Half Eagles - Lots 446-557
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part III
Half Eagles - Lots 446-557
Pleasing 1853-D Half Eagle
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446 1853-D AU-55. Lustrous and attractive with few very minor surface marks, most notably a few small abrasions on Liberty’s jaw and neck. Central weakness as usual.
Obverse with die line through lower points of star 6. Reverse has mintmark high and right, touching both the arrow feather and stem. Winter’s variety 23-R. The bottom edge of the mintmark is slightly doubled below.
From Abner Kreisberg’s sale of September 1971, Lot 1045.
447 1853-D AU-50. Light yellow gold with faint traces of orange patina. Slightly rough surfaces, no doubt from having spent some time with the octopi and sharks beneath the surface of the sea.
Winter’s variety 23-S. However, the obverse die has fine finishing lines in different positions from the previous two lots. This may be a different die, although the date placement appears to be the same. Raised die lines are between star 13 and the date.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, December 21, 1971.
Exceptional 1854 Half Eagle
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448 1854 MS-63 (PCGS). Frosty light yellow gold lustre with a hint of orange. A few widely scattered abrasions are noted. Very sharply struck and attractive. As with most other dates throughout the 1850s, this half eagle issue is scarce in Mint State and a true rarity when choice.
PCGS Population: 3; 2 finer (MS-64 finest).
Large date elements with the top of 1 firmly joined to the bust. Faint obverse and reverse clash marks. A fine die crack connects E and D in the denomination.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, August 12, 1969.
Exceptional Mint State 1854-C $5
Bold Mintmark Variety
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449 1854-C MS-60 (PCGS). This is a wonderful example with lustrous, brilliant greenish yellow gold surfaces. A few moderate surface marks are visible. Typical strike with central weakness on the hair curls beneath the coronet and among various reverse design details. Only a few Mint State examples are known, perhaps just five or six. Of these, only two have strong mintmarks, including the presently offered coin. Only 39,283 coins were struck, representing the beginning of a decline in annual mintages at the Charlotte Mint.
Faint obverse clash marks. The reverse has a heavy bisecting die crack from the border through left side of first S, eagle’s wing, lower edge of shield, lower design details, and CA to the border.
From Stack’s sale of the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, October 1994, Lot 1142.
450 1854-C EF-45. Moderately abraded light yellow gold surfaces with a hint of orange patina. Although relatively weakly struck, the mintmark is sharp and bold.
From the same dies as the previous lot, with the reverse bisecting crack visible, yet not as advanced.
From Stack’s sale of December 1970, Lot 192.
Amazing Mint State 1854-D $5
Extremely Sharp Mintmark
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451 1854-D Large Mintmark. MS-62 (PCGS). This is a lovely example with wonderful surfaces displaying only very few hairlines or other abrasions. Extremely sharp strike with all obverse and reverse design details boldly defined. The central hair details and fine details of the eagle on the reverse are all exceptionally sharp. Rich, satiny yellow gold lustre with a hint of green. Doug Winter notes that this is a common date among Dahlonega Mint half eagles, however, it is an extreme rarity in Mint State. Of course, almost any Dahlonega Mint coin is, in fact, a rarity in Mint State. Warning label: Buying this coin might be dangerous to the remainder of your collection, for it can spoil you—and you might come to expect too much!
PCGS Population: 3; 4 finer (MS-65 finest).
From Superior’s sale of the Dr. Charles Ruby Collection, February 1975, Lot 1197.
Lustrous 1854-D Half Eagle
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452 1854-D Large Mintmark. AU-58 (PCGS). An exceptional example with bright yellow gold lustre and very few imperfections of any type. A rarity in higher grades despite the mintage of 56,413 coins. Very slight central weakness is noted.
Mintmark is high and right, touching both the arrow feather and branch stem. Bottom of the mintmark is very slightly doubled.
From our sale of the Armand Champa Collection, May 1972, Lot 537.
Pleasing 1854-D Half Eagle
Bold Mintmark
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453 1854-D Medium Mintmark. AU-55. A lovely example with light yellow gold lustre and faint orange patina. Typically weak design details at center of obverse and reverse. The mintmark is unusually bold, however. A few very minor surface marks are noted. All told, a far above average example.
Winter variety 25-T with the date slightly closer to the border than bust truncation. The reverse has mintmark clearly separated from feather and stem. Although this reverse die has been noted by various scholars, only recently has the fact that it is a Medium D been discovered. This reverse is likely a leftover die from 1843 or 1844. This reverse was first used in 1853 and again in 1855.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, July 26, 1967.
Sharp 1854-O Half Eagle
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454 1854-O AU-58. Very sharply struck with slightly reflective light greenish gold surfaces. This is a very attractive example despite minor hairlines. Just 46,000 were minted with most survivors grading VF or EF. Lower level AU coins are available; however, choice AU examples are only occasionally seen.
Mintmark leans slightly to the left.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 897.
455 1854-O AU-55. Slightly reflective light greenish gold with minor hairlines and other abrasions. Sharply struck with very slight weakness among the central designs. A pleasing example of this popular issue. Very seldom found in grades even approaching the present offering. An important opportunity.
Mintmark leans slightly to the left.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of October 1968, Lot 871.
456 1854-O AU-50. Greenish yellow gold with minor abrasions. The lower obverse has very fine brush marks.
There seem to be two states of the four-digit 1854 half eagle logotype. Our observations are stated here, and the editor (QDB) welcomes correspondence with anyone having different views or adding or subtracting from what we say: in its form, the four-digit logotype had rounded surfaces to the tops of the digits, and the ball on the 5 was especially rounded, almost hemispherical. The lower left of the 4 was quite thick. Later, the logotype seems to have been dressed by grinding it against a flat surface, making the tops of the numerals flat, and also trimming the 4 so that the lower left corner is no longer thick, but is thin (and in the process causing the separation between the 5 and the 4 to become wider). Observation is that the early state of the logotype was used on some Philadelphia Mint dies and all branch mint dies, whereas the second or lighter version of the logotype was used only on later Philadelphia Mint dies.
Purchased from Jim Cohen, August 4, 1968.
Lustrous Mint State 1855 Half Eagle
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457 1855 MS-62 (PCGS). Another rarity in Mint State, among an entire series of such rarities. Brilliant and frosty yellow gold lustre with a very faint trace of light green patina. Very few scattered marks are noted, suggesting that some might think this to be a higher grade. Very few survivors from the mintage of 117,098 coins match this in quality. Possibly two dozen examples are known in Mint State, with most barely meeting the grade.
The date is slightly right of center, with digit 1 distant from the bust, and right tip of final 5 touching the shoulder.
At any level of Mint State—never mind MS-62—half eagles of this era are nearly impossible to find. In fact, in the entire history of numismatics from the earliest days of collecting to the present, not a single individual has ever put together a Mint State collection or even a collection of all AU or finer half eagles of this decade. The reason is that when such pieces were struck, very little numismatic attention was paid to them. By the time that numismatists became interested, high-grade coins has long since disappeared. Today, a specimen such as the presently offered 1855 can be found only at widely separated intervals. No serious attempt can be made to collect the series in this condition, and the best expectation is to obtain occasional pieces here and there as the opportunity arises.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
458 1855-C AU-55. Slightly reflective, prooflike surfaces of bright yellow gold. Sharply struck with weakness only at the usual places on the reverse. Cleaned on the obverse, and with resultant hairlines. About average for an 1855-C half eagle.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, March 15, 1972.
Lustrous 1855-D Half Eagle
Truly Exceptional
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459 1855-D Medium Mintmark. AU-58 (PCGS). This low-mintage issue is seldom found in grades better than EF. Lustrous light yellow gold with average design details, showing some weakness below Liberty’s ear and on the eagle’s neck. The surfaces are very pleasing with only a few minor abrasions. Doug Winter described this issue as "scarce and underrated" and further noted: "It is very rare in the higher AU grades and it is extremely rare in full Mint State." He listed just two Mint State coins in his census, along with four grading AU-58. A truly exceptional 1855-D—one combining high numerical appeal and, equally or even more important, a generous measure of beauty and eye appeal.
Dave Bowers discusses the minting procedures of this issue, and related issues, in his upcoming gold series: "Usually with some lightness at the centers. It is important to remember that 1855-D half eagles—as well as other half eagles of this era—were strictly workhorse coins, made for use in commerce and with no thought of creating specimens for numismatic cabinets. By spacing the dies ever so slightly farther apart, die life would be prolonged and breakage would be minimized—at the very small practical expense of sharpness in the deepest die recesses."
PCGS Population: 9; 4 finer (MS-63 finest). This population probably represents some resubmissions (as do virtually all population figures).
See under Lot 453 for the new Medium D designation.
From Paramount’s 1969 ANA Sale, August 1969, Lot 1938.
460 1855-D Medium Mintmark. AU-50. Seawater surfaces. Deep orange-gold with very few surface marks other than the very fine porosity as suggested by the seawater description. Average strike for the issue. It is likely that this piece was in Mint State, or very close to it, at the time it became unexpectedly (presumably) submerged.
See under Lot 453 for the new Medium D designation.
From RARCOA’s sale of February 1972, Lot 911.
Rare 1855-O Half Eagle
Mintage: 11,100
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461 1855-O AU-58 (PCGS). Very sharply struck in greenish yellow gold with slightly reflective fields. The central design details are extremely sharp, the only weakness being noted on the eagle’s claw and top arrow feather. Very seldom are examples of this quality encountered. In Part II of the Bass Collection, an example crossed the block as MS-61, the finest graded by PCGS. The only other Mint State example to be sold in the past decade was the MS-60 coin in the Milas Collection, sold by Stack’s in May 1995. We believe this example to be fourth finest known among all survivors of this issue. New Orleans coins have been neglected by numismatists for a long time, until the recent generation or so. At the time of issue not even the Mint Cabinet preserved examples of current pieces.
PCGS Population: 1; 3 finer (MS-61 finest).
Mintmark large and with an open center (almost large enough to put a small S mintmark within!).
Reverse with small prooflike area at top of second pair of vertical shield stripes.
From Glendining’s sale of October 1970, Lot 963.
Attractive 1855-S Half Eagle
First Collectible San Francisco Half Eagle
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462 1855-S AU-58 (PCGS). Light yellow gold with slightly reflective fields and very faint hairlines. A few very minor surface marks are noted. This is among the very rarest of all half eagles, with only two or three Mint State examples known. This AU-58 is certainly among the top six examples surviving from the 61,000 coins minted. A truly remarkable coin—one that will be treasured by its next owner.
PCGS Population: 4; 1 finer (MS-62, which appeared in Part II of the Bass Collection).
If the successful purchaser of this lot does not have a copy of the book, The Treasure Ship S.S. Brother Jonathan, a note to the editor will bring one forthwith. The volume discusses San Francisco during the 1850s and 1860s, including detailed information relating to the establishment of the San Francisco Mint and the coinage year by year of gold and silver at that facility—including the 1855-S. There are quite a few remarkable anecdotes relating to the Mint, including intrigue, near rebellion of the employees, and, unrelated to the preceding, famous writer Bret Harte working there as an employee.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 438.
463 1855-S Net EF-40; sharpness of AU-50 with a heavy file mark on the obverse rim at 2:00. This is typical of file marks made in gold objects when testing for content. Pale orange-gold with hairlines from cleaning.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, September 26, 1967.
Impressive Mint State 1856 $5
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464 1856 MS-64 (PCGS). Intensely lustrous with brilliant light yellow gold surfaces and virtually no marks of any sort. Very faint greenish gold toning increases the aesthetic appeal. Although from a generous mintage of 197,900 coins, this is a rarity in Mint State with only 12 to 18 such examples surviving today. Among those, only a very few approach this example for quality.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (MS-65).
Struck from a rotated reverse die, aligned approximately 150° rather than the normal 180°. A tiny raised die lump, probably the result of die rust, is seen on Liberty’s neck just below her earlobe.
From Paramount’s session of Auction ‘86, July 1986, Lot 1919.
Lovely Mint State 1856 Half Eagle
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465 1856 MS-62 (PCGS). Lustrous light yellow gold with sharp design details and few minor hairlines or abrasions. A rarity in Mint State with this almost certainly among the top dozen examples known. Remember, the Bass Collection represents a gathering of some of the very finest gold coins available in all of numismatics over a period of more than 30 years, from the late 1960s to the late 1990s.
PCGS Population: 6; 3 finer (MS-65 finest).
Purchased from Julian Leidman, March 16, 1970.
Pretty 1856-C Half Eagle Rarity
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466 1856-C AU-55 (PCGS). Very sharply struck with full obverse and reverse design details, save for very slight weakness on the eagle’s neck, more a result of wear, than of strike quality. Light pinkish yellow gold with nearly complete satiny lustre. Coins at this grade level are quite rare with just four or five Mint State examples known, along with possibly another dozen or so choice AU examples. Douglas Winter considers this date among the most underrated and undervalued issues from this mint. He notes the same is true of Dahlonega and New Orleans half eagles bearing this date.
PCGS Population: 5; 8 finer (MS-61 finest).
Outstanding 1856-D Half Eagle
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467 1856-D AU-58 (PCGS). A highly lustrous, aesthetically appealing example of this scarce issue, one of just 19,786 coins struck. Typical strike with slight central weakness. A few minor surface marks are noted; however, these are not serious. Pleasing greenish gold with very slightly mirrored surfaces, especially on the reverse. A lovely example.
Diagonal die finishing lines are noted through the date.
Purchased from Dean Oakes, October 18, 1972.
468 1856-D EF-45. Subdued greenish gold with pleasing surfaces. The rims are heavily beveled, typical of most known examples.
If a reader would care to give an explanation as to why certain gold coins have doubled rims, and explain the minting procedure, we would be grateful.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of October 1968, Lot 1576.
Prooflike Mint State 1856-O Half Eagle
Only PCGS Mint State Coin
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469 1856-O MS-61 (PCGS). This is an extremely important opportunity and is the only Mint State example of this issue certified by PCGS, and this is after 15 years of grading coins. According to Douglas Winter, only one Mint State coin was known when he conducted his research on New Orleans gold. That coin was part of the Ed Milas Collection, sold by Stack’s in May 1995.
Bright greenish yellow gold with fully prooflike obverse and reverse fields and typical minor abrasions, although none are individually distracting. Extremely sharp strike, with only stars 1 and 2 flat. Otherwise, all stars, and all other obverse and reverse design details are superbly rendered. We cannot resist mentioning that at the Mint State level the 1856-O half eagle seems to be rarer than the exceedingly famous 1856-O double eagle! What an opportunity is presented.
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
Purchased from Dan Dethlefsen.
470 1856-S Breen-6625. Large S. AU-58. A lovely example with full lustre and delightful aesthetic appeal. Light greenish yellow gold with faint pinkish rose toning. A few very minor reverse rim nicks are noted. With a mintage of 105,100 coins, this is the most available San Francisco Mint half eagle of the No Motto design type. As such, an outstanding opportunity for the collector to obtain a western mint coin for his or her type set, or simply to acquire a sample of "California Gold."
S mintmark very large and with ample interior spaces. Nearly centered beneath the crotch of the arrow feather and branch.
Lovely Mint State 1857 Half Eagle
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471 1857 MS-62 (PCGS). Superb aesthetics with frosty golden rose lustre and only a few minor surface marks. This issue is among the more available No Motto half eagles in Mint State. In fact, the 1857 half eagle has the fifth highest PCGS population in Mint State. Even still, only 33 examples have received that lofty grade designation at this grading service—which by any accounting creates a rarity on an absolute basis.
Purchased from A-Mark, April 10, 1978.
Important 1857-C Half Eagle
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472 1857-C AU-58 (PCGS). Satiny light yellow gold lustre with sharp design details. A few minor hairlines are visible, along with some other minor abrasions—normal for this grade level. With a mintage of 31,360 coins, this is a scarcity among Charlotte gold coins. A number of Mint State examples survive, some of which were undoubtedly called AU years ago. The present coin, now called AU, is in our opinion among the top 20 finest in existence. A lovely piece that will satisfy the advanced collector.
PCGS Population: 4; 9 finer, (MS-62 finest).
From Stack’s sale of June 1972, Lot 853.
Impressive 1857-D Half Eagle
Only One Graded Finer by PCGS
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473 1857-D MS-62 (PCGS). This is an extremely rare coin and is among the very finest known. Extremely sharp strike with frosty, brilliant yellow gold lustre. Only occasional surface marks are noted, as expected. With a high degree of aesthetic appeal, which is quite unusual. Doug Winter noted: "The majority of 1857-D half eagles do not have especially good eye appeal. This is the result of poor strikes, inferior planchets and numismatic abuse. Any example with good eye appeal is quite rare." This example, which may qualify as second finest known, is equal in quality to the plate coin in the Winter reference. However, the present piece is much more sharply struck.
PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer (MS-63, which appeared in Part II of the Bass Collection).
Date logotype fairly shallow in the die—more resembling a typical Philadelphia Mint half eagle than one from Dahlonega. It is absolutely fascinating to closely compare the date logotype punches within a given year such as 1857, and among adjacent years. The cataloguing of the Bass Collection coins has been a great pleasure in many regards, including this one aspect.
Purchased from Joe Flynn, March 17, 1978.
Important 1857-O Half Eagle
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474 1857-O AU-55 (PCGS). Lightly abraded greenish yellow gold with reflective surfaces. A nice match for the 1856-O offered above, and nearly equal in rarity. Sharply struck and very attractive. An extremely important opportunity for the specialist. Douglas Winter noted that this date is unknown in Mint State; however, since the time of his research a small number of such coins have been certified. No matter how the situation is evaluated, the piece offered here is one of the very finest known.
PCGS Population: 4; 4 finer (MS-63 finest).
The date logotype on this issue is very deeply impressed in the die, somewhat "rocked" left and right, making the digit very heavy and prominent, with the centered two digits prominent but less so. This impression shows a very slight flattening on the bottom curve of the 7, a feature which is only observed on 1857 dies (of various mints) with logotype deeply impressed.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 1973, Lot 443.
Seldom Seen Mint State 1857-S $5
From the Eliasberg Collection
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475 1857-S Breen-6633. Small S. MS-61 (PCGS). A lovely half eagle with richly lustrous yellow gold surfaces. A few minor imperfections are present, including a small scratch in the left obverse field. All of the abrasions noted, however, are consistent with the assigned grade. Mintage was 87,000 coins, the second largest production of San Francisco Mint half eagles of this No Motto design type. This is the Small S variety, with the mintmark just 1 mm. tall. Compare this to the illustration of Lot 1101 in the Bass Collection, Part II, with the mintmark 1.7 mm.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (MS-62, which was offered in Part II of the Bass Collection).
Date logotype impressed somewhat similar to the preceding, with first and last digits especially bold. Logotype high, with upper right of 7 touching neck truncation.
Obviously, there is a possibility of additional examples appearing as part of the S.S. Central America treasure, although that treasure primarily consisted of 1857-S double eagles. We certainly wish to raise the possibility; however, we have no doubt that potential customers bidding on this coin are already aware of the situation.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 487.
476 1858 AU-58. A rarity among Philadelphia Mint half eagles, one of just 15,136 struck. Nearly complete orange-gold lustre with very few minor surface marks. Deeper orange-gold patina is present at top of the obverse. A most attractive example. The tops of FIVE D. appear slightly flattened, probably occurring sometime after 1858. This issue is quite elusive in AU grades.
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 19, 1968.
477 1858 AU-50. Another pleasing example with light rose toning over yellow gold lustre. Typical central weakness with lightly abraded surfaces, as expected for the grade (that is what grading numbers are all about—without abrasions the coin would be AU-55, MS-60, or even MS-65—depending upon the degree)
Purchased from Michael Brownlee, April 26, 1967.
Lovely 1858-C Half Eagle
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478 1858-C AU-58 (PCGS). Sharply struck with lovely yellow gold lustre. Although with a relatively low mintage of 38,856 coins, this issue has a relatively high survival rate, especially in higher grades. Douglas Winter gave this issue a rank of 24th out of 24 coins in high grade. Despite this, there are still less than a dozen Mint State survivors with a few more of similar quality to the presently offered coin. All Charlotte Mint half eagles are rarities when AU or finer. This particular piece has a tremendous amount of eye appeal. Add this to the technical grade and all ingredients are in place for a truly winning coin.
The survival rate is no doubt caused by regional hoarding of Charlotte (and also Dahlonega) coins on the eve of the Civil War. No such counterpart in hoarding existed for New Orleans pieces, which were more widely scattered through shipment to distant places by sea as well as distribution in the Mississippi River basin.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 913.
Pleasing 1858-D Half Eagle
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479 1858-D AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous greenish yellow gold with light orange patina. A delightful example of this scarce issue, one of just 15,362 minted. Contact marks as expected for the grade, for virtually every example from this mint went directly into the channels of commerce. A very rare issue when in grades similar to or finer than the present example.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 914.
480 1859 AU-58. Attractive orange-gold with reflective, satiny lustre. The fields are slightly subdued with minor surface marks evident. A low-mintage Philadelphia Mint issue, one of just 16,734 coins struck. Very few high-grade survivors are known.
Date logotype in small numerals very widely spaced, quite a dramatic contrast from the style of the preceding several years. On the present 1859 eagle the logotype was impressed into the working die at medium depth, making the numerals seem even wider apart than on the next lot (which is also from the same logotype punch).
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 6, 1968.
Important 1859-D Half Eagle
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481 1859-D Large Mintmark. AU-53 (PCGS). Light greenish yellow gold. Some marks are consistent with the grade. Some evidence of light striking as normal on all authentic examples, but sharper than usual for the present specimen. Soft frosty lustre is displayed with slight traces of mirrored surfaces. Upon close examination under high magnification some die finish lines are seen, particularly on the obverse, indicating that this must have been a very early impression. An attractive example of this very low-mintage issue, the second lowest production of any Dahlonega Mint half eagle—one of just 10,366 coins struck.
Date logotype very deep into the die, making the figures appear much closer together than on the preceding lot—although the same logotype was used for each die.
Although Breen had noted the existence of the large mintmark for this date, it was not until the Bass Part II sale that a cataloguer recognized this variety.
From Abner Kreisberg’s sale of September 1971, Lot 1054.
Amazing 1859-S Half Eagle
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482 1859-S AU-53 (PCGS). A lovely example with bright yellow lustre and few minor surface marks. Sharply struck with complete obverse and reverse design definition. A very rare issue regardless of grade and extremely rare in high grades. Actually much rarer than generally thought, as noted by Dave Bowers, who estimates just 20 to 30 examples are known in all grades: "This is another one of several San Francisco Mint half eagles from this era that are much rarer than generally realized, and which garner very little publicity. When seen (which is infrequently), a typical grade is apt to be VF or EF. At the AU level, the 1859-S is a major rarity."
Throughout the 1990s, only three finer examples have appeared at auction, including the Milas Collection MS-62 and two examples in Part II of the Bass Collection, MS-62 and AU-55.
PCGS Population: 3; 5 finer (MS-62 finest).
Date very small and low in the field. Left base of digit 1 is just 1/10th mm. from the border while the tip of this digit is over one full mm. from the bust. In fact, another complete date would fit in the space between the date and bust!
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 288.
483 1860 AU-50. Moderately abraded light yellow gold with traces of lustre remaining in the protected areas. A low-mintage issue with a total production of just 19,763 coins. Certainly far from the common date status that one might expect.
Slight doubling is noted on letters of UNITED.
Purchased from William Donner, February 17, 1968.
484 1860 EF-45. Sharply struck with pleasing medium yellow gold surfaces. Minor abrasions as expected for the grade.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
Finest Known 1860-C Half Eagle
From the Robison Collection
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485 1860-C MS-63 (PCGS). An outstanding example of this low-mintage issue, one of just 14,813 struck. Satiny yellow gold lustre on the obverse with frosty reverse lustre. A few very minor surface marks are noted, qualifying it for the MS-63 grade, but the point is moot, as no finer piece has been seen. The obverse has exceptional design definition with trivial weakness among the hair strands immediately below ER and the lock below Liberty’s ear. All central star details are bold and sharp. The reverse shows some lightness of strike on the neck and among the lower details of the eagle’s claws and arrow feathers, this being typical for the issue. This weakness appears to be more a result of poor detail in the original coinage die, rather than weakness of strike. Doug Winter attributed this to die rust: "There is very extensive rust on the neck of the eagle, its wings and claws, and over the shield and olive leaves. This rust makes these details appear very blurry. The borders are considerably sharper with strong lettering, denticles and a bold mintmark."
This example appears to be finest known for the variety. The only other contender is an example NGC graded MS-63, reported by Doug Winter as being in the inventory of Delaware Valley Rare Coins as of August 1998.
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
The date is small, deeply punched into the working die, and low in the field—much closer to the border than to the bust.
From Stack’s sale of the Robison Collection, February 1979, Lot 460.
Lustrous 1860-D Half Eagle
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486 1860-D Large Mintmark. AU-58 (PCGS). An outstanding example of this rare date, one of just 14,635 minted. Rich, satiny yellow gold lustre with very minor abrasions. A minor planchet lamination from the border below star 1 extends horizontally to 18 of the date. Quite sharply struck although stars 1 and 2 lack detail, as does the eagle’s neck, this not being unusual for the variety.
Despite the low mintage, this high-grade 1860-D half eagle has some company at this and higher levels. In his new gold series, Dave Bowers explains that this is primarily a result of the hoarding of precious metals on the eve of the Civil War.
Discovered by Harry Bass, but has remained unpublished until this sale.
From Stack’s sale of the Robison Collection, February 1979, Lot 461.
Another 1860-D Half Eagle
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487 1860-D Medium Mintmark. AU-55 (PCGS). Pale yellow gold lustre with a hint of green. Very slightly reflective fields with minor hairlines and other abrasions, including minor graffiti in the right obverse field. Sharply struck and attractive, despite the minor imperfections. A satisfactory example of the date, mint, and grade level.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 291.
Important 1860-S Half Eagle
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488 1860-S EF-45 (PCGS). Pale orange-gold surfaces with considerable lustre remaining in the protected areas around devices. Although a few very minor hairlines and other marks are noted, the surfaces are exceptional for the grade level. This is an important opportunity to obtain a very rare issue, seldom seen in any grade.
PCGS Population: 5; 11 finer (MS-62 finest).
Issue for issue, coin for coin, San Francisco Mint half eagles from the mid ‘50s up to circa 1860 are much scarcer in high grades, including EF-45, than are those from Charlotte and Dahlonega. At present, Charlotte and Dahlonega coins have a large and enthusiastic following of collectors, while San Francisco pieces are somewhat neglected, and New Orleans coins even more so. Thus, it would seem to us that while the Bass Collection will at once fulfill long pent up desires of Charlotte and Dahlonega mint collectors, anyone with an eye to becoming a specialist in San Francisco or New Orleans coins can steal a march on the market by acquiring truly scarce and rare coins at what seem to be exceedingly attractive and reasonable price levels.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 1973, Lot 456.
Incredible Gem 1861 Half Eagle
Quality Rarely Seen
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489 1861 MS-65 (PCGS). Extraordinarily sharp strike with superb, frosty yellow gold lustre. With the exception of stars 1, 2, and 13, and the eagle’s neck, every detail is fully defined. A few minute marks keep this out of the superb gem category. Although this issue has the second highest mintage of any No Motto half eagle, 688,084 struck, very few survive in gem condition.
PCGS Population: 6; 1 finer (MS-66).
Date logotype in small numerals widely spaced, the general style employed since 1859. On the present die the logotype was fairly lightly impressed—although very distinctly—and somewhat low and to the left.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, October 12, 1971.
Mint State 1861 Half Eagle
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490 1861 MS-62. Sharply struck with frosty light yellow gold lustre. A few very minor surface marks are noted. This is a delightful example for the type collector.
Date logotype deeply impressed in the die and in an entirely different position from the foregoing—as a quick glance at the photographs will reveal.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, March 15, 1972.
Lovely 1861-C Half Eagle
Final Charlotte Mint Coinage
Leading Candidate for C.S.A. Origin
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491 1861-C AU-53 (PCGS). Satiny greenish gold lustre with traces of orange patina. Quite sharply struck despite some weakness among a few stars. Lightly abraded as expected for the grade. This is an important opportunity for the specialist to acquire one of the finer known examples of this issue. Just 6,879 coins were struck, some under authority of the Confederacy after taking control of the facility. It is impossible to distinguish between those struck by the United States and others struck by the Confederacy, although Walter Breen claimed that examples with a die crack through the top of AMERI, as seen on this coin, were among the 887 coins struck under Confederate authority.
Lightly cracked through the tops of AMERI. Further, a distinct crack is seen from the border extending to the left side of the first T (STATES) into the field just past halfway to the eagle’s beak. Thus, this piece is in an even later die state than Walter Breen mentions and would seem to exceed his specifications!
Purchased from Lester Merkin, June 1967.
Rare 1861-D Half Eagle
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492 1861-D AU-55 (PCGS). Satiny light yellow gold lustre with minor surface marks, typical of most survivors from the approximately 2,000 coins struck. Typical obverse and reverse strike, with some details weak. A desirable example for the specialist.
The exact mintage of this issue is not specifically known. Early in 1861, 1,597 coins were minted under authority of the United States government. On April 8, 1861, Georgia troops took control of the mint on behalf of the Confederate government, and later in the year, an additional quantity of half eagles was struck from federal dies. The exact quantity was not recorded and is unknown, however, a reasonable estimate is 500 to 1,000 coins. It is not possible to distinguish between United States issued coins and those of the Confederacy.
Date is low in the field.
From Superior’s sale of December 1972, Lot 1955.
Important 1861-S Half Eagle
Among the Finest Known
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493 1861-S AU-50 (PCGS). This rarity has light greenish yellow gold surfaces with moderate abrasions. Traces of lustre remain around various design details. Although just AU-50, this is one of the finest known examples. The mintage was quite low at 18,000 coins, and these circulated extensively on the West Coast. Due to the prevailing monetary system in the American West—paper money was neither used nor wanted—gold coins remained in circulation through the Civil War, were not hoarded, and year by year gathered wear. This accounts for the lower average grades of San Francisco pieces as compared to those from other mints (a quick look at David W. Akers’ study of auction appearances of half eagles and the average grades listed will quickly verify this statement).
A review of auction records throughout the 1990s will help illustrate the rarity of this issue. From 1990 to 1999, 36 different 1861 half eagles were offered singly in various sales, with 32 of these graded MS-60 or finer. Offerings of 1861-C half eagles included a total of 53 coins, with 23 of these AU or better. For 1861-D, total appearances were 39 coins, of which 17 were AU or better. Finally, for the 1861-S issue, a total of just 27 coins appeared at auction, with only 12 AU or better examples.
PCGS Population: 3; 3 finer (all AU-53).
From Stack’s sale of February 1968, Lot 357.
494 1862 AU-58. Sharply struck with prooflike light yellow gold surfaces. The obverse has extensive hairlines or brush marks, and the reverse has evidence of filing along the rims. An extremely rare issue, one of just 4,430 minted. Beginning in 1862, half eagles were struck on a very limited basis until the 1870s, especially at the Philadelphia Mint.
Logotype in small figures this year, continuing the tradition begun in 1859.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 296.
Outstanding 1862-S Half Eagle
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495 1862-S AU-53 (PCGS). Light yellow gold surfaces, with a hint of orange patina. Some marks here and there are representative of the grade assigned. Usual central weakness is noted on the hair curls below the coronet and on the eagle’s neck and arrow feathers, this being characteristic of all known authentic specimens. Otherwise, sharply defined, including all star details.
With a mintage of just 9,500 coins, this issue qualifies as a rarity, as do most San Francisco Mint coins of this era. Until recently, this issue was unknown better than Extremely Fine grade, as recorded by Walter Breen in his Complete Encyclopedia, by David Akers in his Auction Survey, and by others. In the past decade, only two AU examples were offered for auction competition, both AU-55. One of these was from the Milas Collection, sold by Stack’s in 1995, the other was from Part II of our Bass Collection sales.
PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (both AU-55).
The 1862 half eagle fell betwixt and between. Minted five years too late to be put aboard the ill-fated S.S. Central America, and too early to be saved in high grades by the time that the S.S. Brother Jonathan sailed from San Francisco on one fateful day in July 1865, the typical 1862-S half eagle spent a long life in commercial circulation. Today, when such pieces are seen—and this is not often—the grade is apt to be VF, not often EF, and only rarely in the AU grade seen here.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 23, 1968.
Important 1862-S Half Eagle
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496 1862-S EF-45 (PCGS). Another opportunity to acquire this important date, representing the fourth example to be offered from the Bass Collection. How fortunate we all are that Harry W. Bass, Jr., liked his rarities in twos, threes, and fours—sometimes even more—and how fortunate we are that the offering of his collection, telescoped in a two-year period, enables us to buy coins that took him over three decades to gather. Again, opportunity is the key word.
The present piece is a typical strike for the 1861-S. Light yellow gold with moderate surface marks. A lovely piece which strongly challenges the AU level and which some would probably call AU without serious fear of contradiction.
From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 297.
Desirable 1863 Half Eagle
Remarkable for Its Low Mintage
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497 1863 EF-45. Lovely yellow gold surfaces with a hint of orange toning. Quite sharply struck with all details fully evident where not obscured by light wear. Moderately abraded surfaces, typical for this grade. This is a desirable example of a rarity, one of just 2,442 coins struck. In all grades, only 30 to 40 examples survive, with this example among the finer quality examples.
A light clash mark joins the eagle’s lower beak to the wing below.
It is truly incredible that this low-mintage coin has a current market value in the range of just several thousand dollars. If anyone feels that the coin market is fully priced, they certainly are not considering scarce and rare early Coronet Head half eagles. Even a quick investigation will reveal that the field is spangled with scarcities and rarities which are available almost for the asking, if you can find them.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 1994.
Impressive 1863-S Half Eagle
Specifically Cited by Dave Akers
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498 1863-S AU-55 (PCGS). Although 17,000 coins were minted, current estimates suggest that only 25 to 35 coins survive. Satiny green-gold lustre with design details weak only at a few stars, on the eagle’s claws, and arrow feathers. Pleasing surfaces with some marks consistent with the grade assigned. The reverse has a short scratch in the upper field, serving as an ideal pedigree marker (if any useful purpose can be found for a scratch, this might be it).
This specific coin was mentioned by David Akers in his auction survey of half eagles, compiled and published in 1979: "The 1863-S is very rare in any condition, as the auction data show, most specimens that have appeared on the auction market were in Fine to VF range. In my experience, this date is at least as rare as the 1863 and actually more rare in high grade. It is comparable to the 1858-S and 1860-S in overall rarity and is equally impossible to obtain in choice condition. Only one specimen as high as AU has ever been sold at public auction and I have personally seen only one piece better than EF, a coin in the possession of Robert Johnson at the 1973 Boston ANA that was subsequently sold to Harry Bass."
PCGS Population: 4; 1 finer (MS-61).
Purchased from Fred Sweeney, August 25, 1973.
Impressive 1864 Half Eagle Rarity
High Condition Census
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499 1864 AU-58 (PCGS). Lovely pinkish gold surfaces with moderate abrasions. Satiny lustre on the obverse; frosty on the reverse. Just 4,170 coins were struck with less than 100 surviving today. This is one of the very finest known, with only two or three Mint State coins known and only one finer example certified by PCGS (that coin sold by us in Part II of the Bass Collection). Typical survivors grade VF or EF. Examples grading AU or finer are much rarer than Proofs. A true numismatic prize, an extremely rare coin.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (MS-61 and sold by us in Part II of the Bass Collection).
Date is high and left with digit 4 about centered in the space below bust, very slightly closer to border.
1 (1864) much closer to bust than to dentils; 4 somewhat closer to dentils than to bust; entire date oriented to the left.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
Condition Census 1864-S Half Eagle
"A Case of Wishful Thinking"
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500 1864-S AU-53 (PCGS). Lustrous light yellow gold with a hint of orange. Moderately abraded surfaces are typical for examples of this issue. A key rarity in the Coronet half eagle series, one of just 3,888 struck. Perhaps only one to two dozen exist today. Philadelphia Mint coins of similar mintage exist in higher quantities due to hoarding during and after the Civil War. Half eagles struck in San Francisco during this era were paid out into circulation, where they became very worn. Today, even an EF piece would be a numismatic attraction. When we offered an MS-65 example in Part II of the Bass Collection, we noted that typical survivors are Fine to Very Fine, with coins grading higher than VF chiefly a case of wishful thinking.
PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (MS-65, sold by us in Part II of the Bass Collection).
Date logotype deeply impressed into die. 1 (1864) closer to bust than to dentils; 4 about the same distance from each; date more centered than on the preceding lot.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
Prooflike 1865 Half Eagle
A Rarity in any Grade
Mintage: 1,270
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501 1865 AU-53 (PCGS). Light yellow gold with prooflike finish visible in the protected areas. Moderately abraded and no doubt originally a circulation strike. Reasonably sharply struck with weakness only on the arrow feathers. With a mintage of just 1,270 coins, this is a rarity among coins of this design type. Just 30 to 40 examples are known to exist. This example is one of the finest known, with only three or four better ones traced today. Only three finer coins have appeared at auction in the last decade, and two of those were in Part II of the Bass Collection.
PCGS Population: 3; 2 finer (both AU-58 and both sold in Part II of the Bass Collection!).
Purchased from Jack Klausen, June 14, 1968.
Desirable 1865-S Half Eagle
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502 1865-S Medium S. AU-50 (PCGS). Light yellow gold with satiny lustre in the protected areas. Light hairlines and abrasions are noted, however, these are not serious. This is a rarity although from a much higher mintage than in previous years. A total of 27,612 coins were struck, the highest half eagle mintage at San Francisco since 1857. Even so, this coin is very scarce, especially in the grade offered here.
Breen-6662.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, January 19, 1968.
Scarce 1866 Half Eagle
First Year With Motto
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503 1866 Motto. AU-50. Light greenish gold with a hint of orange patina. Traces of lustre remain hidden among the devices. Moderately abraded with very minor hairlines and other imperfections. Just 6,700 examples were minted in this first year of the new type, with motto IN GOD WE TRUST on a scroll, added to the reverse above the eagle. Another prime rarity. Pieces of this quality seldom appear.
Purchased from Michael Brownlee, April 17, 1967.
Prooflike 1867 Half Eagle
Possibly Struck as a Proof
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504 1867 AU-58 (PCGS). This lovely coin has light yellow gold with a hint of green. The fields are fully mirrored with the watery appearance found on Proof gold coins of this era. Considerable cameo contrast is noted and every detail is minutely defined. Lightly abraded and scratched, however, no individual imperfection is particularly notable. This has every appearance of a Proof and may have been struck in such manner. We highly recommend that prospective bidders examine this coin and make their own determination.
PCGS Population: 7; 1 finer (MS-61, sold by us last October in Part II of the Bass Collection).
From Paramount’s 1969 ANA Sale, August 1969, Lot 1972.
Elusive 1867-S Half Eagle
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505 1867-S EF-45 (PCGS). Light yellow gold with orange patina and considerable surviving lustre, especially when this numeric grade is considered. This is one of 29,000 coins struck, however, none are known in full Mint State and even nice AU examples are almost never seen. This attractive example has light handling marks, and typical striking for the 1867-S. A very rare coin, and a very important opportunity for the advanced specialist.
From Stack’s sale of February 1968, Lot 369.
Choice Mint State 1872 Half Eagle
Among the Finest Known
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506 1872 MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous light yellow gold with frosty devices and highly reflective fields, a delightful cameo example of this very low-mintage issue. Just 1,600 circulation strikes were minted with less than 10 strict Mint State coins surviving today. Liberty’s hair curls above her ear, below ERT, are slightly weak. Otherwise, all obverse and reverse design details are boldly defined. A few light abrasions are noted, primarily in the left obverse field.
This issue has one of the lowest mintages of any With Motto half eagle. A small number of AU and low quality Mint State examples are known, from a hoard dating to 1958, according to Walter Breen in his Complete Encyclopedia. Unfortunately, no other details were relayed, and the entire account may be apocryphal (or else, where are they today?)
PCGS Population: 1; 2 finer (both MS-64).
From Paramount’s 1969 ANA Sale, August 1969, Lot 1982.
Important 1872-CC Half Eagle
Classic Rarity
Condition Census
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507 1872-CC AU-50 (PCGS). Light yellow gold with a hint of pinkish rose toning. A few surface marks are consistent with the grade. Typical strike for the issue. Although 16,980 coins were minted, there are no known Mint State survivors with only a handful of AU coins. The present example is one of the finest known for the issue, certainly within the top 10. In the past decade, this is only the fourth AU grade example to appear for public auction competition.
PCGS Population: 3; 3 finer (AU-58 finest).
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 229.
Scarce 1872-S Half Eagle
Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS
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508 1872-S AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous greenish gold with light hairlines and minor surface marks as expected. Quite sharply struck with central obverse and reverse weakness in the usual locations. From the original production of 36,400 coins, several nice AU coins survive, however, none stand out among the rest as finest known. Although one Mint State coin has been recorded in the literature, we have no further details.
PCGS Population: 5; none finer.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, September 28, 1970.
Gem Mint State 1873 $5
Open 3 Date Style
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509 1873 Open 3. MS-65 (PCGS). Brilliant and frosty rose-gold lustre with superb aesthetic appeal. This is one of the very finest known examples of the Open 3 variety. A small planchet lamination, as minted, is noted in the reverse field below IN GOD. Sharply struck with slight weakness only on the highest points of the eagle. This is a relatively common date when all grades are considered, and is only slightly scarcer than the Closed 3 style. In gem Mint State quality, this is a rarity, as are all Liberty half eagles minted prior to the 1880s. We reiterate that the Bass III sale offers fantastic opportunities that are not likely to be repeated outside of the Bass offerings. We imagine that years from now specialists of a new era will look back upon the year 2000 and marvel at all of the items offered.
PCGS Population: 2; none finer.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 1973, Lot 489.
510 1873 Open 3. MS-62 (PCGS). Highly lustrous pinkish yellow gold with fully reflective obverse and reverse fields. Nice cameo contrast is noted between fields and devices. Light surface marks are noted as expected. This Open 3 date style is slightly scarcer than the Closed 3 variety. Combining all grades, PCGS has graded 114 examples with Open 3 and 127 examples with Closed 3.
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, May 1970, Lot 230.
Key 1873-CC Half Eagle
The Farouk-Bareford Coin
Among the Finest Known
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511 1873-CC AU-55 (PCGS). Lovely bright yellow gold with considerable remaining lustre and few very minor surface marks. A hint of orange patina is noted. This is an extremely attractive example and quite unusual, in that all design details are extremely sharp. Most known examples are lightly struck at the center. Only a few finer examples are known, including an MS-62 example sold by us in Part II of the Bass Collection.
PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (MS-62 finest).
Obverse has date approximately centered between bust and border. The reverse is the same as used since 1870.
As a class, all Carson City half eagles of the 1870s are scarce to rare in any condition, and are very rare AU-55 or finer. The reason for this is that this small denomination—the lowest value coined at Carson City—was used in the Nevada region, where such coins circulated extensively (at a time when in the East and Midwest gold coins were not seen in circulation). Although gold coins were exported from San Francisco in foreign trade payments, such shipments consisted almost entirely of double eagles—the most convenient denomination for shipping gold coins in bulk—half eagles were not included.
In 1893 when Augustus G. Heaton wrote his Mint Marks treatise, he knew of not a single numismatist anywhere who collected branch mint gold coins of the higher denominations! Heaton was well connected, was a prominent numismatic writer and researcher of his time, and wrote with authority. Finally, when Carson City coinage did become popular—years later—any pieces that could be taken from bank holdings or deposits were apt to be well worn, with the typical grade being VF.
From Stack’s sale of the Harold Bareford Collection, December 1978, Lot 184. Earlier from the King Farouk Collection.
Rare 1873-S Half Eagle
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512 1873-S Closed 3. AU-50. Sharply struck in light yellow gold with minor hairlines and other abrasions noted. Slightly subdued surfaces from cleaning, but overall with a pleasing aspect—as in-person examination will verify. Although 31,000 were struck, only 100 to 150 examples survive today, mostly in Very Fine condition. This example is probably among the top 10 examples known.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February 1973, Lot 491.
Delightful 1874-CC Half Eagle
Condition Census
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513 1874-CC AU-55 (PCGS). A lovely example of this popular rarity with highly lustrous yellow gold surfaces. A trace of attractive pinkish rose toning is noted. Generally very sharp design details, except for the highest points of Miss Liberty on the obverse. All reverse features, including the eagle’s neck, claw, and arrow feathers are sharply defined. This is a scarce issue, with a mintage of 21,198 coins, and qualifies as a rarity when in a grade such as offered here. Our earlier comments given under Lot 511 are equally applicable to the present coin. At the AU level the 1874-CC is a numismatic landmark.
PCGS Population: 3; 6 finer (MS-62 finest).
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 496.
Lustrous 1875-CC Half Eagle
Condition Census
Doubled Die Reverse
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514 1875-CC Doubled Die Reverse. AU-50 (PCGS). Rich yellow gold lustre with extensive abrasions, typical of these early western mint gold coins, intended for commerce and not for numismatic purposes. Quite weakly struck on the higher design points, with light wear at the same points. This issue is quite rare at the AU grade level, as indicated by the population listed below. In addition, this example is from a doubled reverse die with doubling most prominent on the base of the denomination.
Condition Census for the 1875-CC (disregarding the doubled feature). Again, here is very unusual opportunity to acquire a very interesting and very special high-grade Carson City half eagle.
PCGS Population: 5; 5 finer (MS-61 finest).
Breen-6694
Mintmark unevenly spaced, with first C 0.8 mm. above V and second C 0.6 mm. above E. The difference is dramatic enough to describe the mintmark as having second C very low.
Purchased from Doug Weaver, August 30, 1973.
Scarce 1875-CC Half Eagle
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515 1875-CC EF-40. Light greenish yellow gold with a trace of rose toning. Light hairlines are visible, as are a few other minor surface marks. Very lightly struck with weak central details and even weaker, noticeably beveled, borders.
From Stack’s sale of the Shapero Collection, October 1971, Lot 1024.
Popular 1875-S Half Eagle
Condition Census
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516 1875-S AU-55 (PCGS). A very popular issue which is in demand from year collectors, whose goal is to acquire one example of each coinage year without regard to mintmarks. The Philadelphia Mint half eagle of 1875 is a major rarity, with just 200 struck. Those from Carson City feature the highest mintage of 11,828 coins; however, most became scattered to the four winds, and in any event Carson City coins are quite expensive and are hardly ever available at the AU level. Thus, the presently offered San Francisco half eagle provides an opportunity. This example is one of 9,000 coins struck and has lustrous orange-gold surfaces with very few marks of any kind. Among the very finest known from a total roster of just 45 to 60 survivors.
PCGS Population: 5; 5 finer (MS-63 finest).
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
Important 1876-CC Half Eagle
Among the Finest Known
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517 1876-CC AU-55 (PCGS). This is an extremely important opportunity for the specialist, representing one of the finest known examples of this scarce issue. Reflective light greenish gold surfaces and peripheral rose toning. A few light hairlines and other very minor surface marks are noted. Sharply struck, even more so than usual for this issue, which generally had one of the sharpest strikes of any Carson City Mint half eagle. With the exception of a single gem MS-65 coin (from the Eliasberg Collection), which is the only Mint State coin known, nearly all survivors are well circulated. An AU-58 example appeared last October in Part II of the Bass Collection, and the present example is quite possibly third finest known. Just 6,887 half eagles were struck in Carson City during the centennial year, the lowest mintage of any half eagle from this mint.
Nineteen different half eagles were struck at the Carson City Mint, beginning in 1870. The high water mark was 1891-CC, with a mintage of 208,000 coins. Of the other 18 issues, five had mintages under 10,000 and eight others had mintages from 10,000 to 21,198 coins. The balance of five issues ranged between 51,017 and 82,968 coins. The average mintage for all 19 issues: just over 37,000 coins.
PCGS Population: 4; 3 finer (MS-65 finest).
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 934.
Impressive 1876-S Half Eagle
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518 1876-S AU-53 (PCGS). Very sharply struck in light yellow gold with few minor surface marks. This is an extremely important opportunity to acquire one of the few survivors from a mintage of just 4,000 coins. Not a date that immediately comes to mind as a major rarity, however, very few survivors exist. Only 25 to 40 coins are estimated to exist in all grades, with any AU example considered a major rarity. The market largely ignores rarities in the Coronet Head half eagle series, with the result that landmark coins such as this—while hardly inexpensive—trade for much less than equivalent pieces in the copper and silver series.
PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (MS-64 finest).
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2113.
Pleasing 1877 Half Eagle
Remarkable Mintage: 1,132 Pieces
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519 1877 AU-55 (PCGS). A sharply struck prooflike example with greenish gold surfaces. Considerable cameo contrast is noted. This is the second lowest mintage of any circulation strike Liberty half eagle of the With Motto design type. Just 1,132 coins were struck with only the 1875 having a (much) lower mintage of 200 coins. Interestingly, this issue has the 10th lowest overall PCGS population among coins of the type. Incredibly the current market value of this is just several thousand dollars. Once again, as is so often true in the present sale, the word opportunity comes to the fore.
From Stack’s sale of February 1968, Lot 395.
Important 1877-S Half Eagle
Condition Census
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520 1877-S AU-53 (PCGS). Lightly abraded yellow gold with sharp design details and considerable lustre. A scarce issue from a mintage of 26,700 coins, with only 100 to 150 survivors. A rarity at the AU level with very few known. Such pieces circulated intensively and extensively at the time of issue, with not a single numismatist interested in preserving them for posterity. We are only aware of one strictly Mint State coin, which we offered in Part II of the Bass Collection.
PCGS Population: 3; 4 finer (all AU-55).
Purchased from Paramount, March 18, 1967.
Choice Mint State 1878 Half Eagle
From the Norweb Collection
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521 1878 MS-64. A delightful example with satiny, reflective lustre and pleasing cameo contrast. Sharply struck with lovely bright yellow gold surfaces. A truly remarkable coin from an aesthetic viewpoint—one of the nicest in existence anywhere. Add to this the wonderful pedigree and you have the ingredients for a coin that will be cherished so long as you own it.
This issue begins a long series of higher mintage Philadelphia Mint half eagles, which continued through 1908, interrupted only by the Proof-only issue of 1887 and circulation strike issues of the late 1880s and early 1890s. Many lower quality Mint State examples exist, however, in choice or gem condition, this issue is quite rare.
From our sale of the Norweb Collection, October 1987, Lot 899.
Lustrous Run of Half Eagles
522 Lustrous grouping of half eagles grading MS-60: I 1878 First 8 repunched considerably below the final figure, rest of original logotype impression effaced I 1881 I 1881-S. Mintmark over either smaller S mintmark or stray marks (definitely not over an O mintmark) I 1882-S/S I 1885-S I 1893 I 1899 Repunched 99 I 1901-S. An attractive grouping. (Total: 8 pieces)
Lustrous 1879 Half Eagle
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523 1879 MS-63. Sharply struck with frosty light yellow gold lustre. Relatively common as a date, however, still quite scarce in grades rivaling the present example.
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 242.
Attractive 1879-CC Half Eagle
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524 1879-CC AU-53 (PCGS). This lovely Carson City Mint half eagle features lustrous light yellow gold surfaces with a few minor hairlines from an old cleaning, perhaps not worth mentioning. Mintage totaled just 17,281 coins with only about 200 surviving—Carson City half eagles of this decade had a tremendously high attrition rate. Of those that do survive, most are in grades significantly lower than the present example.
From Abner Kreisberg’s sale of September 1971, Lot 1063.
Scarce 1879-CC Half Eagle
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525 1879-CC AU-53. Lustrous yellow gold surfaces with minor hairlines and other marks consistent with the grade. Another pleasing example, another specimen of a grade level seldom encountered. This is a pleasing example, one which is seldom seen in such grade levels. Certain to see considerable bidding activity.
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 244.
526 1879-S MS-60. Lustrous light yellow gold with minor abrasions. An attractive coin for the grade level.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee, July 8, 1968.
Landmark 1880-CC $5
Finest PCGS Certified
From the Norweb Collection
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527 1880-CC MS-62 (PCGS). One of the very finest extant examples of this rarity. Only four or five Mint State examples are known, from a generous mintage of 51,017 coins, sixth highest of all Carson City Mint half eagles. Of course, among Carson City coins of this denomination, mintages are interesting to contemplate, but usually they have little if anything to do with the number of survivors—as such coins circulated widely and had a high attrition rate.
The presently offered coin, collected years ago by Emery May Holden Norweb, displays deep, satiny yellow gold lustre with extremely sharp design details and few very minor surface marks. A small planchet mark on Liberty’s neck and a tiny rim nick (per the Norweb catalogue) are the only imperfections of note, and both are insignificant. In fact, the rim nick is not visible now that this coin is certified (perhaps we should not have mentioned it—and, probably no one cares anyway).
This delightful western mint coin has a desirable pedigree, illustrating the ups and downs of coin grading over the years. In 1956, Abe Kosoff described this simply as "Uncirculated." Thirty-one years later, in the Norweb Collection catalogue, we graded this AU-58. Now, just over a decade after the Norweb offering, this coin’s Mint State status has been revived. Such instances as this make the perusal of old auction catalogues and the compilation of data from them a very chancy procedure, often a waste of time if precision is expected (such situations have been a great challenge in the compilation of the multi-volume study on gold coins by Dave Bowers, and because of this a great effort has been made to examine actual specimens).
PCGS Population: 1; none finer.
Several raised die lumps are noted on the bust of Liberty.
From our sale of the Norweb Collection, October 1987, Lot 905. Earlier from Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Thomas G. Melish Collection, April 1956, Lot 2173.
528 1880-S MS-63. Sharply struck with rich yellow gold lustre, displaying slight cameo contrast. A few minor surface marks are visible, as expected for the grade. This is the first year in which Liberty half eagle production at a single mint topped the million coin level, occurring in Philadelphia and San Francisco.
On December 18, 1878, gold coins traded at par with federal coins and paper money, for the first time since the last week of December, 1861. Long stored holdings of gold coins came forth in the East and Midwest, and a new generation was able to use coins of this metal. Demand increased for a while, and record coinages resulted from the late 1870s onward, although the double eagle remained the gold coin of choice.
Purchased from Jim Cohen, August 20, 1968.
529 Selection of MS-60 half eagles: I 1880-S. Lustrous I 1881. Lustrous with copper spots I 1881-S S Over S. Lustrous I 1885. Lustrous I 1886-S PL I 1899. Lustrous I 1901. Lustrous I 1904. Lustrous I 1907. Lustrous yellow surfaces I 1908. Lustrous with a light copper spot on the reverse. (Total: 10 pieces)
530 1881 MS-63. Lightly abraded surfaces with frosty bright yellow gold lustre. This issue has the highest mintage of any Liberty half eagle.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 24, 1971.
531 Grouping of MS-62 half eagles: I 1881 Doubled Date I 1882 I 1885-S I 1893 I 1895 I 1900 I 1901-S I 1904 I 1906. A nicely matched grouping with lustrous surfaces. (Total: 9 pieces)
532 Selection of MS-62 Liberty half eagles: I 1881. Lustrous with splashes of orange toning I 1885 PL I 1886-S. Pale olive green highlights I 1895. Lustrous orange surfaces I 1899. Lustrous I 1901-S Repunched Mintmark. Lustrous I 1902-S. Lustrous I 1905. Minute copper spot on the obverse I 1907-D. Lustrous. (Total: 9 pieces)
533 1882 MS-63. Fully prooflike with lustrous devices and sharp design details. Moderately abraded surfaces as expected.
There is a slight projection from the neck above the first 8, possibly a stray punch mark.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 21, 1968.
534 Quartette of half eagles grading MS-61: I 1882 I 1893-S I 1902 I 1906-D. Struck during the first year of coinage at the Denver Mint, probably from metal from the Cripple Creek Gold District about 75 miles to the southwest. Each displays lustrous surfaces. (Total: 4 pieces)
535 1882-CC AU-58 (PCGS). Satiny light yellow gold lustre with very minor abrasions. A trace of rose toning is noted. Few very minor hairlines are noted, however, these do not distract from the pleasing aesthetic qualities of this scarce issue. Very sharply struck.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, August 12, 1969.
536 1882-S MS-63. Lustrous rose-gold with sharp design details. Very minor hairlines and other abrasions as expected for the grade. Very heavy mintmark largely filled in.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2117.
Delightful 1883-CC Half Eagle
Condition Census Quality
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537 1883-CC AU-58 (PCGS). Very light yellow gold lustre with a hint of green. A few minor scratches and other surface marks are noted, primarily on the obverse. Very sharply struck and highly attractive. This is one of the finest known examples from a mintage of 12,958 coins. An underrated issue according to David Akers in his 1979 auction survey. Although his comments regarding various half eagle issues are now 20 years old, we find ourselves agreeing with virtually all his comments. With the exception of relatively few issues affected by hoards over the years, most observations regarding rarity remain fairly stable.
PCGS Population: 4; 2 finer (both MS-61).
Outstanding 1883-S Half Eagle
Tied for Finest Certified by PCGS
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538 1883-S MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous bright yellow gold with a hint of pinkish orange. With typical contact marks for the grade level.
Although 83,200 coins were minted, very few exist today in Mint State. In the grade offered here, the issue becomes a major rarity. In the past decade, just six Mint State examples appeared singly in major auctions, with only two appearances of similar MS-63 grade coins. In our opinion, this is potentially worth more than the current price guides suggest.
PCGS Population: 7; none finer.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2118.
Pleasing 1884-CC Half Eagle
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539 1884-CC AU-50. Light yellow gold with faint pinkish rose toning. Cleaned in the past with light hairlines as evidence. In addition, a few minor scratches and other surface marks are noted. Scarce at this grade level.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 14, 1967.
540 1884-S MS-63. A scarce issue from a mintage of just 177,000 coins, with very few choice Mint State survivors. Sharply struck with lustrous light yellow gold surfaces, the fields display a hint of reflectivity, just enough to provide an attractive cameo appearance.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, December 3, 1970.
Lustrous Quintette of Half Eagles
541 Group of half eagles grading MS-63: I 1885-S I 1900 I 1902-S I 1903-S I 1907-D. Each displays lustrous yellow gold surfaces. (Total: 5 pieces)
A Lustrous Half Eagle Grouping
542 Quartette of half eagles grading MS-63: I 1886-S I 1901 I 1902-S I 1903-S. Lovely lustrous and attractive surfaces. (Total: 4 pieces)
543 1890-CC MS-62. A lovely example with brilliant yellow gold lustre. A few minor hairlines and other imperfections are noted. This is one of only two or three readily available Carson City half eagles in Mint State quality. Although some are seen more often than others, only the four issues in the 1890s are reasonably available in high grade.
Purchased from World Wide Coin, February 3, 1972.
Lovely Mint State 1891 Half Eagle
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544 1891 MS-63. Wonderful rose-gold lustre with sharp design details. Relatively low mintage of 61,360 coins with a few hundred lower quality Mint State survivors known. Most of those known today were recovered from European banks vaults in the 1980s.
Heavy obverse and reverse clash marks.
The forthcoming multi-volume set of gold coin books by Dave Bowers will contain much information concerning overseas bank hoards as well as domestic caches, drawing upon a wide variety of sources ranging from Thomas L. Elder’s writings early in the present century to recollections given by modern day numismatists (as an example, Ronald J. Gillio has provided a behind the scenes view of gold buying in France and Switzerland during the 1970s and 1980s). If any readers of the present catalogue have not been in contact with Dave, and have historical information not available in printed sources, we invite you to contact him.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 536.
545 1891-CC MS-61. Brilliant, lustrous yellow gold with light abrasions. For the type collector, this is the most available Carson City half eagle in Mint State.
Purchased from the Old Coin Shop, April 17, 1969.
546 1892-CC AU-55. Rich yellow gold lustre with considerable rose toning around various devices. A delightful example of this popular issue.
From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 967.
Mint State 1893-CC Half Eagle
Final Carson City Mint Issue
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547 1893-CC MS-62. Highly lustrous with sharp design details and minor abrasions, including faint hairlines. Several minute rim nicks are noted at top of obverse and reverse.
Purchased from Douglas Weaver, August 1973.
548 1893-CC AU-50. Light yellow gold lustre with splashes of pinkish rose patina and a hint of green. Very light surface marks and hairlines are noted.
Purchased from Lester Merkin June 26, 1967.
549 1893-O AU-55. Lightly abraded yellow gold surfaces with considerable, nearly complete lustre. Overall, very sharply struck and highly attractive. Light design details are noted on the reverse, primarily on the eagle’s neck.
Purchased from Paramount, March 18, 1967.
Lovely 1894-O Half Eagle
A Top Quality Example
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550 1894-O MS-62. This is among the very finest known of the issue, one of just 16,600 coins struck. Very sharply struck with light hairlines and surface marks. Only a very small number of survivors match this for overall quality.
Purchased from the Goliad Corporation, November 3, 1971.
551 1894-S AU-55. Lustrous light yellow gold with sharp design details. Light abrasions are noted. A scarce issue from a low mintage of 55,900 coins.
From Stack’s sale of February 1972, Lot 766.
552 1897-S MS-62. A delightful example with highly lustrous bright yellow gold surfaces. Very sharply struck. An important opportunity for the specialist.
From Superior’s sale of the Gilhousen Collection, February, 1973, Lot 556.
553 1900-S MS-63 (PCGS). Satiny yellow gold lustre with a hint of rose patina. A few very minor surface marks are noted.
From our sale of the Norweb Collection, October 1987, Lot 953.
554 1902-S MS-64. Sharply struck with frosty light yellow gold lustre. A desirable example for the date or type collector.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 21, 1968.
555 1903-S MS-64. A pleasing, highly lustrous example with very few marks of any type.
556 1907 MS-64. A wonderfully attractive example of this design with frosty, brilliant pinkish gold lustre. One of the very finest examples in the present sale.
557 1908 MS-64. Final issue of the Liberty Head design capping a phenomenal 70 year history. Choice Mint State quality except the obverse rims are filed, yielding a coin that, perhaps, has a market value in the MS-60 to MS-61 range.
Purchased from Julian Leidman, July 28, 1972.
[End of Half Eagles]
End of Session One
