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Love the Gobrecht Journal: Liberty Seated Coins
Trime
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I was traveling this week and took along my bound Volume 3 (1985-90) of the Gobrecht Journal. For those of you that are not familiar with this wonderful collection of scholarly writings on the LS series of coins and are interested in 19th century silver coinage, I strongly recommend that you join the LSCC ( John McCloskey, President and Editor, LSCC; 5718 King Arthur Drive; Kettering, Ohio 45429.). The price of membership in LSCC including the current issues of the Gobrecht Journal is nominal; the bound volumes are extra but well worth the fee.
The two lead and now classical articles by Lawrence Rogak on the “ Circulation life of Liberty Seated Coinage” were particularly interesting and important reading . These two outstanding articles were awarded the Awash Award by the LSCC for 1889 and 1890.
Rogak explains the history of US fractional coinage from the beginning of 19th century US silver coins until 1882. His careful explanation of the how the value of silver, gold and ultimately paper money during this period led to subsidiary coinage, reduction in silver and gold content of coins, hoarding, export and melting of coins was fascinating. The amazing complete disappearance of all silver coins from circulation (east of the Rockies) in the US from 1862 to 1873, their hoarding in Canada and other foreign countries (long story) and massive return to the US in 1877 (most were subsequently melted) gave me a new perspective on 19th century fractional silver coins. It also provided a better understanding of rarity/mintage ratios. He also provided compelling arguments and explanations why LS $ did not circulate in the US. I strongly recommend these articles to anyone collecting coins of this period.
The two lead and now classical articles by Lawrence Rogak on the “ Circulation life of Liberty Seated Coinage” were particularly interesting and important reading . These two outstanding articles were awarded the Awash Award by the LSCC for 1889 and 1890.
Rogak explains the history of US fractional coinage from the beginning of 19th century US silver coins until 1882. His careful explanation of the how the value of silver, gold and ultimately paper money during this period led to subsidiary coinage, reduction in silver and gold content of coins, hoarding, export and melting of coins was fascinating. The amazing complete disappearance of all silver coins from circulation (east of the Rockies) in the US from 1862 to 1873, their hoarding in Canada and other foreign countries (long story) and massive return to the US in 1877 (most were subsequently melted) gave me a new perspective on 19th century fractional silver coins. It also provided a better understanding of rarity/mintage ratios. He also provided compelling arguments and explanations why LS $ did not circulate in the US. I strongly recommend these articles to anyone collecting coins of this period.
Trime
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Frank
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Specializing in 1854 and 1855 large FE patterns
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I would be a big fan of such an article. Finances allowing, I would love to chase the off-metal pattern dollars from regular dies. And, maybe even any-metal strikings from pattern dies. And the restrikes too -- any metal, and die, and edge.
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Thanks for the feedback. While most of the articles are of interest , the two I mentioned were so important to my understanding of rarity of fractional US silver coins that I particularly recommend them.
EVP,
Concurrence, disagreement or correction of information presented by members in the short essays are the purposes of the LSCC. As far as I can tell dissemination of information is the goal. The journal encourages study of your own coins and sharing the new discoveries with your fellow members. I learn from every issue and I too have found disagreements.
Specializing in 1854 and 1855 large FE patterns
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In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I would also be enthusiastic about a LS Pattern article. I have only three specimens 2 quarters and one half but they are important contributors to my collection and the two quarters are R-7s. Good luck on your effort.
Yes the bound volumes include the back issues and are available. Terrific reading!!!!!!
Obscurum per obscurius
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Mark Sheldon
PO Box 261
Wellington, Ohio 44090
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Collect HD?,D? quarter?,half?$ ?all seated?Signature,date
How many volumes were made up until now?
As far as the first three volumes, I recall that Bowers & Merena was offering them for sale a while back, but I'm not sure that I've seen them offered anywhere else.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
As far as numismatic info is concerned, these journals are excellent references for all seated coinage.
keoj
I wish to let everyone here know that our very own Mr. Keoj is a regular contributor to the Journal. His articles are very scholarly and chock full of information. I don't know if he's ever won the Kam Awash award (for scholarly excellence), but he deserved a lot more votes than he actually received.
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
I also have the die state he is reporting on. I have 3 different die states of this rare variety now. The earliest 2 die states have the coin in normal alignment, the late die state is rotated 180 degrees as he reports. The obverse die on the late die state also shows polishing, although he is probably unaware of it. I believe they polished the dies and when they reinstalled them, they got them out of rotation the 180 degrees.
I have also seen a later use of the obverse die where it is again polished, and now has a small rim cud on the obverse at about the 4-5 o'clock position. This marriage has a different reverse die.
Harry Miller at Miller's Mint had the coin, and I procrastinated on buying it and now I see it's no longer in his inventory.
I too have heard there may not be a Collective Volume 5 printed.
After the last collective volume came out, John McCloskey wrote and told how much work was involved in it. I think there's going to have to be more volunteers if there's another one printed.
Ray Lathrop
Dick Osburn of course has an article -- this one listing new (since the W-B book) half dollar varieties. This is an important article for those who care about W-B varieties. This article is already outdated as it doesn't include that new MILLION DOLLAR variety recently discovered (the PF specimen w/ the open bud reverse). This article must have been written quite a while ago, as it also does NOT include a recently discovered '53-O DDR variety (by Dick himself!). This new variety was announced at the LSCC meeting during this past FUN.
Also for those who don't know, Dick has recently announced his retirement from his "day" job. He will take a long vacation and then do coins full-time. He will have a table at this summer's ANA show in Baltimore. For those who know him, it would be nice to stop by his table and wish him well in his "retirement"...
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
For collective volumes, contact John McCloskey (LSCC president) via email at john.mccloskey@notes.udayton.edu and he'll take care of you. The discussion at the NY ANA last year was that publication of a collective volume 5 of the GJ back issues would be too expensive, but John agreed to look at it further when another club member suggested some lower priced printers (apparently the quotes from the printer that had done volume 4 were quite high).
Rick, I would definitely like to see more articles on Liberty Seated patterns, offhand I can't recall ever seeing any material on this in the GJ.