1856-S Gold Dollar

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BillJones
BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
imageimage


Here is my 'big purchase" for the Baltimore show, an 1856-S gold dollar. This was the last coin I needed to finish a set of Type II gold dollars, which consists of just six coins. The trouble is despite the shortness of the series, every coin in it ranges from tough (the Philadelphia coins) to a major challenge (the 1855-D).


It is my assumption that the Philadelphia Mint personnel really wanted to get more gold dollars into circulation on the West Coast. Therefore they sent out perhaps two sets of the dies to San Francisco early in 1856 before the Type III gold dollars dies were completed. As a result the 1856-S gold dollar has the Type II design while the rest of the 1856 gold dollars are Type III coins.


This piece is the "double S" variety which shows the "ghost S" mint mark that is northeast of the final mint letter. This variety is not rare. In fact roughly half of the known 1856-S have it. There is another die variety which does not show this feature. My assumption is that the Philadelphia Mint sent two sets of the dies to San Francisco in 1856. Chances are both reverse dies were used, but only one of the obverse made its way to the coin press.


PCGS graded this piece AU-55. The mark to the right of the "U" in "UNITED" is over emphasized in my photo. It is really very trivial and almost invisible when the coin is "in hand."

Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?

Comments

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Great little early S-mint coin.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • TopographicOceans
    TopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations on the pick-up as well as completing the set.


    And thanks for the interesting back story on the dies.
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    By the mid 1850s it took from 6 to 8 weeks to get the dies to the West Coast.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • sparky64
    sparky64 Posts: 7,063 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations on completing your set.

    Looks like you picked a winner to do the job.



    Also appreciate the history lesson as well.

    "If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"

    My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress

  • lkeigwin
    lkeigwin Posts: 16,895 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congrats, Bill, on completing the set! Looks like you made a nice addition. It would be fun to get the six coins imaged/TV'd and present them all together.

    Lance.
    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,933 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Originally posted by: lkeigwin
    Congrats, Bill, on completing the set! Looks like you made a nice addition. It would be fun to get the six coins imaged/TV'd and present them all together.
    Lance.



    Here is a registry link:

    Bill's Type II Gold Dollar Collection
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • nankraut
    nankraut Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭
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    Great post, Mr. Jones; thanks 4 sharing.image
    I'm the Proud recipient of a genuine "you suck" award dated 1/24/05. I was accepted into the "Circle of Trust" on 3/9/09.
  • mrcommem
    mrcommem Posts: 1,214 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Bill,

    Nice acquisition and congratulations on completing of your type set. I am looking for the same coin for a gold dollar branch mint set nearing completion. If you get tired of it, let me know as it will fit perfectly in my collection.
    Mr Commem
    Overland Trail Collection Showcase
    Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
  • ambro51
    ambro51 Posts: 14,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I've enjoyed your serious pursuit of these little golden sweethearts. You've made Gold Dollars "legit" here, and I wish you well on a goal to completion. You do know lurking like a pair of 800 pound Gorillas in the room are the 1854 and 1855 Proofs. These are the true showpieces of the Type 2 design with subltle differences in relief and small details in their dies as compared to the business strikes. Pity is, and a true pity....these are amazingly rare, amazingly beautiful and amazingly expensive. Bill, keep buying lottery tickets and if you hit big I want you hunt down the Proofs too!
  • ambro51
    ambro51 Posts: 14,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Bill BTW you should add the 1854 Doubled Die variety with the triple row of beads to your collection. Much rarer but possible to "cherry pick", I bought mine from a major dealer who had no idea. But since GDs are thinly collected anyway it's rarity alone won't really command a premium. Strange, that.
  • ambro51
    ambro51 Posts: 14,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    BTW here's the 56S I had. imageimage
  • MidLifeCrisis
    MidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,617 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congratulations! image
  • SeattleSlammer
    SeattleSlammer Posts: 10,125 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Whoa, very nice, thanks for sharing.
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks for the history Bill... very nice addition to your collection..Congratulations on

    the completion of the set. Cheers, RickO
  • asheland
    asheland Posts: 24,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I like her! image

    My YouTube Channel

  • Bullsitter
    Bullsitter Posts: 6,295 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nice addition and set, low survival # on that '56-S.
  • AMRC
    AMRC Posts: 4,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Love the old gold. Nice.
    MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,051 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    nice pick up and nice coin image
  • golden
    golden Posts: 10,535 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Originally posted by: sparky64
    Congratulations on completing your set.
    Looks like you picked a winner to do the job.

    Also appreciate the history lesson as well.


    image
  • SullivanNumismatics
    SullivanNumismatics Posts: 893 ✭✭✭✭
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    Nice set, and congrats on finishing it. I like the 1855-D in particular.
    www.sullivannumismatics.com Dealer in Mint Error Coins since 2003.
  • BustCuds
    BustCuds Posts: 1,096 ✭✭✭
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    Congratulations on completing your set. Tough Gold Dollar issue image
  • OldEastside
    OldEastside Posts: 4,602 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is a very cool set Bill, Congrats



    Steve
    Promote the Hobby

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