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Love the Gobrecht Journal: Liberty Seated Coins

TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
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.
Trime

Comments

  • History at this scale is always fascinating. You get away from the battles and political issues at the top, and start seeing what the common man is seeing on a day-to-day basis. I've had a chance to read a few articles from the Journal and they are indeed worthwhile!

    Frank
  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I love my Gobrecht Journal. I always wait with great anticipation for the arrival of my Journal... The latest issue has two articles written by friends of mine. Good articles both, but I disagreed with one of them.

    EVP

    How does one get a hater to stop hating?

    I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com

  • RKKayRKKay Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭
    I have talked to John and am planning to write an article for the journal on Seated patterns. Would you guys care about such an article?
  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    RK:

    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

  • TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
    Frank,
    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.
    Trime
  • RKKayRKKay Posts: 3,017 ✭✭✭
    Okay. I'm convinced. I will write the article this week and send it off for approval (fingers crossed).
  • TomBTomB Posts: 22,097 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's funny that you should start this thread as I just received Volume I of the Gobrecht Journal Collective yesterday in the mail. These provide lots of good reading that isn't generally available from other sources.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • Is it possile to get back issues?
  • TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
    RKK,
    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.
    Trime
  • TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
    DL,
    Yes the bound volumes include the back issues and are available. Terrific reading!!!!!!
    Trime
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
    TomB's right about the information. I'm researching 20 cent pieces for a possible book, and there isn't much info on them out there from sources other than the LSCC (and a few articles in the Numismatist).
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • I just became a member of the LSCC. How does a person get the bound volumes, where can you order them from, cost?
    I LOVE PROOF SEATED LIBERTY COINS AND ALL BETTER DATE SEATED LIBERTY COINS
  • Just get the bound volumes, they ARE the back issues. Every five years or so the publish another volume of the previous five years worth of Journals, but in the bound volumes they have rearranged the articles so that all of the half dime articles are together as are the dime articles, twenty cent, halves, dollars, and general interest. They still have the notations as to which issues the articles came from though. Not only are the articles grouped by type but also by coin date which makes it easy to find information about specific years. You don't have to look through the whole section to make sure you didn't miss something. The bound volumes normally sell for somewhere around $45 each.
  • I can order the bound volumes from the LSCC?
    I LOVE PROOF SEATED LIBERTY COINS AND ALL BETTER DATE SEATED LIBERTY COINS
  • TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
    The back volumes are probably available in used book sites but the new bound volumes are available at about $44/copy to members after you pay $15 for membership (includes the current years issues).
    Membership request:
    Mark Sheldon
    PO Box 261
    Wellington, Ohio 44090

    Include $15
    Name address.
    Indicate: Collector;dealer;collector/dealer
    The LSCC may or not send address to other members
    Collect HD?,D? quarter?,half?$ ?all seated?Signature,date
    Trime
  • GeminiGemini Posts: 3,085
    I have volumes one and two and since the last one my membership has lapsed.
    How many volumes were made up until now?
    A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
  • DaveGDaveG Posts: 3,535
    The current Gobrecht Journal is advertising Collective Volume #4 for $44 for members.

    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

  • TrimeTrime Posts: 1,863 ✭✭✭
    I was able to obtain the first 3 volumes this year also from LSCC
    Trime
  • keojkeoj Posts: 1,000 ✭✭✭
    One point that everyone should be made aware of (maybe). I think that I might have read recently in one of the Journals that there might NOT be a collective #5 available. Please tell me that it ain't so!

    As far as numismatic info is concerned, these journals are excellent references for all seated coinage.

    keoj
  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Folks,

    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

  • In this latest Gobrecht Journal, Issue 85, on page 44 Brain Greer reports a late die state for the 1844-O Quarter with the 1843-O large O reverse. This is a variety I discovered back in 1993 if my memory is correct, and reported in Issue 64 of the Journal.
    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
  • TTT.....great thread for newbies.
    Go well.
  • EVillageProwlerEVillageProwler Posts: 5,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The latest issue (#86) includes two articles written by friends of mine, one of whom is a board member and the other is a lurker. Rick Kay also has an article (he's also a member, and goes by RKKAY).

    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

  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,645 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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.

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