to the front of the coronet, continuing through the top of the hair to star 9 to the border. Not many coins could have been struck later than this one. Star 1 has a very short outer ray (a phenomenon seen on certain other issues of the era).
Purchased from Ed Shapiro, December 13, 1971.
1402 1850 Small Date. EF-45. Light yellow gold. Another example of this scarce date style.
Early die state of the preceding obverse, with just a whisper of a crack—not noticeable unless you knew what to look for—at star 5.
Purchased from United States Coin Company, September 14, 1967.
1403 1850-O EF-45. Highly lustrous. Bright yellow gold A very attractive example.
Large Date logotype is quite high, about three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. Star 1 is shortened at the outermost ray. The distance between the rays and the dentils varies on certain working dies of this era, and no doubt a study could be made to show a pattern of use.
On the reverse the O mintmark is low and very lightly impressed into the die.
Purchased from William Donner, September 14, 1967.
1404 1850-O EF-40. Light yellow gold. Another pleasing example of this somewhat scarce issue.
Obverse die as preceding. Reverse with mintmark of normal depth.
Purchased from Paramount, March 18, 1967, through Rowe & Brownlee.
1405 1850-O EF-40. A final specimen of this variety.
Dies as preceding.
Purchased from Bob Roth, no date stated.
1406 1851 AU-55. Warm, lustrous surfaces. Well struck. An outstanding example of this Philadelphia Mint issue.
Date logotype very high on die, heavily punched, probably Breen’s 6894 ("Heavy numerals"), but quite a few variations exist within this high mintage date (176,328 were struck). Logotype very high and three to possibly four times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 1050.
1407 1851 EF-45. Light gold surfaces.
Date logotype well centered. Somewhat lightly impressed into the die— maybe Breen-6896, but probably not.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 2177.
1408 1851-O AU-50. Light yellow gold, probably from California metal.
Obverse with date logotype slightly low, but generally well centered. Very deeply punched into the die.
Reverse with ring at top of second shield stripe, not particularly an unusual feature for $10 issues of this era—such varieties are scattered across various dates, but in the present instance specifically mentioned and discussed at length by Walter Breen and assigned his number 6898.
Purchased from N.K.S., September 5, 1967.
1409 1851-O AU-50. Light yellow gold. Some prooflike surface. A very pleasing example.
Date logotype quite high, about two or three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. Reverse as preceding.
Purchased from Arizona Stamp & Coin Company, April 14, 1969.
1410 1851-O AU-50. Light yellow gold. Another attractive example of this New Orleans variety.
Date logotype quite high, about two to three times closer to the truncation than to the dentils. Crack from bust through top of 851 (a rather unusual location for a crack on this denomination). Reverse as preceding, with ring at top of second shield stripe.
Purchased from J.E. Ryan, August 29, 1973.
1411 1851-O EF-45. Another nice example.
Date logotype deeply punched and well centered. Reverse as preceding, which, it seems, is the norm, not the exception for this variety!
Purchased from Lester Merkin, June 23, 1967.
1412 1851-O EF-45. Yet another specimen. Obviously, Harry Bass was intrigued with this date and mint! Lustrous, frosty surfaces.
Date logotype about three times closer to neck truncation than to dentils. Reverse with—as you might expect—hollow ring at top of second vertical shield stripe.
Purchased from Rowe & Brownlee, September 26, 1967.
1413 1851-O EF-45. Light yellow gold. Another example. Planchet lamination above coronet.
Date logotype slightly low and deeply punched into the die. Reverse with circle atop second shield stripe.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro, April 7, 1969.
1414 1851-O EF-45. Light yellow gold.
Obverse logotype slightly low and deeply punched into die. Reverse with ring at top of second shield stripe.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro, April 7, 1969.
1415 1851-O EF-40. A final specimen of this popular (with Harry Bass) date and mint. Attractive light yellow gold.
Date logotype high and about three times closer to neck truncation than to dentils and deeply punched into die. Reverse with ring at top of second shield stripe.
Purchased from Bob Roth.
1416 1852 AU-50. More expansively described as "seawater Uncirculated," or close to Uncirculated, with minutely porous surfaces. No doubt recovered from an undersea treasure wreck. Provenance unknown. Sharply struck and lightly circulated if at all.
Date impressed into die at medium depth. Positioned low, about twice as close to the dentil as to the bust truncation.
Reverse with light crack connecting TE (TEN) with U to the left. Crack connecting S OF with wing tip, continuing to AM.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of July 9, 1967, Lot 362.
Memorable 1852-O
$10
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1417 1852-O AU-58 (PCGS). A lovely specimen with a generous quotient of prooflike surface. "Prohibitively rare AU," writes Walter Breen, who went on to say he had seen but one Mint State example. "Most 1852-O eagles grade very fine or lower," observed Douglas Winter in 1992. Winter went on to state: "This date is rare in full EF and is very rare in AU. No Mint State coins are known to exist."
From any aspect the present coin is an exceptional example. This is an extremely important offering, certainly among the very finest known. Highly lustrous greenish yellow gold with considerable reflective prooflike surface around the devices. A moderate quota of minute handling marks keep this out of the choice category for the grade. A short diagonal scratch above star 13 serves as a pedigree marker.
PCGS Population: 7; 1 finer (MS-60).
Date logotype about centered and deeply punched into die.
On the reverse there is a ring at the top of the second shield stripe, this being Breen-6902 and described as "Hollow ring atop second stripe, very rare." However, the Breen commentary seems to be superseded by Douglas Winter’s observation, "It has generally been assumed that two varieties exist: one with a normal shield and one with a hollow ring on the reverse as on the 1851. I’ve never seen an 1852-O eagle which did not have the ring on the reverse, and I’m not certain that a normal reverse exists."
From Paramount’s sale of November 1973, Lot 614.
Another High-Grade
1852-O $10
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1418 1852-O AU-53 (PCGS). Lustrous and attractive. Another high-grade example of this New Orleans issue.
Obverse and reverse dies as preceding.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1979, Lot 1053.
1419 1852-O Net VF-35; lightly cleaned long ago.
Dies as preceding.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2240.
1420 1853/2 Breen-6905. Overdate. EF-40. Light yellow gold. An attractive example. Breen suggests that "possibly eight to 10 are known, none Uncirculated."
Date logotype very low, far from neck truncation and very close to dentil. Two lines are within the bottom of the final digit, 3, and are said by Breen to represent an underdigit 2. A comparison of the final digit on the 1852 eagle logotype shows that the lower part of the two contains an element, right above the base, that is somewhat similar to the artifact seen within the 3 of the 1853/2, but the angle does not seem correct. The Guidebook of United States Coins unequivocally lists the piece as an overdate, as does Breen as noted. Thus, it may well be, although we do not view the situation as definitive.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2179.
1421 1853 AU-50. Lustrous and attractive. A pleasing example in a grade higher than that typically seen.
Date logotype of medium depth in the die, quite well centered.
Reverse with light die crack from final S (STATES) through OF.
From Paramount’s sale of February 1974, Lot 686.
Mint State 1853-O $10
"Branch Mint
Proof?"
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1422 1853-O MS-61 (PCGS). Prooflike obverse. A splendid coin that is quite special in overall appearance, a memorable example. "Prohibitively rare uncirculated," notes Walter Breen.
This particular specimen is discussed by Douglas Winter: "In Rarcoa’s session of Auction ’79 an extraordinary 1853-O appeared, and it was catalogued as a ‘Branch Mint Proof.’ While this coin possesses uncommonly broad rims and extremely reflective surfaces, it is the opinion of many gold coin experts (myself included) that the aforementioned piece—while obviously ‘special’—does not qualify as a Proof."
At this juncture it may be relevant to state that the entire subject of branch mint Proofs is largely terra incognita. Years ago, Wayte Raymond in the Standard Catalogue listed a handful of coin varieties which are known from mint and other records to have been made in Proof finish at certain branch facilities such as San Francisco and New Orleans. However, it seems that more may exist, particularly if coins are evaluated on appearance alone, even if they have no surrounding documentation. Thus, by the present year, 1999, many different coins in series varying from Morgan dollars to Barber silver coins to gold have been designated by the grading services as branch mint Proofs.
Proof or non-Proof, take your pick. As stated, the coin, in any event, is a very special striking.
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
Logotype very deeply punched into die and very low, close to the dentil and distant from the neck truncation. Crack from border to the right, through star 13 to lower curls.
The reverse has a ring atop the second shield stripe (thus this is Breen-6909, or close to it, for that particular Breen number also says that the obverse has a repunched date—which this piece does not). Again, it is seen that opinions differ and that records are incomplete.
From Rarcoa’s, Auction ’79, Lot 1303. Formerly from Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 421.
1423 1853-O Net EF-45; would be graded higher save for a scrape on the E (STATES) on the reverse. A final specimen of this date and mint.
Date very low, seemingly the norm. Different die from any earlier described. Very prominent die finish marks are seen among the date numerals, including a burst of radiating "rays" extending to the left from the center of the 3.
Reverse with ring at top of second shield stripe.
Purchased from Paramount, August 16, 1971.
1424 1853-O EF-45. Some prooflike surfaces seen when the coin is held at an angle to the light.
Date very low, seemingly the norm for 1853 dies, but in the present instance with the first digit double punched. Unlisted by Breen, who certainly would have mentioned it had he known of one.
The reverse has a ring atop the second shield stripe. However, this is from a different die than the prooflike "special" piece earlier offered.
Purchased from Paramount, May 9, 1967.
1425 1853-O EF-45. Bright yellow gold. Some hints of prooflike surface are seen when the coin is held at an angle to the light. Another attractive example.
Date logotype quite low. Crack connects stars 12 and 13. Regular (no ring at top of second stripe) reverse.
Purchased from Bob Roth.
1426 1854 Breen-6911. Blundered Date. AU-50. Lustrous yellow gold surfaces.
Walter Breen’s Blundered Date, probably better called Misplaced Date per modern nomenclature. Stray tip of 1 is seen at a dentil below the lower left of the 8 in the date. The main date logotype itself is low, about twice as close to the dentil as to the neck truncation.
From Parke-Bernet Galleries’ sale of May 1968, Lot 143.
1427 1854 AU-50. Light yellow gold. Another specimen of this popular year.
Date logotype bold and low, about twice as close to the dentils as to the neck truncation. Under high magnification the tiny trace of a serif can be seen at the lower right of the 8, perhaps simply a stray mark, or perhaps evidence of another misplaced date.
From Superior’s sale of February 1973, Lot 656.
Beautiful 1854-O Eagle
Small Date
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1428 1854-O Small Date AU-58 (PCGS). Warm yellow gold surfaces. Highly lustrous. An extremely appealing specimen with a lot of "life." Worthy of a strong bid.
PCGS Population: 4; none finer.
Date lightly punched into die, giving separation of the 5 and 4 digits (on varieties deeply punched into the die, these digits touch). Logotype very low and close to dentils, distant from neck truncation. A crack is seen from the border extending upward through the left side of the 8. As is true of many dies of this era, the outermost point of star 1 is very close to the dentils and is irregular.
From Pine Tree Auctions’ sale of March 1974, Lot 228.
1429 1854-O Small Date EF-45. Some scratches on neck, otherwise AU. Light yellow gold. Slightly prooflike.
Date low and about four or five times closer to dentil than to neck truncation. Very lightly impressed into the die. Crack from border through left side of 8 to neck truncation; crack from border to star 11.
From the Gozan Collection through Lester Merkin, June 23, 1967,
1430 1854-O Small Date EF-40. Another specimen of this date format. Bright yellow gold.
Dies as the first offered 1854-O $10 (Lot 1428).
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 2242.
1431 1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Lustrous and frosty. An attractive example of this issue. Walter Breen notes that the Large Date is "rare," in distinction to the Small Date. However, Harry Bass has identified multiple die varieties of the Large Date, and it may be that it is not a rarity in comparison to the Small Date—more study is needed.
Date logotype very high with 1 piercing the edge of the neck truncation. Figures deeply impressed into the die.
Reverse with crack from border through right side of the first A (AMERICA) to wing.
Purchased from Michael G. Brownlee, March 31, 1967.
1432 1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Another attractive specimen. Bright yellow gold. Some prooflike surfaces seen when the coin is held at an angle to the light.
Dies and die states as preceding.
Purchased from N.K.S., May 21, 1968.
1433 1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Another specimen at this grade level. Very attractive overall.
Date logotype quite high, very close to neck truncation, but separated from it.
What may be the remnants of an 8 and 5 appear at the curve of Liberty’s truncation directly above the existing numerals.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of February 1969, Lot 1403.
1434 1854-O Large Date. AU-50. A final specimen in this grade. As can be seen, the 1854-O eagle was a favorite item for Harry Bass to acquire, and he had probably more than any other numismatist before him or after!
Date logotype different from the preceding, closer to dentil than to bust, deeply punched into the die at the base of the date logotype, lightly at the top. Quite distinctive.
From Abe Kosoff in trade, 1973.
1435 1854-O Large Date. EF-45. Light yellow gold. Much lustre is seen.
Date about centered. Somewhat lightly punched into the die, but more noticeable at the top of the logotype than the bottom.
Purchased from Stack’s, November 11, 1970.
1436 1854-O Large Date. EF-45. Bright yellow gold. Lustrous and beautiful
Date logotype high with 1 piercing the neck truncation, but a different die from the earlier high-date die described. The present piece has very slight repunching at the top of the first digit.
The reverse is oriented at about 60° from the obverse, instead of the normal 180°.
Purchased from N.K.S., February 17, 1971.
1437 1854-O Large Date. EF-45. Yellow gold. Somewhat prooflike. A final example of this very popular (with Harry Bass) date and mint.
Logotype well centered, lightly impressed into the die at the top, more heavily at the base.
From Superior’s sale of February 1973, Lot 657.
1438 1854-S AU-50. Brilliant and lustrous. A very handsome specimen of the first $10 issued from the newly opened San Francisco Mint. Ideal for date or type.
Date slightly high. Numerals impressed at about medium depth into the die. Possibly relapped or, alternatively, the master die was not deeply impressed into the working die. Certain hair details are disconnected at the back of the head of Miss Liberty, including in the area of the bun. No doubt the study of multiple specimens might resolve the question.
Reverse with S mintmark prominent below and slightly to the left of the crotch formed by the arrow feather and the branch. Irregular cracks link nearly all of the peripheral inscriptions.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 424.
1439 1854-S EF-45. Another pleasing example of the first San Francisco Mint eagle. Pale gold surfaces.
Die pair as preceding, same obverse state (relapped?).
The reverse is of an earlier state and shows cracks at TES O and at MER.
From Stack’s sale of the Scanlon Collection, October 1973, Lot 2473.
Lustrous and Beautiful
1855 $10
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1440 1855 MS-63 (PCGS). Well struck and with deep, satiny lustre. A splendid specimen which ranks among the finest we have ever seen.
PCGS Population: 1; 2 finer (MS-64 finest).
Date boldly entered into working die. Slightly low and a bit farther left than usual.
From Paramount’s sale of Auction ’85, Lot 1453.
1441 1855 AU-58. Much original mint lustre. Just a hair’s breadth from full Mint State, and some might legitimately call it that.
Date logotype as foregoing.
From Stack’s sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1070.
1442 1855-O EF-40. Light yellow gold. A piece of hand-selected quality—a statement that could be made for virtually every piece in the Bass Collection catalogue. A scarce variety in any grade. Only 18,000 were minted.
Date logotype entered somewhat lightly into the die at the left side of the date, more deeply for the last two figures. Position high, nearly twice as close to the neck truncation as to the dentils.
Purchased from Arnold Rosing, June 5, 1967.
High-Grade 1855-S
$10
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1443 1855-S Net EF-40; sharpness of AU-50. Light golden surfaces. Seemingly lightly cleaned long ago, but many would not notice. Fairly scarce in all grades. Only 9,000 were struck. A key issue.
Date logotype slightly low and positioned to the right. Mintmark tilted 30° to the left—perhaps worthy of notifying Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton so they can include it in their best-selling book relating to die oddities.
1444 1856 AU-55. Nearly full mint lustre. Frosty and attractive. A splendid specimen of a quality seldom seen.
Date logotype with upright 5, as always. About centered. Fairly deeply punched into the die. Very prominent raised die line—quite curious under magnification—extends through Y (LIBERTY) into the hair. This may have been a Harry Bass discovery, as we do not recall seeing notice of it elsewhere, and he specifically mentions it in his notes.
Purchased from N.K.S., June 14, 1967.
1445 1856 AU-50. Light yellow gold. Much mint lustre still remains.
Date logotype slightly high and significantly farther to the left than the preceding. Again we note that the outermost ray on star 1 is very close to the dentils, seen on numerous other dies of this era (but not specifically noted in the present catalogue).
From Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 1586.
1446 1856 AU-50. Light yellow surfaces. A final example of the issue.
Date logotype as preceding, Stray serif in field far below left side of 5, a vestige of a misplaced date.
Rare 1856-O $10
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1447 1856-O EF-45. Somewhat prooflike in protected areas. A very scarce coin in any grade, indeed rare. Just 14,500 pieces were struck, and most have been lost or have worn to lower grades.
Date logotype fairly well centered vertically and located far left.
Reverse with bottom of feather pointing toward center right at mintmark.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, October 16, 1971.
1448 1856-O EF-40. Another attractive example of this scarce variety. Some light brushing.
Obverse die as preceding. Reverse with mintmark very low, significantly below the arrow tip and to the left.
From Abe Kosoff’s CSNA sale, October 1968, Lot 1634.
1449 1856-O EF-40. Light yellow gold. A final specimen of this scarce New Orleans variety.
Obverse die as preceding. Reverse with mintmark similar in position to the first described 1856-O, but from a different die. Crack at upper right from border to wing.
Purchased from N.K.S., February 1, 1972.
1450 1856-S Medium Mintmark. AU-50. Partly prooflike. A lovely specimen of this early San Francisco variety.
The mintage of 1856-S amounted to 68,000 pieces, a production significantly larger than the preceding year, but not a match for 1854-S (123,826). Most examples became well circulated, although an unknown (to the present writer at the time of cataloguing) number of high-grade pieces were undoubtedly part of the S.S. Central America treasure.
Date very low and about four times closer to dentils than to neck truncation. More deeply punched at the right side. Medium S mintmark is positioned so that the outside of the lowest arrow points to its right center.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 651.
1451 1856-S Medium Mintmark. EF-45. Light yellow gold. Many surface marks keep this from a higher grade. A piece that undoubtedly saw extensive use in the "Wild West" of San Francisco.
Date logotype quite low, about four times closer to the dentil than to the neck truncation. Deeply punched into die. S mintmark leans slighlty left.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 7, 1972.
1452 1856-S Medium Mintmark. EF-40. Marks on jaw. Light yellow gold.
Date logotype about centered vertically, somewhat to the left of the usual position, and deeply punched in to the die. Reverse with medium mintmark with its upper right slightly to the left of the arrow feather tip.
From Superior’s sale of March 15, 1973.
1453 1856-S Large Mintmark. EF-45.
Obverse from deeply dished, notably basined die, sufficiently so that a separate listing would be merited in a technical catalogue prepared for the specialist (if same is ever done). Date logotype very high, and about three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. Deeply punched into the die. Relapped, with certain hair features disconnected.
Reverse with large S leaning slightly right.
From Paramount’s sale of February 1973, Lot 1107.
1454 1856-S Large Mintmark. EF-40. Lustrous and attractive.
Obverse with deeply basined die as described earlier, a curious feature that is deserving of a separate listing. Reverse with large S mintmark tilted about 20° to the right.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 701. One of a number of "triple-headers" in the present catalogue—from the great Eliasberg gold coin collection to the Bass Collection to you.
High-Grade 1857
$10
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1455 1857 AU-50. Light yellow gold. A high-grade example of an issue which is usually seen well worn. Relatively modest mintage of 16,606 pieces, no doubt from California gold which by that time was reaching the East Coast in large quantities.
Date logotype in large, thick figures as on all $10 pieces. Impressed in the die at medium depth. Slightly low in its position, and fairly well centered left to right. We note that beginning about this year, Harry Bass die notes for eagles became intermittent, with some dies not described at all. Perhaps he intended to spend time on them at a later date that never came, or perhaps he felt that by the late 1850s dies had become rather standard in their appearance (although a number of notable features exist among later issues).
From Stack’s sale of February 1972, Lot 815.
1456 1857 EF-40. Highly lustrous.
Date logotype similar to preceding.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 3, 1968.
1457 1857 EF-40. Light yellow gold. Highly lustrous. Another specimen of this scarce Philadelphia Mint date.
Date logotype lightly impressed into the die, farther to the left than preceding and slightly low.
From Paramount’s sale of November 1971, Lot 1539.
1458 1857 "Overdate." VF-20. Warm yellow gold. Lightly brushed.
Walter Breen’s "overdate," with a stray line imaginatively described by that author as: "Curve of another digit between 57, touching curve of 5 and serif of 7; it is uncertain if this is part of another 5, another 7, or a 6. Discovery coin, Lester Merkin, March 1969." Alternatively, it might simply be a stray mark from the logotype punch touching the die lightly. No other evidences are seen, even under extreme magnification. The date logotype is slightly low and is deep into the die.
Purchased from William Donner, September 14, 1967.
High-Grade 1857-O $10
Prooflike and Rare
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1459 1857-O AU-55 (PCGS). A very beautiful specimen with nearly full prooflike surfaces; an outstanding example the equal of which is seldom seen. Breen notes: "Prohibitively rare above EF." David Akers comments: "The generally available quality is not very high, VF and EF specimens are as good as one should reasonably expect…" Only 5,500 were minted. We estimate that perhaps 5% still survive today, or about 250, virtually all in lower grades as noted.
PCGS Population: 5; 1 finer (AU-58).
Date logotype well centered and deeply impressed into die.
From Abe Kosoff’s ANA sale, August 1958, Lot 1014.
1460 1857-S EF-45. Some scattered marks, particularly on the reverse rim. Somewhat prooflike in protected areas. A nice example at this grade level of this popular date.
Date logotype fairly well centered vertically and also left to right. More deeply impressed at the bottom of the logotype than at the top. Mintmark light and "open," possibly from being impressed only to medium depth into the working die; other S mintmarks offered here are heavier and bolder.
Purchased from N.K.S., February 1, 1972.
1461 1857-S Net EF-40; sharpness of a finer grade, but lightly brushed. Pale yellow surfaces. Quite attractive overall.
Date logotype very low and about four times closer to the dentil than to the neck truncation above. Deeply and evenly punched into the die. Reverse with upper part of mintmark barely touching extreme tip of arrow feather.
Purchased from N.K.S., July 30, 1968, earlier from Parke-Bernet Galleries.
1462 1857-S EF-40. A final example of this popular date.
Date logotype very low and about four times closer to the dentil than to the neck truncation above. Deeply and evenly punched into the die. Mintmark on reverse bold and fairly high.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2265.
Impressive 1858-O
$10
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1463 1858-O AU-55 (PCGS). Bright yellow gold, probably from California metal (which at the time was shipped in quantity to New Orleans via Panama). Reverse with some carbon flecks at right. Quite well struck. A rarity so fine.
Date fairly low, about twice as close to the dentils as to the neck truncation. Light impressed into the die at the left side of the 8, deeply at the right. The mint employee holding the logotype punch did not position it vertically.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen, December 13, 1968.
1464 1858-O AU-50. Light yellow gold. Somewhat prooflike.
Dies as preceding.
Purchased from N.K.S., June 30, 1967.
1465 1858-O EF-40. Light yellow gold. Somewhat brushed but still attractive. Nick on reverse rim.
Dies as preceding.
Purchased from Michael G. Brownlee, March 31, 1967.
1466 1858-O EF-40. Bright yellow gold. A very attractive example.
Dies as preceding.
Purchased from Douglas Weaver, September 26, 1973.
Lustrous 1858-S $10
Rare So Fine
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1467 1858-S AU-55 (PCGS). Light, lustrous surfaces. Quite scarce in this high grade. The variety is typically seen at such levels as VF and EF. Rather modest mintage of 11,800, or less than half of that of 1857-S. Moreover, no examples have been known to have been found in hoards. A significant opportunity for the specialist.
PCGS Population: 2; none finer.
Date very high, about three times closer to the neck truncation than to the dentils. Deeply punched into the die and well centered left and right.
Reverse with boldly impressed mintmark. Some cracks (or die flaws?) are seen at the tops of UNIT at the left. A delicate crack extends from the border upward through N (TEN) and slightly into the field above. Prominent raised parallel die lines are seen at the upper right of the die.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, October 5, 1967.
Prooflike Mint State 1859 $10
Possible Proof
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1468 1859 MS-61 (PCGS). Considered by Harry Bass to be a Proof, which it probably is, as, per Harry Bass’s notes, the die markers are correct. Rich golden surfaces with some abrasions. A lovely specimen for the grade.
PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer (MS-62).
Date widely spaced and delicate in appearance. Low on the die, about twice as close to the dentils as to the neck truncation above. Full Proof surface on obverse and reverse, including within the shield stripes. Harry Bass’ notes reveal that at first he questioned this being a Proof, calling it "doubtful," but later compared it to a Proof, and changed his mind. Prospective buyers may wish to come to their own conclusions.
Mention is made of a new reverse hub (see Breen-6391) introduced this year, but the differences are not notable, and few numismatists, even specialists, have paid attention to the variety.
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 345.
1469 1859 EF-45. Bright yellow gold surfaces. Sharply struck and well detailed. A truly outstanding specimen that is deserving of close attention. High-grade business strikes are exceedingly difficult to locate.
Obverse date seemingly from the same die as preceding, which complicates the "Proof question" earlier raised. Some prooflike surface on obverse and reverse, including within the shield stripe, but also with die striae, particularly on reverse, indicative of a business strike, not a Proof. An interesting piece for the inquisitive specialist to investigate. Harry Bass simply noted that it was from the identical dies as the Proof, but now lapped on both sides. Perhaps the lapping caused the die striae.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of February 1969, Lot 1408.
1470 1859 EF-40. Bright yellow gold.
Die pair seemingly as preceding, but with enough wear that some of the minute markers cannot be seen.
Purchased from Lester Merkin, June 23, 1967.
Highly Important
1859-O $10
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1471 1859-O AU-53 (PCGS). Light yellow gold. Somewhat prooflike around the letters. A very pleasing specimen of one of the notable rarities of the New Orleans Mint, one of just 2,300 struck. Apparently no more than a few dozen survive, and the number may even be below a dozen (see following commentary). Douglas Winter estimates the total population as only 30 to 35 coins, noting that the finest known to him is AU-50.
David Akers checks in with this comment: "The 1859-O is the rarest O-Mint eagle, and is actually one of the rarest dates in this entire 224-coin series (of coins of $10 denomination)…The best I have ever personally examined was a single AU specimen, and the relatively few others I have seen are only VF or EF."
Walter Breen, whose comments on American gold coins must always be considered, in his Encyclopedia, states this: "Fewer than 12 survive. Usually in low grades; prohibitively rare EF."
Our sale of the Eliasberg Collection, October 1982, presented a very nice EF-45 coin earlier from John H. Clapp, and still earlier from J.C. Mitchelson. Our Norweb Collection coin (March 1988) was similarly graded, as have been a handful of other pieces that have passed through our hands over the years. The Bass Collection coin is exceptionally notable, a landmark within the series, and should attract especially wide attention.
PCGS Population: 5; 2 finer (AU-55 finest).
Although three pairs of dies were on hand, apparently only one die pair was employed for the 1859-O coinage—a logical situation considering the tiny mintage.
Date logotype deeply impressed into the die, and about twice as close to the dentils as to the neck truncation above.
On the reverse the O mintmark is positioned so that the tip of the arrow feather points to the upper right outside curve, and is separated from it.
Purchased from Stack’s, November 5, 1970.
Elusive 1859-S $10
Akers: "Grossly
Underrated"
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1472 1859-S AU-53 (PCGS). Light yellow gold. Much lustre is still seen in protected areas, this being particularly true of the reverse. A handsome specimen of an issue which David Akers has stated as "grossly underrated in light of its true rarity," further stating: "The 1859-S is as rare as the famous 1858 and 1859-O and thus ranks near the top of the series in rarity according to frequency of appearance at auction and rarity according to average grade." Walter Breen comments: "Very rare," and notes that all examples have a large S mintmark.
It takes a dedicated numismatist and one with a fairly substantial checkbook to collect $10 pieces by date and mint, as little attention was paid to these years ago, and even issues that appear to be common (from the aspect of mintage quantities) prove to be rare when specimens are sought in higher grades such as EF or AU. Regarding Mint State coins, forget it is the usual rule for branch mint pieces of this era, never mind the nonchalant listing of Mint State coins in the Guide Book.
The present 1859-S represents as good an illustration as any to suggest that the careful student of the series would do well to bid liberally. The exact number of 1859-S $10 is not known, but it is only a few dozen at best, perhaps even far less. What this piece will bring will be seen when it crosses the auction block. The latest edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins suggests $12,000 for an AU specimen. Many comparisons could be made, but perhaps the 1876-CC silver twenty-cent piece would be a good target in this regard. Close to two dozen of the latter are known to exist, and a comparable AU specimen if offered at auction would slide across the $50,000 level in a wink. One can hardly say that twenty-cent pieces are in the mainstream of popularity, as the series is from the 19th century, and is fairly obscure. If a comparison is made to a more popular series, it could be stated that a silver dollar of comparable rarity would be worth into six figures.
In any event, the piece will bring what it brings, and our only purpose for the commentary is to point out that there are some great rarites "out there" that are not widely recognized, and the 1859-S is one of them.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (AU-55).
Date logotype deep into die and two to three times closer to dentils than to the neck truncation. A whisper of a die crack extends from the border to the lower left serif of the first digit. As is true of virtually all $10 pieces of this era—a function of the master die—the outermost ray on star 1 is very close to a dentil.
On the reverse the S is large, with the left side of the bottom left serif being about even with the right upright of N (TEN).
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 660.
Incredible Proof
1860 $10
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1473 1860 Proof-64 (PCGS). A superb coin from any and every aspect. The surfaces are warm and brilliant, with frosty cameo devices set against deep mirror fields.
The rarity of this issue is exceeded by few other Proof gold coins after 1858. The mintage figure of 50 coins has been published, but it is exceedingly unlikely anywhere near this quantity ever reached buyers, Walter Breen’s comments that 30 "sets" were sold notwithstanding. No matter, the same writer (Breen) forthrightly states: "Not over 10 traceable." Rarity-wise the coin is a fitting mate to the 1860 Proof $20 offered subsequently in the present sale.
Expanding upon Breen’s comments (these from his Encyclopedia on Proof coins), he lists the specific knowledge of six pieces, and mentions "several impaired pieces" as well, but not by name. Of the coins he lists, one is in the Smithsonian Institution and the other is in the American Numismatic Society. With regard to available Proofs that are not impaired, what is the rarity? Certainly not more than a handful. The present coin, the finest Harry Bass was able to purchase, is a true numismatic landmark.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (Proof-65).
Obverse with date logotype deeply punched into the die, and very low, about three times closer to the dentils than to the neck truncation.
The reverse is of the earlier hub, which was continued at a later date (after 1859) on Proofs.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 1068.
Marvelous Mint State
1860 $10
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1474 1860 MS-64 (PCGS). A lustrous specimen, separated from superb gem status only by a few carbon marks beneath OF. We have never laid our eyes upon a nicer coin!
The impression is fresh from the dies, with virtually all die striae (from the preparation process) still intact on the obverse and reverse, giving the coin a satiny appearance overall. A truly marvelous coin!
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
Date logotype in about the same position as the Proof, but from a different die. Deeply punched.
The reverse is of the new Type II hub, but the differences, as earlier noted, are not major, and few numismatists have taken note of them (Harry Bass being an exception).
From Superior’s Auction ’85, Lot 959.
1475 1860 Net EF-45; a candidate for AU status save for a partially removed scrape beneath the neck truncation. Light yellow gold overall. Quite scarce in high-grade business strike form.
Date logotype similar to preceding.
Purchased from N.K.S., November 15, 1968.
1476 1860 EF-45. Light yellow gold.
Date logotype position about as preceding.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro, March 31, 1969.
1477 1860 EF-40. Another business strike specimen of this date. Somewhat prooflike in protected areas, particularly within the shield stripes.
Logotype positioned about as preceding.
Purchased from Arizona Stamp and Coin Co., March 14, 1969.
Memorable 1860-O
$10
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1478 1860-O AU-50. Lustrous and attractive. A high-grade specimen of the last New Orleans $10 struck prior to the Civil War. Of the 11,000 minted, most are in lower grades, VF being typical. The present coin represents a significant opportunity.
Date very deep into the die, more so than the Philadelphia Mint pieces earlier described, but about in the same position, approximately three times closer to a dentil than to the neck truncation above.
Purchased from N.K.S., October 7, 1968.
1479 1860-O EF-40. Light yellow gold. Another nice example of this pre-Confederacy issue.
Date logotype impressed into the die at medium depth, very slightly higher in position—but still low overall—in comparison to the previous piece.
Purchased from N.K.S., March 30, 1968.
Seldom-Seen 1860-S
$10
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1480 1860-S Net VF-20; sharpness of EF-40 but cleaned. With a mintage of just 5,000 pieces, the 1860-S is elusive in any and all grades. The present coin, although it will win no condition awards, will serve to provide this elusive date for the specialist.
Date very low, even closer to the dentils than on the varieties earlier described, perhaps five times closer to the dentils than to the neck truncation.
Reverse with large S mintmark. Breen-6936, as are all.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, April 1968, Lot 2267.
