Not Quite an 1804 Gold Eagle Proof but...
So many incredible coins from Simpson. Really a credit to Laura Sperber and Legend, including George Huang and Bruce Morelan of course. I liked the positive recognition Heritage's Greg Rohan gave before the sale stated. Heritage still brings in the buyers. I underbid three silver bust coins, two of which created new price records (including the 1794 half dollar). This pattern was no where near as pricey as the 1804 Proof Gold Eagle just discussed (So called Judd-33 that's clearly not a pattern).
But my expectations were exceeded, when I was able to buy the 1804 proof Eagle in silver (Judd-34) with Todd Imhoff's help on the phone. Certainly, I never thought when I was young that I would ever own such an amazing (at least in my mind!) Pattern. The last public sale of this example was 1971, already 50 years. I'm not sure i will still be around in another 50 years from now, so it seemed the opportune time to take a shot. Its one of my 3 favorite patterns in my set now. I'm a bit fatigued from sitting through the last 48 hours of auctions, time for a glass of wine. Congrats to all who brought a Simpson treasure home.
Comments
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Congratulations! Please pardon my coin geekiness, but I think that’s one super cool coin.
I’d wondered if whoever was going to end up with the gold example would buy this one, too, as a companion piece. I’m very glad for you that he didn’t.Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
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Exceedingly cool pickup. ⭐️ Many congrats, enjoy the wine!
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Wow!
I would have tried for coin geekiness but I was awestruck
Coming back again to look and study again, and admiring the large version of the pictures, it is just wonderful how pronounced and crisp the coin is. Being able to what either are tooling lines within the portrait or the slightest weakness to the high points, and then the sharpness of several die markers such as star 7's blunder and the shield's "hanger" are impressive. I think I see a few areas where they improved the die prior to striking the gold, but I can't tell on the picture comparison.
Very impressive addition! Thanks for sharing.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #2421 -
That piece is absolutely insane. Well done!
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame0 -
What an amazing piece of history. Congrats, Chuck. Simply splendid. I hope I can see it some day.
Lance.Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #2130 -
Awesome score I like
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Congratulations!
Numismatist Ordinaire
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces0 -
This piece was actually struck before the gold pieces. And unused and deteriorated 180"BLANK" die was revived in 1834 to strike the diplomatic presentation sets. The plain "4" was added and the die cleaned up before the silver pieces were struck. After reviewing the silver pieces, it was apparently determined that further work on the die was desiirable. And after that work was done, the gold pieces were struck. Take a look at high resolutions of the coins and it becomes obvioue.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.8 -
Wow - great looking piece @GoBust - and thanks for the history on it @MrEureka. I initially questioned why the mint needed to strike pattern pieces for a design that had already been in production for 7-8 years. I'd forgotten about the @30 year lapse in the last production of the business strikes and the special proof strikes for the presentation sets.
Got Crust....y gold?1 -
It is an awesome coin especially since most 1804 Eagles are weakly struck in the facial area.
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 ... ?1 -
that thing looks so new and perfect, I kept looking for the word copy on it.
It's amazing that something like that exists at all, not to mention in that condition.
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@MrEureka said:
This piece was actually struck before the gold pieces. And unused and deteriorated 180"BLANK" was revived in 1834 to strike the diplomatic presentation sets. The plain "4" was added and the die cleaned up before the silver pieces were struck. After reviewing the silver pieces, it was apparently determined that further work on the die was desiirable. And after that work was done, the gold pieces were struck. Take a look at high resolutions of the coins and it becomes obvioue.Haven’t had your covfefe yet?
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Thanks for the positive feedback everybody. My other focus is collecting early half dollars (pre-1840) as some of you know. This also fits that collection in that the reverse die is likely from an 1806 half dollar. So is it a mule? A similar occurrence is found in die usage for early bodies and quarter eagles. And its the right metal, silver, for a half dollar. There of course were no other half dollars minted in 1804. Perhaps numismatist too often give all the credit to the obverse die and the reverse becomes a second class citizen! Just a thought to ponder.
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@GoBust said:
But my expectations were exceeded, when I was able to buy the 1804 proof Eagle in silver (Judd-34) with Todd Imhoff's help on the phone. Certainly, I never thought when I was young that I would ever own such an amazing (at least in my mind!) Pattern. The last public sale of this example was 1971, already 50 years. I'm not sure i will still be around in another 50 years from now, so it seemed the opportune time to take a shot. Its one of my 3 favorite patterns in my set now. I'm a bit fatigued from sitting through the last 48 hours of auctions, time for a glass of wine. Congrats to all who brought a Simpson treasure home.This is my favorite of all Simpson's patterns in this recent sale. It's an iconic coin struck in an iconic metal. And to think it wasn't even going to be available now except for unforeseen circumstances. Congrats on striking while the iron is hot!
And it is truly a King's ransom, King Farouk specifically!! It's wonderful to add your name to the small provenance list.
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@GoBust said:
Thanks for the positive feedback everybody. My other focus is collecting early half dollars (pre-1840) as some of you know. This also fits that collection in that the reverse die is likely from an 1806 half dollar. So is it a mule? A similar occurrence is found in die usage for early bodies and quarter eagles. And its the right metal, silver, for a half dollar. There of course were no other half dollars minted in 1804. Perhaps numismatist too often give all the credit to the obverse die and the reverse becomes a second class citizen! Just a thought to ponder.I agree the reverse doesn't always get the same attention as the obverse.
That would be very interesting. It would be great to see some comparisons with the half
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Looks like an honorable mention for the 1804 Silver Eagle Proof at the bottom of the page in a nice article by Steve Roach at Coin World.
I actually think the 1792 silver centered cent was the best buy of the night. Just staggering historical importance matched with phenomenal quality. Really shows the mastery of the 1792 US mint IMHO.
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Great coin and posts @GoBust!
You mentioned 3 patterns. If I may, do you own the platinum CBH? One of only two patterns I wish I had purchased over the years.1 -
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Not a bad buy at all @ 5% of the gold one!
Congrats GoBust. It’s a beautiful coin.
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I
everything about that. Well bought. Pieces of history like that are few and far between1 -
Congratulations! And I think you can say you bought the gold $10 but your camera doesn't capture color
Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection1 -
Yes Nic, I bought the platinum 1814 Capped Lettered Edge Half Dollar Judd-44 from a Heritage sale in 2011. Interestingly, the platinum pattern that was actually struck in 1814 as evidenced by the obverse and reverse die states being intermediate to silver versions released for circulation. No mint record have yet been found concerning its creation or purpose. Andy Lustig one of the smartest pattern experts here on the blog used to own it as well. There are two known, the other one is in the Smithsonian. A third example was rumored to exist in a Pine Tree catalog description in the early 1970s, but has not been verified to my knowledge.
https://pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1814-50c-j-44a/515721That's an interesting and attractive idea small eagle, but this board is much to clever and might see through such a ruse in about a millisecond! I was wondering if anyone had checked to make sure its not silver plated.
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I viewed the 1814 plat when Andy owned it. A coin he loved and I should have purchased. Have followed since and appreciate your reply.
Talk about interesting coins ….
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I will certainly check to make sure its not silver plated. I guess the question would be silver plate over what metal?
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What a pickup! Congratulations!
USAF (Ret) The purpose of Bourbon is to make you feel like you should feel WITHOUT Bourbon. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
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