The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part III

Elusive 1846 Eagle

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597     1846 AU-50. Lustrous yellow gold with a touch of olive toning. The surfaces are somewhat prooflike, and a few scattered marks are noted for accuracy. From a fairly small mintage of 20,095 business strikes for the date, and a difficult date to locate in most grades as a result. Typically found in VF or occasionally EF, with AU examples rare and underrated; the date may not exist in Mint State!

Small Date logotype composed of small, somewhat squat digits. 18 slightly closer than either 84 or 46, bases of digits about on the same level, top interior of 8 slightly smaller than bottom interior, 6 small and squat, with top close to curve below it and about as wide as the curve. This logotype appeared on the Philadelphia Mint eagles of the year, as well as the Small Date variety of the year’s copper cents. The Small Date and Medium Date (for medium date see description under Lot 599) varieties exist among 1846 Philadelphia eagles—but have not been widely recognized. However, when examples are held side by side the difference is quite noticeable.

From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 405.

598     1846 Net VF-20; sharpness of AU-50, but with heavy obverse scratches. Bright yellow gold with prooflike fields.

Same dies as previous lot.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2172.

Lustrous 1846/5-O "Overdate" $10

Traditional Overdate

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599     1846-O Repunched Date. AU-50. Breen-6875. Lustrous yellow gold with a trace of honey. A few tiny edge nicks are present, but the quality is still substantial for the grade. This is what Walter Breen calls an overdate, 1846/5-O, but we disagree. An essay about this was given under Lot 1360 in our Bass II sale, to which refer.

Medium Date, the difference being most obvious by looking at the digit 6—which is narrow on the present piece and squat on the Small Date (as offered in the previous two lots). Date high in die, base of 1 three times as far from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif high over space between dentils, upper opening of 6 filled with roughness, lower opening with a heart-shaped blob, a comma-like line to the right of the blob (perhaps an intermediate state of the die, see next lot). Small raised die lump below Liberty’s ear, another below the lowest hair curl on her neck.

O mintmark low over space between E and N, boldly repunched at top giving the appearance of "horns," slightly tipped to the left, right edge of E below center of mintmark.

Purchased from Jack Klausen, September 4, 1968.

600     1846-O Repunched Date. EF-45. Breen-6875. Lustrous yellow gold with some deeper highlights. Scattered marks noted on both sides, the most prominent being a diagonal scratch in the field before Liberty’s neck.

From the same obverse die as the previous lot, a slightly earlier state. The top loop of the 6 is completely filled with roughness, the lower loop is mostly filled with roughness as well (this roughness evidently fades to the heart-shaped blob and comma-like line state of the previous lot). From a different reverse. The O mintmark is fairly high over the space between the E and N in TEN, the right edge of the E even with the left inside curve of the mintmark.

From Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 1085.

601     1846-O Repunched Date. EF-40. Breen-6875. Attractive yellow gold with a blush of orange toning and some lustre in the recessed areas. A few light marks do little to detract from the overall appeal.

From the same obverse die as preceding. From a different reverse. The O mintmark is far to the right, over the space between the N of TEN and the D in the denomination, nicely centered between those letters and the feather and branch above as well. The die is cracked from the rim above the I of AMERICA, curving across that letter and the field before terminating on the tip of the uppermost arrow. Another crack runs from the rim upward through the T of TEN, then across the top of the E and the field to the olive branch. A third crack runs from the rim along the I of UNITED, terminating at the bottom of that letter.

From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 406.

Mint State 1847 Eagle

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602     1847 MS-62 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with some deeper highlights. Nicely struck. One of very few dates in the early Coronet eagle series that can be called "available" in Mint State—perhaps two dozen or so examples of the date still survive at MS-60 or finer, most of those in the MS-60 to MS-62 range. For those who like comparisons, we mention that this particular coin, which is valued at only a few thousand dollars, is several times rarer than an 1893-S Morgan dollar in comparable grade, valued at tens of thousands of dollars. Of course, there are more collectors seeking the Morgan dollar, but in any event it points out how inexpensive true rarities are in the $10 gold series. A pleasing coin, one that equals the finest specimen of the date we offered in Part II of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (October 1999). These are from multiple dies, not the same single die being reused.

PCGS Population: 6; 4 finer (MS-64 finest).

Date logotype heavily impressed at all numerals. Date slightly high, top of 1 nominally closer to truncation than bottom is to dentils, left edge of lower serif over right side of dentil, back tip of Liberty’s shoulder virtually directly over upper right corner of 7. Some cross-thatched die lines appear at the back of Liberty’s neck where it is joined by her hair bun.

On the reverse, a tiny circle or "ring" appears at the top of the second pair of vertical shield stripes (cf. Breen-6898). Our research has revealed this same die characteristic on eagles dated 1848-O, 1849-O, 1851-O, 1852-O, and 1853-O, and undoubtedly other dates will eventually be detected. As far as we know, the present specimen is the earliest dated Coronet eagle to display this die characteristic, and the only Philadelphia issue as well. However, there is more to be learned. If any readers have information beyond that given here, the editor (QDB) would be glad to correspond.

From Lester Merkin’s sale of April 1970, Lot 750.

603     1847 AU-58. Bright and lustrous yellow gold with lively olive iridescence on the reflective surfaces. Some scattered marks are noted, consistent with the grade. No doubt many would call this lustrous specimen MS-60.

Date logotype rocked side to side in the working die. 1 and 7 heavily impressed, 8 and 4 lightly impressed, date centered, 1 equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of upper serif virtually even with point of Liberty’s bust, upper right of 7 noticeably left of point of Liberty’s shoulder. Fairly heavy diagonal die lines slant upward from Liberty’s hair through the T in LIBERTY. No small circle at top of vertical shield stripes on reverse.

Purchased from RARCOA, August 16, 1972.

Lustrous Group of Eagles

604     Selection of Liberty and Indian eagles grading AU-50: I 1847 I 1847-O Repunched 18 I 1847-O I 1850 Large Date I 1852 I 1874 I 1879-S I 1882 I 1907 Indian. No Periods, thus the regular issue. A well matched grouping. For the earlier dates the AU grade can be considered scarce—typically comprising no more than 10% to 20% of the survivors, and sometimes not even that many. On the other hand, for the 1907 Indian, AU is of no particular account. (Total: 9 pieces)

Choice Uncirculated 1847-O $10

High Condition Census

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605     1847-O MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with a decided glow of olive iridescence. Well struck in all areas and approaching prooflike on both sides. A truly choice specimen of this large mintage issue. However, despite the generous production, at the MS-63 level the 1847-O is a prime rarity. The present specimen is considerably finer than any specimen of the date we sold in our offering of Part II of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (October 1999). A fantastic coin, a fantastic opportunity.

PCGS Population: 1; 2 finer (MS-64).

Date logotype heavily impressed, probably Breen-6879, "Extra heavy 7." Date numerals very heavy in the die, giving them the appearance of being more closely spaced (particularly evident between the 8 and the 4) than on most impressions of this die. Of all of the four-digit logotypes of this era, the 1847 is the most chameleon-like, for a deep impression in the working die results in the pieces being heavy and closely spaced, and a very light impression gives a superficial appearance of an entirely different logotype—with widely spaced numerals, despite the same logotype being used. Very interesting! On the present working die, the 1 is slightly nearer to dentils than to truncation, left edge of lower serif high over center of dentil, crumbling noted inside upper right angle of 7, upper right corner of 7 virtually under right most point of Liberty’s shoulder. Six heavy and distinct ridges jut out from between the dentils beginning just clockwise of the 1, and ending just clockwise of the first star. These may be the slips of an engraving tool, or there may be some other explanation. Seemingly, they are not from a normal file, or they would be more numerous, lighter, and parallel. Reverse legends also entered deeply into the working die. O mintmark tilted slightly left, centered over space between E and N of the denomination, closer to talon above than letters below.

Purchased from Julian Leidman, October 28, 1971.

606     1847-O AU-55. Lustrous and satiny yellow gold surfaces display some warmer golden tones. Nicely struck. Aesthetically appealing for the grade.

Date logotype lightly impressed, probably Breen-6877, "Thin numerals." Light impression of logotype die, giving the appearance of the numerals being quite far apart, as a comparison with the previous lot will dramatically reveal. All of this was quite educational to the editor (QDB) when first studied in detail; we must confess to lingering for a long time in the study of about two dozen examples of the 1847 date—before we were convinced that only one logotype had been used. Credit for all of this must ultimately go to Harry W. Bass, Jr., who had the foresight to acquire pieces with even the slightest interesting variations. Found one at a time at different locations, such would be very difficult to study and compare. O mintmark tilted slightly left, centered over space between E and N of the denomination, closer to letters below than talon above. Die cracked at tops of TEN D.

From Stack’s sale of August 1976, Lot 3068.

Choice Uncirculated 1848 Eagle

A Prime Rarity in Mint State

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607     1848 MS-63 (PCGS). Strong honey gold lustre on satiny surfaces. Fully struck in all areas save for a touch of weakness at the hair above Liberty’s ear. Although 145,484 pieces were struck, virtually all were placed into circulation, with the result that today VF and EF grades are what can be reasonably expected, with even high level AU being elusive. In Mint State the 1848 is rare, and in the elegant combination of a high numerical grade plus the ever-important eye appeal, the present coin is a prime rarity, or, stated another way, a numismatic delicacy that will appeal to the appetite of the connoisseur.

Date logotype progressively lighter in the working die, from left to right, heavier at 1 than at final 8. Date centered, 1 equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif high over center of dentil below. A faint die crack connects the bottoms of the date numerals with most of the obverse stars.

From Stack’s sale of the James A. Stack Collection, October 1994, Lot 1297.

Lustrous 1848-O $10

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608     1848-O AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with some warm butterscotch highlights on the high points. A scattering of tiny marks becomes apparent under low magnification, but the overall appeal is still strong. Typically found in VF or EF. Douglas Winter called the date "A hard coin to locate in all grades. In About Uncirculated and higher it is unappreciated and extremely rare." A great opportunity for the alert collector.

Date logotype entered deeply, centrally located both horizontally and vertically, 1 equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over left edge of dentil. Reverse O mintmark twice as far from EN in TEN below than from talon above, tilted very slightly left, and just left of center of the space between E and N. This is another interesting coin for a logotype comparison; the same logotype was used to produce Lot 607 and 608, but the spacing is markedly different due to the depth of impression.

From Stack’s sale of December 1970, Lot 337.

609     1848-O EF-45. Honey gold with lustre and deeper toning in the recessed areas. A pleasing coin for the assigned grade.

Date logotype entered deeply. 1 (1848) three to four times closer to truncation than to dentils, left edge of lower serif high over right edge of dentil. O mintmark tilted slightly left, centered over space between E and N of the denomination, closer to letters below than talon above. Die cracked at tops of TEN D. This identical die was used to coin certain 1847-O eagles.

Purchased from Julian Leidman, May 30, 1972.

Lustrous Uncirculated 1849 Eagle

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610     1849 MS-60. Lustrous yellow gold with somewhat prooflike fields. Nicely struck in all areas, with some scattered marks noted for accuracy. Typically found in VF or EF, and much scarcer in Mint State than the date’s fairly massive mintage of 653,618 business strikes indicates. Choice for the grade.

Date logotype lightly impressed, giving the numerals a delicate and "open" appearance. Numerals evenly spaced and date centrally located. Early impression from the dies, with die finish lines visible under magnification.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of November 1968, Lot 1633.

Lustrous 1849 Eagle

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611     1849 AU-58. Fully brilliant and highly lustrous yellow gold surfaces display a great deal of prooflike reflectivity. A delightful coin despite a few stray marks.

Date logotype lightly impressed, giving the numerals a delicate and "open" appearance. Numerals evenly spaced and date centrally located. Another early impression from the dies.

Purchased from Julian Leidman, May 30, 1972.

612     1849 Dramatically double punched date. AU-50. Breen-6888. Lustrous medium gold. Some scattered marks are present. Remnants of a smaller date logotype plainly visible among the date details.

As discussed earlier in the present catalogue, when a similar piece was offered in a group lot, this seems to be a double impression of the same logotype, the first entered into the working die low and to the left, mostly effaced, and then re-entered in a more centered position. Walter Breen considers it to be an overdate.

Purchased from Lester Merkin, June 15, 1967.

Elusive 1849-O Eagle

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613     1849-O EF-45. Bright and lustrous yellow gold with some distinctive olive iridescence present. Scattered marks noted on both sides, usual for the grade. One of only 23,900 examples of the date struck, of which relatively few survive today. When seen, the typical grade is VF, considerably lower than the piece offered here.

In 1988, Walter Breen called this date "Extremely rare EF," and in 1992 Douglas Winter called it the "second rarest New Orleans eagle struck during the 1840s," adding "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." Higher grades, in this instance, refers to EF or occasional AU specimens, for this rarity is unknown in Mint State. Another marvelous opportunity.

Date logotype entered deeply into the die, giving it a heavier appearance than on the two earlier pieces. Date nicely centered horizontally and vertically, 1 equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. O mintmark tilted slightly left, centered over space between E and N of the denomination, closer to letters below than talon above. Die cracked at tops of TEN D. Same reverse die used for the 1847-O, now in a later state, with crack at tops of TEN D. now extended clockwise to the top of the U in UNITED.

Purchased from John Smies, June 22, 1967.

A Second 1849-O Eagle

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614     1849-O EF-40. Lustrous medium gold. A few scattered marks are present, none of those more serious than might be expected for a coin that spent some time in circulation. A nice example at the grade level—and scarce for the reasons outlined under the preceding lot.

Obverse date logotype deep into the working die. Date nicely centered horizontally and vertically, 1 equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. O mintmark tilted slightly left, centered over space between E and N of the denomination, closer to letters below than talon above. Die cracked at tops of TEN D. Same reverse die used for the 1847-O, now in a later state, with crack at tops of TEN D. now extended clockwise to the top of the U in UNITED.

The accompanying ticket simply states "Bob Roth Set" in Harry Bass’ handwriting.

Mint State 1850 Eagle

Rare Small Date

Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS

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615     1850 Small Date. MS-61 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with some pale olive toning present. Nicely struck—not fully, but very nearly so. Much scarcer than its Large Date counterpart. A rarity in Mint State, with perhaps fewer than six specimens known in all Mint State grades. A highly important opportunity for the specialist to acquire this beautiful and rare coin.

Breen-6892.

PCGS Population: 2; none finer.

Date logotype only moderately impressed, numerals thin yet sturdy, nicely centered, 1 slightly nearer truncation than dentils. Early obverse die state, faint cracks at fifth and sixth stars; these later become heavier. A faint reverse crack connects all of the peripheral legends.

The Small Date logotype was used on all half eagle dies of the date, from all mints, and on one eagle die of the date, specifically the variety offered here.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 30, 1971.

616     1850 Small Date. EF-45. Medium gold with a trace of orange toning. A second pleasing example of this popular and scarce variety.

Breen-6892.

Same dies as preceding.

Lustrous 1850-O Eagle

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617     1850-O Medium Date. AU-50. Bright and lustrous yellow gold with a touch of olive iridescence. A few marks are typical for the grade. Nicely struck. Prooflike in the protected areas. A fairly scarce issue, a date that is typically seen in VF or EF, with AU pieces being quite elusive.

Walter Breen noted eight obverse dies and two reverse dies for this date, with an additional group of leftover dies from 1844-48.

Date logotype moderately and evenly impressed, bottom of 1 twice the distance from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif over right edge of dentil, numerals nicely spaced, 0 tilted minutely to right, point of 5 sharp and nearly touching ball of the numeral. Tall thin mintmark centered above space between E and N, equidistant between letters below and tip of feather above.

From Paramount’s sale of September 1971, Lot 1557.

618     1850-O Medium Date. EF-40. Warm honey gold with generous amounts of lustre in the recessed areas.

Date logotype moderately and evenly impressed, bottom of 1 twice the distance from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil, numerals nicely spaced, 0 tilted minutely to right, point of 5 sharp and nearly touching ball of the numeral. Inner point of first star is blunt. Mintmark centered above space between E and N, equidistant between letters below and tip of feather above. A noticeable thatch of die lines runs from the dentils above the E in STATES to the top of that letter.

Purchased from Arizona Stamp & Coin, April 14, 1969.

619     1851-O AU-58. Breen-6898. Highly lustrous and satiny honey gold surfaces. Regarding this fairly plentiful issue, Douglas Winter wrote: "It becomes very scarce only in About Uncirculated, but pieces which grade AU-55 are quite rare and fully Uncirculated 1851-O eagles are actually extremely rare." The present AU-58 specimen will be a welcome addition to any serious Coronet eagle collection.

"Hollow ring atop second stripe." This ring is probably a centering point of the die. This is a plentiful variety that is seen more often than the varieties of the date without the ring feature. Indeed, Douglas Winter noted (in 1992): "I have never seen an 1851-O eagle which did not have the ring on the reverse, but Walter Breen states that normal reverse pieces do exist."

On the present reverse, the ring is nearly completely below the lowest horizontal stripe of the shield, with just the upper edge of the ring touching the stripe above. The O mintmark is tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N in TEN, O about equidistant from tip of feather and EN.

From Stack’s sale of the DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 1051.

Attractive 1852-O Eagle

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620     1852-O AU-50. Bright and lustrous yellow gold with strong reflectivity in the recessed areas. From a small mintage of 18,000 pieces, the 1852-O is a prime rarity in AU and may not even exist in Mint State. At the present level it is head and shoulders above the typical 1852-O which is just VF. "Surprisingly, few people realize just how hard it is to locate an 1852-O eagle in high grade," wrote Douglas Winter in 1992. Variety with hollow ring atop second vertical stripe on reverse shield. Walter Breen called this date and variety combination "prohibitively rare AU."

Breen-6902. "Hollow ring atop second stripe."

Date logotype impressed to medium depth; 1 equidistant between truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil, 5 "closed," point and ball touch. O mintmark nicely shaped and well impressed, tilted slightly left, closer to tip of feather than letters below, center of O over left edge of left upright of N in TEN. The reverse with ring is different from that used on 1851-O; on the present piece the ring is about 50% embedded in the horizontal stripes below, whereas on the 1851-O the ring just touches the horizontal stripes. As noted earlier in the present offering, multiple ring-feature dies were produced.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of February 1969, Lot 1400.

621     1852-O EF-45. Breen-6902. Lustrous yellow gold with some attractive orange highlights. Some scattered marks are noted, but the overall appearance is quite fine for the grade. Another pleasing example of a scarce date.

Obverse die features similar to the preceding. Reverse with hollow ring at top of second vertical stripe, position similar to 1851-O and unlike that on Lot 620.

The O mintmark is tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N in TEN, O about equidistant between tip of feather and EN.

Accompanying ticket reads "Bob Roth Set."

622     1853/2 So-called Overdate. EF-45. Breen-6905. Lustrous honey gold. A few faint marks are noted. A scarce and popular coin, fancifully (in our opinion) called an overdate by Walter Breen. Hence, in our opinion it is not (but those who feel differently are cordially invited to bid an "overdate price").

Contrary to being an overdate, it seems that this is simply a minor repunching. Detailed examination of several high-grade examples of the date have revealed the following: 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 2 contains an element, right above the base, that is somewhat similar to the artifact seen within the 3 of the so-called 1853/2, but the angle seems somehow incorrect. Thus, it would seem that a touch of imagination is needed to call this an overdate.

Purchased from Rowe & Brownlee, August 20, 1968.

623     1854 Misplaced Date. AU-50. Breen-6911. Satiny medium gold with strong lustre and great eye appeal. Nicely struck from clashed dies. A thoroughly pleasing example of a popular variety.

"Misplaced date. Very rare." Today this is best called a misplaced date, although the term blundered is not inappropriate. Lower left serif and part of upright of mispunched 1 at the dentils below the 1 and 8 in the date.

From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 421A.

624     1854-O Small Date. AU-50. Breen-6913. Lustrous honey gold. A few stray marks are normal for the date, mint, and grade.

"Small Date." We would call this variety the "Medium Date," a more realistic appraisal of the actual size.

The Small Date and Large Date varieties seem to be of about equal availability. However, the data are somewhat distorted, as many unattributed pieces have been loosely lumped under the Small Date banner in the past. Curiously, Harry Bass located more Large Date than Small Date examples of the date during his many years of active collecting.

Date logotype lightly impressed, the italic 5 having the ball widely separated from the element above it. Date low in die, left lower serif of 1 fairly close over center of dentil below, top of 1 distant from truncation. Many raised die lines can be seen among ERT on Liberty’s coronet. Reverse O mintmark thin and nicely shaped, placed somewhat high in die, close to and equidistant from talon and tip of feather, tilted slightly left, high over space between E and N.

From Steve Ivy Numismatic Auctions, Inc.’s sale of August 1980, Lot 326.

625     1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Breen-6914. Generous amounts of lustre remain on attractive yellow gold surfaces. This variety is typically found in VF or EF grades, with AU coins being few and far between.

"Large date. Rare." If size nomenclature were to be taken seriously, this date would bear the appellation "Huge Date."

Obverse with date logotype lightly impressed, the numerals thin and graceful, 5 open, 1 and 8 more widely spaced, the other numerals slightly closer. 1 touches truncation above, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Several stars are attached to the dentils around them by die roughness. Reverse O mintmark thin and lightly impressed, high in the die, equidistant from talon and feather, tilted slightly left, center of O over left edge of upper left serif of N.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 23, 1971.

626     1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Breen-6914. Plenty of lustre and brightness remains on the satiny medium gold surfaces of this delightful New Orleans eagle.

"Large date. Rare."

Obverse with date logotype fairly heavily impressed, the numerals thus being heavier, the 5 nearly closed, and the spacing tighter. 1 touches truncation, left edge of lower serif over right edge of dentil. Reverse O mintmark nicely impressed, centrally located in the field, equidistant from talon and feather, and from EN below, tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N.

From Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 1580.

627     1854-O Large Date. EF-45. Breen-6914. Lustrous deep honey gold with strong brilliance in the protected areas. A most pleasing example of the date and grade.

"Large date. Rare."

Obverse with date logotype lightly impressed at the top, heavier at the bottom, indicating the logotype was not entered perpendicularly. 1 equidistant between dentils and truncation, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil. Die crack from rim below 8 grazes the left side of that numeral then joins the truncation directly above the numeral. Reverse O mintmark thin and lightly impressed, high in the die, equidistant from talon and feather, tilted slightly left, center of O over left edge of upper left serif of N.

Purchased from Paramount, March 1, 1968.

628     1854-S Medium Date. AU-55. A satiny and lustrous honey gold coin with generous amounts of eye appeal present. Some faint marks are noted, but the overall quality is strong for the grade. From the first year of coinage at the San Francisco Mint, and always popular as such. Typically seen in VF or EF, although AU specimens can be found with some patience. This attractive AU coin will be a fine addition to virtually any eagle collection.

Date placed slightly higher than center, top of 1 twice as close to neck as bottom is to dentils, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil, 185 evenly spaced, 5 and 4 closer than other numerals. A small dash is seen in the field above the dentil below the space between the 1 and 8. Reverse with large, thin, well-shaped S mintmark centered over space between N and D in the denomination, fairly distant from those letters, upper serif of S close to olive branch. A die crack extends from the rim above the M of AMERICA, through that letter, then terminating at the edge of the eagle’s wing.

Interestingly, dies were prepared for an 1853-S coinage at San Francisco, but such never materialized.

Purchased from Ed Shapiro, April 7, 1969.

Mint State 1855 $10 Rarity

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629     1855 MS-64. A lustrous and satiny example of a date that is an extreme rarity in Mint State. Probably fewer than 15 specimens can be found today that truly warrant the Uncirculated grade; this is one of those specimens. This sharply struck and aesthetically appealing coin has just one small detriment that needs to be addressed. Some faint scratches are present above the date, and long ago, someone tried to brush the marks away. Thus, the lower part of the obverse shows friction. The rest of the coin? It is a beautiful item to behold overall, a splendid gold eagle that pushes boldly toward a gem classification. This piece should be examined in person, as its market value is subject to different interpretations. Held at arm’s length, it is a gem. Examine closely, it satisfies that requirement except at the bottom of the obverse. Overall the piece is quite attractive, sharply struck, and is one of the nicest 1855 eagles in existence.

Date logotype punched lightly, numerals thin and well-shaped, 1 slightly closer to truncation than to dentils, both 5s are italic, the second just a touch lower than the first. Some tiny die finish lines extend from the dentils near the date and at various other places around the periphery.

From Paramount’s sale of August 1969, Lot 2097.

630     1855 AU-58. Bright and lustrous medium gold. The fields exhibit numerous tiny marks. The lustre is very extensive, however.

Same dies as preceding lot.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, November 15, 1988.

Elusive 1855-O Eagle

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631     1855-O Net EF-40; lightly cleaned some time ago; the end result is not overly obvious. Somewhat prooflike golden orange surfaces. From a modest mintage for the date of 18,000 coins, and a scarce date in all grades. "Prohibitively rare above EF," wrote Walter Breen, while Douglas Winter called the date "an issue whose true rarity is appreciated only by rare-date gold experts and New Orleans gold coin specialists."

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. Reverse O mintmark thin and nicely shaped, placed somewhat high in die, close to and equidistant from talon and tip of feather, tilted slightly left, high over space between E and N. This reverse was also used for striking certain 1854-O Small Date eagles.

From Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 426.

1855-S Eagle Rarity

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632     1855-S EF-45. Lustrous orange-gold. The surfaces display a plenitude of tiny marks that include noticeable scratches on the reverse. Perhaps this was carried in a sack of gold coins on mule back into the Sierras. Who knows? Nevertheless, the 1855-S is a prized rarity in all grades, a key to the series. Just 9,000 examples of the date were struck in San Francisco, and the majority of the 125 or so estimated survivors from that mintage are VF, or, less often, EF. AU coins are extremely rare, and the date is unknown in Mint State! Suddenly, the scattering of surface marks on the present coin becomes less significant. A rare opportunity.

Date logotype lightly impressed, numerals slightly thicker at the bases. Bottom of 1 slightly closer to dentils than top is to truncation, left edge of lower serif over right edge of dentil. Medium reverse S mintmark tilted noticeably left, high in the field, upper back of S slightly further from talon than upper serif is from tip of feather, S high over N below, back edge of lower serif of S on line with front edge of upper right serif of E. Some raised die finish marks extend diagonally from the rim above OF.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 3, 1968.

Mint State 1856 Eagle

Errant 1 in Dentils

Previously Unreported Variety

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633     1856 Misplaced Date. MS-60. Medium gold with some olive highlights. Highly lustrous and equally reflective in the fields, the coin presents a modest cameo contrast. Lightly brushed at one time, otherwise we would assign a higher grade to it—with MS-63 being a possibility. This piece should be examined in person by prospective bidders, as while it is quite beautiful, the effect of the brushing is subject to varying opinions in a financial sense. A very attractive example of an overlooked rarity. While 60,490 eagles dated 1856 were struck, perhaps as few as 12 to 15 Mint State pieces are known today. Here is a sometimes overlooked rarity for the alert collector.

Top and upper serif of errant 1 in dentils below ball of 5 in date. Discovered by Beth Piper, of the Bowers and Merena staff, who first noticed this when categorizing pieces for the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection in November of 1999. The editor cannot resist telling a tale about Beth—a true story: several years ago a group including some of America’s best known rare coin dealers were assembled in one spot to view some rarities we had for sale—perhaps it was the Eliasberg Collection, or perhaps it was another offering. At the same time, our Direct Sales Department had acquired a large group of Saint-Gaudens $20 pieces that had been certified by PCGS in grades from MS-60 to MS-65. The writer thought it an interesting exercise to select one each from MS-60 to MS-65, cover the grades with tape, and pass them around to the well-known dealers to see how close they could come to the grades assigned by PCGS. Each coin was numbered to keep track. Several Bowers and Merena staffers participated in the exercise. Of everyone in the room—outside dealers plus our own staff—Beth Piper came the closest to the PCGS designations.

Date nicely impressed, 1 twice the distance from dentils than from truncation, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil, 18 close, 85 slightly more distant, 56 wider yet. Upright 5, 6 slightly low and noticeably tilted right. The unmistakable top and serif to an errant 1 protrudes from the dentil below the ball of the 5.

From Heritage’s sale of December 1988, Lot 1239.

Rare 1856-O Eagle

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634     1856-O EF-45. Lustrous honey gold with some prooflike reflectivity in the protected areas. Some scattered marks become apparent under low magnification. A rarity from a small mintage of 14,500 pieces. Just how rare is this coin? "Nearly all of the surviving examples of this date grade Very Fine or lower. Extremely Fine pieces are rare and About Uncirculated specimens are extremely rare. No Mint State 1856-O eagle exists," wrote Douglas Winter. Indeed, of the seven specimens of the date that Harry Bass could locate in decades of searching, the two finest of the group were each graded EF-45. Another nice opportunity for the alert collector or specialist.

Date logotype moderately impressed, numerals well to left, tip of upper serif (flag) of 1 even with point of Liberty’s bust, 1 equidistant between truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils. Reverse O mintmark thin and nicely shaped, placed somewhat high in die, close to and equidistant from talon and tip of feather, tilted slightly left, high over space between E and N. This reverse was also used for striking certain 1854-O Small Date and 1855-O eagles.

We have identified two different four-digit logotypes for the 1856 eagle. The first, as used on Lot 633, is distinguished by having the numeral 6 distant from the 5 and low. The second, as offered here, has the numeral 6 distant from the 5, but not quite as far away, and with the 6 high. Both logotypes have been identified on multiple dies, and thus they are attributable as four-digit logotypes (not three-digit logotypes with the fourth digit added). On both logotypes, the individual numerals are from the same single punches in the matrix. Although no documentation exists, perhaps the logotype with the distant, low 6 was made first, used for a time, then replaced with one that was thought to be better in appearance.

Accompanying ticket reads "Bob Roth Set."

635     1856-O EF-40. Lustrous deep yellow gold with some scattered marks, as might be expected for the grade. A second pleasing example of this rare New Orleans issue, another coin for the advanced specialist.

From the same obverse die as the preceding lot. Reverse with low O mintmark, about equidistant between N below and tip of feather above, distant from talon, inner right curve of O over outer left edge of left upright of N. Die clash marks around the eagle.

From Superior’s sale of February 1973, Lot 663.

636     1856-S Medium S. AU-55. Breen-6922. "Medium S." Lustrous honey gold with rich orange-gold highlights. A rarity in AU or finer despite a fair mintage of 68,000 coins; the typical grade is VF when specimens are found. A delightful representative example of the date and grade.

Four-digit date logotype as preceding. In the present instance it is deeply and evenly impressed into the working die. Numerals nicely spaced, top of 1 nearly three times the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over right side of dentil, 5 closed, die lump on truncation above 8. Medium reverse S mintmark tilted noticeably left, high in the field, upper back of S slightly closer to talon than upper serif is to tip of feather, S high over E and N below, back edge of lower serif of S noticeable left of front edge of upper right serif of E.

Purchased from Lester Merkin, June 23, 1967.

Lustrous 1857 Eagle

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637     1857 AU-55. Impressive mint lustre remains on satiny honey gold surfaces. Nicely struck and bearing few marks of any consequence. A scarce date in all grades; Philadelphia produced only 16,606 business strikes of the date. Typical survivors from that mintage are VF to EF. Choice for the grade.

Date logotype nicely impressed, numerals closely spaced, date centrally located, bottom of 1 marginally closer to dentils than truncation, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil, bottom of 7 slightly lower than bottoms of other numerals, first star connected to dentils by a patch of roughness and some raised die lines. Reverse unremarkable save for some faint clash marks and a raised die lump between the second and third pair of vertical stripes in the shield.

Purchased from RARCOA, August 16, 1971.

Low-Mintage 1857-O $10 Rarity

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638     1857-O Net EF-45; sharpness of AU-50, lightly cleaned some time ago. Still a pleasing example of this rarity. Attractive honey gold with some prooflike reflectivity present on both sides. Only 5,500 examples of the date were coined. Most of the survivors are VF or so. No Mint State piece has been encountered. The specialist knows that while the present 1857-O might not be a deluxe piece in overall quality, branch mint eagles of this era were used very extensively in circulation, with none saved for cabinet purposes, and the present piece will certainly hold its own among its contemporaries. Very few coins of equal quality have ever been offered at auction.

Date logotype nicely and evenly impressed, date nicely centered horizontally and vertically, 1 equidistant between truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil. O mintmark nicely impressed, centrally located in the field, equidistant from talon and feather, and from EN below, tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N.

Accompanying ticket reads "Bob Roth Set."

639     1857-S EF-45. Lustrous honey gold with some surface reflectivity. A fairly scarce date in all grades, VF and EF being typical.

Date logotype boldly impressed. Low Date. Top of 1 about three times more distant from truncation than bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil. Small "spikes" from dentils to field at first two obverse stars, raised die lump below left foot of R in LIBERTY, raised die lines around that word, die lumps on Liberty’s neck near lowest curls. Medium S mintmark placed centrally in field, upper back of S distant from talon, upper serif virtually touches tip of arrow feather, S centered over left upright of N in TEN, about equidistant from talon and N.

In time, some pieces from the S.S. Central America will come to market. As this description is being written we do not have an inventory, and in any event the majority of the pieces in that cache were 1857-S double eagles.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.

Lustrous 1858-O Eagle

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640     1858-O AU-55. Bright and lustrous yellow gold with some reflectivity in the fields. Sharply struck from lightly clashed dies. Probably struck from California metal, although at the time most was being minted either in San Francisco or shipped to Philadelphia via New York City. In general, New Orleans gold mintages of the era were very small.

Of the 20,000 pieces coined, most have long since disappeared. When found, the typical grade for the 1858-O is VF or EF. The present piece is significantly higher. Years after Harry Bass acquired this piece, a group of gold coins was found in Jackson, Tennessee, which is believed to have included some high-grade examples of the variety, increasing the population, but not removing it from the rarity class.

Date logotype evenly if somewhat lightly impressed. Date fairly well centered, top of 1 marginally farther from truncation than bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil, 185 evenly spaced, final 8 slightly distant. Clash marks around eagle, many raised die lines within the vertical shield stripes, O mintmark nicely impressed, centrally located in the field, equidistant from talon and feather, and from EN below, tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N.

Purchased from Harry Forman, September 14, 1967.

641     1858-O AU-50. Lustrous orange-gold with reflective surfaces and strong orange highlights in the recessed areas. A second example of this popular date, and a pleasing coin for the assigned grade.

Date logotype evenly and moderately impressed. Date fairly well centered, top of 1 marginally closer to truncation than bottom is to dentils, left edge of lower serif over left edge of dentil, 185 evenly spaced, final 8 slightly distant, both 8s appear to list slightly to the right. Clash marks around Liberty’s hair bun from the reverse arrow heads. Some light raised die lines within the vertical shield stripes, O mintmark nicely impressed, centrally located in the field, equidistant from talon and feather, and from EN below, tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N.

Purchased from Manfra, Tordella, and Brooks, January 6, 1975.

Impressive 1858-S Eagle Rarity

Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS

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642     1858-S AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with much brightness in the protected areas. A prized rarity from the early days of San Francisco Mint production. Only 11,800 examples of the date were struck, and essentially all went immediately into circulation; this date is unknown in Mint State! A VF specimen is all most can hope for where this date is concerned; even EF specimens are very rare. At the AU-55 level, the present specimen is tied for finest certified by PCGS with just one other piece in contention. We are actually competing with ourselves, as the other coin appeared in Part II of the Bass Sale, dramatic testimony as to the overall quality that Harry W. Bass, Jr., collected for decades.

One might imagine that with the great surge in interest in gold coins brought forth by the marketing of the rather limited selection of dates from the treasure wrecks of the S.S. Brother Jonathan and the S.S. Central America, pieces that were not represented—such as the 1858-S $10 offered here—will attract a wider audience than ever. Many new enthusiasts are being introduced to the excitement and romance of early American gold coins.

PCGS Population: 2; none finer.

Date logotype fairly well impressed, 1 and 8 closest, 8 and 5 further apart, 5 and 8 most distant; 8 leans right. Date fairly high, bottom of 1 twice the distance from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif over left side of dentil. A faint die line runs from a dentil to a point near the lower right curve of the second 8 in the date. Reverse with medium S mintmark placed deeply into the die, top of S equidistant from talon and tip of feather, nominally farther from E and N below, centered over space between those letters. Several raised diagonal die lines run through OF and the wing tip, then across AM. A faint die crack runs from the rim through the serifs of the E in AMERICA. Another crack runs upward from the rim through the N in TEN, with another crack running horizontally from the D to the punctuation after the denomination. Some die roughness seemingly connects the tops of UNIT. A curious bunch of horizontal die lines runs below the eagle, giving it a "perched" appearance.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, September 5, 1967.

643     1859 AU-55. Lustrous honey gold. A pleasing specimen of this popular key date Philadelphia Mint eagle issue. One of 16,013 business strikes of the date produced, with VF or EF the usual grades for known specimens. At AU, the population of available specimens drops dramatically for this date, and the rarity increases just as dramatically.

Date logotype nicely impressed. Date low, top of 1 about twice the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil, numerals widely spaced, 8 and 5 most distant.

From Quality Sales Corporation’s sale of March 1972, Lot 1258.

Amazing 1859-O Eagle Rarity

Rarest New Orleans Eagle

Tied for Finest Certified by PCGS

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644     1859-O AU-55 (PCGS). Lustrous honey gold with strong design elements present. A prize from New Orleans, one of only 2,300 examples of the date struck. Of that mintage, we feel perhaps as few as four dozen specimens exist in all grades; Douglas Winter opined 30 to 35 specimens, while Walter Breen came in on the low side, claiming as few as 12 pieces extant.

Winter wrote: "The 1859-O is the rarest New Orleans eagle. It is a rarer coin than the famous 1858 eagle and examples are generally offered for sale at significant auctions; and generally at the rate of fewer than one per year."

We offered a lovely AU-53 (PCGS) example as Lot 1471 in Part II of our sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. As is sometimes the case when the present collection is concerned, only another Harry Bass coin could top that grade!

PCGS Population: 3; none finer.

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. The deep impression gives the letter thickness and spacing a different appearance than on the preceding lot, although the same four-digit logotype was employed. O mintmark nicely impressed, centrally located in the field, equidistant from talon and feather, and from EN below, tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N. Many tiny die artifacts are seen in the vertical stripes on the reverse shield.

The accompanying ticket reads "Roth Set."

645     1860 AU-50. Lustrous yellow gold with plenty of reflectivity on both sides. Some scattered marks are present, none of them of major consequence however. From a fairly small output of just 15,055 business strikes for the date. Typical of eagles from the era, the usual example of this date is VF or so, with AU pieces genuine rarities in their own right. A great opportunity.

Date logotype firmly impressed, date low, top of 1 twice the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil.

The rarity of $10 gold coins in EF and AU grades of the dates before 1870 can be appreciated by perusing auction catalogues. We know from experience, having looked through thousands during the past year, and many before then, keeping meticulous notes of observations—this being done with the help of a team of about a half dozen research assistants. Even most of the "name" collections were apt to lack certain $10 pieces completely, or to have them in grades such as VF. Never in the history of numismatics has a complete run been assembled in AU grade, never mind Mint State (at which level certain issues are nonexistent). Today the supply continues to be very thin, and if as many as three or four dedicated enthusiasts all of a sudden decided to specialize in Coronet Head eagles, prices would multiply!

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2186.

646     1860 EF-45. Lustrous honey gold. Some marks are noted, typical for the grade.

From the same die pair as the previous lot.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, July 31, 1967.

1860-O Eagle Rarity

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647     1860-O AU-50. Bright and lustrous yellow gold. Nicely struck with reflective fields and satiny devices. Some scattered marks are present on both sides, including some light scratches on Liberty’s neck. A tiny planchet lamination, as struck, is noted to the right of the 0 in the date. The last New Orleans eagle until the 1879-O issue. Just 11,100 examples of the date were struck, with survivors most plentiful in VF to EF; at AU the rarity of the date is unmistakable. All things considered, a pleasing coin overall. Remarkably, the current value of this piece as we go to press is, say, $1,500 to $2,000—and yet there are so few such examples in existence, that often a span of years will elapse between offerings. At the risk of being overly dramatic, but also with the assurance of being perfectly correct, we suggest that if someone were to offer to pay $200,000 each for 20 of this variety and grade, advertising widely in Numismatic News and Coin World, with the offer being valid only if all 20 were obtained, the reward would go unspent!

Date logotype moderately impressed, numerals widely spaced, reminiscent of 1859 but in a different font. Date low, top of 1 three times farther from truncation than bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Heavy clash marks show at Miss Liberty, particularly in and around LIBERTY on her coronet. O mintmark nicely impressed, centrally located in the field, equidistant from talon and feather, slightly more distant from EN below, tilted slightly left, center of O over space between E and N. Many tiny die artifacts are seen in the vertical stripes on the reverse shield, and clash marks are noted around the eagle.

From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 347.

1860-S Eagle Rarity

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648     1860-S Net EF-45; sharpness of AU-55, lightly cleaned. Lustrous medium yellow gold; much of the lustre is natural and not the result of the aforementioned cleaning. A prized key date from the San Francisco Mint, one of only 5,000 eagles of the date produced. When seen, the typical specimen is apt to be VF, with a few EF pieces known, and very few higher. Worthy of in-person examination before bidding, as the piece is far finer than usually seen.

Date logotype nicely impressed. Date low, top of 1 four times further from truncation than bottom is from dentils, left edge of lower dentil over space between dentils. Large upright S mintmark to right, top of S equidistant between tip of feather and olive branch and closer to those markers than to the denomination below, lowest serif over right upright of N in TEN.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 16, 1971. The accompanying ticket reads "Ex Bell II?"

649     1861 AU-58. Satiny and lustrous honey gold with attractive reflective fields. A thoroughly pleasing specimen of this popular No Motto eagle issue.

Date logotype lightly impressed. Low date, top of 1 twice the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, edge of lower serif over center of dentil. UNITED heavily impressed on the reverse, STATES OF and AMERICA lightly impressed, TEN D. moderately impressed.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, September 19, 1973.

650     1861 AU-55. Lustrous honey gold. A few scattered marks are normal for the grade.

Date logotype lightly impressed, numerals evenly spaced, faint crack at base of date. Low date, top of 1 twice the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, edge of lower serif over center of dentil. Reverse legends evenly impressed. Some faint cracks unite many of the letters in the legend. Die clash marks can be seen on both sides.

Purchased from Bill Raymond, February 29, 1972.

Highly Important 1861-S Eagle

Lustrous and Beautiful

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651     1861-S AU-50. Warm honey gold with strong mint lustre in the recessed areas. Nicely struck in all areas. From a modest mintage of 15,500 coins, with virtually all of that mintage going immediately into the channels of West Coast commerce. A rarity in all grades, VF or an occasional EF being typical; at AU the rarity increases dramatically. The present coin is a first class rarity by any consideration.

Date logotype moderately impressed, numerals evenly spaced. Low date, top of 1 two to three times the distance from truncation as bottom is from dentils, edge of lower serif over right side of dentil. Reverse die used also for 1860-S eagles (see our description under that date).

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2268.

652     1862 EF-45. Lustrous honey gold with some prooflike reflectivity in the fields. From a fairly low Philadelphia Mint output for the date of 10,960 business strikes, and a rarity in all grades. VF and EF are the typical grades found for the date, with AU examples nearly impossible to find. Mint State? In 1980, David Akers wrote of "just one average quality piece" that he had seen; no others have been reported. The present coin is very attractive and an example that is worthy of even a "name" collection.

Date logotype moderately impressed, 1 essentially equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils. Reverse shows clash marks around the eagle.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2288.

Impressive 1862-S $10 Rarity

Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS

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653     1862-S AU-55 (PCGS). Bright honey gold with strong cartwheel lustre present on both sides. Some faint marks are easily overlooked. A definite rarity in all grades; just 12,500 examples were struck. VF coins seem to be the peak of the distribution curve, with some known on either side of that grade. In AU the pinnacle of the grade curve has been reached, as no Mint State examples of the date are known. A few scattered examples of the date have made their way through the grading services, with only a very few of those equal to the present coin; none are finer.

PCGS Population: 3; none finer.

Date logotype nicely impressed. Date centered, 1 equidistant from truncation above and dentils below, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils. Reverse die used also for 1860-S eagles (see our description under that date).

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, May 21, 1968.

Important 1863-S Eagle Rarity

A Potential American Classic

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654     1863-S EF-40. Lustrous orange-gold. A few light marks pale to insignificance when the rarity of the date is factored in. From a modest mintage for the date of just 10,000 pieces, with perhaps only two or three dozen survivors known in all grades! VF is typical, with an occasional EF specimen known. Indeed, until the 1980s and our sale of the Norweb Collection, this date was unknown in AU!

The present piece is an extreme rarity, but it is not well known as such. We can readily imagine that any buyer who is able to capture this coin at anywhere near the current market value of just a few thousand dollars will truly have a fantastic buy! It is to be remembered that many great collections in the past were formed by astute purchasers who acquired coins when the market wasn’t looking. Right now, the general area of early Coronet Head $10 pieces, the dates from the 1840s through the 1870s in grades of EF or finer, represents a field of diamonds just waiting to be picked up—this being our considered opinion.

Date logotype nicely impressed, date numerals nicely spaced and nicely centered both horizontally and vertically, 1 equidistant from truncation and dentils, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils. Reverse with medium S mintmark leaning slightly left, upper back of mintmark and upper serif about equidistant between talon and feather, farther from EN below, and centered over the space between those letters.

From Parke-Bernet’s sale of the McGraw Collection, May 1968, Lot 153.

Elusive 1863-S Eagle Rarity

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655     1863-S Net VF-30; sharpness of EF-45 or so, but cleaned long ago. Medium honey gold with some natural lustre in the recessed areas. Another example of this great rarity, one that should not be ignored by our bidders because of its shortcomings. Knowledgeable eagle specialists have gladly settled for an example of this date in lesser condition over the years; indeed, most eagle specialists have settled for no specimen of the date in their cabinets despite long searches and great patience. Need we say more?

Dies as in the previous lot.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968.

Fantastic 1864-S Eagle

Legendary Rarity

Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS

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656     1864-S AU-55 (PCGS). Delightful lustre on satiny orange-gold surfaces. An important low-mintage date, one of only 2,500 eagles of the date struck in San Francisco. Of that small amount, perhaps just 20 to 30 examples are known today; the present specimen is easily one of the finest known. Indeed, it is a full 20 grade points above the example we offered as Lot 1496 in our sale of Part II of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection in October 1999. Here is one of the most elusive of all eagles of the era, a date that actually eclipses the more famous 1858 in terms of absolute rarity. This is the sort of coin that great collections are built around, and we expect hearty bidding competition from specialists when it crosses the auction block.

PCGS Population: 2; none finer.

Date logotype boldly impressed. Date slightly left, 1 nicely centered between truncation and dentils. The reverse was also used for 1863-S eagles (see our notes at that date).

From Paramount’s sale of August 1969, Lot 2116.

Impressive 1865 Eagle Rarity

Seldom Seen Finer

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657     1865 AU-55 (PCGS). Breen-6945. Lustrous orange-gold with prooflike reflectivity and lively rose iridescence. A scattering of tiny marks is readily apparent under low magnification. Another great rarity in the Liberty eagle series, although its fame is known mainly to ardent specialists in the series. From a slight business strike mintage for the date of just 3,980 coins; today, we suspect just 50 or so specimens remain in all grades. At VF the date is rare, with EF and higher specimens being of the utmost rarity. The present coin, at AU-55, is among the finest known examples of the date. Indeed, the present coin is equal in grade to Lot 1498 in Part II of our sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (October 1999), standing as testimony to the collecting instincts of Harry Bass and his uncanny ability to locate multiple high quality specimens of classic American gold coin rarities. Truly a splendid opportunity for advanced eagle specialists.

PCGS Population: 4; 2 finer (MS-63 finest).

"Type II reverse. Doubled reverse die." Breen casually lumped the entire mintage of business strikes of the date under the "doubled reverse" banner, but such is not the case. The present specimen, while displaying some noticeable shelf doubling in a few of the areas mentioned by Breen, does not convince this writer (Frank Van Valen) of the coin’s "doubled reverse" status. There are no notched serifs or distinct separation on any of the details, merely a flat "shelf." It is entirely possible that the dies or coinage press were not set up or adjusted properly during the limited production run of the date (3,980 business strikes), thereby imparting the die ejection doubling effect to many of the known examples of the date.

Date logotype solidly impressed. Obverse with 18 close, 86 widest, 65 about as close as 18, date nicely centered horizontally and vertically, 1 marginally closer to dentils than truncation, edge of lower serif over center of dentil below.

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 23, 1968.

Rare 1865-S Eagle

Among the Finest Known of the Date

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658     1865-S EF-45 (PCGS). Medium honey gold surfaces with strong lustre for the assigned grade. A prize in all grades, VF being typical, and EF being quite rare. We suspect that perhaps just 30 or so examples of the date are available in all grades. Unknown in Mint State (and nearly so in AU), collectors seeking this elusive date have long ago learned to settle for VF or lower on those infrequent occasions when a specimen of the date is offered. At EF-45, as offered here, its rarity is unchallenged; indeed, very few examples of the date can meet or exceed the quality of the presently offered coin.

PCGS Population: 4; 3 finer (AU-53 finest).

Date logotype firmly impressed, numerals nicely spaced, bottom of 1 twice the distance from dentils as top is from truncation, left edge of lower serif high over center of dentil, minor repunching seen at the 5. Raised die lines run from the dentils to the 1 in the date, with a scattering of similar lines near some stars. A sizeable raised die lump is centrally located on Liberty’s cheek. Reverse with large S mintmark placed well to right and tilting slightly to the right, top of letter near to and equidistant from arrow feather and branch, slightly farther from EN below, mintmark slightly left of center over space between E and N, lowest serif directly over center of right upright of N, clash marks visible at TEN D. and arrow tips.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of August 1968, Lot 1020.

Important 1865-S 865 Over Inverted 186 $10

A Condition Census Specimen

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659     1865-S 865 Over Inverted 186. AU-55 (PCGS). Breen-6948. Rich orange-gold on highly lustrous surfaces. A scattering of marks can be seen, most noticeable of these being a vertical gouge in the field behind Miss Liberty’s portrait. Still a very nice example of this rare and desirable blundered date variety. The 1865-S over inverted date is scarce in all grades, but not quite as scarce overall as the Perfect Date variety. While a nod must be made to the significantly finer piece retrieved from the S.S. Brother Jonathan, auctioned by us a year ago, the present AU-55 coin certainly is Condition Census and is a numismatic prize.

Only a few dozen specimens of this variety have been accounted for. The blundered date gives it a special cachet, a "must have" variety.

PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (MS-64).

The current view of the editor (QDB) is that the 1865 $10 pieces were made with a full 1865 logotype, not just 186 with the 5 added later. To our eye, the date logotype and also the preceding two pieces are all identical. Per this scenario, the entire date 1865 was first punched in an inverted position. Today, under high powered magnification, only part of the date can be seen, this including much of the upright of the 1 (mainly obscured by the final 5), much of the top part and some of the bottom part of the 8 (the very bottom part of the 8 having been ground away on the die), and just part of the 6 (seemingly mostly ground away and also obscured by the 8.) No traces of the inverted 5 are seen, but we attribute this to such traces having been removed from the die. The writer invites a challenge from anyone who feels differently, as research on this and other eagles is in an evolving stage, and every now and then has to be revised. However, for the present our assumption is stated here.

The date logotype was first punched in an inverted position, the gaff was immediately recognized, and the logotype was then repunched in the correct upright position. However, no apparent attempt was made to efface the inverted numerals, and under magnification the inverted 186 can be seen. The reverse die was also used on the "normal" date issue of this year (see our notes there).

From Stack’s sale of December 1971, Lot 853.

Impressive 1866-S With Motto $10

Among Finest Known

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660     1866-S Motto. AU-55 (PCGS). Bright and lustrous honey gold with a few light marks noted for accuracy. From the first year of the design type with IN GOD WE TRUST on ribbon above reverse eagle. A rarity in all grades, and a date that is unknown in Mint State; with that in mind, a lovely AU-55 specimen such as this becomes even more desirable. This specimen exceeds the quality of Lot 1505 of our sale of Part II of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection in October 1999. In fact, PCGS has certified only one example of the date in a finer grade. The present coin offers a pleasing mix of technical quality and aesthetic appeal that will draw a good deal of bidding activity.

PCGS Population: 1; 1 finer (AU-58).

Obverse die as used on the 1866-S Without Motto, identified by a tiny die line extending from the dentils past star 3, directed upward. Other lines can be seen at various points around the circumference. Reverse with motto IN GOD WE TRUST, this being its first appearance. Very tiny S mintmark, the smallest seen in the series to date (often called "microscopic" or "minute" mintmark). Upper serif of S close to tip of arrow feather, distant from TEN below, slightly to right of left upright of N. Left side of motto somewhat light in the die, with bottom ribbon incomplete.

From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, October 1968, Lot 677.

Another 1866-S With Motto $10

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661     1866-S Motto. Net EF-40; sharpness of EF-45, cleaned. Medium honey gold. A rarity in all grades, and a nice opportunity for a collector who keeps a weather eye on the numismatic budget.

From the same dies as the previous lot, now with clash marks at the reverse eagle.

From Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2273.