Gobrecht Dollars -- Circulation Issues -- Coins Surviving

Higashiyama

Of the three Gobrecht Dollars viewed as "circulation issues" -- 1836 coin turn, 1836 medal turn, and 1839, I believe it is generally accepted that the number of coins minted were 1000, 600, and 300 respectively.

Could someone provide estimates of the number of coins remaining in each category?

Thanks!

HoledandCreative

The 1836 , both turns, appear to be fairly plentiful. I am still looking for a holed or plugged 1839. You would probably have a good estimate from just adding up the number the large auction houses have handled.

TomB

The nomenclature for "original", "restrike" and coin vs. medal turn numbers appears to have been muddled over the years and at various times auction houses will show coins as they appear in the holders or will "correct" the orientation of the reverse vs. the obverse so that it is how we expect for a coin turn piece to appear. Given that, it is possible that any numbers or estimates might have to be vetted a bit more than typical.

Regardless, we need images! Here is one of mine-

seatedlib3991

If you are interested in Gobrecht Dollars I suggest you buy a copy of The Red Book
A Guide book of Liberty Seated Coins. It covers all Seated coins but gives detailed information on Gobrecht populations. you will find a 12 page section on theses. James

seatedlib3991

I also checked on the Liberty Seated Collectors Club site. If you go this site (which is free)
and look under online references, They have the Bowers Book on All Dollars there.
there is a section on Gorbrecht dollars there. I know it is cliche to pump the book before coin pedal, but with coins like this I think you are better off getting your information straight from the source. James

gschwernk

My website contains a section dedicated to Gobrecht dollars where I propose a way to classify them.

https://sc-coins.com/

Higashiyama

Thanks for those who suggested references and offered images! I've ordered the Bowers book and taken a quick look at the Liberty Seated Collectors Club site. Regarding the 1836 Gobrecht, a super abridged summary of survivorship is as follows: of the 1600 coins believed to have been struck with this date, about 50 - 60 % are believed to survive today; of these, about 75 % are in circulated conditions.

Here is my (circulated) 1836 Gobrecht, acquired through Stacks' about 20 years ago, and still raw:

(note: corrected an error in my original comment on survivorship)

DennisH

Gorgeous raw coin!

edwardjulio

@Higashiyama - Where were you able to get the book. I had checked with Whitman a while back and was told that it is out of print?
Thanks.

Higashiyama

@edwardjulio — I found a copy on ebay.

Barberian

@TomB said:
The nomenclature for "original", "restrike" and coin vs. medal turn numbers appears to have been muddled over the years and at various times auction houses will show coins as they appear in the holders or will "correct" the orientation of the reverse vs. the obverse so that it is how we expect for a coin turn piece to appear. Given that, it is possible that any numbers or estimates might have to be vetted a bit more than typical.

Regardless, we need images! Here is one of mine-

@TomB, can you speculate as to the originality of this coin and/or how it acquired this dove toning look. I see that look in a lot of coins and wonder if it may have been gently cleaned.

TomB

If I can get to the bank Monday I'll take it out of the SDB and look at it there and will report back here. As per my recollection, the coin shows no evidence of cleaning and simply acquired this color over time.

kaz

Here is my coin-turn 1836 example. I really wanted an example with nearly full detail on the eagle, and due to dimensional wallet constraints, chose this one with surface issues ; I'm very pleased with it. Interestingly, R.W. Julian, in 2009, proposed that the entire 600 coin issue of 1837 was melted, and that the few remaining medal turn coins were struck on the medal press for collectors. I'm not sure if his conclusions have been confirmed or refuted since then, but it makes for interesting reading. https://numismaticnews.net/archive/new-information-on-the-gobrecht-dollars

Raybo

I'm a big fan of the series, but I like my Gobrecht Dollars without stars.

fishteeth

I really like the look of these circulated

HoledandCreative

My coin turn conversation piece.

Coinosaurus

Please tell me that was a modern counterfeit before it was cut up.

No Headlights

The rest of it is next to a Stella in a dump.

CaptHenway

@TomB said:
The nomenclature for "original", "restrike" and coin vs. medal turn numbers appears to have been muddled over the years and at various times auction houses will show coins as they appear in the holders or will "correct" the orientation of the reverse vs. the obverse so that it is how we expect for a coin turn piece to appear. Given that, it is possible that any numbers or estimates might have to be vetted a bit more than typical.

Regardless, we need images! Here is one of mine-

A loverly coin!

TomB

Thank you, @CaptHenway!

burfle23

My example...

HoledandCreative

@Coinosaurus I am pretty certain it is a genuine one. I believe the previous owner had it cut out for his wife or girlfriend. I asked to buy it and was told it was not available.

burfle23

Mine is not ...

mbogoman

@kaz said:
Here is my coin-turn 1836 example. I really wanted an example with nearly full detail on the eagle, and due to dimensional wallet constraints, chose this one with surface issues ; I'm very pleased with it. Interestingly, R.W. Julian, in 2009, proposed that the entire 600 coin issue of 1837 was melted, and that the few remaining medal turn coins were struck on the medal press for collectors. I'm not sure if his conclusions have been confirmed or refuted since then, but it makes for interesting reading. https://numismaticnews.net/archive/new-information-on-the-gobrecht-dollars

Looks familiar...