Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (15 of 20)
Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
While not as rare as the pre-1859 issues, the $5 Liberty Proofs of 1859-1907 still make a tremendous collection that has rarely been completed. The classic issue of 1875 is the #1 rarity of the set, or, as some argue, maybe it isn't, and we need to look more closely at the 1860 or 1861 as the ultimate coins. Either way, this will make you as famous as a numismatist can be when you finish it, so let’s get started! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “tremendous collection that has rarely been completed”. It appear from the PCGS Registry, no collector has attempted this set in the history of the registry. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. Were there others? According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. Surely, this set has been completed in private hands at some point since the series ended more than 115 years ago. Then maybe not. We may be watching Dell Loy Hansen in the middle of a history making attempt.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 83.67% complete. This implies the set is missing eight coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.18. This smokes the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set. What does it takes to create a set of this exceptional grade? Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
6 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1867, PR66CAM PCGS, Finest Known
3 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1898, PR68DCAM PCGS, POP 3/0
5 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting an extraordinary 1863, PR65DCAM PCGS, POP 2/1
19 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top 5, highlighting a remarkable 1864 PR65DCAM PCGS, POP 2/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 41 coins with above 33 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 80.5% top five. The set still have seven coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1881, PR61CAM PCGS, POP 1/8. The Highest POP in the set is the 1901, PR63+ CAM PCGS, POP 1/31. The focus may be on acquiring the missing eight coins rather than upgrading the seven non - condition census specimens.
The Civil War Half Eagle Proofs makes for special set of gold coins. With this upgrade, the 5-piece half eagle gold set is complete. The five coins are masterpieces. They alone carries a PCGS price guide value of $935,000.
As stated earlier, there are still eight coins missing. Probably the most difficult coin remaining is the 1859 half eagle proof. David Akers wrote decades ago: Possibly as many as seven or eight proofs are known including two superb gems in the Royal London Mint Collection that have not been generally accounted for. According to Ron Guth in a more recent comment: Approximately a dozen Proof 1859 Half Eagles are known, suggesting that the reported mintage of 80 examples is far too high (it might be appropriate for silver coins, but certainly not for the gold). Most of the known survivors are Cameo or Deep Cameo; it may be that no non-Cameos exist. Three of the known examples are locked up in institutional collections, including those of the Smithsonian, the American Numismatic Society, and the Royal Mint (London) Collection. The record price for this issue was set in 2015 with the sale of the Eliasberg-Trompeter for $164,500.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate at 8-10 with only four PCGS certified. First is a PR63CAM and two GEM, a PR65CAM and a PR65+CAM. The fourth coin an impaired PR58. There are four notable auctions in the past 40 years. Not listed here is the Ed Trompeter specimen that Heritage, sold privately in 2015 for $164,500. The coin is considered the finest, with PR65DCAM estimated grade. Will we see one of these coins in auction anytime soon? If so, I believe the Hansen Team would be in the game.
1859 Half Eagle Gold Auctions
1863 Half Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr.
Beautifully Preserved and Contrasted, Ex: Ely-Garrett, The Second Finest Example Known
Ron Guth wrote a few years ago for CoinFacts: This date has so much going for it. The mintage is super low (30 Proofs, with fewer than that known). It's a great date from deep in the Civil War. Plus, Proofs from thus year are usually well-made, often with great Cameos. It is highly likely that all Proof 1863 Half Eagles are Cameos. However, the existence of non-Cameo Proofs in the PCGS Population Report seems confusing. In the early days, PCGS did not recognize Cameos and Deep Cameos on gold coins and were the coins resubmitted today, the numbers in the population report would shift towards the Cameos and Deep Cameos. The finest example is a PCGS PR65+DCAM that currently resides in the Simpson Collection.
In the 2022 Heritage sale of “Important Selections from the Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII”, the finest coin realized $252,000. The coin was at one time in a NGC holder graded PR66★ Deep Cameo. Did the coin actually sale for $252,000? I assume it did although the registry states: This coin is currently in the Set Registry inventory of Simpson and is featured in one or more sets, including Simpson. Anything is possible I supposed.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 18 in all grades with five coins grading GEM PR65 or better. PCGS shows nine grading events with one specimen having the Cameo designation and five Deep Cameo. As of today, PCGS finest graded coin is a PR65+DCAM from Bob R. Simpson Collection. Ron Guth (Numismatic Detective Agency) compiled a roster of significant examples. He showed the Hansen/Bass specimen as #2 CC.
1. PR65+ Deep Cameo CAC PCGS. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2010), lot 2193; Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII (Heritage, 5/2022), lot 3607, $252,000. Bob R. Simpson Collection according to PCGS Registry
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. Heman Ely Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately, 10/1883); T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 406; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1024). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 Cameo NGC. Ed Trompeter Collection, sold privately to Heritage Auctions and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2015), lot 4353, $99,875.
4. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. Farish (William Gustav "Bill") Baldenhofer Collection (Stack's, 11/1955), lot 1331; Dallas Signature (Heritage, 11/2005), lot 2421, $69,000.
5. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. Charles T. Steigerwalt, sold privately in 1895; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 506, $13,200; Westchester Collection (Bowers and Merena, 2/1987), lot 2824; March Rarities Night (Stack's Bowers, 3/2021), lot 4152, $102,000.
6. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, acquired in the year of issue as part of a complete proof set.
7. PR64 PCGS. Walter H. Childs Collection (Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 730, $43,700.
8. PR64 Uncertified. King Farouk (of Egypt) Collection (Sotheby's, 2/1954); Norweb Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 872, $19,800.
9. Proof Uncertified. Byron Reed Collection; Durham Western Heritage Museum (Spink America, 10/1996), lot 139, $52,800.
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The proof 1863 half eagle is much rarer than is sometimes realized. Of the mere 30 pieces struck, less than half survive. Recent estimates suggest that only 12 to 14 pieces are known in all grades. Ron Guth's roster of significant examples numbers only nine pieces. The finest of these is the Simpson specimen, which we offered in May 2022 as part of the seventh installment of Bob Simpson's incredible collection. The coin was graded PR65+ Deep Cameo CAC, and realized $252,000, an auction record for the issue.
The Heritage cataloger discussed the provenance: The Bass Core Collection coin has a much older pedigree, and is one of the most famous proof 1863 half eagles known. It is the exceptional Garrett specimen, formerly among the holdings of Heman Ely. T. Harrison Garrett acquired the piece in late 1883 in a private purchase through W. Elliot Woodward, and it remained in that family's curatorship for nearly a century. To our knowledge, this is only the second time in the history of its existence that the Ely-Garrett-Bass proof 1863 half eagle has appeared at public auction.
The new Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: The coin is beautifully preserved and starkly contrasted, with exceptional sharpness and rich honey-gold color. A loupe fails to reveal any but the most minute hairlines, while contact marks or blemishes are essentially nonexistent. This is a high Condition Census example of the proof 1863 five and a remarkable representation of the quality, history, and significance of the coins that comprise the Bass Core Collection.
This update starts a series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. This is the Part Three of a projected four part sale of the Harry Bass Core Collection. This was the only half eagle that Dell Loy Hansen purchased in the sale. Although, stay tune for more gold proofs in future updates.
Provenance: Heman Ely Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately, 10/1883); T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 406; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1024), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4570, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1863 Half Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS PCGS POP 2/1 Certification #46094658, PCGS #98453 PCGS Price Guide $210,000 / Realized $192,000 Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (16 of 20)
Liberty Head $10 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
The No Motto $10 gold pieces of 1859-65 and the With Motto pieces of 1866-1907 come together in this incredibly challenging and rewarding set of rarities. The highest mintage of any coin in the set is 120 pieces, so you know that you're in for some work (and some fun!) in the pursuit of completion. The recognized classic is the 1875, but there are other dates that are proving to be just as rare in the Proof format. Let’s start a set! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “incredibly challenging and rewarding set of rarities”. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. There is a current US Eagle Collection that gets a lot of justifiable attention. Eagles of The Tyrant Collection had several public appearances where the collection was described as: This exhibit contains over 300 eagles and has every circulation strike from 1795 to 1933 with all the branch mint coins also represented. There are Proofs of nearly every issue including the ultra- rare 1804, 1838, 1839, and 1857 issues, as well as both 1907 No Motto Indian Head Proofs and the unique Matte finish 1909. There are dozens of finest known examples of both circulation strikes and Proofs. The Tyrant Eagle Collection is a blend of PCGS and NGC certified coins. Dell Loy Hansen has a way to go to assemble his collection of PCGS proof eagles.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 61.22% complete. This implies the set is missing 19 coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 65.68. From GPA perspective, the Hansen and the Smithsonian set are very much on par. This Hansen group of gold coins are laying a solid foundation for an exceptional grade set. Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
4 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1865 PR66+ DCAM PCGS, Finest Known
2 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1899 PR67DCAM PCGS, POP 2/0
4 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting the extraordinary 1873 CL 3. PR65CAM PCGS, POP 1/1
8 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top Five, highlighting the remarkable 1875 PR63CAM PCGS, POP 1/4
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 30 coins with above 18 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 60% top five. The set still have 12 coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1889, PR60 PCGS, POP 1/6. The Highest POP in the set is the 1907 Liberty, PR63CAM PCGS, POP 3/33. As we saw with the half eagles, the focus may be on acquiring the missing 19 coins rather than upgrading the 12 non - condition census specimens.
For this 49-piece set, the “No Motto” production are years from 1859 to 1865. This includes all The Civil War Eagle Proofs. With this upgrade, the 7-piece eagle gold set is two coins way from being complete. There are two Civil War Eagles missing, the 1861 and 1863. The 1864 stands out as one of the 12 non-condition census coins in the 49-piece set. When completed, this will be an amazing subset of gold Liberty eagles. As this 7-piece set stands today with two coins missing, the current five coins carries a PCGS price guide value of $2,060,000.
As stated earlier, there are still 19 coins missing. Probably the most difficult coins remaining are the 1861 (4 certified PCGS), 1867 (4), 1870 (1), 1874 (3), 1877 (2), and 1878 (4). The 1870 may make for the most interesting date for a PCGS certified perspective. I not sure how to explain that in more than 35 years, only one 1870 is in a PCGS holder. In a 2022 sale of a PR65 NGC Cert #1950960-010 specimen, the cataloger wrote: The Philadelphia Mint struck a modest mintage of 35 proof Liberty eagles in 1870, to accompany a small business-strike production of 3,990 pieces. The coins were delivered in two batches: 25 examples on February 3, and 10 more on June 1. Although the proof mintage was actually slightly larger than in previous years, all experts agree that the 1870 issue is just as rare as the proofs of earlier dates. PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 10-12 examples in all grades, while John Dannreuther offers a slightly more conservative estimate of 8-10 specimens extant. PCGS and NGC have combined to certify just five examples between them (7/22), but even that small total may include some resubmissions and crossovers. The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution includes one example, and the collection of the American Numismatic Society includes another. The NGC coin realized a modest $108,000 (auction record) for a coin of this rarity. The Tyrant Collection contains an 1877 $10 Liberty, NGC Proof 64 Cameo, Cert # 2164728-001 that is an Ex: Kaufman and probably Ely.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of 14 with only one PCGS certified. The only 1870 Liberty Proof Eagle in the PCGS POP report is a straight grade PR64. There are some indications that this coin is from the Harry Bass Collection, but I have not been able to confirm. According to Heritage Auctions, the listed sale of a PCGS certified coin occurred in November 2000 when Bowers & Merena offered a PR64 PCGS in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. IV sale. The coin realized $31,050.
1870 Eagle Gold Auctions
1859 Ten Dollar, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Ten Eyck-Eliasberg
A Major No Motto Proof Rarity, Eight to 10 Pieces Known
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: Proofs are very rare but less so than preceding dates. As many as nine or ten proofs may exist including two virtually perfect specimens, previously unreported, that are in the Royal London Mint's Collection.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be eight in all grades with one grading GEM PR65 or better. PCGS POP reports two GEM proofs, a PR65CAM and PR65DCAM that in now in the Dell Loy Hansen Collection. There are two other PCGS graded specimens, a PR64 and a PR64CAM. This is a total of four PCGS certified that goes with a NGC total of five. The nine entries listed in the combine POP reports may be high, because the roster below contains only five certified examples.
Roster of 1859 Proof Eagles (Produced by Heritage Auctions for the 2023 Harry Bass Core Collection)
1. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. James Ten Eyck; Ten Eyck Sale, (B. Max Mehl, 5/1922), lot 289; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, via Stack's; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 708; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC-1029). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
2. PR65 Cameo PCGS. Professor John H. Alexander; presented as a gift to the Royal Mint Museum; Royal Mint Museum Sale (Morton & Eden, 3/20143), lot 611, realized £204,000 ($257,341.81). Eagles of The Tyrant Collection
3. PR64 Deep Cameo, per John Dannreuther. Mint Cabinet; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
4. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Professor John H. Alexander; presented as a gift to the Royal Mint Museum; Royal Mint Museum.
5. PR64 Cameo NGC. Brian Hendelson; Blanchard and Company; New Orleans Collection (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5213, unsold; bought by original NGC submitter for $851,875 (sold as part of set), according to John Dannreuther.
6. PR64 NGC. William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1437; Amon G. Carter, Sr.; Amon G. Carter, Jr.; Carter Estate; Amon G. Carter, Jr. Family Collection (Stack's, 1/1984), lot 760; Ed Trompeter; Trompeter Estate; private treaty transaction to Heritage and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; private treaty transaction to a Heritage customer.
7. PR63, per John Dannreuther. James T. Randall, sold privately to John Pittman for $150 (7/22/1949); John J. Pittman; Pittman Collection, Part I (David Akers, 10/1997), lot 834, sold as part of an 1859 proof set; Mark Yaffe.
8. Proof. Possibly directly from the Mint in 1859; J. Colvin Randall; Randall Estate (1901); J.P. Morgan (1902); Museum of Natural History, New York City (1902-1908); transferred per museum cartel on April 10, 1908 to ANS (J1908.93.326).
9. Proof. Belden E. Roach Collection (B. Max Mehl, 2/1944), lot 336; Jerome Kern Collection (B. Max Mehl, 5/1950), lot 507; Samuel M. Rapoport (B. Max Mehl, 6/1961), lot 2095; Samuel W. Wolfson Collection, Part I (Stack's, 10/1962), lot 675; Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen (6/1968), lot 1492; Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen (11/1968), lot 2187; Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen (6/1969), lot 1072; Auction '79 (RARCOA, 7/1979), lot 1304; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/1985), lot 2852.
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: Coin collecting in America experienced a massive surge in popularity beginning in 1858-59. New societies were formed, references were published, medals were struck, and auctions increased in frequency. The growth of numismatics was reflected in the proof offerings of the period. Production increased exponentially for proof silver coins in 1858 and then for proof gold coins in 1859, all of which could be had from the Mint at face value. That quickly changed in 1860, when a proofing fee of 13 cents was instituted. The Philadelphia Mint manufactured and distributed 80 proof eagles in 1859, up substantially from the five or so proof tens struck the year prior. One might reasonably expect the 1859 to be much more available than its predecessor as a result, but such is not the case. It seems that the vast majority of 1859 eagles ended up being spent and/or melted, probably during the many waves of economic hardship that hit during the second half of the 19th century. Writing in United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part II (2018), John Dannreuther estimates that only eight to 10 examples survive noting that "many of the 80 Proof eagles from this year likely were spent by their buyers."
The Heritage cataloger discussed the rarity of private ownership: Unsurprisingly, the 1859 Liberty ten dollar proof is a monumental rarity. Until now, there have been only five examples in private hands. Four were permanently housed in institutional collections, including the ANS, Smithsonian Institutional, the Royal Mint Museum, and the Bass Core Collection at the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
The lengthy provenance and condition of Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: This is the Bass coin, which was purchased out of the incredible Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of United States gold coins in 1982. It is the finest known example of the 1859 proof eagle with a pedigree going back to the James Ten Eyck sale of 1922, and it has been out of reach for the past four decades. Now certified PR65 Deep Cameo by PCGS and boasting a green CAC approval sticker, it features dramatic field-device contrast and rich orange-gold coloration. The faintest hints of coppery color are noted, attesting to the surface originality. Opportunities to obtain the 1859 proof eagle are even rarer than the coins themselves. The last two appearances, including this one, have represented institutional deaccessioning. Without any guarantee of another example appearing any time soon, and certainly none as fine, we strongly encourage interested parties to bid accordingly.
This update continues the series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. It appears the Hansen Team had an interest in adding a proof half eagle and proof eagle to the D.L. Hansen Collection from the Harry Bass Core Collection. We will see in the next posting if the pattern is continued with a Double Eagle.
Provenance: James Ten Eyck; Ten Eyck Sale, (B. Max Mehl, 5/1922), lot 289; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, via Stack's; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 708, realized $41,800; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1029), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4581, realized $456,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1859 Ten Dollar Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest by PCGS Certification #46094663, PCGS #98795 PCGS Price Guide $475,000 / Realized $456,000 Ex: Ten Eyck / Eliasberg / Bass
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (17 of 20)
Liberty Head $20 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
Talk about rare! Any coin in this series is going to cost over $50,000 in Proof 65 condition, and that's not counting the ultra-rarities, if you can find them at any price. Both the 1883 and 1884 are "Proof-only" issues, meaning that no pieces were struck for circulation. The 1859 is a major rarity, with only one piece certified (and that's a lightly circulated Proof 55 coin). The incredible challenge in both time and money is more than offset by the reward. This set covers the pre-Civil War years of 1859-60 through much of the first decade of the 20th century. History, rarity, beauty, value...it's all here! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “History, rarity, beauty, value...it's all here!”. As we saw with the Liberty Eagle Proofs, the registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. In the Heritage listing, a mention was made to John Dannreuther 2018 reference, United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part II were states: …. part of the Kaufman collection and later ended up in the Ed Trompeter collection, an eclectic gold collector from the late twentieth century, who completed the Proof gold set from 1859 to 1915. If Trompeter is credited with completing all the post 1858 gold proofs, then certainly he has a complete set of Liberty Double Eagles. Only time will tell if Dell Loy Hansen has the time and opportunity to assemble another complete set of Double Eagles in his collection in the early twentieth-first century.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 63.27% complete. This implies the set is missing 18 coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.28. As with the half eagle proofs, the Hansen set that is in development is much finer in grade than the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set. Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for creating this exceptional grade average.
4 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1861 PR66DCAM PCGS, Finest Known
1 Coin - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1904 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 7/0
3 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting the extraordinary 1883 PR66DCAM PCGS, POP 3/1
14 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top Five, highlighting the remarkable 1885 PR66+ DCAM, POP 1/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 31 coins with above 22 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 70.9% top five. The set still have nine coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1888 PR62, POP 2/15. The Highest POP in the set is the 1898 PR63CAM PCGS, POP 3/30. As we saw with the other Liberty Gold Proof sets, the focus may be on acquiring the missing 18 coins rather than upgrading the nine non - condition census specimens.
Type 2, With Motto, "TWENTY D." on Reverse, Proof Set
For this 49-piece set, the “Type 2, With Motto, "TWENTY D." on Reverse, Proof” production are years from 1866 to 1876 which is a fairly tough range of years. These are post-Civil War Double Eagle Proofs which picks up the reference “Motto”. With this upgrade, the 11-piece double eagle gold set breaks the half way barrier to completion. There are five Type 2 proofs missing, the 1867, 1870, 1871, 1874, and 1876. All six of the Hansen Type II Double Eagles Proofs qualify and are PCGS Condition Census Top Five. Although, four of the six just make it under their wire as a POP 4. When completed, this will be an amazing sub set of gold Liberty Double Eagles. As this 11-piece set stands today with five coins missing, the current six coins carries a PCGS price guide value of $1,425,000.
As stated earlier, there are still 18 coins missing. Probably the most difficult coins remaining are the 1859 (4 certified PCGS), 1867 (4), 1870 (4), 1871 (4), and 1879 (4). The 1871 is an interesting date for a PCGS certified perspective due to the fact that there are no GEM, no CAM, and no DAM. The estimated survival are comparable with the other double eagles, but the quality has not been there for PCGS certification. CoinFacts indicates there are some that exist, but not any PCGS certified. In a 2004 Heritage Auction, the cataloger wrote: Only 30 proofs were struck, and it is believed that today only eight or nine of those struck are still extant as recognizable proofs. As one might imagine, the 1871 is almost never offered for sale. Walter Breen in his 1977 proof Encyclopedia was able to list only five examples, two of which are permanently impounded in museums.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of 10 with currently only four PCGS certified. The finest 1871 Liberty Proof Double Eagles in the PCGS POP report are a pair of straight grade PR64. The other two PCGS coins are graded PR61 and a choice PR63. There is no claim made to the finest, but CoinFacts includes a PR65DCAM estimated grade specimen. In a PCGS holder, this coin would probably realize half of seven figures or more. Only a hand full of auction appearanses in the PCGS Auction Registry. The last was a PR62 NGC specimen in a 2002 Heritage Auction.
Mintage of 30 Proofs, About a Dozen Extant, High on the Condition Census
David Akers wrote several decades ago: Proofs are very rare, a little more so than those dated 1862, 1863 and 1864 but not quite as rare as the 1865, 1867 or 1868. I would estimate that perhaps 10 or 11 still exist.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 14 in all grades with two grading GEM PR65 or better. This is probably incorrect because PCGS POP reports four GEM proofs, a PR67DCAM, followed by two PR66DCAM and finishing with one more graded PR65DCAM. PCGS POP reports four other 1866 Double Eagles below the GEM preservation, starting with Bass / Hansen PR64DCAM, a pair of straight graded PR64 and finishing with the lowest graded PCGS, PR63. An interesting fact, there are not PCGS specimens with the CAM designation.
Roster of 1866 Proof Double Eagles
The cataloger of the Harry Bass Part 3 sale offered a roster including 11 known examples of the 1866 Proof Double Eagles. He cautioned the overall accuracy of the work by stating: The poor resolution of images in early catalogs makes plate matching of gold proofs very difficult. It is possible this roster contains some duplication, and a few more specimens may remain hidden in old-time collections that have not appeared at auction in many years. The grades are per the last auction appearance, unless a subsequent certification event is known. Population data indicates many coins have been submitted, or resubmitted, since their last appearance. In this roster, PCGS coins finer than the Bass / Hansen specimen is only two, the Kaufman specimen and the Bernard Shore specimen. There are two NGC coins higher on the condition census list, the Atwater / Eliasberg specimen and the Ed Trompeter specimen. If the top five on this roster is correct, then that Bass / Hansen specimen is a PCGS POP 1/2 and overall a CC#5.
1. PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS, Cert #45158857. Nathan M. Kaufman, part of a complete 1866 gold proof set; Kaufman Collection (RARCOA, 8/1978), lot 919, proof set broken up; San Diego Sale (Mid-American, 9/1986), lot 1229; Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 5/2007), lot 1096. Duke Collection
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. A. Bernard Shore Collection (Superior, 1/1988), lot 4413; Century Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 2997; January-February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1508; Museum of Connecticut History Auction (Heritage, 6/1995), lot 5958; Elite Coin Auction (Superior, 1/2003), lot 1244; Pre-Long Beach Auction (Ira and Larry Goldberg, 1/2004), lot 3399; Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 5/2004), lot 475.
3. PR65 Cameo NGC, Gold CAC, Cert #183828-001. Possibly David S. Wilson; Wilson Collection (S.H. Chapman, 3/1907), lot 326, part of a complete gold proof set; Henry Chapman; William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1258; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; H.R. Lee Collection (Stack's, 10/1947), lot 1710; Forty-Ninth Catalog (New Netherlands, 6/1957), lot 116; Jerry Cohen; January-February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1507; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2017), lot 4356, realized $517,000.
4. PR65 Cameo NGC, CAC, Cert #238108-025. Ed Trompeter; Trompeter Estate; private treaty transaction to Heritage and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; private treaty transaction to a Heritage customer; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 10/2022), lot 3373, realized $660,000 (Auction Record).
5. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS, CAC, Cert #46094667. Abe Kosoff; Harry W. Bass, Jr., purchased on August 8, 1971; Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC-1038). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
6. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Auction '89 (Superior, 7/1989), lot 948; Auction '90 (Superior, 8/1990), lot 1376; Andy Lustig.
7. Gem Brilliant Proof. William H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1363; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, via Stack's; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 916; Hugh Sconyers.
8. Gem Brilliant Proof. Possibly F.C.C. Boyd; World's Greatest Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 1/1946), lot 869; Jacob Shapiro (aka J.F. Bell); Memorable Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 3/1948), lot 691; ANA Convention Auction (Steve Ivy, 8/1982), lot 1192; Buddy Ebsen Collection (Superior, 5/1987), lot 2867; Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 10/1988), lot 151.
9. Choice Brilliant Proof. Heman Ely, part of a complete 1866 gold proof set; W. Elliott Woodward; T Harrison Garrett, purchased privately as part of a deal to acquire nine gold proof sets of various dates in October of 1883; Robert Garrett; John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University; Garrett Collection, Part II (Bowers and Ruddy, 3/1980), lot 791.
10. PR64 Deep Cameo, per Garrett and Guth. Mint Cabinet; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
11. Proof. John Colvin Randall, part of a complete gold proof set purchased directly from the Mint; Randall Estate (1901); J.P. Morgan (1902); Museum of Natural History NYC (1902-1908); American Numismatic Society in 1908, exhibited at the 1914 ANS Exhibition.
The Heritage cataloger wrote in reference to the popularity and availability of the 1866 Double Eagle. In doing so, an interesting story is included pertaining to John Dannreuther opinion of the coin when viewing it in the Bass Core Collection. For JD to miss grade a gold Liberty is as rare as finding a Standing Liberty quarter in circulation. The listing states: The 1866 No Motto double eagle has always been popular with collectors as the first in the Type Two twenty dollar subseries. Dave Bowers describes business strikes as "easy enough" to obtain in circulated condition but rare in Mint State and "very rare" in Gem Uncirculated. Proofs represent an even higher degree of rarity. John Dannreuther estimates that only 12 to 14 examples exist of the 30 that were struck, with about half having been lost over the years through various forms of attrition (circulation, melting, etc.). He notes the following in his 2018 reference, United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part II: "Two of the finest examples are the Harry W. Bass, Jr. coin, purchased from Abe Kosoff in 1971, and the spectacular PCGS PR66 DCAM specimen illustrated herein. The second example was once part of the Kaufman collection and later ended up in the Ed Trompeter collection, an eclectic gold collector from the late twentieth century, who completed the Proof gold set from 1859 to 1915." At the time of writing, Dannreuther estimated the grade of the Bass coin, which was on display at the ANA Museum, as PR66+ Cameo. It resides today in a PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS holder with CAC approval (the Trompeter coin is now graded PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS) and although there is a slight discrepancy in the two grades, one thing is certain: this is a spectacular proof offering with dazzling eye appeal. Bowers (2001) called it a "delightful gem" with "rose and pale olive toning highlights on frosty design motifs and mirror fields." Indeed, the fields are deeply reflective -- almost jet-black -- and they contrast starkly against the relief elements.
It may be noteworthy to mention the possible die uniqueness of this coin. I doubt it would ever add any significance value, but it does add to the story of the coin. The cataloger wrote: It should be noted that the reverse here is struck from the same die as the 1865 Judd-452 transitional pattern double eagles with IN clearly higher than the G in GOD and, according to Saul Teichman, is unique as such. He suspects the five coins struck on June 8 were probably produced from this reverse, while the 25 proofs manufactured on January 15 are from the JD-1 dies. The possible unique status of this Bass representative only further its significance.
The Heritage cataloger discussed the rarity of private ownership: Unsurprisingly, the 1859 Liberty ten dollar proof is a monumental rarity. Until now, there have been only five examples in private hands. Four were permanently housed in institutional collections, including the ANS, Smithsonian Institutional, the Royal Mint Museum, and the Bass Core Collection at the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
This update continues the series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. With this fourth post, we have seen a mint state quarter eagle and gold proofs in three different denominations, including $5, $10 and $20. Stay tune, because we will finish the updates by featuring three $3 proof coins in the next few days. Keep watching.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff; Harry W. Bass, Jr., purchased on August 8, 1971; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC-1038), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4525, realized $360,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
Final Thoughts: JD estimated the grade to PR66+ Cameo when it was on display at the ANA Museum. PCGS graded the coin PR64 Deep Cameo. JA stickered the coin a CAC. I am not seeing why the coin is not more than a 64. Are there any surface issues? Any experts see something that is not obvious about the coin?
In comparison of all time finest sets, I find it interesting that 51.6% of Hansen's set are DCAM. Bass (0%) , Eliasberg (2.44%), and Garrett (0%) seems to indicate that PCGS only attributed DCAM long after Eliasberg, Bass and Garret assembled their collections. Smithsonian probably had their coins regraded?
In comparing historical records DCAM's should have very limited or no applicability. Especially considering Hansen has a number of coins that were in the great collections years before DCAM was a grading standard.
... As with the half eagle proofs, the Hansen set that is in development is much finer in grade than the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set.
To make a fair comparison, actually you should only compare the grades of the Hansen set with the grades of the same dates in the other sets.
Otherwise you could see a bias, because the more easily obtainable dates (likely those in the Hansen set) may be more available in higher grades than the rarer ones.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (18 of 20)
Three Dollar Gold Basic Set, Proof (1854-1889)
Rare! That’s a word that describes the $3 gold series in proof. There’s the extremely rare 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857 1858...the highest population of any of these coins is four, and that includes all proof grades! The $3 gold series in proof is rarely collected, due to the price. But what a set it is! Even the most common coin in the series (did we say “common?”) has a population of only 48 coins in Proof 65 or better. - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 36-piece gold proof set wrote: “Rare! That’s a word that describes the $3 gold series in proof”. With the two sales of historic three gold proof collections as we have recent witness with the offering from the Tom Bender Family holdings and the release of the Harry Bass Core Collection, even rare coins become available. In the past nine months, there have been eight new coins added to the Hansen set and 15 have been upgraded. This has placed the Dell Loy Hansen set on the PCGS Registry Top Five All-Time leaderboard.
The registry indicates that Bender, Garrison and Trompeter assembled high grade complete sets. Harry Bass has been credited with having a complete set, but it has been determined in recent years that one of his coins was an improper graded proof like. In United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, John Dannreuther adds:"[T]he Harry Bass Core Collection has a very deceptive example that has been called a Proof by nearly every numismatist that has examined it. Mr. Bass included it in his complete Proof set and considered it a Proof. However, the author recently realized it was not a Proof, as it has the die pair used for the circulation strikes. It is just as deceptive as an 1870 circulation strike that was called a Proof by several grading services, until the author proved that two different dated dies were used for the two formats.” Close, but no cigar, also the same can be said about the Eliasberg and Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection. Mr. Hansen has moved up to number five in the all-time ranking. With only two coins to go, he is in a good position to make some real noise in the very near future.
By adding a pair of Bass coins, the Dell Loy Hansen 34-piece gold three-dollar proof set improves to 94.44% complete. This implies the set is missing two coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.68. From GPA perspective, the Hansen and the Tom Bender sets very competitive. Actually, the Bass set is better than the registry indicates. The registry does not consider the recent Bass PCGS grading event. The Bass set is actually about 0.3 points better than the Bender. The Hansen group of gold coins are laying solid foundation for an excellent grade set. It will be comparable to as Bender and Bass but maybe not quite as good by grade average. Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
3 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1856 PR65+ DCAM PCGS, Finest Known
5 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1873 Closed 3, PR65+ CAM, POP 2/0
5 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting the extraordinary 1870 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 1/1
12 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top Five, highlighting the remarkable 1859 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 2/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 34 coins including above 25 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 73.5% top five. The set still have nine coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1854 PR63CAM PCGS, POP 2/3 which is certainly a keeper. The Highest POP in the set is the 1888 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 11/27. I would think the focus may be on acquiring the missing two coins rather than upgrading the nine non - condition census specimens.
For this 36-piece set, the “Pre-Civil War” production are years from 1854 to 1860. The Civil War issues for this set is complete. With this upgrade, the 7-piece three dollar gold set is one coin way from being complete. All coins in this early run are PCGS Condition Census Top Three specimens. When completed, this will be an amazing sub set of Three Dollar Gold prices. As this 7-piece set stands today with one coin missing, the current six coins carries a PCGS price guide value of $1,208,300.
As stated earlier, there are only two coins missing. Certainly, the 1857 date is a more difficult coin than the 1871 issue. In the recent Bender Family Collection, Part III sale hosted by Heritage Auctions, a PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS Ex: Garrett specimen was offered. Dell Loy Hansen and the DLRC team decided to set this sale out. The coin realized $144,000. Another PR64 Deep Cameo will be offered in late summer from the Bass Core Collection. This PR64DCAM coin is a full two points lower than finest known specimen, PR66DCAM Ex: Parmelee, Woodin, Eliasberg. The Bass coin has a POP of 2/1. Also, the missing 1871 in be offer in the Bass Part 4 sale.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of six with only five reported minted. PCGS have certified five in the POP report with Eliasberg PR66DAM as the finest. This coin is the only GEM PCGS certified coin. There are two PR64DCAM with one the upcoming Bass coin. Finishing out the PCGS graded specimens are a pair of PR64. There have only been four auction appearances since 2000, with the Ex: Garrett, Bender specimen offered three times: June 2000, August 2004 and February 2023. The fourth offering was the Ex: Parmelee, Woodin, Eliasberg that appeared in an April 2015 sale.
1857 Three Dollar Gold Auctions
1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: McCoy / Ely / Garrett / Bass
The Finest of Only Four Proofs Known
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: To the best of my knowledge, there is only one proof 1855 three-dollar gold piece, the superb Garrett specimen that is now in the Bass Collection. After several decades of additional research, we now know there are as many as four that has been accounted for. Unfortunately, one of those four has been stolen, so there currently only three known in private hands with one being an impaired proof. Dell Loy Hansen owns two of them.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of four with only five reported minted. PCGS POP reports five certified coins, so we know one of them is a duplicate. Starting with a pair of GEMs including the PR65+DCAM which is the Bass/Hansen specimen and PR65+DCAM that John Dannreuther indicates in the Ed Trompeter stolen coin. There is one CAM in the report, a PR64CAM which is the Eliasberg/Bender specimen. There is the pair of straight grade PCGS coins, an unconfirmed PR64 (possibly a duplicate) and the impaired proof PR55 PCGS that has been demoted in D.L. Hansen Collection to a second set. According to a roster provided by the cataloger in May 2023 sale of the Harry Bass Core Collection, there are only four PCGS coins known to exist.
Roster of Proof 1855 Three Dollar Pieces
1. PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS. John F. McCoy Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 5/1864), lot 1987; Heman Ely Collection; T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 393; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4004). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS (Per John Dannreuther). "From a brother in the Cree family of North Carolina as a gift" (per John Dannreuther); Lewis Collection (Paramount, 7/1977), lot 519, $25,000; Ed Trompeter Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 97, $39,600; Numismatic Professionals, LLC; Michael Storeim reported this piece stolen on 11/27/2003. *Current Status Unknown**
3. PR64 Cameo PCGS. William H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1138; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 275, $28,600; Hugh Sconyers; Auction '85 (Superior, 7/1985), lot 934, $31,900; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 271, $62,100; Larry Jackson; November Signature (Heritage, 11/2003), lot 7434, $75,900; Tom Bender Collection; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3670, realized $264,000.
4. PR55 PCGS, CAC. Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (2/12/19) for The D.L. Hansen Collection. D.L. Hansen Duplicate
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The proof 1855 three-dollar gold piece is among the great rarities in the series. The mintage was unrecorded by the Mint, although scholars such as John Dannreuther estimate that only five pieces were struck. This is apparently an accurate mintage estimate. Walter Breen, in his proof Encyclopedia, listed only two examples known to him, with a note about the possible existence of a third. In United States Proof Coins, Vol. IV: Gold, John Dannreuther enumerates three surviving pieces, plus a possible fourth. The most recent survivorship study of this issue, performed by Ron Guth and reproduced in the roster below, lists four confirmed examples. One of these, the Trompeter specimen, was reported stolen in 2003 and has not been recovered. That leaves only three pieces available to collectors. The Bass Core Collection coin offered here is the sole finest.
The Heritage cataloger discussed coin’s provenance: This coin has the longest known provenance of any of the proof 1855 three-dollar pieces, reaching as far back as John F. McCoy in the early 1860s. It is possible that McCoy was the original owner of this piece, and the first of only four different owners to date. Following W. Elliot Woodward's May 1864 sale of the McCoy Collection, the coin passed to Heman Ely, and by the 1880s was in the possession of T. Harrison Garrett. The Garrett family owned the coin until March 1976, when it was auctioned by Stack's. The buyer was Harry W. Bass, Jr. Thus, this is only the coin's second auction appearance since 1864.
The appearance of Bass/Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: As the finest 1855 proof three dollar known, the coin displays incredible sharpness and deep, glimmering reflectivity in the fields. Rich orange-gold color throughout each side complements the satiny luster of the devices, and field-device contrast is superb. No distractions are seen. The Plus designation is well earned. Proof three-dollar gold specialists should not let this incredible opportunity pass by.
This is the first update of three for the Three Dollar Gold Proofs. The 1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS is the only proof upgrade acquired in the Harry Bass Sale, Part 3. The PR65+ DCAM replaced a PR55 specimen. The result is the Hansen cabinet of US gold proofs having two of the four known specimens. Over the next few days, we will continue our review of the Three Dollar Proofs.
Provenance: John F. McCoy Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 5/1864), lot 1987; Heman Ely Collection; T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 393; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4004), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4517, realized $312,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS PCGS POP 1/0, Finest of Only Four Proofs Known Certification #46094719, PCGS # 98018 PCGS Price Guide $385,000 / Realized $312,000 Ex: McCoy / Ely / Garrett / Bass
John Dannreuther adds:"[T]he Harry Bass Core Collection has a very deceptive example that has been called a Proof by nearly every numismatist that has examined it. Mr. Bass included it in his complete Proof set and considered it a Proof. However, the author recently realized it was not a Proof, as it has the die pair used for the circulation strikes. It is just as deceptive as an 1870 circulation strike that was called a Proof by several grading services, until the author proved that two different dated dies were used for the two formats.”
I do not find the die pair argument to be compelling evidence that the 1870 $3 Bass is not a proof.
In many series, proofs and business strikes are made from the same die pair.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (19 of 20)
Second 2023 Update for the D.L. Hansen Proofs (1859-1915)
I would call building this massive 294-piece gold proof set a slow burn. In the Harry Bass Part 3 sale, the focus for the Hansen team was filling holes. The team acquired six of the seven coins which were gold proofs. The only non-proof purchase was the 1827 Quarter Eagle, MS65 PCGS. Also, five of the six proof coins are expansion examples starting with the 1858 Three Dollar and other four needed for date range of 1859-1915. The other proof coin not in that range was the 1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS upgrade. The five expansion coins consisted of one half eagle, one eagle, one double eagle and two three dollar gold pieces including the 1858 Three Dollar. This represents a nice spread across the sets. The Harry Bass Core Proofs will be nicely represented in Hansen Collection. This table displays the four expansion coins used in the D.L. Hansen Proofs (1859-1915).
As you can easily see, there are four coins representing about $1.2 Million Dollar addition to the collection. The Bass Collection did not receive an abundance of CAC stickers for his coins. I am not sure the CAC percentage for the Bass Core coins, but in this expansion purchase three out of four of the proofs were CAC Approved including two PCGS POP 1/0 finest. The three Liberty gold coins were all DCAM designated. The Three Dollar coin has a CAM designation. All four coins are PCGS Price Guide Valued above the six-figure mark. Earlier I posted that I reached out to the collection curator, John Brush from David Lawrence Rare Coins to get some insight. He was gracious to follow-up with some thoughts into the current conditions of the collection and environment. Reason for adding very few coins is that we’re still trying to fill holes… and we’re trying to be responsible and the upgrade opportunities and holes to fill are very few and far between. If you look at the four coins purchased here from several angles, including need base, quality, rarity, price valued, price realized, CAC, etc. You should conclude these to be responsible buys.
These new coins advance the D.L. Hansen Collection of Collectable Gold Proofs four steps closer to completion, so let’s recap the progress the Mr. Hansen has achieved in the first five months of 2023. I have detailed the eleven sets that comprise the complete collection for proof gold from 1859 to 1915 (all collectable). The set consists of 294 coins. As I have stated several times before, PCGS does not have a set that represents these sets, so this chart provides a fairly accurate representation.
Since last 2022 update posted December 27, 2022, the Hansen Team has added nine proofs to the D.L. Hansen Collection. The addition breakdown is:
5 Coins to Three Gold Basic Set, Proof (1859-1889) set
1 Coin to Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) set
1 Coin to Liberty Head $10 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) set
1 Coin to Indian Head $10 Gold Basic Set, Proof (1908-1915) set
1 Coin to Liberty Head $20 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) set
The collection requires 294 coins with only 52 remaining. Last year, I determined that Mr. Hansen was on a pace of about 15 new additions per year. He reduced by four in January by adding the Proof Indian Head Eagle, one Three Dollar Gold Proof from the Harry Bass sale, and two more from the Bender sale. A couple months ago, the 1861 Three Dollar Gold, PR65CAM, Ex: Sweet / Simpson was added to the collection. The coin last sold in the Heritage 2022 ANA Sale. In the May 2023 Harry Bass sale, he reduced set by four more coins which has a nice pace for 2023. He is well on the way for 15 for this year. At the pace of 15 per year, the collection is about three and half years away from completion. Let’s watch and see what happens after this fast start in 2023.
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: One variety of the 1873 Closed 3 three dollar gold piece is markedly "dished", that is, it has a convex obverse and a concave reverse. This variety is the so-called "dished restrike". However, Harry Bass claims that the dished pieces are, in fact, the true "originals. I feel that these dished pieces are merely the proofs with the Closed 3, whereas the other Closed 3 pieces are all business strikes. In the May 2023 Bass Core sale, the Heritage cataloger wrote: The 1873 proof three dollar is certainly one of the more enigmatic issues in the series. Writing in United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part I, John Dannreuther begins his commentary on the 1873 with a rather ominous remark: "Perhaps no coin in American numismatics has had such obfuscation as the 1873 three dollar gold issue," joking that everything we know about it is wrong. While that may be slightly hyperbolic, the 1873 proof three dollar definitely has caused confusion among collectors for decades.
The discussion continues with: Mint documents report 25 proof threes delivered on February 18, 1873. While examples of the 1873 proof three exist with both Closed and Open 3s in the date, there is no record regarding how many of each were produced with the two logotypes. To make matters even more convoluted, the Closed 3 proofs come either with or without a dished obverse. Finally, there is evidence to suggest that some of the Open 3 proofs were struck after the 1874 and 1875 three dollar proofs were manufactured, creating the existence of originals and restrikes. All in all, Dannreuther estimates that 11 to 14 Open 3 representatives survive, plus one Closed 3 proof with a non-dished obverse in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, and four to six Closed 3 pieces with dished obverses. The new Hansen coin purchased in the Harry Bass sale is one of the latter, “four to six Closed 3 pieces with dished obverses”.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate at six specimens for the Closed 3 variety of this proof. PCGS POP reports six certified coins, with only four PCGS coins in the recent Heritage roster (below), so you could consider a couple to be duplicates. For PCGS six specimens starting with the only coin with a surface designation, the Bass/Hansen PR65+ Cameo specimen. This CAM specimen is followed by three PR65 graded specimens with only one verified, the Carter PR65 specimen. PCGS/CC#5 specimen is a PR63 PCGS which is the Ebsen/Trompeter specimen. The last known PCGS coin is a PR61 which is from the Richmond Collection. There are two other known coins that are currently not in PCGS holders, the finest known is the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Superb Gem Proof 67 uncertified specimen and the impaired specimen that is called PR45 in the Dannreuther roster.
Roster of 1873 Closed 3 Three Dollar Proofs (Compiled by Heritage Auctions 2023)
1. Superb Gem Proof 67 Uncertified. Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 299, $30,800; Auction '84 (Paramount, 7/1984), lot 885, $27,500.
2. PR65+ Cameo PCGS. Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4028). Incorrectly shown as HBCC #4027 in John Dannreuther's United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, p. 461. D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 PCGS. James Walter Carter & Margaret Woolfolk Carter Collections (Stack's, 1/1986), lot 132; Huberman Collection (Stack's Bowers, 4/2022), lot 3105, $156,000.
4. PR63 PCGS. Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981), lot 416, $40,000; Buddy Ebsen Collection (Superior, 5/1987), lot 2414, $38,500; Ed Trompeter Collection, Part I (Superior, 2/1992), lot 115, $23,100; Michael I. Keston Collection (Superior, 1/1996), lot 58, $25,300; Dr. Richard Ariagno Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 5/1999), lot 703, $19,800; Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 6/2000), lot 1262, $19,550; Belvedere Collection (PCGS Set Registry).
5. PR61 PCGS. Richmond Collection, Part I (David Lawrence, 7/2004), lot 1285, $20,700; Richard C. Jewell Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 3/2005), lot 640, $36,800; Madison Collection (Heritage, 1/2008), lot 3121, $40,250; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5068, $37,375.
6. Proof Uncertified. Public Auction Sale (Lester Merkin, 10/1969), lot 416; Public Auction Sale (Lester Merkin, 10/1973), lot 473; Auction '86 (Stack's, 7/1986), lot 372, $4,180. Called PR45 in the Dannreuther roster.
The Heritage cataloger shared some additional thoughts on the rarity: The Harry W. Bass, Jr. offering is one of those latter survivors, which Dannreuther designates as JD-3. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the ultimate rarity of these proof threes, this is only the second 1873 Closed 3 representative we have handled, the other being the PR61 PCGS coin (ex: Richmond-Jewell) that takes fifth place on our roster (see below). We last offered that piece in 2011, pointing out that it was "rarer than the proof-only 1873 Open 3, 1875, and 1876, all of which have at least triple the number of survivors. Only the proof 1855 is rarer (three to five known), and by a slender margin."
The Heritage cataloger describe this coin as “formerly unobtainable museum-quality Gem”: Today, we have the pleasure of presenting not just another example of this elusive issue, but a formerly unobtainable museum-quality Gem that ranks second finest behind a coin that has not been seen publicly in more than three decades. Dave Bowers provided the following description of the Bass coin in 2001: "Gorgeous gem Proof 1873. Frosted devices create some cameo contrast with sparkling deep mirror fields on both sides. Deeply impressed and beautifully centered. Blush of original yellowish toning on lower obverse and center reverse." The surfaces remain unchanged since that description was penned, maintaining a delightful cameo appearance and gorgeous color. That aesthetic quality, combined with the coin's absolute rarity and terrific pedigree are sure to spark spirited bidding among three dollar gold specialists.
This is the second update for the Three Dollar Gold Proofs. The 1873 $3 Closed 3 PR65+ Cameo PCGS specimen is important to the Three Dollar Proof set. With this new coin, there are only two remaining specimens needed for the 36-piece set. Over the next few months, we will watch and see if these last two coins are acquired to complete this “Rare!” set.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4028), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4525, realized $222,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (20 of 20)
Harry Bass Core Collection – Part III Final Review
The 1829 half eagle was the top lot from The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III, from which proceeds will benefit dozens of Dallas-based nonprofits supported by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, with an emphasis on early childhood education and literacy in Dallas. Part III generated nearly $18.15 million and produced the event's top three results. The $2.88 million result for the 1829 half eagle — one of more than 30 records set in the event — more than doubled the previous mark of $1.38 million. Heritage Auctions, Press Release - May 8, 2023
Once again, the Hansen Team had a strong showing in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III presented by Heritage Auctions in 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature sale. They have participated in the first three sales by purchasing coins to a tune of $6,535,200. The three Bass sales have realized approx. $62.65 Million Dollars benefitting the Dallas area. In working the numbers, Dell Loy Hansen has direct contribution of 10.4% of the prices realized in the sale. Let’s quickly recap the first three sales.
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part I (September 29, 2022 in Long Beach)
This press release from the first Bass Sale that was held last fall: A magnificent 1821 half eagle rode a burst of furiously competitive bidding all the way to $4.62 million, leading one of the finest collections of U.S. gold coins and related patterns ever assembled to $20,459,645 in Heritage Auctions' Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part I US Coins Signature® Auction - Long Beach Sept. 29. The Hansen team missed out on purchasing the 1821 Half Eagle, but the sale for the Hansen team, I would consider a success. They were successful in purchasing eight coins realizing $2,419,200.
The best purchase for the Hansen Collection was the unique 1854 G$1 Type 1, PR65DCAM, CAC. Heritage highlighted this coin as a new record: An 1854 Gold Dollar, PR65 Deep Cameo: $720,000 (previous record: $68,750) The Hansen runner-up coin also set a record auction price: An 1833 Quarter Eagle, PR63 Cameo: $408,000 (previous record: $50,600)
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II (January 5, 2023 in Orlando)
The Hansen Collection added five coins from the Part 2 sale. They missed out on purchasing the unique 1870-S Three Dollar Gold, but the Hansen team still made some noise. The five coins range in price realized from $84,000 to $1,100,000. All five coins made significant improvements to the core collection. In Sale 2, Heritage press release: The auction was enormously successful by any metric: of the 103 offered lots, 30 established new records. The event was the second installment of the collection of Harry W. Bass; proceeds from the auction will benefit the dozens of Dallas-based nonprofits supported by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, with a particular emphasis on early childhood education and literacy in Dallas. Part I reached $20,459,645 Sept. 29. "Heritage Auctions delivered more than $24 million (Realized $24,322,741) in winning bids for the Bass Foundation tonight, and nearly $44.5 million over the first two parts of this extraordinary auction, and we know the foundation will put these proceeds to great use amongst the charities they support," Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Todd Imhof said. "Our sale of Part II of the Bass Foundation's rare coins tonight delivered numerous world records and shows this bull market in the rare coin hobby continues." The Hansen team were successful in purchasing five coins realizing $2,304,000.
The best purchase for the Hansen Collection hands down was the 1798/7 Eagle, “Stars 7x6”, MS62, CAC, PCGS POP 2/1. This is the first Bass coin that the Hansen team chased above the $1 Million Dollar mark. It replaced a F15 PCGS coin purchased a few months before. Of course, the next coin and maybe of a greater significance to the Collection was the purchase of the POP 1/0, 1820 Half Eagle, “Curved 2, Small Letters”, graded MS64+ PCGS. This coin filled a big hole in the magnificent Hansen Early Half Eagle Set.
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III (May 4, 2023 in Dallas)
This press release from the third Bass Sale that was held the first week of May 2023: The 1829 half eagle was the top lot from The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III, from which proceeds will benefit dozens of Dallas-based nonprofits supported by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, with an emphasis on early childhood education and literacy in Dallas. Part III generated nearly $18.15 million and produced the event's top three results. The $2.88 million result for the 1829 half eagle — one of more than 30 records set in the event — more than doubled the previous mark of $1.38 million. This sale did not seem as spectacular as the first two. One reason maybe that it was held in Dallas rather than a show location. The Hansen team did not decide to set out on this sale and as result were successful in purchasing seven coins realizing $1,812,000.
This was a sale that resulted in filling a few holes in the proof sets (5 coins) and upgrading two coins. The Hansen team brought home three PCGS POP 1/0 specimens from this sale. Several of these coins are super rare, but did not garnish any headlines. In Heritage Auctions May 8, 2023 Press release, there were no mention of any of the coins that Dell Loy Hansen purchased.
Summary
In the first three sales, the combine coins offered was 329 lots. Mr. Hansen and the DLRC team purchased 20 lots (coins) or 6.08%. The two sales have realized approx. $62.65 Million Dollars. The Hansen purchases have totaled $6,535,200 or 10.4%. In an interesting fact, this trend has held true during the first three sales. Is this by chance or plan? The average Bass (lot) coin has realized $190,425. The average coin that the Hansen team purchased realized $326,769. As you can see, the Hansen purchases have been more on the high end of the Bass coins offered.
Once again, the Hansen team did not acquire a million dollar coin. So far in the first three sales, they have acquired only one coin breaking that barrier, the 1798/7 Eagle, “Stars 7x6”, MS62, CAC, purchased in Sale Part 2. The top prize ($2,880,000) in the third sale was the 1829 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, PR66+, Large Dia. This coin has two known specimens, and the other one is in the D.L. Hansen Collection. The second coin $1,740,000 was the 1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, this coin certainly would have been impressive in the Hansen Collection. The Top Hansen coin purchased in the sale was the 1859 Eagle, DCAM. It realized the seventh spot in the Bass sale closing at $456,000.
This completes the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction of Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection hosted by Heritage Auctions. If the schedule stays true, the fourth and last, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part IV US Coins Signature Auction will be held in Pittsburgh on August 10, 2023. Looking ahead, there are a few coins that could be interesting to Mr. Hansen. Up to this point, he has been a strong player in the sale of this historic collection. Will we watch to see that remains true for one more sale.
1858 Three Dollar, PR65 Cameo PCGS, Ex: Kosoff / Bass
About 20 Proofs Struck, Tied for Second Finest Known
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: proofs are known and are very rare with probably no more than nine or ten pieces still in existence. In the Heritage Auctions listing, the category identified 13 specimens. CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of eight which at first glance appear low. The survival for GEM (65 or Better) is only two. In the Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency, he identifies five GEMs, three PCGS, one NGC and one uncertified.
Starting with the PR65+DCAM, Ex: Ed Trompeter Collection which is considered to be CC#1 and finest known. Following league leader is a nice pair of PR65 Cameo PCGS, which both recently appeared in auction. The Tom Bender specimen sold from the Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3673. Just a couple months later, D.L. Hansen picked up his GEM specimen in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection sale held by Heritage in May 2023. The next on the roster is Henry Miller’s PR65 Cameo NGC and finally, the Seneca Gem Proof Uncertified which appeared in a Heritage, 5/1984) sale.
Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency
1. PR65+ Cameo PCGS CAC. Ed Trompeter Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 100, $25,300; La Jolla Lady's Collection (Heritage, 10/2014), lot 4984, $94,000; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2015), lot 4265, $91,063; CSNS Signature (Heritage, 4/2016), lot 4771, $94,000.
2. PR65 Cameo PCGS. Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4010). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 Cameo PCGS. Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3673.
4. PR65 Cameo NGC. Henry Miller Collection (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5062, $69,000; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2013), lot 4494, $85,188.
5. Gem Proof Uncertified. Seneca Sale (Heritage, 5/1984), lot 104; September Sale (Stack's, 9/2003), lot 852, $37,375.
6. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per John Dannreuther). Mint Cabinet (obtained in the year of issue); National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
7. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Prior provenance unknown.
8. PR64 PCGS. Bender Family Collection. (Heritage, 12/2022), lot 3600, $72,000.
9. PR64 PCGS. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 1293; William H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1146, $47; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 282, $15,400; James D. Brilliant and William R. Sieck Collections (Bowers and Merena, 1/1992), lot 1669, $17,600; ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/1997), lot 7584, $31,625.
10. Brilliant Proof Uncertified. T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection -- Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 396, $14,000.
11. Proof Uncertified. Boston Museum of Fine Arts Collection (Stack's, 8/1976), lot 2886; Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 10/1993), lot 967, $24,750.
12. Proof Uncertified. J. Colvin Randall, purchased directly from the U.S. Mint in 1858 at face value; J.P. Morgan Collection, donated in 1908; American Numismatic Society (accession #1908.93.477).
13. Proof Details, Altered Surfaces NCS. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 7/2005), lot 2530, $12,075; In its 2005 appearance, this coin was described as, "Likely from Lester Merkin's Auction, November 1965, Lot 322 (not plated), also possibly Kreisberg-Schulman's Auction, April 1959, Lot 2636."
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin rarity: Writing in their 2005 series reference, Bowers and Winter describe the 1858 as "the rarest three-dollar gold piece of the 1850s." Just 2,133 circulation strikes were manufactured, plus an estimated 20 proofs (no official records exist). Examples of the former are scarce in any grade and rare in Mint State, while just eight to 10 proofs are believed to exist, according to John Dannreuther. Our roster suggests a surviving population of 13 proofs. However, at least two of them are permanently impounded in institutional collections and another is Details-graded with altered surfaces. At the upper end of the spectrum are a handful of Gem Cameo coins, including the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection example.
The Heritage cataloger offered a historic description: This PR65 Cameo representative, which sits second among the finest 1858 three dollar proofs known, has been off the market since at least 1973, when Abe Kosoff sold it to Harry Bass. In the Bass Museum Sylloge, Dave Bowers described it as a "Gorgeous cameo Proof. Exceptionally bright yellow-gold surface. Deeply mirrored fields both sides." Those words, written two decades ago, still hold true. Contrast and eye appeal are terrific, matching the excellent preservation.
Today, we are completing the review of the proof coins acquired in the Harry Bass Sale, Part 3. The Hansen team made a great showing. Let’s keep eye on the upcoming final Harry Bass sale in August.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4010), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4519, realized $90,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1858 Three Dollar, PR65 Cameo PCGS PCGS POP 2/1, #2CC on Ron Guth roster Certification #46094725, PCGS #88021 PCGS Price Guide $120,000 / Realized $90,000 Ex: Kosoff / Bass
The headline in Coin World said: "Garrett bidders pull no punches" while the subhead read "Simply no superlatives adequate." That was certainly the case when Bowers & Ruddy Galleries auctioned the Garrett family collection in four dynamic and diverse parts (1979-81). T. Harrison Garrett and his sons John Work Garrett and Robert Garrett formed this outstanding collection. It was given to Johns Hopkins University in 1942 and sold nearly four decades later. - PCGS Hall of Fame (2002)
The PCGS registry list 267 sets in the world class Garrett Collection. It has been more than four decades ago when the mega collection was offered to the public. The Garrett family assembled one of the finest pre-certification era collection of proof gold. The Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) was a marvel, although a few pieces short of being complete. Actually, the only listed proof set is in the Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection with the Louis Eliasberg, Harry W. Bass, and Garrett Family Collection coming up just a little short. The Dell Loy Hansen Collection is now in the latter mix.
I wrote in a Harry Bass sale update a couple months ago: A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “tremendous collection that has rarely been completed”. It appears from the PCGS Registry, no collector has completed this set in the history of the registry. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. Were there others? According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. Surely, this set has been completed in private hands at some point since the series ended more than 115 years ago. Then maybe not. We may be watching Dell Loy Hansen in the middle of a history making attempt.
By adding this coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 85.71% complete. This implies the set is missing seven coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weight of 66.17. This registry certified set has a considerable higher overall grade than the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set.
As stated earlier, there are still seven coins missing. Probably the most difficult coin remaining is the 1859 half eagle proof. Now, let’s look at the purchase from the July Scotsman sale. This was a difficult coin that certainly does not appear often in auctions.
1872 Half Eagle, PR65 Cameo PCGS, Ex: Ohringer Family Trust
Prior to the July Scotsman sale, the last 1872 Liberty Half Eagle sold in action was January 2016 FUN US Coins Signature Auction in Tampa, FL. The Ex: Eliasberg-Trompeter PR63 Cameo was described by the cataloger as only 30 proof Liberty half eagles were struck in 1872, a modest mintage in absolute terms, but fairly generous in the context of the series. It is doubtful if more than half that number survive today in all grades, including several pieces in impaired condition and at least three in institutional holdings. This coin claims an illustrious pedigree going back to the 19th century, with famous owners including Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. and Ed Trompeter.
The only PR65 GEM to ever appear in auction was in Ira & Larry Goldberg Auction (May-2008). The coin was the Ex: Ohringer Family Trust Holdings, PCGS graded Proof 65, Cert #4882870. The certification number is not active. The cataloger described the coins as: Lovely rich golden toning. Only 30 pieces struck. Extreme rarity is the order of the day with a Proof 1872 half eagle. Whether a business strike or a Proof, in fact, the extraordinary rarity lies at this coin's doorstep! As few as 12 to 15 Proofs are all that remain in all grades, many of them not so nice. Over the decades we have only handled a couple of other specimens. To give a comparison, the famed Eliasberg-Trompeter Proof 1872 graded a 63! This is one of the finest Proofs in existence and tied for top honors in the PCGS roster. The fields have an infinite depth in their mirrors, reflectivity whose gleam switches back and forth when the coin is tilted under a strong light. The germane feature of the devices, of course, is their razor-sharpness. There are no detracting blemishes, just a few scattered hairlines requiring magnification. Pop 3; none finer at PCGS.
By a couple indicators, I believe the Ohringer Family Trust Holdings coin and the new Hansen coin is the same. There were three PCGS graded PR65 in 2008. Currently PCGS has three PR65, with one still straight graded, one Cameo, and one Deep Cameo.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 14-18 in all grades with only six that has been certified by PCGS. There three GEMS that was mentioned above, the Eliasberg-Trompeter PR63 Cameo with a second PR63CAM and one PR64CAM. There sixth coin is PR64 straight grade. The finest of the six PCGS coins, the unique DCAM, graded PR65. The owner and whereabouts of this coin is unknown.
The Hansen coin appeared in The Midwest Summer Sale hosted by from Scotsman Coin and Jewelry Inc. The sale closed Friday, July 28, 2023. It realized $115,250 (Hammer). With an 18% fee, this would place the coin realizing $135,995. It appears this coin was purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins for their client Dell Loy Hansen.
The Scotsman cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The single finest known example in proof cameo format at PCGS. A sensational proof half-eagle, as one of only thirty struck, it is no wonder that this likely is the finest existing cameo example. A case can be made that reflectivity slightly exceeds expectations of the designation, but the cataloger has verified the depth of the mirrors will not permit upgrade in that regard. That said, one scrutinizes the surface carefully and wonders why the numeric grade could not be a little higher as no abrasions of any kind, and only light, trivial hairlines flutter here and there under a lamp. In the rim area just right of the thirteenth star, a delicate die defect can be seen, and it affirms proof format.
This update is first Hansen update since the May 27 which was the last update from Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3. A three-month dry period is a long time for the Hansen Team. Will we see if this accusation starts the upgrades to gear back up? Let’s watch and see what happens next.
Provenance: Ohringer Family Trust (Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers as PR65 PCGS, Cert #04882870, 5/2008), lot #4438, realized $63,250; The First Through Last Collection / The Midwest Summer Sale (Scotsman Auctions, 7/2023), Lot #342, realized $135,995 (Auction Record), Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (8/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection..
1872 Half Eagle, PR65 Cameo PCGS, Ex: Ohringer Family Trust
This update is first Hansen update since the May 27 which was the last update from Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3. A three-month dry period is a long time for the Hansen Team. Will we see if this accusation starts the upgrades to gear back up? Let’s watch and see what happens next.
I'll throw in 2 asides here regarding the purchase of the 1872 Proof $5.
1. I was teaching at Witter Coin U the night of this auction and Max Brand (an actively dealing YN) and I were perusing some internet auctions and I saw this coin. It wasn't a sale that we had pinpointed due to the busy summer schedule, but I immediately recognized it as a date that we didn't have in the set. So I placed a few bids in the auction (I LOVE the $25k credit card allowances for SkyMiles purposes that Scotsman allows), and I didn't find out until 2am that we had won the coin. So, that was pretty exciting. I hadn't arranged the bidding with Mr. Hansen on this particular coin but I mentioned it to him once I got it in-hand and I knew that DLRC wasn't going to have the opportunity to sell the coin. It was just too nice and Mr. Hansen gobbled it up.
There has been a lack of major updates, but the modern improvements and the additions of 2022 modern issues don't often make the news! But, we haven't been ignoring the collection. Unfortunately there just haven't been many major issues as far as upgrades or holes to fill that have been popping up in major auctions. Until tonight of course...
John Brush President of David Lawrence Rare Coins www.davidlawrence.com email: John@davidlawrence.com 2022 ANA Dealer of the Year, Past Chair of NCBA (formerly ICTA), PNG Treasurer, Instructor at Witter Coin University, former Instructor/YN Chaperone ANA Summer Seminar, Coin World Most Influential, Curator of the D.L. Hansen Collection
John Brush President of David Lawrence Rare Coins www.davidlawrence.com email: John@davidlawrence.com 2022 ANA Dealer of the Year, Past Chair of NCBA (formerly ICTA), PNG Treasurer, Instructor at Witter Coin University, former Instructor/YN Chaperone ANA Summer Seminar, Coin World Most Influential, Curator of the D.L. Hansen Collection
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 4 (21 of 24)
The Last Pre-Civil War Three Dollar Gold Proof (1854-1860)
The Three Dollar Gold Proof Basis set is a run of 36 coins without any major type changes. When I organized this series, I think of three distinct runs. First the difficult pre-civil war run from 1854 to 1860 that contains seven coins. The second run is the shorter civil war era from 1861 to 1865 requiring only five coins, but equal as difficult. The series is completed with the 24 coins from post-civil war years (1866 to 1889). The Hansen Team completed the civil war run with the purchase of the Bob Simpson 1861 $3, PR65CAM that sold in the Heritage 2022 ANA Sale. If you recall, it took almost six months before the registry set was updated.
The Hansen seven-piece pre-civil war Three Dollar Gold Proofs are beyond words. In the 2023 sales of the Tom Bender and Harry Bass Collections, the Hansen Team purchased three of these rare coins from each collection, adding or replacing six of the seven coins. This occurred between January and August of 2023. Let’s take a look starting with the 1854.
1854 – Ex: Bender Collection, purchased January 2023 in Heritage Fun Sale, realizing $108,000.
1855 - Ex: Harry W. Bass, purchased May 2023 in Heritage CSNS Sale, realizing $312,000.
1856 - Ex: Bender Collection, purchased January 2023 in Heritage FUN Sale, realizing $408,000.
1857 - Ex: Harry W. Bass, purchased August 2023 in Heritage ANA Sale, realizing $192,000.
1858 - Ex: Harry W. Bass, purchased May 2023 in Heritage CSNS Sale, realizing $90,000.
1859 - Ex: Bender Collection, purchased January 2023 in Heritage FUN Sale, realizing $192,000.
1860 – Purchased from David Lawrence Rare Coin in approx. 2019, PCGS current value $95,000.00.
1857 Three Dollar Proof, PR64 Deep Cameo, Ex: Kosoff / Bass
Rare Early Proof, Only Five Examples Traced
In the Heritage Auction listing of the Bass Sale, the cataloger described the coins as: The Philadelphia Mint struck a small number of proof three-dollar gold pieces in 1857, but no mintage figures were recorded. John Dannreuther estimates approximately 12 proofs were struck, making the issue a great rarity today. PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 6-8 examples in all grades, while Dannreuther offers a more conservative estimate of only 5-6 specimens extant. Ron Guth has traced only five coins in our roster below, with one of those in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
Let’s start with the PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Louis E. Eliasberg specimen which is considered to be CC#1 and finest known by two points. Following this finest known leader is a nice pair of PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS, which both recently appeared in auction. The Tom Bender specimen sold from the Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3673. The Bender specimen realized $144,000. Six months later, D.L. Hansen picked up his superb choice specimen in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection sale held by Heritage in August 2023. If you snooze you lose, Hansen had to pay almost $50K more for this PR64DCAM. The next coin in the roster is a third PR64 Deep Cameo which is uncertified certified and located National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. The fifth and last specimen is a PR64 PCGS from the King of Siam Proof Set.
A Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency
1. PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS. - George F. Seavey Collection (William H. Strobridge, who sold the Seavey Collection intact to Lorin G. Parmelee before the auction took place, 6/1873); Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 1280; William Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1144; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 280, $20,900; Auction '84 (Paramount, 7/1984), lot 882, $24,750; A Connoisseur's Collection (Superior, 1/1989), lot 339, $29,700; Jascha Heifetz Collection (Superior, 10/1989), lot 4243, $49,500; Auction '90 (Superior, 8/1990), lot 1295, $52,800; Dennis Mendelson Collection (Superior, 2/1991), lot 2728; Chicago Sale (Superior, 8/1991), lot 689, not sold; Century Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 2598, not sold; Dr. Jack Adams Collection (Superior, 5/1992), lot 2663, not sold; January/February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1331; King of Siam Proof Set (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1331, $28,600; New Orleans Collection (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5285, $141,000.
2. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 8/3/1971; Harry W. Bass, Jr., Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC# 4008). Heritage 8/2023), lot 9015, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (8/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
3. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. - T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert and John Work Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett, circa 1919; Johns Hopkins University, by bequest in 1942; Garrett Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 395; Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981), lot 394, $30,000; Dennis Mendelson Collection (Superior, 2/1991), lot 2729, $35,200; Michael Keston Collection (Superior, 1/1996), lot 44, $30,250; Dr. Richard Ariagno Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 5/1999), lot 698, $37,400; Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 6/2000), lot 1240, $26,450; Pittsburgh Elite (Superior, 8/2004), lot 969, $43,125; [Tom] Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3672, $144,000.
4. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). - National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution (ID #1985.0441.0537).
5. PR64 PCGS. - F.C.C. Boyd Collection / "World's Greatest Collection" (Numismatic Gallery, 1/1946), lot 272, $95; Grant Pierce & Sons Collection (Stack's, 5/1965), lot 1242, $2,600; Charles Jay Collection (Stack's, 10/1967), lot 275, $2,400; Theodore Ullmer Collection (Stack's, 5/1974), lot 411, $21,000; Central States Sale (RARCOA, 5/1977), lot 394, $9,500; Auction '82 (Superior, 8/1982), lot 1368, $12,000; Dr. Jerry Buss Collection (Superior, 1/1985), lot 1750, $18,000; Ed Trompeter Collection, Part I (Superior, 2/1992), lot 99, $22,000; King of Siam Proof Set (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1330, $24,200
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin die rarity: A single die pair was used to strike the proofs. The obverse die had been used to strike proofs the year before, and the die is in the same state seen on the later strikes from 1856. This was the only use of the reverse die. The date is positioned further to the right on the proof reverse than on the business-strike die, making it possible to distinguish between proofs and prooflike circulation strikes.
The Heritage cataloger offered this description: The present coin is a spectacular Choice proof, with razor-sharp definition on all design elements. The well-preserved yellow-gold surfaces include deeply mirrored fields that contrast profoundly with the frosty devices to produce a stunning Deep Cameo effect. Overall eye appeal is outstanding. This coin has been off the market for more than 50 years as part of the prestigious Harry Bass Core Collection and was exhibited at the Edward R. Rochette Money Museum at ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs until 2022. With only four examples in private hands, it is unlikely that another proof 1857 three-dollar gold piece will become available any time soon. The discerning collector should bid accordingly.
This coin represents a great start with the Hansen purchases in the Harry W. Bass, Jr., Harry Bass Core Collection, Part IV sale. Keep watching for another update.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 8/3/1971; Harry W. Bass, Jr., Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC# 4008), (Heritage 8/2023), lot 9015, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (8/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1857 Three Dollar Proof, PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS POP 2/1, CAC Approved Certification #46094723, PCGS #98020 PCGS Price Guide Unknown / Realized $192,000 Ex: Kosoff / Bass
Hansen took down his "2nd" seated quarter set from the registry - good. It's not really cool to use the registry as an inventory list for your duplicates. That isn't the spirit of the registry sets.
@Manifest_Destiny Hansen removed numerous coins from his Late Date Large Cents with Major Varieties 2nd and 3rd sets....it was ridiculous that he used the Registry for inventory management. I am happy to say I have cracked the top 10....number 10 in that set. It has been a long term goal of mine and Hansen was clogging up the rankings. How long this will last only Hansen knows.
@RLSnapper said: @Manifest_Destiny Hansen removed numerous coins from his Late Date Large Cents with Major Varieties 2nd and 3rd sets....it was ridiculous that he used the Registry for inventory management. I am happy to say I have cracked the top 10....number 10 in that set. It has been a long term goal of mine and Hansen was clogging up the rankings. How long this will last only Hansen knows.
Hi Mitch,
Glad to hear from you. I have not posted anything from August. I do have a couple postings started to warp up the Bass purchases . They will make up great updates when I do post. I am not sure what is going on with Dell Loy’s Collection. He has liquidated or in process of liquidating about 2000-2500 coins by my calculation. A few are top set coins. Up to late 2023, he would not sell a coin and leave a hole. This does not appear to be the case currently. In some cases, it appear he may have a replacement specimen in another set. So, set management in the PCGS registry is a work in progress. It really makes the status of the sets hard to track by an outsider. There appear a change is strategy, but I am not aware of what that is. I will have to say that after tracking this Collection for many years, 2023 was a strange year. Now, 2024 appear to have a rocky start.
@Currin said:
Hi Mitch,
Glad to hear from you. I have not posted anything from August. I do have a couple postings started to warp up the Bass purchases . They will make up great updates when I do post. I am not sure what is going on with Dell Loy’s Collection. He has liquidated or in process of liquidating about 2000-2500 coins by my calculation. A few are top set coins. Up to late 2023, he would not sell a coin and leave a hole. This does not appear to be the case currently. In some cases, it appear he may have a replacement specimen in another set. So, set management in the PCGS registry is a work in progress. It really makes the status of the sets hard to track by an outsider. There appear a change is strategy, but I am not aware of what that is. I will have to say that after tracking this Collection for many years, 2023 was a strange year. Now, 2024 appear to have a rocky start.
Only speculation on my part, but that’s a huge change in a short period of time, and the only other big change in the coin market is CACG. Since DLH often has multiple sets in the PCGS Registry could they be strategically crossing coins in a master plan to dominate both the PCGS Registry and upcoming CACG Registry?
@Currin said: Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (15 of 20)
Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
While not as rare as the pre-1859 issues, the $5 Liberty Proofs of 1859-1907 still make a tremendous collection that has rarely been completed. The classic issue of 1875 is the #1 rarity of the set, or, as some argue, maybe it isn't, and we need to look more closely at the 1860 or 1861 as the ultimate coins. Either way, this will make you as famous as a numismatist can be when you finish it, so let’s get started! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “tremendous collection that has rarely been completed”. It appear from the PCGS Registry, no collector has attempted this set in the history of the registry. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. Were there others? According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. Surely, this set has been completed in private hands at some point since the series ended more than 115 years ago. Then maybe not. We may be watching Dell Loy Hansen in the middle of a history making attempt.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 83.67% complete. This implies the set is missing eight coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.18. This smokes the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set. What does it takes to create a set of this exceptional grade? Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
6 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1867, PR66CAM PCGS, Finest Known
3 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1898, PR68DCAM PCGS, POP 3/0
5 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting an extraordinary 1863, PR65DCAM PCGS, POP 2/1
19 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top 5, highlighting a remarkable 1864 PR65DCAM PCGS, POP 2/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 41 coins with above 33 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 80.5% top five. The set still have seven coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1881, PR61CAM PCGS, POP 1/8. The Highest POP in the set is the 1901, PR63+ CAM PCGS, POP 1/31. The focus may be on acquiring the missing eight coins rather than upgrading the seven non - condition census specimens.
The Civil War Half Eagle Proofs makes for special set of gold coins. With this upgrade, the 5-piece half eagle gold set is complete. The five coins are masterpieces. They alone carries a PCGS price guide value of $935,000.
As stated earlier, there are still eight coins missing. Probably the most difficult coin remaining is the 1859 half eagle proof. David Akers wrote decades ago: Possibly as many as seven or eight proofs are known including two superb gems in the Royal London Mint Collection that have not been generally accounted for. According to Ron Guth in a more recent comment: Approximately a dozen Proof 1859 Half Eagles are known, suggesting that the reported mintage of 80 examples is far too high (it might be appropriate for silver coins, but certainly not for the gold). Most of the known survivors are Cameo or Deep Cameo; it may be that no non-Cameos exist. Three of the known examples are locked up in institutional collections, including those of the Smithsonian, the American Numismatic Society, and the Royal Mint (London) Collection. The record price for this issue was set in 2015 with the sale of the Eliasberg-Trompeter for $164,500.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate at 8-10 with only four PCGS certified. First is a PR63CAM and two GEM, a PR65CAM and a PR65+CAM. The fourth coin an impaired PR58. There are four notable auctions in the past 40 years. Not listed here is the Ed Trompeter specimen that Heritage, sold privately in 2015 for $164,500. The coin is considered the finest, with PR65DCAM estimated grade. Will we see one of these coins in auction anytime soon? If so, I believe the Hansen Team would be in the game.
1859 Half Eagle Gold Auctions
1863 Half Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr.
Beautifully Preserved and Contrasted, Ex: Ely-Garrett, The Second Finest Example Known
Ron Guth wrote a few years ago for CoinFacts: This date has so much going for it. The mintage is super low (30 Proofs, with fewer than that known). It's a great date from deep in the Civil War. Plus, Proofs from thus year are usually well-made, often with great Cameos. It is highly likely that all Proof 1863 Half Eagles are Cameos. However, the existence of non-Cameo Proofs in the PCGS Population Report seems confusing. In the early days, PCGS did not recognize Cameos and Deep Cameos on gold coins and were the coins resubmitted today, the numbers in the population report would shift towards the Cameos and Deep Cameos. The finest example is a PCGS PR65+DCAM that currently resides in the Simpson Collection.
In the 2022 Heritage sale of “Important Selections from the Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII”, the finest coin realized $252,000. The coin was at one time in a NGC holder graded PR66★ Deep Cameo. Did the coin actually sale for $252,000? I assume it did although the registry states: This coin is currently in the Set Registry inventory of Simpson and is featured in one or more sets, including Simpson. Anything is possible I supposed.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 18 in all grades with five coins grading GEM PR65 or better. PCGS shows nine grading events with one specimen having the Cameo designation and five Deep Cameo. As of today, PCGS finest graded coin is a PR65+DCAM from Bob R. Simpson Collection. Ron Guth (Numismatic Detective Agency) compiled a roster of significant examples. He showed the Hansen/Bass specimen as #2 CC.
1. PR65+ Deep Cameo CAC PCGS. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2010), lot 2193; Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII (Heritage, 5/2022), lot 3607, $252,000. Bob R. Simpson Collection according to PCGS Registry
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. Heman Ely Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately, 10/1883); T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 406; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1024). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 Cameo NGC. Ed Trompeter Collection, sold privately to Heritage Auctions and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2015), lot 4353, $99,875.
4. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. Farish (William Gustav "Bill") Baldenhofer Collection (Stack's, 11/1955), lot 1331; Dallas Signature (Heritage, 11/2005), lot 2421, $69,000.
5. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. Charles T. Steigerwalt, sold privately in 1895; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 506, $13,200; Westchester Collection (Bowers and Merena, 2/1987), lot 2824; March Rarities Night (Stack's Bowers, 3/2021), lot 4152, $102,000.
6. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, acquired in the year of issue as part of a complete proof set.
7. PR64 PCGS. Walter H. Childs Collection (Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 730, $43,700.
8. PR64 Uncertified. King Farouk (of Egypt) Collection (Sotheby's, 2/1954); Norweb Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 872, $19,800.
9. Proof Uncertified. Byron Reed Collection; Durham Western Heritage Museum (Spink America, 10/1996), lot 139, $52,800.
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The proof 1863 half eagle is much rarer than is sometimes realized. Of the mere 30 pieces struck, less than half survive. Recent estimates suggest that only 12 to 14 pieces are known in all grades. Ron Guth's roster of significant examples numbers only nine pieces. The finest of these is the Simpson specimen, which we offered in May 2022 as part of the seventh installment of Bob Simpson's incredible collection. The coin was graded PR65+ Deep Cameo CAC, and realized $252,000, an auction record for the issue.
The Heritage cataloger discussed the provenance: The Bass Core Collection coin has a much older pedigree, and is one of the most famous proof 1863 half eagles known. It is the exceptional Garrett specimen, formerly among the holdings of Heman Ely. T. Harrison Garrett acquired the piece in late 1883 in a private purchase through W. Elliot Woodward, and it remained in that family's curatorship for nearly a century. To our knowledge, this is only the second time in the history of its existence that the Ely-Garrett-Bass proof 1863 half eagle has appeared at public auction.
The new Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: The coin is beautifully preserved and starkly contrasted, with exceptional sharpness and rich honey-gold color. A loupe fails to reveal any but the most minute hairlines, while contact marks or blemishes are essentially nonexistent. This is a high Condition Census example of the proof 1863 five and a remarkable representation of the quality, history, and significance of the coins that comprise the Bass Core Collection.
This update starts a series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. This is the Part Three of a projected four part sale of the Harry Bass Core Collection. This was the only half eagle that Dell Loy Hansen purchased in the sale. Although, stay tune for more gold proofs in future updates.
Provenance: Heman Ely Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately, 10/1883); T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 406; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1024), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4570, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1863 Half Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS PCGS POP 2/1 Certification #46094658, PCGS #98453 PCGS Price Guide $210,000 / Realized $192,000 Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr.
‘’Since DLH often has multiple sets in the PCGS Registry could they be strategically crossing coins in a master plan to dominate both the PCGS Registry and upcoming CACG Registry?’’
I highly doubt it, unless the CAC Registry was going to be intended to be nothing more than a “light version” of the PCGS Registry - which I also equally doubt. But, the real answer I’m sure is very simple - Mr. Hansen who has participated in 90 long pages of this thread, just needs to let us all know what is going on. Especially if he needs significant time to remove coins from the PCGS registry that are already removed from PCGS holders. I would do the same; it’s just fair play.
2023 was “strange” and 2024 has a “rocky” beginning. Why?
Wondercoin
Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
I did find a John Brush blog posted on the 15th on DLRC. It does add a little additional clarity on the collection:
Life on the road continued this week with a jaunt to Salt Lake City, Utah. I had the privilege of sorting multiple sets of coins and finalizing the primary sets in the D.L. Hansen Collection. We’ve sold quite a few triplicate issues in the past and many upgrades have been made over the past few years, so a regular visit was necessary to sort out the best of the best. This was a thrilling, yet daunting, project as some of the duplicates are incredibly stellar. It makes it hard to say, “This coin just isn’t as nice as the higher grade one...” In some cases, I saw the duplicate before I even knew that it wasn’t the coin in the primary set - That’s when an audible “wow” would eject from my mouth.
Sometimes the enormity of what we’re working on with this collection is difficult to understand. I had the privilege of giving a brief explanation of the collection and the concept of collecting one of EVERY regular issue US coin from 1792-present to a small group of people. After my presentation, there were a few audible comments that really made me think. While the Smithsonian has a similar collection, the quality is nowhere near the quality of this collection. One of the little-known facts is that over 40% of the coins in the primary D.L. Hansen Collection are either the finest known or tied for the finest graded at PCGS!
So, while the quantity of coins in the collection is daunting, when you dig deeper it is even more fascinating to comprehend numismatically. Suffice it to say, sorting through a complete set of $5 Gold Liberty Half Eagles and an almost complete set of duplicates is mind-blowing. Of course, there’s more work to do here in the future, but three full days of organizing the greatest collection of US coins ever assembled is an incredible honor (and a lot of fun!). John Brush
Great write up but does not offer where the Collection will be going from here. From by observation, they have paused the upgrading of the top sets and gold proof additions. I did find one gold dollar upgrade, but the last real upgrades to mention was from the Harry Bass sale. Is it over, or are we just seeing a calm before the storm.
Mitch, I have saved you question for a later response.
DLRC is selling all kinds of 2nd set Hansen coins right now.
Pretty amazing!
I managed to pick up a couple saints & am bidding on a third one now.
It's been a 5 year wait for the one I really wanted but I finally got it.
@ReadyFireAim said:
DLRC is selling all kinds of 2nd set Hansen coins right now.
Pretty amazing!
I managed to pick up a couple saints & am bidding on a third one now.
It's been a 5 year wait for the one I really wanted but I finally got it.
Thanks for posting! It’s great to see what @DLHansen is selling as well.
It's very cool that he is showcased on their The Red Carpet Rarities Auction:
Comments
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (15 of 20)
Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
While not as rare as the pre-1859 issues, the $5 Liberty Proofs of 1859-1907 still make a tremendous collection that has rarely been completed. The classic issue of 1875 is the #1 rarity of the set, or, as some argue, maybe it isn't, and we need to look more closely at the 1860 or 1861 as the ultimate coins. Either way, this will make you as famous as a numismatist can be when you finish it, so let’s get started! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “tremendous collection that has rarely been completed”. It appear from the PCGS Registry, no collector has attempted this set in the history of the registry. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. Were there others? According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. Surely, this set has been completed in private hands at some point since the series ended more than 115 years ago. Then maybe not. We may be watching Dell Loy Hansen in the middle of a history making attempt.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 83.67% complete. This implies the set is missing eight coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.18. This smokes the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set. What does it takes to create a set of this exceptional grade? Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
6 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1867, PR66CAM PCGS, Finest Known
3 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1898, PR68DCAM PCGS, POP 3/0
5 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting an extraordinary 1863, PR65DCAM PCGS, POP 2/1
19 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top 5, highlighting a remarkable 1864 PR65DCAM PCGS, POP 2/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 41 coins with above 33 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 80.5% top five. The set still have seven coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1881, PR61CAM PCGS, POP 1/8. The Highest POP in the set is the 1901, PR63+ CAM PCGS, POP 1/31. The focus may be on acquiring the missing eight coins rather than upgrading the seven non - condition census specimens.
The Civil War Half Eagle Proofs makes for special set of gold coins. With this upgrade, the 5-piece half eagle gold set is complete. The five coins are masterpieces. They alone carries a PCGS price guide value of $935,000.
As stated earlier, there are still eight coins missing. Probably the most difficult coin remaining is the 1859 half eagle proof. David Akers wrote decades ago: Possibly as many as seven or eight proofs are known including two superb gems in the Royal London Mint Collection that have not been generally accounted for. According to Ron Guth in a more recent comment: Approximately a dozen Proof 1859 Half Eagles are known, suggesting that the reported mintage of 80 examples is far too high (it might be appropriate for silver coins, but certainly not for the gold). Most of the known survivors are Cameo or Deep Cameo; it may be that no non-Cameos exist. Three of the known examples are locked up in institutional collections, including those of the Smithsonian, the American Numismatic Society, and the Royal Mint (London) Collection. The record price for this issue was set in 2015 with the sale of the Eliasberg-Trompeter for $164,500.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate at 8-10 with only four PCGS certified. First is a PR63CAM and two GEM, a PR65CAM and a PR65+CAM. The fourth coin an impaired PR58. There are four notable auctions in the past 40 years. Not listed here is the Ed Trompeter specimen that Heritage, sold privately in 2015 for $164,500. The coin is considered the finest, with PR65DCAM estimated grade. Will we see one of these coins in auction anytime soon? If so, I believe the Hansen Team would be in the game.
1859 Half Eagle Gold Auctions
1863 Half Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr.
Beautifully Preserved and Contrasted, Ex: Ely-Garrett, The Second Finest Example Known
Ron Guth wrote a few years ago for CoinFacts: This date has so much going for it. The mintage is super low (30 Proofs, with fewer than that known). It's a great date from deep in the Civil War. Plus, Proofs from thus year are usually well-made, often with great Cameos. It is highly likely that all Proof 1863 Half Eagles are Cameos. However, the existence of non-Cameo Proofs in the PCGS Population Report seems confusing. In the early days, PCGS did not recognize Cameos and Deep Cameos on gold coins and were the coins resubmitted today, the numbers in the population report would shift towards the Cameos and Deep Cameos. The finest example is a PCGS PR65+DCAM that currently resides in the Simpson Collection.
In the 2022 Heritage sale of “Important Selections from the Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII”, the finest coin realized $252,000. The coin was at one time in a NGC holder graded PR66★ Deep Cameo. Did the coin actually sale for $252,000? I assume it did although the registry states: This coin is currently in the Set Registry inventory of Simpson and is featured in one or more sets, including Simpson. Anything is possible I supposed.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 18 in all grades with five coins grading GEM PR65 or better. PCGS shows nine grading events with one specimen having the Cameo designation and five Deep Cameo. As of today, PCGS finest graded coin is a PR65+DCAM from Bob R. Simpson Collection. Ron Guth (Numismatic Detective Agency) compiled a roster of significant examples. He showed the Hansen/Bass specimen as #2 CC.
1. PR65+ Deep Cameo CAC PCGS. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2010), lot 2193; Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII (Heritage, 5/2022), lot 3607, $252,000. Bob R. Simpson Collection according to PCGS Registry
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. Heman Ely Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately, 10/1883); T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 406; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1024). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 Cameo NGC. Ed Trompeter Collection, sold privately to Heritage Auctions and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2015), lot 4353, $99,875.
4. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. Farish (William Gustav "Bill") Baldenhofer Collection (Stack's, 11/1955), lot 1331; Dallas Signature (Heritage, 11/2005), lot 2421, $69,000.
5. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. Charles T. Steigerwalt, sold privately in 1895; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 506, $13,200; Westchester Collection (Bowers and Merena, 2/1987), lot 2824; March Rarities Night (Stack's Bowers, 3/2021), lot 4152, $102,000.
6. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, acquired in the year of issue as part of a complete proof set.
7. PR64 PCGS. Walter H. Childs Collection (Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 730, $43,700.
8. PR64 Uncertified. King Farouk (of Egypt) Collection (Sotheby's, 2/1954); Norweb Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 872, $19,800.
9. Proof Uncertified. Byron Reed Collection; Durham Western Heritage Museum (Spink America, 10/1996), lot 139, $52,800.
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The proof 1863 half eagle is much rarer than is sometimes realized. Of the mere 30 pieces struck, less than half survive. Recent estimates suggest that only 12 to 14 pieces are known in all grades. Ron Guth's roster of significant examples numbers only nine pieces. The finest of these is the Simpson specimen, which we offered in May 2022 as part of the seventh installment of Bob Simpson's incredible collection. The coin was graded PR65+ Deep Cameo CAC, and realized $252,000, an auction record for the issue.
The Heritage cataloger discussed the provenance: The Bass Core Collection coin has a much older pedigree, and is one of the most famous proof 1863 half eagles known. It is the exceptional Garrett specimen, formerly among the holdings of Heman Ely. T. Harrison Garrett acquired the piece in late 1883 in a private purchase through W. Elliot Woodward, and it remained in that family's curatorship for nearly a century. To our knowledge, this is only the second time in the history of its existence that the Ely-Garrett-Bass proof 1863 half eagle has appeared at public auction.
The new Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: The coin is beautifully preserved and starkly contrasted, with exceptional sharpness and rich honey-gold color. A loupe fails to reveal any but the most minute hairlines, while contact marks or blemishes are essentially nonexistent. This is a high Condition Census example of the proof 1863 five and a remarkable representation of the quality, history, and significance of the coins that comprise the Bass Core Collection.
This update starts a series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. This is the Part Three of a projected four part sale of the Harry Bass Core Collection. This was the only half eagle that Dell Loy Hansen purchased in the sale. Although, stay tune for more gold proofs in future updates.
Provenance: Heman Ely Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately, 10/1883); T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 406; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1024), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4570, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1863 Half Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 2/1
Certification #46094658, PCGS #98453
PCGS Price Guide $210,000 / Realized $192,000
Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr.
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (16 of 20)
Liberty Head $10 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
The No Motto $10 gold pieces of 1859-65 and the With Motto pieces of 1866-1907 come together in this incredibly challenging and rewarding set of rarities. The highest mintage of any coin in the set is 120 pieces, so you know that you're in for some work (and some fun!) in the pursuit of completion. The recognized classic is the 1875, but there are other dates that are proving to be just as rare in the Proof format. Let’s start a set! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “incredibly challenging and rewarding set of rarities”. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. There is a current US Eagle Collection that gets a lot of justifiable attention. Eagles of The Tyrant Collection had several public appearances where the collection was described as: This exhibit contains over 300 eagles and has every circulation strike from 1795 to 1933 with all the branch mint coins also represented. There are Proofs of nearly every issue including the ultra- rare 1804, 1838, 1839, and 1857 issues, as well as both 1907 No Motto Indian Head Proofs and the unique Matte finish 1909. There are dozens of finest known examples of both circulation strikes and Proofs. The Tyrant Eagle Collection is a blend of PCGS and NGC certified coins. Dell Loy Hansen has a way to go to assemble his collection of PCGS proof eagles.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 61.22% complete. This implies the set is missing 19 coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 65.68. From GPA perspective, the Hansen and the Smithsonian set are very much on par. This Hansen group of gold coins are laying a solid foundation for an exceptional grade set. Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
4 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1865 PR66+ DCAM PCGS, Finest Known
2 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1899 PR67DCAM PCGS, POP 2/0
4 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting the extraordinary 1873 CL 3. PR65CAM PCGS, POP 1/1
8 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top Five, highlighting the remarkable 1875 PR63CAM PCGS, POP 1/4
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 30 coins with above 18 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 60% top five. The set still have 12 coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1889, PR60 PCGS, POP 1/6. The Highest POP in the set is the 1907 Liberty, PR63CAM PCGS, POP 3/33. As we saw with the half eagles, the focus may be on acquiring the missing 19 coins rather than upgrading the 12 non - condition census specimens.
For this 49-piece set, the “No Motto” production are years from 1859 to 1865. This includes all The Civil War Eagle Proofs. With this upgrade, the 7-piece eagle gold set is two coins way from being complete. There are two Civil War Eagles missing, the 1861 and 1863. The 1864 stands out as one of the 12 non-condition census coins in the 49-piece set. When completed, this will be an amazing subset of gold Liberty eagles. As this 7-piece set stands today with two coins missing, the current five coins carries a PCGS price guide value of $2,060,000.
As stated earlier, there are still 19 coins missing. Probably the most difficult coins remaining are the 1861 (4 certified PCGS), 1867 (4), 1870 (1), 1874 (3), 1877 (2), and 1878 (4). The 1870 may make for the most interesting date for a PCGS certified perspective. I not sure how to explain that in more than 35 years, only one 1870 is in a PCGS holder. In a 2022 sale of a PR65 NGC Cert #1950960-010 specimen, the cataloger wrote: The Philadelphia Mint struck a modest mintage of 35 proof Liberty eagles in 1870, to accompany a small business-strike production of 3,990 pieces. The coins were delivered in two batches: 25 examples on February 3, and 10 more on June 1. Although the proof mintage was actually slightly larger than in previous years, all experts agree that the 1870 issue is just as rare as the proofs of earlier dates. PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 10-12 examples in all grades, while John Dannreuther offers a slightly more conservative estimate of 8-10 specimens extant. PCGS and NGC have combined to certify just five examples between them (7/22), but even that small total may include some resubmissions and crossovers. The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution includes one example, and the collection of the American Numismatic Society includes another. The NGC coin realized a modest $108,000 (auction record) for a coin of this rarity. The Tyrant Collection contains an 1877 $10 Liberty, NGC Proof 64 Cameo, Cert # 2164728-001 that is an Ex: Kaufman and probably Ely.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of 14 with only one PCGS certified. The only 1870 Liberty Proof Eagle in the PCGS POP report is a straight grade PR64. There are some indications that this coin is from the Harry Bass Collection, but I have not been able to confirm. According to Heritage Auctions, the listed sale of a PCGS certified coin occurred in November 2000 when Bowers & Merena offered a PR64 PCGS in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. IV sale. The coin realized $31,050.
1870 Eagle Gold Auctions
1859 Ten Dollar, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Ten Eyck-Eliasberg
A Major No Motto Proof Rarity, Eight to 10 Pieces Known
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: Proofs are very rare but less so than preceding dates. As many as nine or ten proofs may exist including two virtually perfect specimens, previously unreported, that are in the Royal London Mint's Collection.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be eight in all grades with one grading GEM PR65 or better. PCGS POP reports two GEM proofs, a PR65CAM and PR65DCAM that in now in the Dell Loy Hansen Collection. There are two other PCGS graded specimens, a PR64 and a PR64CAM. This is a total of four PCGS certified that goes with a NGC total of five. The nine entries listed in the combine POP reports may be high, because the roster below contains only five certified examples.
Roster of 1859 Proof Eagles (Produced by Heritage Auctions for the 2023 Harry Bass Core Collection)
1. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. James Ten Eyck; Ten Eyck Sale, (B. Max Mehl, 5/1922), lot 289; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, via Stack's; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 708; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC-1029). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
2. PR65 Cameo PCGS. Professor John H. Alexander; presented as a gift to the Royal Mint Museum; Royal Mint Museum Sale (Morton & Eden, 3/20143), lot 611, realized £204,000 ($257,341.81). Eagles of The Tyrant Collection
3. PR64 Deep Cameo, per John Dannreuther. Mint Cabinet; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
4. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Professor John H. Alexander; presented as a gift to the Royal Mint Museum; Royal Mint Museum.
5. PR64 Cameo NGC. Brian Hendelson; Blanchard and Company; New Orleans Collection (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5213, unsold; bought by original NGC submitter for $851,875 (sold as part of set), according to John Dannreuther.
6. PR64 NGC. William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1437; Amon G. Carter, Sr.; Amon G. Carter, Jr.; Carter Estate; Amon G. Carter, Jr. Family Collection (Stack's, 1/1984), lot 760; Ed Trompeter; Trompeter Estate; private treaty transaction to Heritage and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; private treaty transaction to a Heritage customer.
7. PR63, per John Dannreuther. James T. Randall, sold privately to John Pittman for $150 (7/22/1949); John J. Pittman; Pittman Collection, Part I (David Akers, 10/1997), lot 834, sold as part of an 1859 proof set; Mark Yaffe.
8. Proof. Possibly directly from the Mint in 1859; J. Colvin Randall; Randall Estate (1901); J.P. Morgan (1902); Museum of Natural History, New York City (1902-1908); transferred per museum cartel on April 10, 1908 to ANS (J1908.93.326).
9. Proof. Belden E. Roach Collection (B. Max Mehl, 2/1944), lot 336; Jerome Kern Collection (B. Max Mehl, 5/1950), lot 507; Samuel M. Rapoport (B. Max Mehl, 6/1961), lot 2095; Samuel W. Wolfson Collection, Part I (Stack's, 10/1962), lot 675; Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen (6/1968), lot 1492; Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen (11/1968), lot 2187; Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen (6/1969), lot 1072; Auction '79 (RARCOA, 7/1979), lot 1304; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/1985), lot 2852.
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: Coin collecting in America experienced a massive surge in popularity beginning in 1858-59. New societies were formed, references were published, medals were struck, and auctions increased in frequency. The growth of numismatics was reflected in the proof offerings of the period. Production increased exponentially for proof silver coins in 1858 and then for proof gold coins in 1859, all of which could be had from the Mint at face value. That quickly changed in 1860, when a proofing fee of 13 cents was instituted. The Philadelphia Mint manufactured and distributed 80 proof eagles in 1859, up substantially from the five or so proof tens struck the year prior. One might reasonably expect the 1859 to be much more available than its predecessor as a result, but such is not the case. It seems that the vast majority of 1859 eagles ended up being spent and/or melted, probably during the many waves of economic hardship that hit during the second half of the 19th century. Writing in United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part II (2018), John Dannreuther estimates that only eight to 10 examples survive noting that "many of the 80 Proof eagles from this year likely were spent by their buyers."
The Heritage cataloger discussed the rarity of private ownership: Unsurprisingly, the 1859 Liberty ten dollar proof is a monumental rarity. Until now, there have been only five examples in private hands. Four were permanently housed in institutional collections, including the ANS, Smithsonian Institutional, the Royal Mint Museum, and the Bass Core Collection at the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
The lengthy provenance and condition of Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: This is the Bass coin, which was purchased out of the incredible Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of United States gold coins in 1982. It is the finest known example of the 1859 proof eagle with a pedigree going back to the James Ten Eyck sale of 1922, and it has been out of reach for the past four decades. Now certified PR65 Deep Cameo by PCGS and boasting a green CAC approval sticker, it features dramatic field-device contrast and rich orange-gold coloration. The faintest hints of coppery color are noted, attesting to the surface originality. Opportunities to obtain the 1859 proof eagle are even rarer than the coins themselves. The last two appearances, including this one, have represented institutional deaccessioning. Without any guarantee of another example appearing any time soon, and certainly none as fine, we strongly encourage interested parties to bid accordingly.
This update continues the series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. It appears the Hansen Team had an interest in adding a proof half eagle and proof eagle to the D.L. Hansen Collection from the Harry Bass Core Collection. We will see in the next posting if the pattern is continued with a Double Eagle.
Provenance: James Ten Eyck; Ten Eyck Sale, (B. Max Mehl, 5/1922), lot 289; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, via Stack's; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 708, realized $41,800; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 1029), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4581, realized $456,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1859 Ten Dollar Eagle, PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest by PCGS
Certification #46094663, PCGS #98795
PCGS Price Guide $475,000 / Realized $456,000
Ex: Ten Eyck / Eliasberg / Bass
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
That's both incredibly rare and incredibly beautiful!
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (17 of 20)
Liberty Head $20 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
Talk about rare! Any coin in this series is going to cost over $50,000 in Proof 65 condition, and that's not counting the ultra-rarities, if you can find them at any price. Both the 1883 and 1884 are "Proof-only" issues, meaning that no pieces were struck for circulation. The 1859 is a major rarity, with only one piece certified (and that's a lightly circulated Proof 55 coin). The incredible challenge in both time and money is more than offset by the reward. This set covers the pre-Civil War years of 1859-60 through much of the first decade of the 20th century. History, rarity, beauty, value...it's all here! - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “History, rarity, beauty, value...it's all here!”. As we saw with the Liberty Eagle Proofs, the registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. In the Heritage listing, a mention was made to John Dannreuther 2018 reference, United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part II were states: …. part of the Kaufman collection and later ended up in the Ed Trompeter collection, an eclectic gold collector from the late twentieth century, who completed the Proof gold set from 1859 to 1915. If Trompeter is credited with completing all the post 1858 gold proofs, then certainly he has a complete set of Liberty Double Eagles. Only time will tell if Dell Loy Hansen has the time and opportunity to assemble another complete set of Double Eagles in his collection in the early twentieth-first century.
By adding the Bass coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 63.27% complete. This implies the set is missing 18 coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.28. As with the half eagle proofs, the Hansen set that is in development is much finer in grade than the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set. Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for creating this exceptional grade average.
4 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1861 PR66DCAM PCGS, Finest Known
1 Coin - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1904 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 7/0
3 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting the extraordinary 1883 PR66DCAM PCGS, POP 3/1
14 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top Five, highlighting the remarkable 1885 PR66+ DCAM, POP 1/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 31 coins with above 22 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 70.9% top five. The set still have nine coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1888 PR62, POP 2/15. The Highest POP in the set is the 1898 PR63CAM PCGS, POP 3/30. As we saw with the other Liberty Gold Proof sets, the focus may be on acquiring the missing 18 coins rather than upgrading the nine non - condition census specimens.
Type 2, With Motto, "TWENTY D." on Reverse, Proof Set
For this 49-piece set, the “Type 2, With Motto, "TWENTY D." on Reverse, Proof” production are years from 1866 to 1876 which is a fairly tough range of years. These are post-Civil War Double Eagle Proofs which picks up the reference “Motto”. With this upgrade, the 11-piece double eagle gold set breaks the half way barrier to completion. There are five Type 2 proofs missing, the 1867, 1870, 1871, 1874, and 1876. All six of the Hansen Type II Double Eagles Proofs qualify and are PCGS Condition Census Top Five. Although, four of the six just make it under their wire as a POP 4. When completed, this will be an amazing sub set of gold Liberty Double Eagles. As this 11-piece set stands today with five coins missing, the current six coins carries a PCGS price guide value of $1,425,000.
As stated earlier, there are still 18 coins missing. Probably the most difficult coins remaining are the 1859 (4 certified PCGS), 1867 (4), 1870 (4), 1871 (4), and 1879 (4). The 1871 is an interesting date for a PCGS certified perspective due to the fact that there are no GEM, no CAM, and no DAM. The estimated survival are comparable with the other double eagles, but the quality has not been there for PCGS certification. CoinFacts indicates there are some that exist, but not any PCGS certified. In a 2004 Heritage Auction, the cataloger wrote: Only 30 proofs were struck, and it is believed that today only eight or nine of those struck are still extant as recognizable proofs. As one might imagine, the 1871 is almost never offered for sale. Walter Breen in his 1977 proof Encyclopedia was able to list only five examples, two of which are permanently impounded in museums.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of 10 with currently only four PCGS certified. The finest 1871 Liberty Proof Double Eagles in the PCGS POP report are a pair of straight grade PR64. The other two PCGS coins are graded PR61 and a choice PR63. There is no claim made to the finest, but CoinFacts includes a PR65DCAM estimated grade specimen. In a PCGS holder, this coin would probably realize half of seven figures or more. Only a hand full of auction appearanses in the PCGS Auction Registry. The last was a PR62 NGC specimen in a 2002 Heritage Auction.
1871 Double Eagle Gold Auctions
1866 $20 PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS, CAC, Ex: Kosoff / Bass
Mintage of 30 Proofs, About a Dozen Extant, High on the Condition Census
David Akers wrote several decades ago: Proofs are very rare, a little more so than those dated 1862, 1863 and 1864 but not quite as rare as the 1865, 1867 or 1868. I would estimate that perhaps 10 or 11 still exist.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 14 in all grades with two grading GEM PR65 or better. This is probably incorrect because PCGS POP reports four GEM proofs, a PR67DCAM, followed by two PR66DCAM and finishing with one more graded PR65DCAM. PCGS POP reports four other 1866 Double Eagles below the GEM preservation, starting with Bass / Hansen PR64DCAM, a pair of straight graded PR64 and finishing with the lowest graded PCGS, PR63. An interesting fact, there are not PCGS specimens with the CAM designation.
Roster of 1866 Proof Double Eagles
The cataloger of the Harry Bass Part 3 sale offered a roster including 11 known examples of the 1866 Proof Double Eagles. He cautioned the overall accuracy of the work by stating: The poor resolution of images in early catalogs makes plate matching of gold proofs very difficult. It is possible this roster contains some duplication, and a few more specimens may remain hidden in old-time collections that have not appeared at auction in many years. The grades are per the last auction appearance, unless a subsequent certification event is known. Population data indicates many coins have been submitted, or resubmitted, since their last appearance. In this roster, PCGS coins finer than the Bass / Hansen specimen is only two, the Kaufman specimen and the Bernard Shore specimen. There are two NGC coins higher on the condition census list, the Atwater / Eliasberg specimen and the Ed Trompeter specimen. If the top five on this roster is correct, then that Bass / Hansen specimen is a PCGS POP 1/2 and overall a CC#5.
1. PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS, Cert #45158857. Nathan M. Kaufman, part of a complete 1866 gold proof set; Kaufman Collection (RARCOA, 8/1978), lot 919, proof set broken up; San Diego Sale (Mid-American, 9/1986), lot 1229; Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 5/2007), lot 1096. Duke Collection
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS. A. Bernard Shore Collection (Superior, 1/1988), lot 4413; Century Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 2997; January-February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1508; Museum of Connecticut History Auction (Heritage, 6/1995), lot 5958; Elite Coin Auction (Superior, 1/2003), lot 1244; Pre-Long Beach Auction (Ira and Larry Goldberg, 1/2004), lot 3399; Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 5/2004), lot 475.
3. PR65 Cameo NGC, Gold CAC, Cert #183828-001. Possibly David S. Wilson; Wilson Collection (S.H. Chapman, 3/1907), lot 326, part of a complete gold proof set; Henry Chapman; William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1258; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; H.R. Lee Collection (Stack's, 10/1947), lot 1710; Forty-Ninth Catalog (New Netherlands, 6/1957), lot 116; Jerry Cohen; January-February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1507; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2017), lot 4356, realized $517,000.
4. PR65 Cameo NGC, CAC, Cert #238108-025. Ed Trompeter; Trompeter Estate; private treaty transaction to Heritage and Sil DiGenova in 8/1998; private treaty transaction to a Heritage customer; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 10/2022), lot 3373, realized $660,000 (Auction Record).
5. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS, CAC, Cert #46094667. Abe Kosoff; Harry W. Bass, Jr., purchased on August 8, 1971; Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC-1038). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
6. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Auction '89 (Superior, 7/1989), lot 948; Auction '90 (Superior, 8/1990), lot 1376; Andy Lustig.
7. Gem Brilliant Proof. William H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1363; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942, via Stack's; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 916; Hugh Sconyers.
8. Gem Brilliant Proof. Possibly F.C.C. Boyd; World's Greatest Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 1/1946), lot 869; Jacob Shapiro (aka J.F. Bell); Memorable Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 3/1948), lot 691; ANA Convention Auction (Steve Ivy, 8/1982), lot 1192; Buddy Ebsen Collection (Superior, 5/1987), lot 2867; Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 10/1988), lot 151.
9. Choice Brilliant Proof. Heman Ely, part of a complete 1866 gold proof set; W. Elliott Woodward; T Harrison Garrett, purchased privately as part of a deal to acquire nine gold proof sets of various dates in October of 1883; Robert Garrett; John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University; Garrett Collection, Part II (Bowers and Ruddy, 3/1980), lot 791.
10. PR64 Deep Cameo, per Garrett and Guth. Mint Cabinet; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
11. Proof. John Colvin Randall, part of a complete gold proof set purchased directly from the Mint; Randall Estate (1901); J.P. Morgan (1902); Museum of Natural History NYC (1902-1908); American Numismatic Society in 1908, exhibited at the 1914 ANS Exhibition.
The Heritage cataloger wrote in reference to the popularity and availability of the 1866 Double Eagle. In doing so, an interesting story is included pertaining to John Dannreuther opinion of the coin when viewing it in the Bass Core Collection. For JD to miss grade a gold Liberty is as rare as finding a Standing Liberty quarter in circulation. The listing states: The 1866 No Motto double eagle has always been popular with collectors as the first in the Type Two twenty dollar subseries. Dave Bowers describes business strikes as "easy enough" to obtain in circulated condition but rare in Mint State and "very rare" in Gem Uncirculated. Proofs represent an even higher degree of rarity. John Dannreuther estimates that only 12 to 14 examples exist of the 30 that were struck, with about half having been lost over the years through various forms of attrition (circulation, melting, etc.). He notes the following in his 2018 reference, United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part II: "Two of the finest examples are the Harry W. Bass, Jr. coin, purchased from Abe Kosoff in 1971, and the spectacular PCGS PR66 DCAM specimen illustrated herein. The second example was once part of the Kaufman collection and later ended up in the Ed Trompeter collection, an eclectic gold collector from the late twentieth century, who completed the Proof gold set from 1859 to 1915." At the time of writing, Dannreuther estimated the grade of the Bass coin, which was on display at the ANA Museum, as PR66+ Cameo. It resides today in a PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS holder with CAC approval (the Trompeter coin is now graded PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS) and although there is a slight discrepancy in the two grades, one thing is certain: this is a spectacular proof offering with dazzling eye appeal. Bowers (2001) called it a "delightful gem" with "rose and pale olive toning highlights on frosty design motifs and mirror fields." Indeed, the fields are deeply reflective -- almost jet-black -- and they contrast starkly against the relief elements.
It may be noteworthy to mention the possible die uniqueness of this coin. I doubt it would ever add any significance value, but it does add to the story of the coin. The cataloger wrote: It should be noted that the reverse here is struck from the same die as the 1865 Judd-452 transitional pattern double eagles with IN clearly higher than the G in GOD and, according to Saul Teichman, is unique as such. He suspects the five coins struck on June 8 were probably produced from this reverse, while the 25 proofs manufactured on January 15 are from the JD-1 dies. The possible unique status of this Bass representative only further its significance.
The Heritage cataloger discussed the rarity of private ownership: Unsurprisingly, the 1859 Liberty ten dollar proof is a monumental rarity. Until now, there have been only five examples in private hands. Four were permanently housed in institutional collections, including the ANS, Smithsonian Institutional, the Royal Mint Museum, and the Bass Core Collection at the ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
This update continues the series of posts on Harry Bass Proofs acquired by the Hansen Team at the 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature Auction. With this fourth post, we have seen a mint state quarter eagle and gold proofs in three different denominations, including $5, $10 and $20. Stay tune, because we will finish the updates by featuring three $3 proof coins in the next few days. Keep watching.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff; Harry W. Bass, Jr., purchased on August 8, 1971; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC-1038), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4525, realized $360,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1866 $20 PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 1/4, CAC Approved
Certification #46094667, PCGS # 99081
PCGS Price Guide $375,000 / Realized $360,000
Ex: Kosoff / Bass
Final Thoughts: JD estimated the grade to PR66+ Cameo when it was on display at the ANA Museum. PCGS graded the coin PR64 Deep Cameo. JA stickered the coin a CAC. I am not seeing why the coin is not more than a 64. Are there any surface issues? Any experts see something that is not obvious about the coin?
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
In comparison of all time finest sets, I find it interesting that 51.6% of Hansen's set are DCAM. Bass (0%) , Eliasberg (2.44%), and Garrett (0%) seems to indicate that PCGS only attributed DCAM long after Eliasberg, Bass and Garret assembled their collections. Smithsonian probably had their coins regraded?
In comparing historical records DCAM's should have very limited or no applicability. Especially considering Hansen has a number of coins that were in the great collections years before DCAM was a grading standard.
OINK
To make a fair comparison, actually you should only compare the grades of the Hansen set with the grades of the same dates in the other sets.
Otherwise you could see a bias, because the more easily obtainable dates (likely those in the Hansen set) may be more available in higher grades than the rarer ones.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (18 of 20)
Three Dollar Gold Basic Set, Proof (1854-1889)
Rare! That’s a word that describes the $3 gold series in proof. There’s the extremely rare 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857 1858...the highest population of any of these coins is four, and that includes all proof grades! The $3 gold series in proof is rarely collected, due to the price. But what a set it is! Even the most common coin in the series (did we say “common?”) has a population of only 48 coins in Proof 65 or better. - PCGS Set Registry
A PCGS author in reference to the 36-piece gold proof set wrote: “Rare! That’s a word that describes the $3 gold series in proof”. With the two sales of historic three gold proof collections as we have recent witness with the offering from the Tom Bender Family holdings and the release of the Harry Bass Core Collection, even rare coins become available. In the past nine months, there have been eight new coins added to the Hansen set and 15 have been upgraded. This has placed the Dell Loy Hansen set on the PCGS Registry Top Five All-Time leaderboard.
The registry indicates that Bender, Garrison and Trompeter assembled high grade complete sets. Harry Bass has been credited with having a complete set, but it has been determined in recent years that one of his coins was an improper graded proof like. In United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, John Dannreuther adds:"[T]he Harry Bass Core Collection has a very deceptive example that has been called a Proof by nearly every numismatist that has examined it. Mr. Bass included it in his complete Proof set and considered it a Proof. However, the author recently realized it was not a Proof, as it has the die pair used for the circulation strikes. It is just as deceptive as an 1870 circulation strike that was called a Proof by several grading services, until the author proved that two different dated dies were used for the two formats.” Close, but no cigar, also the same can be said about the Eliasberg and Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection. Mr. Hansen has moved up to number five in the all-time ranking. With only two coins to go, he is in a good position to make some real noise in the very near future.
By adding a pair of Bass coins, the Dell Loy Hansen 34-piece gold three-dollar proof set improves to 94.44% complete. This implies the set is missing two coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weighted of 66.68. From GPA perspective, the Hansen and the Tom Bender sets very competitive. Actually, the Bass set is better than the registry indicates. The registry does not consider the recent Bass PCGS grading event. The Bass set is actually about 0.3 points better than the Bender. The Hansen group of gold coins are laying solid foundation for an excellent grade set. It will be comparable to as Bender and Bass but maybe not quite as good by grade average. Let’s take a look at the score card that brings to the surface the overall standards for this tremendous collection.
3 Coins - PCGS POP 1/0, Sole Finest, highlighting the remarkable 1856 PR65+ DCAM PCGS, Finest Known
5 Coins - PCGS Certified Tied Finest, highlighting the incredible 1873 Closed 3, PR65+ CAM, POP 2/0
5 Coins - PCGS Certified One Finer, highlighting the extraordinary 1870 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 1/1
12 Coins - PCGS Condition Census Top Five, highlighting the remarkable 1859 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 2/2
With this latest upgrade, the set currently contains 34 coins including above 25 PCGS Condition Census PCGS Top Five specimens. As a result, the set is currently 73.5% top five. The set still have nine coins that are not condition census which makes prime candidates for upgrading. The lowest graded coin in the set is the 1854 PR63CAM PCGS, POP 2/3 which is certainly a keeper. The Highest POP in the set is the 1888 PR65CAM PCGS, POP 11/27. I would think the focus may be on acquiring the missing two coins rather than upgrading the nine non - condition census specimens.
For this 36-piece set, the “Pre-Civil War” production are years from 1854 to 1860. The Civil War issues for this set is complete. With this upgrade, the 7-piece three dollar gold set is one coin way from being complete. All coins in this early run are PCGS Condition Census Top Three specimens. When completed, this will be an amazing sub set of Three Dollar Gold prices. As this 7-piece set stands today with one coin missing, the current six coins carries a PCGS price guide value of $1,208,300.
As stated earlier, there are only two coins missing. Certainly, the 1857 date is a more difficult coin than the 1871 issue. In the recent Bender Family Collection, Part III sale hosted by Heritage Auctions, a PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS Ex: Garrett specimen was offered. Dell Loy Hansen and the DLRC team decided to set this sale out. The coin realized $144,000. Another PR64 Deep Cameo will be offered in late summer from the Bass Core Collection. This PR64DCAM coin is a full two points lower than finest known specimen, PR66DCAM Ex: Parmelee, Woodin, Eliasberg. The Bass coin has a POP of 2/1. Also, the missing 1871 in be offer in the Bass Part 4 sale.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of six with only five reported minted. PCGS have certified five in the POP report with Eliasberg PR66DAM as the finest. This coin is the only GEM PCGS certified coin. There are two PR64DCAM with one the upcoming Bass coin. Finishing out the PCGS graded specimens are a pair of PR64. There have only been four auction appearances since 2000, with the Ex: Garrett, Bender specimen offered three times: June 2000, August 2004 and February 2023. The fourth offering was the Ex: Parmelee, Woodin, Eliasberg that appeared in an April 2015 sale.
1857 Three Dollar Gold Auctions
1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: McCoy / Ely / Garrett / Bass
The Finest of Only Four Proofs Known
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: To the best of my knowledge, there is only one proof 1855 three-dollar gold piece, the superb Garrett specimen that is now in the Bass Collection. After several decades of additional research, we now know there are as many as four that has been accounted for. Unfortunately, one of those four has been stolen, so there currently only three known in private hands with one being an impaired proof. Dell Loy Hansen owns two of them.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of four with only five reported minted. PCGS POP reports five certified coins, so we know one of them is a duplicate. Starting with a pair of GEMs including the PR65+DCAM which is the Bass/Hansen specimen and PR65+DCAM that John Dannreuther indicates in the Ed Trompeter stolen coin. There is one CAM in the report, a PR64CAM which is the Eliasberg/Bender specimen. There is the pair of straight grade PCGS coins, an unconfirmed PR64 (possibly a duplicate) and the impaired proof PR55 PCGS that has been demoted in D.L. Hansen Collection to a second set. According to a roster provided by the cataloger in May 2023 sale of the Harry Bass Core Collection, there are only four PCGS coins known to exist.
Roster of Proof 1855 Three Dollar Pieces
1. PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS. John F. McCoy Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 5/1864), lot 1987; Heman Ely Collection; T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 393; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4004). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
2. PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS (Per John Dannreuther). "From a brother in the Cree family of North Carolina as a gift" (per John Dannreuther); Lewis Collection (Paramount, 7/1977), lot 519, $25,000; Ed Trompeter Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 97, $39,600; Numismatic Professionals, LLC; Michael Storeim reported this piece stolen on 11/27/2003. *Current Status Unknown**
3. PR64 Cameo PCGS. William H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1138; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 275, $28,600; Hugh Sconyers; Auction '85 (Superior, 7/1985), lot 934, $31,900; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 271, $62,100; Larry Jackson; November Signature (Heritage, 11/2003), lot 7434, $75,900; Tom Bender Collection; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3670, realized $264,000.
4. PR55 PCGS, CAC. Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (2/12/19) for The D.L. Hansen Collection. D.L. Hansen Duplicate
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The proof 1855 three-dollar gold piece is among the great rarities in the series. The mintage was unrecorded by the Mint, although scholars such as John Dannreuther estimate that only five pieces were struck. This is apparently an accurate mintage estimate. Walter Breen, in his proof Encyclopedia, listed only two examples known to him, with a note about the possible existence of a third. In United States Proof Coins, Vol. IV: Gold, John Dannreuther enumerates three surviving pieces, plus a possible fourth. The most recent survivorship study of this issue, performed by Ron Guth and reproduced in the roster below, lists four confirmed examples. One of these, the Trompeter specimen, was reported stolen in 2003 and has not been recovered. That leaves only three pieces available to collectors. The Bass Core Collection coin offered here is the sole finest.
The Heritage cataloger discussed coin’s provenance: This coin has the longest known provenance of any of the proof 1855 three-dollar pieces, reaching as far back as John F. McCoy in the early 1860s. It is possible that McCoy was the original owner of this piece, and the first of only four different owners to date. Following W. Elliot Woodward's May 1864 sale of the McCoy Collection, the coin passed to Heman Ely, and by the 1880s was in the possession of T. Harrison Garrett. The Garrett family owned the coin until March 1976, when it was auctioned by Stack's. The buyer was Harry W. Bass, Jr. Thus, this is only the coin's second auction appearance since 1864.
The appearance of Bass/Hansen coin is described in the Heritage sale as: As the finest 1855 proof three dollar known, the coin displays incredible sharpness and deep, glimmering reflectivity in the fields. Rich orange-gold color throughout each side complements the satiny luster of the devices, and field-device contrast is superb. No distractions are seen. The Plus designation is well earned. Proof three-dollar gold specialists should not let this incredible opportunity pass by.
This is the first update of three for the Three Dollar Gold Proofs. The 1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS is the only proof upgrade acquired in the Harry Bass Sale, Part 3. The PR65+ DCAM replaced a PR55 specimen. The result is the Hansen cabinet of US gold proofs having two of the four known specimens. Over the next few days, we will continue our review of the Three Dollar Proofs.
Provenance: John F. McCoy Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 5/1864), lot 1987; Heman Ely Collection; T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 393; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4004), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4517, realized $312,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 1/0, Finest of Only Four Proofs Known
Certification #46094719, PCGS # 98018
PCGS Price Guide $385,000 / Realized $312,000
Ex: McCoy / Ely / Garrett / Bass
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
I do not find the die pair argument to be compelling evidence that the 1870 $3 Bass is not a proof.
In many series, proofs and business strikes are made from the same die pair.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (19 of 20)
Second 2023 Update for the D.L. Hansen Proofs (1859-1915)
I would call building this massive 294-piece gold proof set a slow burn. In the Harry Bass Part 3 sale, the focus for the Hansen team was filling holes. The team acquired six of the seven coins which were gold proofs. The only non-proof purchase was the 1827 Quarter Eagle, MS65 PCGS. Also, five of the six proof coins are expansion examples starting with the 1858 Three Dollar and other four needed for date range of 1859-1915. The other proof coin not in that range was the 1855 Three Dollar PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS upgrade. The five expansion coins consisted of one half eagle, one eagle, one double eagle and two three dollar gold pieces including the 1858 Three Dollar. This represents a nice spread across the sets. The Harry Bass Core Proofs will be nicely represented in Hansen Collection. This table displays the four expansion coins used in the D.L. Hansen Proofs (1859-1915).
As you can easily see, there are four coins representing about $1.2 Million Dollar addition to the collection. The Bass Collection did not receive an abundance of CAC stickers for his coins. I am not sure the CAC percentage for the Bass Core coins, but in this expansion purchase three out of four of the proofs were CAC Approved including two PCGS POP 1/0 finest. The three Liberty gold coins were all DCAM designated. The Three Dollar coin has a CAM designation. All four coins are PCGS Price Guide Valued above the six-figure mark. Earlier I posted that I reached out to the collection curator, John Brush from David Lawrence Rare Coins to get some insight. He was gracious to follow-up with some thoughts into the current conditions of the collection and environment. Reason for adding very few coins is that we’re still trying to fill holes… and we’re trying to be responsible and the upgrade opportunities and holes to fill are very few and far between. If you look at the four coins purchased here from several angles, including need base, quality, rarity, price valued, price realized, CAC, etc. You should conclude these to be responsible buys.
These new coins advance the D.L. Hansen Collection of Collectable Gold Proofs four steps closer to completion, so let’s recap the progress the Mr. Hansen has achieved in the first five months of 2023. I have detailed the eleven sets that comprise the complete collection for proof gold from 1859 to 1915 (all collectable). The set consists of 294 coins. As I have stated several times before, PCGS does not have a set that represents these sets, so this chart provides a fairly accurate representation.
Since last 2022 update posted December 27, 2022, the Hansen Team has added nine proofs to the D.L. Hansen Collection. The addition breakdown is:
5 Coins to Three Gold Basic Set, Proof (1859-1889) set
1 Coin to Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) set
1 Coin to Liberty Head $10 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) set
1 Coin to Indian Head $10 Gold Basic Set, Proof (1908-1915) set
1 Coin to Liberty Head $20 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) set
The collection requires 294 coins with only 52 remaining. Last year, I determined that Mr. Hansen was on a pace of about 15 new additions per year. He reduced by four in January by adding the Proof Indian Head Eagle, one Three Dollar Gold Proof from the Harry Bass sale, and two more from the Bender sale. A couple months ago, the 1861 Three Dollar Gold, PR65CAM, Ex: Sweet / Simpson was added to the collection. The coin last sold in the Heritage 2022 ANA Sale. In the May 2023 Harry Bass sale, he reduced set by four more coins which has a nice pace for 2023. He is well on the way for 15 for this year. At the pace of 15 per year, the collection is about three and half years away from completion. Let’s watch and see what happens after this fast start in 2023.
1873 $3 Closed 3 PR65+ Cameo PCGS. CAC, Ex: Kosoff / Bass
Half a Dozen Known, Enigmatic Ultra-Rarity
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: One variety of the 1873 Closed 3 three dollar gold piece is markedly "dished", that is, it has a convex obverse and a concave reverse. This variety is the so-called "dished restrike". However, Harry Bass claims that the dished pieces are, in fact, the true "originals. I feel that these dished pieces are merely the proofs with the Closed 3, whereas the other Closed 3 pieces are all business strikes. In the May 2023 Bass Core sale, the Heritage cataloger wrote: The 1873 proof three dollar is certainly one of the more enigmatic issues in the series. Writing in United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part I, John Dannreuther begins his commentary on the 1873 with a rather ominous remark: "Perhaps no coin in American numismatics has had such obfuscation as the 1873 three dollar gold issue," joking that everything we know about it is wrong. While that may be slightly hyperbolic, the 1873 proof three dollar definitely has caused confusion among collectors for decades.
The discussion continues with: Mint documents report 25 proof threes delivered on February 18, 1873. While examples of the 1873 proof three exist with both Closed and Open 3s in the date, there is no record regarding how many of each were produced with the two logotypes. To make matters even more convoluted, the Closed 3 proofs come either with or without a dished obverse. Finally, there is evidence to suggest that some of the Open 3 proofs were struck after the 1874 and 1875 three dollar proofs were manufactured, creating the existence of originals and restrikes. All in all, Dannreuther estimates that 11 to 14 Open 3 representatives survive, plus one Closed 3 proof with a non-dished obverse in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, and four to six Closed 3 pieces with dished obverses. The new Hansen coin purchased in the Harry Bass sale is one of the latter, “four to six Closed 3 pieces with dished obverses”.
CoinFacts gives the survival estimate at six specimens for the Closed 3 variety of this proof. PCGS POP reports six certified coins, with only four PCGS coins in the recent Heritage roster (below), so you could consider a couple to be duplicates. For PCGS six specimens starting with the only coin with a surface designation, the Bass/Hansen PR65+ Cameo specimen. This CAM specimen is followed by three PR65 graded specimens with only one verified, the Carter PR65 specimen. PCGS/CC#5 specimen is a PR63 PCGS which is the Ebsen/Trompeter specimen. The last known PCGS coin is a PR61 which is from the Richmond Collection. There are two other known coins that are currently not in PCGS holders, the finest known is the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Superb Gem Proof 67 uncertified specimen and the impaired specimen that is called PR45 in the Dannreuther roster.
Roster of 1873 Closed 3 Three Dollar Proofs (Compiled by Heritage Auctions 2023)
1. Superb Gem Proof 67 Uncertified. Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 299, $30,800; Auction '84 (Paramount, 7/1984), lot 885, $27,500.
2. PR65+ Cameo PCGS. Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4028). Incorrectly shown as HBCC #4027 in John Dannreuther's United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, p. 461. D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 PCGS. James Walter Carter & Margaret Woolfolk Carter Collections (Stack's, 1/1986), lot 132; Huberman Collection (Stack's Bowers, 4/2022), lot 3105, $156,000.
4. PR63 PCGS. Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981), lot 416, $40,000; Buddy Ebsen Collection (Superior, 5/1987), lot 2414, $38,500; Ed Trompeter Collection, Part I (Superior, 2/1992), lot 115, $23,100; Michael I. Keston Collection (Superior, 1/1996), lot 58, $25,300; Dr. Richard Ariagno Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 5/1999), lot 703, $19,800; Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 6/2000), lot 1262, $19,550; Belvedere Collection (PCGS Set Registry).
5. PR61 PCGS. Richmond Collection, Part I (David Lawrence, 7/2004), lot 1285, $20,700; Richard C. Jewell Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 3/2005), lot 640, $36,800; Madison Collection (Heritage, 1/2008), lot 3121, $40,250; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5068, $37,375.
6. Proof Uncertified. Public Auction Sale (Lester Merkin, 10/1969), lot 416; Public Auction Sale (Lester Merkin, 10/1973), lot 473; Auction '86 (Stack's, 7/1986), lot 372, $4,180. Called PR45 in the Dannreuther roster.
The Heritage cataloger shared some additional thoughts on the rarity: The Harry W. Bass, Jr. offering is one of those latter survivors, which Dannreuther designates as JD-3. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the ultimate rarity of these proof threes, this is only the second 1873 Closed 3 representative we have handled, the other being the PR61 PCGS coin (ex: Richmond-Jewell) that takes fifth place on our roster (see below). We last offered that piece in 2011, pointing out that it was "rarer than the proof-only 1873 Open 3, 1875, and 1876, all of which have at least triple the number of survivors. Only the proof 1855 is rarer (three to five known), and by a slender margin."
The Heritage cataloger describe this coin as “formerly unobtainable museum-quality Gem”: Today, we have the pleasure of presenting not just another example of this elusive issue, but a formerly unobtainable museum-quality Gem that ranks second finest behind a coin that has not been seen publicly in more than three decades. Dave Bowers provided the following description of the Bass coin in 2001: "Gorgeous gem Proof 1873. Frosted devices create some cameo contrast with sparkling deep mirror fields on both sides. Deeply impressed and beautifully centered. Blush of original yellowish toning on lower obverse and center reverse." The surfaces remain unchanged since that description was penned, maintaining a delightful cameo appearance and gorgeous color. That aesthetic quality, combined with the coin's absolute rarity and terrific pedigree are sure to spark spirited bidding among three dollar gold specialists.
This is the second update for the Three Dollar Gold Proofs. The 1873 $3 Closed 3 PR65+ Cameo PCGS specimen is important to the Three Dollar Proof set. With this new coin, there are only two remaining specimens needed for the 36-piece set. Over the next few months, we will watch and see if these last two coins are acquired to complete this “Rare!” set.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4028), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4525, realized $222,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1873 $3 Closed 3 PR65+ Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 1/0, CAC Approved
Certification #46095041, PCGS # 88036
PCGS Price Guide $245,000 / Realized $222,000
Ex: Kosoff / Bass
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3 (20 of 20)
Harry Bass Core Collection – Part III Final Review
The 1829 half eagle was the top lot from The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III, from which proceeds will benefit dozens of Dallas-based nonprofits supported by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, with an emphasis on early childhood education and literacy in Dallas. Part III generated nearly $18.15 million and produced the event's top three results. The $2.88 million result for the 1829 half eagle — one of more than 30 records set in the event — more than doubled the previous mark of $1.38 million. Heritage Auctions, Press Release - May 8, 2023
Once again, the Hansen Team had a strong showing in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III presented by Heritage Auctions in 2023 CSNS US Coins Signature sale. They have participated in the first three sales by purchasing coins to a tune of $6,535,200. The three Bass sales have realized approx. $62.65 Million Dollars benefitting the Dallas area. In working the numbers, Dell Loy Hansen has direct contribution of 10.4% of the prices realized in the sale. Let’s quickly recap the first three sales.
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part I (September 29, 2022 in Long Beach)
This press release from the first Bass Sale that was held last fall: A magnificent 1821 half eagle rode a burst of furiously competitive bidding all the way to $4.62 million, leading one of the finest collections of U.S. gold coins and related patterns ever assembled to $20,459,645 in Heritage Auctions' Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part I US Coins Signature® Auction - Long Beach Sept. 29. The Hansen team missed out on purchasing the 1821 Half Eagle, but the sale for the Hansen team, I would consider a success. They were successful in purchasing eight coins realizing $2,419,200.
The best purchase for the Hansen Collection was the unique 1854 G$1 Type 1, PR65DCAM, CAC. Heritage highlighted this coin as a new record: An 1854 Gold Dollar, PR65 Deep Cameo: $720,000 (previous record: $68,750) The Hansen runner-up coin also set a record auction price: An 1833 Quarter Eagle, PR63 Cameo: $408,000 (previous record: $50,600)
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II (January 5, 2023 in Orlando)
The Hansen Collection added five coins from the Part 2 sale. They missed out on purchasing the unique 1870-S Three Dollar Gold, but the Hansen team still made some noise. The five coins range in price realized from $84,000 to $1,100,000. All five coins made significant improvements to the core collection. In Sale 2, Heritage press release: The auction was enormously successful by any metric: of the 103 offered lots, 30 established new records. The event was the second installment of the collection of Harry W. Bass; proceeds from the auction will benefit the dozens of Dallas-based nonprofits supported by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, with a particular emphasis on early childhood education and literacy in Dallas. Part I reached $20,459,645 Sept. 29. "Heritage Auctions delivered more than $24 million (Realized $24,322,741) in winning bids for the Bass Foundation tonight, and nearly $44.5 million over the first two parts of this extraordinary auction, and we know the foundation will put these proceeds to great use amongst the charities they support," Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Todd Imhof said. "Our sale of Part II of the Bass Foundation's rare coins tonight delivered numerous world records and shows this bull market in the rare coin hobby continues." The Hansen team were successful in purchasing five coins realizing $2,304,000.
The best purchase for the Hansen Collection hands down was the 1798/7 Eagle, “Stars 7x6”, MS62, CAC, PCGS POP 2/1. This is the first Bass coin that the Hansen team chased above the $1 Million Dollar mark. It replaced a F15 PCGS coin purchased a few months before. Of course, the next coin and maybe of a greater significance to the Collection was the purchase of the POP 1/0, 1820 Half Eagle, “Curved 2, Small Letters”, graded MS64+ PCGS. This coin filled a big hole in the magnificent Hansen Early Half Eagle Set.
The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III (May 4, 2023 in Dallas)
This press release from the third Bass Sale that was held the first week of May 2023: The 1829 half eagle was the top lot from The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III, from which proceeds will benefit dozens of Dallas-based nonprofits supported by the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, with an emphasis on early childhood education and literacy in Dallas. Part III generated nearly $18.15 million and produced the event's top three results. The $2.88 million result for the 1829 half eagle — one of more than 30 records set in the event — more than doubled the previous mark of $1.38 million. This sale did not seem as spectacular as the first two. One reason maybe that it was held in Dallas rather than a show location. The Hansen team did not decide to set out on this sale and as result were successful in purchasing seven coins realizing $1,812,000.
This was a sale that resulted in filling a few holes in the proof sets (5 coins) and upgrading two coins. The Hansen team brought home three PCGS POP 1/0 specimens from this sale. Several of these coins are super rare, but did not garnish any headlines. In Heritage Auctions May 8, 2023 Press release, there were no mention of any of the coins that Dell Loy Hansen purchased.
Summary
In the first three sales, the combine coins offered was 329 lots. Mr. Hansen and the DLRC team purchased 20 lots (coins) or 6.08%. The two sales have realized approx. $62.65 Million Dollars. The Hansen purchases have totaled $6,535,200 or 10.4%. In an interesting fact, this trend has held true during the first three sales. Is this by chance or plan? The average Bass (lot) coin has realized $190,425. The average coin that the Hansen team purchased realized $326,769. As you can see, the Hansen purchases have been more on the high end of the Bass coins offered.
Once again, the Hansen team did not acquire a million dollar coin. So far in the first three sales, they have acquired only one coin breaking that barrier, the 1798/7 Eagle, “Stars 7x6”, MS62, CAC, purchased in Sale Part 2. The top prize ($2,880,000) in the third sale was the 1829 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, PR66+, Large Dia. This coin has two known specimens, and the other one is in the D.L. Hansen Collection. The second coin $1,740,000 was the 1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, this coin certainly would have been impressive in the Hansen Collection. The Top Hansen coin purchased in the sale was the 1859 Eagle, DCAM. It realized the seventh spot in the Bass sale closing at $456,000.
This completes the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction of Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection hosted by Heritage Auctions. If the schedule stays true, the fourth and last, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part IV US Coins Signature Auction will be held in Pittsburgh on August 10, 2023. Looking ahead, there are a few coins that could be interesting to Mr. Hansen. Up to this point, he has been a strong player in the sale of this historic collection. Will we watch to see that remains true for one more sale.
1858 Three Dollar, PR65 Cameo PCGS, Ex: Kosoff / Bass
About 20 Proofs Struck, Tied for Second Finest Known
David Akers wrote a several decades ago: proofs are known and are very rare with probably no more than nine or ten pieces still in existence. In the Heritage Auctions listing, the category identified 13 specimens. CoinFacts gives the survival estimate of eight which at first glance appear low. The survival for GEM (65 or Better) is only two. In the Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency, he identifies five GEMs, three PCGS, one NGC and one uncertified.
Starting with the PR65+DCAM, Ex: Ed Trompeter Collection which is considered to be CC#1 and finest known. Following league leader is a nice pair of PR65 Cameo PCGS, which both recently appeared in auction. The Tom Bender specimen sold from the Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3673. Just a couple months later, D.L. Hansen picked up his GEM specimen in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection sale held by Heritage in May 2023. The next on the roster is Henry Miller’s PR65 Cameo NGC and finally, the Seneca Gem Proof Uncertified which appeared in a Heritage, 5/1984) sale.
Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency
1. PR65+ Cameo PCGS CAC. Ed Trompeter Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 100, $25,300; La Jolla Lady's Collection (Heritage, 10/2014), lot 4984, $94,000; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2015), lot 4265, $91,063; CSNS Signature (Heritage, 4/2016), lot 4771, $94,000.
2. PR65 Cameo PCGS. Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4010). D.L. Hansen Core Collection
3. PR65 Cameo PCGS. Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3673.
4. PR65 Cameo NGC. Henry Miller Collection (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5062, $69,000; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2013), lot 4494, $85,188.
5. Gem Proof Uncertified. Seneca Sale (Heritage, 5/1984), lot 104; September Sale (Stack's, 9/2003), lot 852, $37,375.
6. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per John Dannreuther). Mint Cabinet (obtained in the year of issue); National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
7. PR64 Cameo PCGS. Prior provenance unknown.
8. PR64 PCGS. Bender Family Collection. (Heritage, 12/2022), lot 3600, $72,000.
9. PR64 PCGS. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 1293; William H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1146, $47; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 282, $15,400; James D. Brilliant and William R. Sieck Collections (Bowers and Merena, 1/1992), lot 1669, $17,600; ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/1997), lot 7584, $31,625.
10. Brilliant Proof Uncertified. T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection -- Johns Hopkins University Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 396, $14,000.
11. Proof Uncertified. Boston Museum of Fine Arts Collection (Stack's, 8/1976), lot 2886; Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 10/1993), lot 967, $24,750.
12. Proof Uncertified. J. Colvin Randall, purchased directly from the U.S. Mint in 1858 at face value; J.P. Morgan Collection, donated in 1908; American Numismatic Society (accession #1908.93.477).
13. Proof Details, Altered Surfaces NCS. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 7/2005), lot 2530, $12,075; In its 2005 appearance, this coin was described as, "Likely from Lester Merkin's Auction, November 1965, Lot 322 (not plated), also possibly Kreisberg-Schulman's Auction, April 1959, Lot 2636."
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin rarity: Writing in their 2005 series reference, Bowers and Winter describe the 1858 as "the rarest three-dollar gold piece of the 1850s." Just 2,133 circulation strikes were manufactured, plus an estimated 20 proofs (no official records exist). Examples of the former are scarce in any grade and rare in Mint State, while just eight to 10 proofs are believed to exist, according to John Dannreuther. Our roster suggests a surviving population of 13 proofs. However, at least two of them are permanently impounded in institutional collections and another is Details-graded with altered surfaces. At the upper end of the spectrum are a handful of Gem Cameo coins, including the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection example.
The Heritage cataloger offered a historic description: This PR65 Cameo representative, which sits second among the finest 1858 three dollar proofs known, has been off the market since at least 1973, when Abe Kosoff sold it to Harry Bass. In the Bass Museum Sylloge, Dave Bowers described it as a "Gorgeous cameo Proof. Exceptionally bright yellow-gold surface. Deeply mirrored fields both sides." Those words, written two decades ago, still hold true. Contrast and eye appeal are terrific, matching the excellent preservation.
Today, we are completing the review of the proof coins acquired in the Harry Bass Sale, Part 3. The Hansen team made a great showing. Let’s keep eye on the upcoming final Harry Bass sale in August.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 7/23/1973; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III US Coins Signature Auction / Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 4010), (Heritage 5/2023), lot 4519, realized $90,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (5/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1858 Three Dollar, PR65 Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 2/1, #2CC on Ron Guth roster
Certification #46094725, PCGS #88021
PCGS Price Guide $120,000 / Realized $90,000
Ex: Kosoff / Bass
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907)
The headline in Coin World said: "Garrett bidders pull no punches" while the subhead read "Simply no superlatives adequate." That was certainly the case when Bowers & Ruddy Galleries auctioned the Garrett family collection in four dynamic and diverse parts (1979-81). T. Harrison Garrett and his sons John Work Garrett and Robert Garrett formed this outstanding collection. It was given to Johns Hopkins University in 1942 and sold nearly four decades later. - PCGS Hall of Fame (2002)
The PCGS registry list 267 sets in the world class Garrett Collection. It has been more than four decades ago when the mega collection was offered to the public. The Garrett family assembled one of the finest pre-certification era collection of proof gold. The Liberty Head $5 Gold, Proof (1859-1907) was a marvel, although a few pieces short of being complete. Actually, the only listed proof set is in the Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection with the Louis Eliasberg, Harry W. Bass, and Garrett Family Collection coming up just a little short. The Dell Loy Hansen Collection is now in the latter mix.
I wrote in a Harry Bass sale update a couple months ago: A PCGS author in reference to the 49-piece gold proof set wrote: “tremendous collection that has rarely been completed”. It appears from the PCGS Registry, no collector has completed this set in the history of the registry. The registry indicates a completed set is in the Smithsonian National Collection. Were there others? According to the registry, the historic Eliasberg, Bass, and Garrett collections had partial sets. Surely, this set has been completed in private hands at some point since the series ended more than 115 years ago. Then maybe not. We may be watching Dell Loy Hansen in the middle of a history making attempt.
By adding this coin, the Dell Loy Hansen 49-piece gold half eagle proof set is 85.71% complete. This implies the set is missing seven coins. Also, equally important, the set has a GPA weight of 66.17. This registry certified set has a considerable higher overall grade than the historic sets, including the Smithsonian set.
As stated earlier, there are still seven coins missing. Probably the most difficult coin remaining is the 1859 half eagle proof. Now, let’s look at the purchase from the July Scotsman sale. This was a difficult coin that certainly does not appear often in auctions.
1872 Half Eagle, PR65 Cameo PCGS, Ex: Ohringer Family Trust
Prior to the July Scotsman sale, the last 1872 Liberty Half Eagle sold in action was January 2016 FUN US Coins Signature Auction in Tampa, FL. The Ex: Eliasberg-Trompeter PR63 Cameo was described by the cataloger as only 30 proof Liberty half eagles were struck in 1872, a modest mintage in absolute terms, but fairly generous in the context of the series. It is doubtful if more than half that number survive today in all grades, including several pieces in impaired condition and at least three in institutional holdings. This coin claims an illustrious pedigree going back to the 19th century, with famous owners including Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. and Ed Trompeter.
The only PR65 GEM to ever appear in auction was in Ira & Larry Goldberg Auction (May-2008). The coin was the Ex: Ohringer Family Trust Holdings, PCGS graded Proof 65, Cert #4882870. The certification number is not active. The cataloger described the coins as: Lovely rich golden toning. Only 30 pieces struck. Extreme rarity is the order of the day with a Proof 1872 half eagle. Whether a business strike or a Proof, in fact, the extraordinary rarity lies at this coin's doorstep! As few as 12 to 15 Proofs are all that remain in all grades, many of them not so nice. Over the decades we have only handled a couple of other specimens. To give a comparison, the famed Eliasberg-Trompeter Proof 1872 graded a 63! This is one of the finest Proofs in existence and tied for top honors in the PCGS roster. The fields have an infinite depth in their mirrors, reflectivity whose gleam switches back and forth when the coin is tilted under a strong light. The germane feature of the devices, of course, is their razor-sharpness. There are no detracting blemishes, just a few scattered hairlines requiring magnification. Pop 3; none finer at PCGS.
By a couple indicators, I believe the Ohringer Family Trust Holdings coin and the new Hansen coin is the same. There were three PCGS graded PR65 in 2008. Currently PCGS has three PR65, with one still straight graded, one Cameo, and one Deep Cameo.
PCGS CoinFacts gives the survival estimate to be 14-18 in all grades with only six that has been certified by PCGS. There three GEMS that was mentioned above, the Eliasberg-Trompeter PR63 Cameo with a second PR63CAM and one PR64CAM. There sixth coin is PR64 straight grade. The finest of the six PCGS coins, the unique DCAM, graded PR65. The owner and whereabouts of this coin is unknown.
The Hansen coin appeared in The Midwest Summer Sale hosted by from Scotsman Coin and Jewelry Inc. The sale closed Friday, July 28, 2023. It realized $115,250 (Hammer). With an 18% fee, this would place the coin realizing $135,995. It appears this coin was purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins for their client Dell Loy Hansen.
The Scotsman cataloger wrote on the coin mintage: The single finest known example in proof cameo format at PCGS. A sensational proof half-eagle, as one of only thirty struck, it is no wonder that this likely is the finest existing cameo example. A case can be made that reflectivity slightly exceeds expectations of the designation, but the cataloger has verified the depth of the mirrors will not permit upgrade in that regard. That said, one scrutinizes the surface carefully and wonders why the numeric grade could not be a little higher as no abrasions of any kind, and only light, trivial hairlines flutter here and there under a lamp. In the rim area just right of the thirteenth star, a delicate die defect can be seen, and it affirms proof format.
This update is first Hansen update since the May 27 which was the last update from Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 3. A three-month dry period is a long time for the Hansen Team. Will we see if this accusation starts the upgrades to gear back up? Let’s watch and see what happens next.
Provenance: Ohringer Family Trust (Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers as PR65 PCGS, Cert #04882870, 5/2008), lot #4438, realized $63,250; The First Through Last Collection / The Midwest Summer Sale (Scotsman Auctions, 7/2023), Lot #342, realized $135,995 (Auction Record), Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (8/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection..
1872 Half Eagle, PR65 Cameo PCGS
PCGS POP 1/1, CAC Approved
Certification #06908352, PCGS #88467
PCGS Price Guide $134,000 / Realized $135,995
Ex: Ohringer Family Trust
Image from Scotsman Coin and Jewelry Inc (The Midwest Summer Sale)
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
I'll throw in 2 asides here regarding the purchase of the 1872 Proof $5.
1. I was teaching at Witter Coin U the night of this auction and Max Brand (an actively dealing YN) and I were perusing some internet auctions and I saw this coin. It wasn't a sale that we had pinpointed due to the busy summer schedule, but I immediately recognized it as a date that we didn't have in the set. So I placed a few bids in the auction (I LOVE the $25k credit card allowances for SkyMiles purposes that Scotsman allows), and I didn't find out until 2am that we had won the coin. So, that was pretty exciting. I hadn't arranged the bidding with Mr. Hansen on this particular coin but I mentioned it to him once I got it in-hand and I knew that DLRC wasn't going to have the opportunity to sell the coin. It was just too nice and Mr. Hansen gobbled it up.
President of David Lawrence Rare Coins www.davidlawrence.com
email: John@davidlawrence.com
2022 ANA Dealer of the Year, Past Chair of NCBA (formerly ICTA), PNG Treasurer, Instructor at Witter Coin University, former Instructor/YN Chaperone ANA Summer Seminar, Coin World Most Influential, Curator of the D.L. Hansen Collection
1872 $5: I think this photo shows a lot more about the coin...it's stunning!
https://davidlawrence.com/inventory/750646
President of David Lawrence Rare Coins www.davidlawrence.com
email: John@davidlawrence.com
2022 ANA Dealer of the Year, Past Chair of NCBA (formerly ICTA), PNG Treasurer, Instructor at Witter Coin University, former Instructor/YN Chaperone ANA Summer Seminar, Coin World Most Influential, Curator of the D.L. Hansen Collection
@JBatDavidLawrence
Which coins were purchased tonight?
Congratulations to the new owner of the 1872 half-eagle! I enjoyed helping catalog it, if only for the pleasure of in-hand scrutiny.
On the web: http://www.earlyus.com
Curious if the 1798 Small Eagle $5 was considered. One of the couple still missing.
Historic Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection Part 4 (21 of 24)
The Last Pre-Civil War Three Dollar Gold Proof (1854-1860)
The Three Dollar Gold Proof Basis set is a run of 36 coins without any major type changes. When I organized this series, I think of three distinct runs. First the difficult pre-civil war run from 1854 to 1860 that contains seven coins. The second run is the shorter civil war era from 1861 to 1865 requiring only five coins, but equal as difficult. The series is completed with the 24 coins from post-civil war years (1866 to 1889). The Hansen Team completed the civil war run with the purchase of the Bob Simpson 1861 $3, PR65CAM that sold in the Heritage 2022 ANA Sale. If you recall, it took almost six months before the registry set was updated.
The Hansen seven-piece pre-civil war Three Dollar Gold Proofs are beyond words. In the 2023 sales of the Tom Bender and Harry Bass Collections, the Hansen Team purchased three of these rare coins from each collection, adding or replacing six of the seven coins. This occurred between January and August of 2023. Let’s take a look starting with the 1854.
1854 – Ex: Bender Collection, purchased January 2023 in Heritage Fun Sale, realizing $108,000.
1855 - Ex: Harry W. Bass, purchased May 2023 in Heritage CSNS Sale, realizing $312,000.
1856 - Ex: Bender Collection, purchased January 2023 in Heritage FUN Sale, realizing $408,000.
1857 - Ex: Harry W. Bass, purchased August 2023 in Heritage ANA Sale, realizing $192,000.
1858 - Ex: Harry W. Bass, purchased May 2023 in Heritage CSNS Sale, realizing $90,000.
1859 - Ex: Bender Collection, purchased January 2023 in Heritage FUN Sale, realizing $192,000.
1860 – Purchased from David Lawrence Rare Coin in approx. 2019, PCGS current value $95,000.00.
1857 Three Dollar Proof, PR64 Deep Cameo, Ex: Kosoff / Bass
Rare Early Proof, Only Five Examples Traced
In the Heritage Auction listing of the Bass Sale, the cataloger described the coins as: The Philadelphia Mint struck a small number of proof three-dollar gold pieces in 1857, but no mintage figures were recorded. John Dannreuther estimates approximately 12 proofs were struck, making the issue a great rarity today. PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 6-8 examples in all grades, while Dannreuther offers a more conservative estimate of only 5-6 specimens extant. Ron Guth has traced only five coins in our roster below, with one of those in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
Let’s start with the PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS, Ex: Louis E. Eliasberg specimen which is considered to be CC#1 and finest known by two points. Following this finest known leader is a nice pair of PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS, which both recently appeared in auction. The Tom Bender specimen sold from the Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3673. The Bender specimen realized $144,000. Six months later, D.L. Hansen picked up his superb choice specimen in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection sale held by Heritage in August 2023. If you snooze you lose, Hansen had to pay almost $50K more for this PR64DCAM. The next coin in the roster is a third PR64 Deep Cameo which is uncertified certified and located National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. The fifth and last specimen is a PR64 PCGS from the King of Siam Proof Set.
A Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency
1. PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS. - George F. Seavey Collection (William H. Strobridge, who sold the Seavey Collection intact to Lorin G. Parmelee before the auction took place, 6/1873); Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 1280; William Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, 3/1911), lot 1144; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 280, $20,900; Auction '84 (Paramount, 7/1984), lot 882, $24,750; A Connoisseur's Collection (Superior, 1/1989), lot 339, $29,700; Jascha Heifetz Collection (Superior, 10/1989), lot 4243, $49,500; Auction '90 (Superior, 8/1990), lot 1295, $52,800; Dennis Mendelson Collection (Superior, 2/1991), lot 2728; Chicago Sale (Superior, 8/1991), lot 689, not sold; Century Collection (Superior, 2/1992), lot 2598, not sold; Dr. Jack Adams Collection (Superior, 5/1992), lot 2663, not sold; January/February Auction (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1331; King of Siam Proof Set (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1331, $28,600; New Orleans Collection (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5285, $141,000.
2. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 8/3/1971; Harry W. Bass, Jr., Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC# 4008). Heritage 8/2023), lot 9015, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (8/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
3. PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. - T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert and John Work Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett, circa 1919; Johns Hopkins University, by bequest in 1942; Garrett Collection (Stack's, 3/1976), lot 395; Auction '81 (RARCOA, 7/1981), lot 394, $30,000; Dennis Mendelson Collection (Superior, 2/1991), lot 2729, $35,200; Michael Keston Collection (Superior, 1/1996), lot 44, $30,250; Dr. Richard Ariagno Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 5/1999), lot 698, $37,400; Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 6/2000), lot 1240, $26,450; Pittsburgh Elite (Superior, 8/2004), lot 969, $43,125; [Tom] Bender Family Collection, Part III (Heritage, 2/2023), lot 3672, $144,000.
4. PR64 Deep Cameo Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). - National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution (ID #1985.0441.0537).
5. PR64 PCGS. - F.C.C. Boyd Collection / "World's Greatest Collection" (Numismatic Gallery, 1/1946), lot 272, $95; Grant Pierce & Sons Collection (Stack's, 5/1965), lot 1242, $2,600; Charles Jay Collection (Stack's, 10/1967), lot 275, $2,400; Theodore Ullmer Collection (Stack's, 5/1974), lot 411, $21,000; Central States Sale (RARCOA, 5/1977), lot 394, $9,500; Auction '82 (Superior, 8/1982), lot 1368, $12,000; Dr. Jerry Buss Collection (Superior, 1/1985), lot 1750, $18,000; Ed Trompeter Collection, Part I (Superior, 2/1992), lot 99, $22,000; King of Siam Proof Set (Superior, 1/1993), lot 1330, $24,200
The Heritage cataloger wrote on the coin die rarity: A single die pair was used to strike the proofs. The obverse die had been used to strike proofs the year before, and the die is in the same state seen on the later strikes from 1856. This was the only use of the reverse die. The date is positioned further to the right on the proof reverse than on the business-strike die, making it possible to distinguish between proofs and prooflike circulation strikes.
The Heritage cataloger offered this description: The present coin is a spectacular Choice proof, with razor-sharp definition on all design elements. The well-preserved yellow-gold surfaces include deeply mirrored fields that contrast profoundly with the frosty devices to produce a stunning Deep Cameo effect. Overall eye appeal is outstanding. This coin has been off the market for more than 50 years as part of the prestigious Harry Bass Core Collection and was exhibited at the Edward R. Rochette Money Museum at ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs until 2022. With only four examples in private hands, it is unlikely that another proof 1857 three-dollar gold piece will become available any time soon. The discerning collector should bid accordingly.
This coin represents a great start with the Hansen purchases in the Harry W. Bass, Jr., Harry Bass Core Collection, Part IV sale. Keep watching for another update.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff, sold privately on 8/3/1971; Harry W. Bass, Jr., Harry Bass Core Collection (HBCC# 4008), (Heritage 8/2023), lot 9015, realized $192,000, Purchased by David Lawrence Rare Coins (8/2023) for The D.L. Hansen Collection.
1857 Three Dollar Proof, PR64 Deep Cameo
PCGS POP 2/1, CAC Approved
Certification #46094723, PCGS #98020
PCGS Price Guide Unknown / Realized $192,000
Ex: Kosoff / Bass
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
welcome to collectors universe lotta haters here..
@currin any updates on new acquisitions for the Hansen Collection.
Every time I see this post, I think it's about a Hansen wrist watch!
Spring National Battlefield Coin Show is September 5-7, 2024 at the Eisenhower Hotel in Gettysburg, PA. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
Hansen took down his "2nd" seated quarter set from the registry - good. It's not really cool to use the registry as an inventory list for your duplicates. That isn't the spirit of the registry sets.
@Manifest_Destiny Hansen removed numerous coins from his Late Date Large Cents with Major Varieties 2nd and 3rd sets....it was ridiculous that he used the Registry for inventory management. I am happy to say I have cracked the top 10....number 10 in that set. It has been a long term goal of mine and Hansen was clogging up the rankings. How long this will last only Hansen knows.
I moved up to #7 after Hansen2 disappeared.
Many coins coming to market soon.
@currin any updates on new acquisitions for the Hansen Collection.
Or, alternatively, any updates on which PCGS registry sets are now undone / finished due to crossovers to CAC. That would be very informative.
Wondercoin.
Hi Mitch,
Glad to hear from you. I have not posted anything from August. I do have a couple postings started to warp up the Bass purchases . They will make up great updates when I do post. I am not sure what is going on with Dell Loy’s Collection. He has liquidated or in process of liquidating about 2000-2500 coins by my calculation. A few are top set coins. Up to late 2023, he would not sell a coin and leave a hole. This does not appear to be the case currently. In some cases, it appear he may have a replacement specimen in another set. So, set management in the PCGS registry is a work in progress. It really makes the status of the sets hard to track by an outsider. There appear a change is strategy, but I am not aware of what that is. I will have to say that after tracking this Collection for many years, 2023 was a strange year. Now, 2024 appear to have a rocky start.
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
Only speculation on my part, but that’s a huge change in a short period of time, and the only other big change in the coin market is CACG. Since DLH often has multiple sets in the PCGS Registry could they be strategically crossing coins in a master plan to dominate both the PCGS Registry and upcoming CACG Registry?
A true labor of love! Amazing post !!!!!
‘’Since DLH often has multiple sets in the PCGS Registry could they be strategically crossing coins in a master plan to dominate both the PCGS Registry and upcoming CACG Registry?’’
I highly doubt it, unless the CAC Registry was going to be intended to be nothing more than a “light version” of the PCGS Registry - which I also equally doubt. But, the real answer I’m sure is very simple - Mr. Hansen who has participated in 90 long pages of this thread, just needs to let us all know what is going on. Especially if he needs significant time to remove coins from the PCGS registry that are already removed from PCGS holders. I would do the same; it’s just fair play.
2023 was “strange” and 2024 has a “rocky” beginning. Why?
Wondercoin
I did find a John Brush blog posted on the 15th on DLRC. It does add a little additional clarity on the collection:
Life on the road continued this week with a jaunt to Salt Lake City, Utah. I had the privilege of sorting multiple sets of coins and finalizing the primary sets in the D.L. Hansen Collection. We’ve sold quite a few triplicate issues in the past and many upgrades have been made over the past few years, so a regular visit was necessary to sort out the best of the best. This was a thrilling, yet daunting, project as some of the duplicates are incredibly stellar. It makes it hard to say, “This coin just isn’t as nice as the higher grade one...” In some cases, I saw the duplicate before I even knew that it wasn’t the coin in the primary set - That’s when an audible “wow” would eject from my mouth.
Sometimes the enormity of what we’re working on with this collection is difficult to understand. I had the privilege of giving a brief explanation of the collection and the concept of collecting one of EVERY regular issue US coin from 1792-present to a small group of people. After my presentation, there were a few audible comments that really made me think. While the Smithsonian has a similar collection, the quality is nowhere near the quality of this collection. One of the little-known facts is that over 40% of the coins in the primary D.L. Hansen Collection are either the finest known or tied for the finest graded at PCGS!
So, while the quantity of coins in the collection is daunting, when you dig deeper it is even more fascinating to comprehend numismatically. Suffice it to say, sorting through a complete set of $5 Gold Liberty Half Eagles and an almost complete set of duplicates is mind-blowing. Of course, there’s more work to do here in the future, but three full days of organizing the greatest collection of US coins ever assembled is an incredible honor (and a lot of fun!). John Brush
Great write up but does not offer where the Collection will be going from here. From by observation, they have paused the upgrading of the top sets and gold proof additions. I did find one gold dollar upgrade, but the last real upgrades to mention was from the Harry Bass sale. Is it over, or are we just seeing a calm before the storm.
Mitch, I have saved you question for a later response.
My 20th Century Gold Major Design Type Set ---started : 11/17/1997 ---- completed : 1/21/2004
Just ran across @DLHansen's 1955 dime in MS67+FB POP 4/0 while looking into another thread.
1955 Roosevelt Dime, MS67+FB PCGS
PCGS POP 4/0
Certification #28825191, PCGS #85109
PCGS Price Guide $4,500
DLRC is selling all kinds of 2nd set Hansen coins right now.
Pretty amazing!
I managed to pick up a couple saints & am bidding on a third one now.
It's been a 5 year wait for the one I really wanted but I finally got it.
My Saint Set
Thanks for posting! It’s great to see what @DLHansen is selling as well.
It's very cool that he is showcased on their The Red Carpet Rarities Auction: