Eagles - Lots 600-669
Superlative 1843-O Eagle
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The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part IV
Eagles - Lots 600-669
600 1843-O MS-61 (PCGS). Lustrous and reflective medium yellow surfaces. Almost cameo contrast between devices and field, particularly due to die rust on Liberty’s figure which gives it a slightly darker tone. Dig below T in STATES and a planchet flaw in left reverse field. The 1843-O eagle, despite a higher mintage than any previous eagle emission, is a rarity in grades above EF. Mint State pieces are almost unheard of. The present specimen is appealing for the grade and basically unimprovable.
PCGS Population: 2, 1 finer (MS-62).
Breen-6863. Die crack from eagle’s neck does not quite reach left wing. Very thin crack from right rim to wing tip. A single hair dangles from the front of the forecurl beneath Liberty’s coronet.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, February 23, 1971. Earlier from Stack’s sale of the Pierce Collection, May 1965, Lot 1451.
601 1843-O AU-50. Light yellow surfaces, perhaps wiped long ago. Some hairlines and tiny marks visible. Lustre remains in protected areas, particularly on the reflective reverse. Scratches are noted at stars 11, 12, and 13 also a reverse rim nick above E in UNITED. An attractive, well above average specimen.
Breen-6863. Reverse cracked from serif of first S in STATES along tops of letters to left side of final S. Light crack from last S to rim. Crack from O of OF to tip of wing. Crack from rim through final A of AMERICA through arrows, bottom of shield up through wing to rim.
Purchased from Stack’s, January 16, 1971.
602 1843-O AU-50. Medium yellow surfaces. Small but noticeable reverse gouge near eagle’s wing. A very pleasing example of this popular New Orleans issue.
Breen-6863. A later state of the reverse die as used for the previous lot.
Purchased from Paramount’s sale of February 18, 1971, Lot 1086.
Original 1844 Eagle
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603 1844 EF-45. Pleasing medium yellow with lighter lustrous patches around each star. Simply a very attractive coin for the type, a fact which belies its prohibitive rarity. Only 6,361 eagles were struck at Philadelphia in 1844, causing this date and mint to be among the great rarities of the eagle series. A specimen that would be difficult to improve upon.
Heavy die lapping around rim, heaviest from stars 1 to 3. Three spurs from dentils over A of AMERICA on reverse.
From Abe Kosoff’s ANA Sale, August 1968, Lot 1007. Earlier from Stack’s sale of the Davis-Graves Collection, May 1954, Lot 730.
Another Lovely 1844 Eagle
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604 1844 EF-45. Attractive medium yellow gold with ruddy highlights. A short scratch in field above eagle’s head is noted for accuracy. Another charming specimen of this rarity from the second Philadelphia Mint. In terms of Bass Collection coins and the Breen text, welcome to a new "Prohibition era"!
From the same dies as the preceding lot. Breen calls the EF grade in 1844 eagles "prohibitively rare."
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, June 30, 1967.
A Final Elusive 1844 $10
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605 1844 EF-40. Appealing medium yellow gold with much lustre adhering to stars and devices, especially on the reflective reverse. A tiny rim nick above S in STATES and a few other inconsequential marks. Attractive and well above average for the issue. The final opportunity to add an 1844 eagle from the Bass Collection to your holdings.
From the same dies as preceding two lots.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, April 28, 1967.
Superb 1844-O Eagle
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606 1844-O AU-58 (PCGS). Light yellow gold with darker peripheries. Reflective surfaces are choice overall, despite some minor hairlining. Despite a high mintage for this period of 118,700 pieces, Mint State pieces are incredibly rare. This coin retains the Mint State look and lustre, making it stand above other AU specimens. A supremely appealing piece.
PCGS Population: 1, 2 finer.
Reverse die, one of six sent to the New Orleans Mint this year, is heavily cracked. Crack from dentils to U of UNITED. Crack from base of U almost at a 90° angle, ending at olive branch and in field below. Crack from base of N through olive leaf to wing. Crack at base of ITED continues through wing, across base of STATES to O of OF. Crack from rim to left serif of first T in STATES. Crack from rim to first A in AMERICA to wing. Crack from rim to stop after D. Crack from field along top of TEN D. to right serif of final A in AMERICA. Obverse shows ridges between stars 1 through 3 perpendicular to usual lapping lines.
Purchase from Paramount’s sale of November 1973, Lot 1952.
607 1844-O Recut Mintmark. AU-50. Medium yellow gold with lustre remaining around date, legends, and devices. Rim lightly nicked at top of obverse. Short scratch above TEN on reverse. Appealing and original.
Repunched mintmark, from the same reverse die as Lot 590, May 2000 (Bass III). Obverse die cracks from star 4 and between stars 5 and 6.
Purchase from Stanley Kesselman, June 1, 1971.
Desirable 1845 Eagle
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608 1845 AU-50. Lustrous and reflective medium yellow gold. A coin underappreciated for its scarcity in the higher circulated grades and all but impossible to locate in Mint State. A pleasing "sleeper."
Star 1 shows spurs on point closest to rim. Heavy clashing visible around eagle on reverse.
Purchased from Abe Kosoff’s sale of February 1969, Lot 1390.
609 1845 EF-45. Light yellow gold with minuscule marks and ruddy highlights. Insignificant hairlines, really a pleasing circulated example. This coin did its duty in the halls of mid-19th century commerce, but has detail and lustre enough to be above average for the issue. The reverse bears reflective surfaces and much lustre remaining in protected regions; an appealing specimen.
From the same die pair as the preceding lot.
Purchased from Abe Kosoff’s sale of the Shuford Collection, May 1968, Lot 2171.
Exquisite 1845-O Eagle
Finest Certified by PCGS
Ex. Cleneay, Ten Eyck, Clapp, Eliasberg
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610 1845-O So-called "845 Over 1844," but really not an overdate. MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous medium yellow gold with frosty devices, giving the coin an almost cameo contrast. Impressive reflective fields with full cartwheel lustre. This coin is as rare as it is attractive; scarce above EF, the 1845-O eagle is a decided rarity in Mint State and most likely unique so fine as this. In our sale of the Eliasberg Collection, October 1982, in describing this piece we wrote: "No complete set of Uncirculated eagles will ever be formed because certain issues do not exist in this grade. However, it is a challenge to endeavor to obtain as high a grade as possible, and the competitor in such an effort will find this coin to be a rare prize." This coin is a prize indeed, as it sits at the confluence of rarity and beauty with memorable grace.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer.
Breen-6871. Repunching of final two digits of date visible due west with full separation. From this coin, it is clear that this is, in fact, not an overdate (as suggested by Breen) but a repunching over an effaced two-digit logotype of smaller size. The 4 in the date is flat topped, while the vestiges of a digit beneath show a pointed top which can only be a 4. The remnants of the last digit include a flat top and a curve and its right side, so it is most likely a 5. Lapping lines visible at throat. Thin crack from right rim to wing tip.
Although Messrs. Eliasberg, Clapp, and Ten Eyck are quite well known to numismatists with a sense of history, Thomas Cleneay is a lesser figure in recorded history. And yet, in the annals of gold coins, he looms as a very significant figure—a numismatist of the same stripe as Virgil Brand: buying one piece is nice, having two is nicer yet, and having three is even better. Come to think of it, Harry W. Bass, Jr., felt this way also! No doubt we can all thank Thomas Cleneay for preserving for numismatic posterity many gold coins that he was able to acquire from banks and elsewhere in the late 19th century, in an era in which the series did not draw a wide circle of interest. Collectors of Civil War tokens may know that Cleneay is one of the most important figures who collected these tokens in the 1860s, in the time when they were produced. In your editor’s spare time (ha!) he is trying to figure out the numismatist that ordered from John Stanton, the Cincinnati die sinker, such pieces as copper-nickel strikings of Reverse 1018—with Cleneay being in the lineup of "suspects."
Numismatic history can be as interesting as the coins themselves, and Harry Bass joined many others in heightening his appreciation of coins he owned by building a library and reading about them. One unit of coins plus one unit of historical information can add up to three units of pleasure—defying all earthly rules, but just fine from a sentimental viewpoint. While now in the year 2000 one can think of "the good old days" when coins were cheaper, numismatists could aspire to collect one of just about everything, etc., it is also true that the "good old days" were quite barren with regard to the availability of numismatic books and the interest in numismatic research. Scholars were few and far between, as were collectors of out-of-print literature. In the late 1950s when a group of researchers banded together to form the Rittenhouse Society (more formally organized in 1960), all researchers were aware of all others, and the roster was very small—easily committed to memory. Today in the year 2000, there are many dozens of people who have made superb contributions to research and writing. All one needs to do is to look at the specialized journals in series from colonial coins to Liberty Seated silver, from copper cents to, wonderfully enough, a journal on books and catalogues themselves— The Asylum, published by the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
The beauty part of all of this is that whether you have the financial backing of a computer magnate, or whether you have but a modest income, such pleasures of history and research are inexpensive, almost free.
From our sale of the Richard E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 674. Earlier from the John H. Clapp Collection, B. Max Mehl’s sale of the James Ten Eyck Collection in May 1922, and the Chapman brothers’ sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection in December 1890.
611 1845-O Repunched 84. AU-50. Attractive bright yellow gold with residual lustre in the usual protected areas. An insignificant rim nick above N in UNITED is noted. A very appealing piece, with clear repunching of the 84 in the date over partially effaced due digits due south. Scarce in this grade.
Breen-6869. Recutting most clear below 8 and 4, though a light vestige remains below the flag of the final digit in the date. Reverse die crack connects tops of TAT in STATES.
From Stack’s sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1155.
612 1845-O Repunched 84. Net EF-45; sharpness of AU-55, cleaned. Surfaces a little unnaturally reflective with mottled violet and bright yellow gold. No serious marks. A pleasing eagle with above average sharpness.
Breen-6869. Struck from the same dies as preceding lot.
Purchased from Lester Merkin’s sale of March 1969, Lot 404.
613 1845-O Repunched 84. Net EF-40; sharpness of AU-50, cleaned. Light yellow. A high-grade specimen of this scarce variety.
Breen-6869. Obverse die same as preceding two lots, different reverse. This reverse may be identified by the circular void at the top of the second shield upright from left.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen on June 17, 1968.
614 1845-O Repunched 84. EF-40. Medium yellow gold with olive and violet highlights. Bold repunching on date, with more vestiges of the repunched 5 than any of the three previous lots. A final opportunity to acquire this rare variety.
Breen-6869. Struck from the same dies as the preceding lot.
From our sale of the Armand Champa Collection, May 1972, Lot 548.
Underrated 1846 Eagle
Tied for Finest Graded by PCGS
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615 1846 AU-55 (PCGS). Medium yellow gold with subdued lustre on the stars and the outlines of the devices. An attractive specimen, far above average for this very scarce date. A nick near star 2 and another near Liberty’s ear are inoffensive. Only 20,095 eagles were struck at Philadelphia in 1846; few of these remain in any grade. A coin that may prove to be unimprovable.
PCGS Population: 2, none finer.
Small date logotype also used on cents of the year.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro on April 7, 1969.
Stunning "1846/5-O" Eagle
Probably Finest Known
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616 1846/5-O So-called "Overdate." MS-64 (PCGS). Highly prooflike bright yellow gold surfaces with only the most superficial marks and no sign of wear. An amazing specimen of the so-called "1846/5-O overdate," lately thought to be the result of a doubled date logotype punch (see our discussion with Lot 1350 in our offering of the Bass Collection Part II, October 1999). This variety was unknown to Breen in Uncirculated. Indeed, this coin seems to be head and shoulders above any other offering of this issue we’ve seen from any die pair. A breathtaking beauty.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer. No others certified Mint State by any certification service.
Breen-6875. Thin crack between A and M of AMERICA.
Thomas Cleneay, the multi-disciplined Cincinnati collector, surfaces again in the pedigree for this coin—as his name often does when quality gold is sold.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 676. Earlier from the John H. Clapp Collection, B. Max Mehl’s sale of the James Ten Eyck Collection in May 1922, and the Chapman brothers’ sale of the Thomas Cleneay Collection in December 1890.
617 "1846/5-O" so-called "Overdate." EF-45. Light yellow gold with lustre remaining in protected regions. A short nick is noted beneath eagle’s beak. A pleasing example of this very scarce variety.
Breen-6875. The same obverse die as preceding, but the reverse has a long crack through the mintmark that crossing the bottom arrow point and right serif of I in AMERICA before ending at the right rim and crosses the left serif of E in TEN, the right flag of T, and the left base serif of T before ending at the rim.
Purchase from Arizona Stamp and Coin on April 14, 1969.
618 "1846/5-O" So-called "Overdate." Net EF-40; sharpness of AU-55, saltwater surfaces. Uniform attractive medium yellow gold with trifling marks; only a short scratch before face is worth mentioning. A very appealing piece with character to boot.
Breen-6875. Same reverse die as Lot 616.
From RARCOA’s sale of February 1972, Lot 955.
619 "1846/5-O" So-called "Overdate." EF-40. Uniform medium yellow gold with vestigial lustre in protected areas. We mention a very tiny rim nick above A in STATES for the sake of accuracy. A final attractive offering of this interesting variety.
Breen-6875. Same reverse die as preceding lot.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman on February 23, 1968.
Another Uncirculated 1846-O Eagle
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620 1846-O Repunched 6. MS-62. Prooflike bright medium yellow gold. Very appealing with unbroken lustre. Minuscule spot between stars 10 and 11. This coin is an extraordinarily rarity in Mint State, indeed, the only other 1846-0 eagle in Mint State certified was the coin offered in Lot 616! A centerpiece in a set of United States eagles.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer.
Breen-6874. Repunched 6 due north mostly effaced. Breen noted this variety was "Unknown Unc." Reverse the same as Lot 617 in an earlier state, die crack from mintmark not yet reaching arrow point or rim below T in TEN. Obverse cracked from L to left serif of B in LIBERTY; around the crack the die rust has been lapped away leaving an unusual looking gap in the coronet. Coiners most likely noted the crack, lapped the rust away from around the crack to further inspect it, then placed the die back into service when they decided the crack did not endanger the die in any substantial way. There are two other even shorter cracks from the base of T in LIBERTY to the top of hair, however, die rust keeps them mostly obscured.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 677. Earlier from the John H. Clapp Collection and New York Coin and Stamp Company’s sale of the W.T. Mumford Collection, April 1896.
Stunning Mint State 1847 $10
Among the Finest Extant
621 1847 MS-64 (PCGS). Rich and lustrous medium yellow gold. Sharply struck and supremely attractive. Perhaps the most common antebellum eagle, with 862,258 pieces struck at Philadelphia that year. However, Mint State coins are usually "low-end" specimens — the present example is of rarely seen quality that ought please even the most finicky specialists.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer.
Breen-6878, the heavy numerals. Delicate obverse crack connects stars 4 and 5. Thin vertical lapping lines seen at central reverse around eagle. Thin cracks from rim to each wing tip.
From Superior’s sale of Auction ’85, July 1985, Lot 956.
Appealing Mint State 1847 Eagle
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622 1847 MS-62 (PCGS). Attractive medium yellow gold with orange-gold highlights. Unbroken lustre. Short scratches near star 2; the reverse is extremely choice for the grade. A pleasing coin with a "warm" look. Another opportunity to obtain a Mint State specimen of this issue.
The obverse features very heavy lapping marks at the neck of Liberty which distinguish it among others of the date; we suggest the appellation "Lanate Neck Variety." 4 is repunched due south with vestiges remaining beneath the flag and at the intersection of upright and crossbar. Crack from wing tip to dentil above S in STATES.
After reading the preceding your editor decided to find out what "lanate" means—to learn that the Random House Dictionary, suggests, "woolly, covered with something resembling wool." Thus, John Kraljevich’s suggestion seems perfectly fine. Over the years we have created quite a few terms and words around here, such as premium quality and senior numismatist, now both widely used, along with the forgotten paradesque (describing a strutting bird on a foreign coin listed in one of our catalogues about 40 years ago—it didn’t catch on). Similar to the long-ago person who decided to give interesting names to many towns in Upstate New York, Ken Bressett, editor of the Guide Book, virtually swept through the United States series a number of years ago and contrived designations for all of the types—such as Petite Head, Mature Head, and the Capped Bust to Left. We still haven’t tracked down the person or persons who gave us Silly Head and Booby Head as descriptors of large copper cents, these appearing print by the late 1850s. One of these days we will come across a file of the Boston Evening Transcript, which contained many articles on large copper cents by Jeremiah Colburn, apparently being the first serious study of this series—such will yield a clue (if a file exists).
From Stack’s sale of the Garrett Collection, March 1976, Lot 382.
A Final Uncirculated 1847 Eagle
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623 1847 MS-60. Bright medium yellow gold with lustrous surfaces. A spot of rich toning near star 8. Reflective and attractive. Scarce so fine.
Struck from the same obverse die as preceding lot; reverse die unremarkable. The coinage of eagles reached record high mintages in 1847, largely due to a well above average deposit of foreign bullion to be coined in Philadelphia, particularly British sovereigns.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee on May 17, 1969. Earlier from RARCOA’s sale of May 1969, Lot 222.
624 1847 AU-55. Uniform medium yellow with lustre in the protected areas. A light scratch is noted in the field above eagle’s head and some detritus in numerals of date. A desirable specimen of this No Motto emission.
Heavy die rust around LI of LIBERTY. Reverse is same die as Lot 621, now in a later state. Crack from rim to tip of each wing. Thin crack from feather of arrow to serif of N in TEN. Thin diagonal crack across shield.
Purchase from Abe Kosoff on August 4, 1967.
625 Selection of eagles with various minor problems: I 1847 Net AU-50, cleaned I 1847-O AU-50 I 1878 Net AU-55 I 1893 Net AU-58 I 1902 Net MS-60 I 1906-D Net AU-50. All are finer for sharpness. (Total: 6 pieces)
Frosty Mint State 1847-O $10
Double 18 Variety
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626 1847-O Repunched 18. MS-64 (PCGS). Lustrous and frosty bright yellow gold. A beautiful Uncirculated specimen of an issue that very infrequently surfaces in Mint State, despite its high mintage. Two short digs are noted near truncation of bust. One of the finest known of this New Orleans issue.
PCGS Population: 2, none finer.
Breen-6881, Double 18. First two digits repunched due south. Both obverse and reverse dies heavily cracked. Cracks at every star. Reverse practically shattered with cracks connecting base of ITED to wing, dentils through N to olive branch, TATES OF to wing, wing to first A of AMERICA, dentils through M to wing, dentils to R to arrow, dentils to final A to claw, tops of TEN D. connected, dentils to T to olive branch to eagle’s torso. Perhaps the most heavily cracked New Orleans reverse seen by us.
Purchase from Stanley Kesselman on April 30, 1968.
Another Mint State 1847-O Eagle
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627 1847-O MS-61 (PCGS). Lustrous medium yellow gold with a tiny spot of verdigris at back of hair. Choice for the grade and very appealing. To find two Mint State 1847-O eagles in the same sale is a truly rare circumstance, according to our records, it has never occurred before!
PCGS Population: 1, 5 finer.
Very delicate cracks from points of star 10. Central striking weakness in most stars. UN and TE of UNITED joined at top by cracks. Crack from left rim to wing tip.
From our sale of the Stanislaw Herstal Collection, February 1974, Lot 7.
628 1847-O AU-55. A pleasing and above average example of the issue with medium yellow surfaces bright from an old cleaning. A pin prick at neck and ancient scratch on jaw are noted for accuracy.
Struck from same dies as previous lot, with the same weakness evidence in the stars.
Purchased from Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 1088.
A Flock of Eagles
629 Grouping of eagles grading EF-40: I 1847-O I 1849 (2) I 1853-O Hollow ring atop second stripe in shield I 1856-S I 1879—S I 1881-S I 1882-S I 1891-CC I 1899-S. Each displays attractive surfaces with some mint lustre remaining. (Total: 10 pieces)
Choice Uncirculated 1848 Eagle
A Prime Rarity in Mint State
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630 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 are typical, with even high level AU being elusive. In Mint State the 1848 is rare, and with the elegant combination of a high numerical grade plus the ever-important eye appeal, the present coin is a prime rarity, a numismatic delicacy that will appeal to the appetite of the connoisseur with the most elevated tastes.
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. Reoffered from Part III of the Bass Collection, May 2000, Lot 607.
Beautiful and Rare 1848-O Eagle
Extremely Rare in Mint State
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631 1848-O MS-64 (PCGS). Bright original medium yellow gold with unbroken lustre. A superb specimen of a coin that is very rare in Uncirculated condition. According to Douglas Winter, in his 1992 New Orleans Mint Gold Coins, "The 1848-O eagle is a scarce coin in all grades and most known examples grade Very Fine to EF. AU and Mint State 1848-O eagles are excessively rare." Weakly struck, as are most of this issue, but very appealing. A prize for the advanced collector or the numismatic aesthete who appreciates the convergence of rarity and beauty represented by a coin such as this.
PCGS Population: 2, 1 finer (MS-66).
Crisscrossing lapping lines intersect before Liberty’s neck. Thin lapping lines cover fields around device. Reverse shows swath of lapping lines at shoulder beneath beak.
Purchased from Dan Messer on August 16, 1971.
632 1848-O EF-45. Reflective medium yellow with coppery highlights and lustre on the devices. Two minuscule digs near star 3 are noted. A bit bluntly struck. A pleasing specimen of this scarce issue.
Struck from the same dies as the previous lot. Only 35,580 eagles were struck in New Orleans this year.
Purchased from Lester Merkin on June 23, 1967.
Splendid 1849 Eagle
Seldom Available in Mint State
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633 1849 MS-63 (PCGS). Rich lustrous medium yellow gold. A tiny spot behind the neck serves to identify this specimen. This coin has a warm and pleasing look. Very scarce in this state of preservation. While one of the commoner antebellum eagle issues of the Philadelphia Mint, the presently offered example will be nearly impossible to improve upon.
PCGS Population: 6, 3 finer (MS-64).
Stars 1 and 13 softly struck centrally. Die rust on obverse device. Crack from right serif of Y in LIBERTY to base. Very thin crack from point of star 12 to rim. Cracks join bases of letters in TEN. Crack joins tops of UN in UNITED to rim. MER in AMERICA joined at tops by a thin crack; another from left serif of I ends in field.
From Abner Kreisberg’s sale of September 1971, Lot 1119.
Prooflike 1849 Eagle
Doubled Date Variety
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634 1849 Doubled Date. MS-60. Medium yellow gold with prooflike reflective surfaces. Minor hairlining most visible on left side of obverse; a tiny mark over 9 is the only one worthy of mention. A very attractive specimen, with date repunching most clear on 8 and 9. Very sharply struck and appealing. This variety is "prohibitively rare AU," according to Breen.
Breen-6887. Die cracks from stars 1 to 10 almost entirely connected. Thin cracks join NITED to wing and tops of TATE. Thin crack connects bases of TEN D.
From Superior’s sale of Auction ’85, July 1985, Lot 957.
635 1849 AU-58. Lustrous reflective light yellow surfaces. A thin scratch below olive branch is easily overlooked. A pleasing prooflike look gives this piece nice eye appeal. A well-above average specimen of the date perfect for the date or type collector.
Die striations between stars 2 and 3 and stars 10 and 11. Stars 1, 2, and 13 weakly struck at centers. ATES connected at top by crack.
Purchased from Mal Varner on February 25, 1972.
636 1849 Doubled Date. AU-50. Pleasing medium yellow gold retaining reflective lustre in the protected regions. Shallow nick beneath Liberty’s curl. An attractive specimen of this Doubled Date variety, difficult to locate so fine.
Breen-6887. Struck from the same dies as Lot 634.
Purchased from Western Numismatics on January 9, 1974.
Low-Mintage 1849-O $10
Among the Finest Known
Incredibly Rare in Mint State
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637 1849-O MS-61 (PCGS). Lustrous light yellow gold with some minor abrasions. Reddish toning at Liberty’s neck and arrow points. Short scratch at crown of Liberty’s head. Small planchet chip at ball of 9. Very attractive and original. This issue is an extreme rarity in anything approaching Mint State, prompting Douglas Winter to write in 1992, "It is, in my opinion, the single most underrated eagle from this mint and is among the most difficult dates of this entire type to locate in higher grades." The present specimen, in fact, is the only example certified in Mint State by PCGS. A highly important coin, the centerpiece of a set of No Motto eagles or New Orleans gold.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer.
Stars uniformly weakly struck. Top of 4 filled. Die rust near lips. Heavy lapping around eagle visible in series of thin raised lines. Mintmark over left serif of N.
We suggest that a fertile avenue for numismatic research might be to sit down and go through an entire file of New Orleans newspapers for the year 1849—if some could be found in a library or historical society. The coinage of this year is rather anomalous with regard to its circulation, as just about every issue—gold or silver—is encountered well worn, with scarcely a Mint State example of anything in sight (of course, an exception is provided by the Bass Collection—where exceptions are the rule).
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, August 24,1978.
A Second Elusive 1849-O Eagle
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638 1849-O Net EF-40; sharpness of AU-50, but a small rim imperfection over star 7, perhaps filed long ago. Medium yellow with orange highlights. Some lustre remains around stars, devices, and legends. A few minor rim bruises, most noticeable at stars 1 and 9. Far above the average 1849-O eagle in quality, as VF is the most typical grade. Only 23,900 eagles were struck in New Orleans this year. This piece is sure to see active bidding among gold specialists.
A bit weakly struck, as are all from this issue. Lapping marks connect bun and lower curls. Hollow ring developing at second upright of shield. NI of UNITED connected at top and bottom. Mintmark placed evenly between E and N.
Purchased by Stanley Kesselman on July 8, 1968.
Attractive 1850 $10
Rarity in Mint State
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639 1850 Large Date. MS-62 (PCGS). Uniform lustrous medium yellow gold. Short abrasion near U of UNITED. Very tiny spot of toning below eagle. This is really an appealing specimen, and rarely seen in this condition. Most 1850 eagles in collector’s hands are in middle circulated grades; VF and EF coins represent the majority of this issue’s population. A wonderful exception to the rule and a choice coin for the grade.
PCGS Population: 4, 3 finer (MS-63).
Robust lapping lines near stars 1 and 2. Thin diagonal crack to star 5 from rim. Thin wandering crack connects UNITED STATES at top of letters. OF connected at tops as is MERIC.
From Stack’s sale of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1120.
640 1850 Large Date. AU-58. Pleasing lustrous medium yellow gold with coppery highlights. Spots of toning near truncation of bust and near first A of AMERICA. An appealing coin, and superb for the date.
Obverse die same as preceding lot. Reverse shows heavy clashing around the central device. Cracks from each wing tip to rim. In STATES, S cracked to T. T cracked to rim. A cracked to rim. T cracked to rim. Crack from arrow feather to N in TEN.
From Stack’s sale of the Miles Collection, Lot 635.
Eagle Quintette
641 Quintette of eagles grading AU-50: I 1850 Large Date. (2). Both display lustrous yellow surfaces I 1852. Attractive surfaces with a hint of rose I 1855. Lustrous yellow surfaces with splashes of rose I 1874. Lustrous with rose highlights on both surfaces. (Total: 5 pieces)
Elusive Small Date 1850 $10
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642 1850 Small Date. AU-55. Lustrous rich medium yellow gold. A tiny rim nick above A in STATES. Appealing with the look of a Mint State coin. This die variety features a logotype intended for half eagle coinage and is extraordinarily rare in Mint State. The present offering is nice for the grade and practically unble. An exceptional specimen of this very scarce Small Date variety.
Breen-6892. Somewhat softly struck in stars 1, 2, 12, and 13. Die rust in front of face and near truncation of bust. Reverse cracked around entire legend, tops of UNITED STATES OF to wing, MERICA at top, TEN D. at base of letters. Some clashing visible. Lapping at eagle’s shoulder beneath beak.
Purchased from Lester Merkin on June 23, 1967.
Scarce 1850-O Eagle
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643 1850-O AU-55. Medium yellow gold with coppery highlights. Much remaining lustre. Short dig behind Liberty’s curl, another near eagle’s head. A very scarce issue overall with only 57,500 pieces struck. Very scarce in anything approaching Mint State; Breen called the 1850-O eagle "prohibitively rare AU."
Short die scratch to star 5. Die rust around profile. Die rust around reverse device. Mintmark placed over space between E and N in TEN.
Purchased from Doug Weaver, August 1973.
644 1850-O EF-45. Medium yellow gold with some remaining lustre. Digs on cheek and on neck near lowest curl. A pleasing specimen of this scarce New Orleans striking.
Struck from the same dies as preceding lot.
Purchased from Fort Hayes Coin (Steve Tebo) on June 10, 1967.
Choice Mint State 1851-O $10
The Eliasberg Coin
Finest Graded by PCGS
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645 1851-O MS-64 (PCGS). Rich lustrous medium yellow gold surfaces free of all but the most superficial marks. Superb eye appeal. Some softness of strike, typical of the issue. Very rare in Uncirculated. This particular coin was noted by Breen in his Encyclopedia as being one of the finest of this variety he’d seen. In our description of this piece in the Eliasberg sale we noted "Once the hammer comes down, twice the bid price would not secure a duplicate." As the finest certified by PCGS and one of the most impressive specimens of this date and mint known, this coin is sure to become the pride of its next owner. After all, this has been away from the market since that particular day in 1982 when Harry Bass acquired it. Now, do you plan to wait 28 years for another opportunity? A liberal bid is suggested.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer.
Breen-6896. Hollow ring at top of second upright, a phenomenon discussed elsewhere in this catalogue. Lapping lines around eagle. No cracks noted.
It is interesting to note that in the 1890 Chapman brothers sale of the Cleneay Collection, nearly a complete collection of eagles by date and mint hit the auction block. Most Liberty eagles sold for precisely their face value even in the highest grades, while an Uncirculated 1851-O eagle sold for $12.50!
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 688. Earlier from the John H. Clapp Collection and Elmer S. Sears.
646 1851-O AU-55. Lustrous light yellow gold. A dig above eagle’s wing is noted for accuracy. Typical strike for the issue. A pleasing specimen of this Hollow Ring variety.
Breen-6898. Same dies as previous lot. Die rust around profile. Mintmark over gap between E and N.
Purchased from Ed Shapiro on April 7, 1969.
647 1851-O AU-50. Uniform medium gold with pink highlights. Lustre clings to protected areas. Rim nick over star 4 almost invisible. Choice for the grade. Scarce so fine.
Breen-6898. Same dies as preceding lot.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman on April 28, 1967.
Mint State 1852 Eagle
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648 1852 MS-61 (PCGS). Medium yellow gold with mottled coppery highlights. Dig at truncation of bust, a smaller one near ear curl. Dark detritus beneath ear is mostly hidden in hair. Very rare in anything near Uncirculated, although the 1852 eagle is relatively common in lower grades. This specimen is of the thin numerals variety and shares a date logotype with cents of the year. An opportunity to own one of the finest 1852 eagles in existence.
PCGS Population: 3, 5 finer (MS-65).
Breen-6899. UNITED cracked at tops of letters. MERI likewise cracked.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 689. Earlier from John H. Clapp and Elmer S. Sears.
649 1852-O Net VF-30; sharpness of EF-45, buffed. Some vestiges of lustre remain. A dig near the nose is noted. Still an acceptable specimen of this New Orleans Mint issue of only 18,000 pieces.
Hollow ring in shield. No cracks noted. Mintmark over left serif of N.
Purchased from Jack L. Klausen on June 17, 1968.
Exceptional 1853 Eagle
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650 1853 Recut 1. MS-63 (PCGS). Lustrous medium yellow with rich darker yellow and red highlights. Minor abrasions and a mark in field near truncation of bust are noted. Unbroken lustre and nice eye appeal. One of the finest eagles of this date extant; like so many other Philadelphia Mint eagles, the majority of the large mintage was melted and those that survived were usually in VF or EF condition. A very nice specimen that should attract attention when it crosses the block
PCGS Population: 3, 1 finer (MS-64).
1 of date recut with bottom serif of a mostly effaced 1 plain above serif. Crack from rim through T of STATES to E. Two intersecting thin cracks from rim to left wing tip.
Purchased from Superior’s sale of February 1973, Lot 653.
Excellent 1853-O Eagle
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651 1853-O AU-58 (PCGS). Lustrous rich yellow gold reflective surfaces with steel highlights. We note a dig behind the neck. This coins is semi-prooflike and has very nice eye appeal. Only 51,000 pieces coined; Mint State specimens are exceptionally rare. An important opportunity to add an 1853-O eagle to your collection that will never require an upgrade.
PCGS Population: 6, 1 finer (MS-61).
Hollow ring reverse. Obverse cracked at stars 1 and 2. Heavy crack from rim to star 13, another from star 13 to bust. Lapping lines around arrow points and left eagle’s wing on reverse. No reverse cracks noted.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 692.
652 1854 Blundered Date. AU-58. Lustrous medium gold with violet highlights. A very pleasing AU specimen from the Blundered Date die, showing the top of a digit (presumably a 1) just atop the dentils below 18 of the date. Interesting and attractive.
Breen-6911. Die clash visible at neck curl on obverse. Die clash visible on reverse over right wing of eagle at shoulder.
Purchased from Lester Merkin on June 23, 1967.
Choice 1854-O Eagle
Small Date
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653 1854-O Small Date. AU-55. Lustrous and attractive uniform medium yellow gold. Two tiny nicks at rim over STATES are noted for accuracy. A very appealing coin; only 52,500 coins struck of all varieties. The "Small Date" is the scarcer of the two major varieties for the year. A choice example of this elusive New Orleans No Motto eagle.
Breen-6913. Crack from rim to left side of 8 in date. Star 1 misshapen. Heavy lapping lines between T and Y of LIBERTY. Mintmark high and small between claw and arrow feather.
Purchased from Paramount on March 1, 1968.
Lovely 1854-O $10
Large Date
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654 1854-O Large Date. AU-55. Rich lustrous medium yellow gold with lighter highlights. Shallow abrasion behind Liberty’s neck. A very appealing specimen of this scarce date, difficult to find so nice.
1 in date touches truncation of bust and shows doubling at base. Stars 4, 5, 7, 9, and 13 drawn to rim (as is often seen on Capped Bust half dollars). Crack from rim to Liberty’s bun. Thin crack crosses date from star 1 to rim. Crack through first A in AMERICA to wing.
Purchased from R.E. Wallace on April 25, 1978.
655 1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Lustrous light yellow gold with darker tones. Digs at stars 5 and 12 noted for accuracy as is a tiny rim nick near star 2. Some hairlines behind neck. An attractive specimen of this scarce emission.
Top of 1 does not touch bust. Crack near star 2 ends at point. No reverse cracks noted. Die clash apparent over shoulder of right wing. Mintmark high and centered over gap between E and N.
From Parke-Bernet’s sale of May 1968, Lot 143.
656 1854-O Large Date. AU-50. Lustrous light gold with darker peripheries. Dig under chin extends to field. A pleasing specimen of this scarce date and mint combination.
From the same dies as Lot 654.
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 339.
657 1854-O Large Date. EF-45. Bright lustrous light yellow gold. Dig in field beside stars 2 and 3. Abrasion near top arrow point on reverse. Attractive and original. Only 52,500 pieces were struck in New Orleans this year.
Top of 1 at bust. Star 7 joined to rim. No reverse cracks noted. Mintmark high and placed over gap between E and N.
Purchased from New Netherlands Coin Co. on February 20, 1967.
658 1854-S AU-50. Rich medium yellow gold with violet highlights. Reverse rim nicks over T of STATES and O of OF, mark on A of STATES, and a shallow dig in field before chin. AU is the highest grade seen with any frequency, as Mint State specimens are extremely rare.
Near rim below date, the serif of an almost entirely effaced digit (a 1 in all likelihood) is plain. Crack through M in AMERICA does not reach wing. Mintmark above gap between N and D.
Purchased from Rowe and Brownlee on August 4, 1967.
659 1855 AU-58. Rich lustrous medium yellow gold with darker peripheries. Tiny rim bump near star 9. Very appealing with the look of a Mint State coin. A well above average specimen of this No Motto issue; rare in Uncirculated.
Thin die scratch between stars 1 and 2. Heavy lapping lines from rim near stars 8 and 10. Reverse die clashing visible near shoulder. No cracks noted.
Purchased from Bill Raymond on February 29, 1972.
660 1855 AU-50. Lustrous medium yellow gold with rose highlights. Marks commensurate with grade; dig near eye mentioned for accuracy. Choice for the grade.
Same dies as preceding lot.
Purchased from Paramount’s sale of February 1971, Lot 1583.
Key 1855-S $10
Only 9000 Pieces Struck
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661 1855-S Net EF-45; sharpness of AU-50, faint hairlines visible at top half of obverse. Lustrous medium yellow gold. Despite striking 123,826 pieces in 1854, the San Francisco Mint struck only 9,000 eagles in 1855, making this coin one of the classic rarities of the No Motto series. AU coins are very rare and there are none known in Mint State. A tremendous opportunity for the eagle aficionado to fill one of the series most difficult album spaces with a lustrous and pleasing specimen. Well, we suppose that people don’t use albums much anymore—but it certainly was a nice way to collect. We understand that a revival may be at hand, with our friends at Littleton Coin Company doing quite a bit of missionary work in this regard.
Mintmark high and leaning left. No cracks noted. Lapping lines over OF. All 1855-S eagles in the Bass Collection are from these same dies; perhaps only one die pair was used in coining these 9,000 eagles?
Purchased from Paramount on March 18, 1967.
662 1856 AU-55. Lustrous medium yellow gold with violet highlights. Short scratch near star 6; another near eagle’s left wing. Great eye appeal and the looks of a Mint State coin. Extremely rare in Uncirculated; most survivors of the 60,490 pieces struck are in the EF range. A superb specimen of this scarce Philadelphia Mint No Motto eagle.
Star 1 drawn to rim. Lapping line connects star 13 to rim. Raised line in hair through Y to bun, probably some sort of errant die scratch or heavy lapping line that was not finished. Vestige of partially lapped clash visible at eagle’s shoulder.
Purchased from Paramount on July 2, 1971.
1856-O Eagle Rarity
Tied for Finest Certified by PCGS
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663 1856-O AU-58 (PCGS). Medium yellow with steel highlights. Much lustre remains in protected areas. A short scratch behind hair and a pin prick dig under right eagle’s wing are noted for accuracy. With only 14,500 pieces struck in New Orleans in 1856, any offering of an 1856-O eagle is important. However, when a high-grade piece such as this is offered, it is a major opportunity. Unknown in Mint State, most eagles of this mintage grade below EF. The presently offered specimen is appealing and lustrous—not to be overlooked by the eagle enthusiast who seeks the finest available.
PCGS Population: 6, none finer.
Die rust visible along back of Liberty’s neck. Thin lapping lines beneath eagle’s beak and left wing. Lapping lines project down towards mintmark from eagle’s rump.
From our sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 700. Earlier from John H. Clapp and the Bradford Bank (where it was most likely extracted from cash on hand at this bank, located in Pennsylvania not far from where the Clapp family had the seat of its fortune—in holes in the ground from which oil emerged—in the early days of the American industry).
A Second 1856-O $10
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664 1856-O EF-45. Light yellow gold with much lustre in protected regions. A little softly struck like many "O" Mint gold coins of this period. Tiny rim nicks near star 5 and S in STATES; neither is distracting. Various tiny contact marks. Appealing and choice for the grade. Rarely will collectors be given a second chance to add this New Orleans rarity to their collection in the same sale!
Crack from rim through E of UNITED.
From Stack’s sale of the Alto Collection, December 1970, Lot 341.
665 1856-S AU-50. Uniform lustrous light yellow gold. Shallow dig near star 13 and a tiny rim nick over T of STATES are noted. Very attractive, with claims to a higher grade. Only 68,000 pieces struck in San Francisco this year; difficult to locate in grades over EF. A very nice specimen for the collector of No Motto eagles or the numismatist who seeks a single piece of Gold Rush-era gold.
While this coin was not aboard the S.S. Central America, 1856-S eagles were among the coins found therein.
Spur beneath R in LIBERTY. Crack from right rim to wing tip; die rust at the other wing tip. Medium S variety with mintmark high and above gap between E and N.
From Abner Kreisberg’s sale of September 1971, Lot 1136.
666 1857 AU-50. Very attractive lustrous light gold. We note a dig near the final digit of date for accuracy. Only 16,606 eagles were struck this year in Philadelphia, making the coin very scarce in all grades. The so-called 1857 "Overdate," though Harry Bass was more conservative in his assessment noting simply "5 + 7 joined." We agree with Bass that this is not an overdated die, merely a crack or extraneous lightly impressed puncheon joining the two digits. In any case, a pleasing and above average representative of this scarce eagle.
Breen-6925. Die rust around rim mostly lapped away. 5 and 7 joined. Die clash visible around eagle on reverse.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman on March 20, 1972.
667 1857 EF-45. Uniform medium yellow gold. Lustre remains in recessed areas of design. Some dark detritus in hair and eagle’s wing visible under magnification. A pleasing specimen of the "overdate" issue.
Breen-6925. Same dies as preceding lot.
Purchased from Stanley Kesselman on July 8, 1968.
Lustrous 1857-O Eagle
Only 5,500 Pieces Struck
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668 1857-O AU-55 (PCGS). Rich medium yellow gold with lustrous surfaces. A few reverse digs are noted. Depression at date caused by something on obverse die, struck through at moment of manufacture. Sharply struck, very attractive and original. This scarce New Orleans issue is unknown in Mint State; the present specimen offers the discerning collector a chance to add a seemingly unimprovable specimen to his or her holdings. Extremely scarce so fine.
PCGS Population: 5, 1 finer (AU-58).
Mintmark directly over gap between E and N. Die rust between T and Y of Liberty. No cracks noted.
The 1858 eagle has a rich spot in the annals of American gold coins. We would be pleased to furnish the successful buyer of this lot with an extensive printout of historical citations dating back many generations.
From Stack’s offering of the Bartle Collection, October 1984, Lot 1182.
669 1857-S EF-45. Attractive medium yellow gold. Lustre in protected areas. A tiny dig near the date is mentioned for identification purposes. A scarce San Francisco emission, only 26,000 were struck, the only coins known to have survived in Mint State are a handful from the S.S. Central America. Pleasing and popular.
Date logotype centered between dentils and bust. Spidery thin crack from point of star 12. Die rust at top center of shield and upper right corner. Mintmark lightly impressed and high, centered over right serif of E.
From Abe Kosoff’s sale of February 1969, Lot 1407.
