Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth's 100 Greatest US Coins book inspired me to start this set but also credit to Ian for saying to me: "you already own the hardest to get and most valuable coin on the list, the rest should be easy." 😂
@EliteCollection said:
I've wanted to coin ever since it first went up for auction in 2002, but I didn't have the means at the time. So I couldn't pass up the opportunity to own it when it became possible in 2021.
I previously had a modest Saints set with average grade of MS 62 or so and missing many of the key dates. Once I got the 1933, I decided to go all in and build the best Saints set.
This coin was ranked #60 in the first edition of the 100 Greatest US Coins book, but it is no longer included in the latest edition of the book.
This has a CACG certificate number of #0010 and is one of the first 20 coins graded first at CACG. The original owner won an essay contest held by CACG for the first 20 coins graded.
Ron Guth:
The 1851-O Silver Dollar is one of the most mysterious and little known American coins. The date does not appear in the GUIDEBOOK or in Walter Breen's "Encyclopedia", nor does it show up in Mint Reports for the period. Nevertheless, this is an authentic coin that was struck at the U.S. Mint, albeit under suspicious circumstances.
Breen believed that this coin was struck surreptitiously at the Philadelphia Mint sometime in the 1860's to 1870's by employees utilizing an 1851 Obverse and an "O"-mintmarked Reverse. He believed that whoever made this piece attempted to remove the mintmark upon discovering that they had inadvertently created a previously unknown rarity.
On October 18, 2002, I examined the coin in the offices of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. I viewed the coin with the following possibilities in mind:
Possibility #1: that this was indeed a muling of an 1851 Obverse with an "O"-mintmarked Reverse. Finding: the mintmark is clearly visible but completely flat. While there are some very fine, almost microscopic scratches in the area of the mintmark, I believe that this was an attempt to efface the already flattened mintmark, not to remove a raised mintmark.
Possibility #2: that a Silver Dollar previously struck at the New Orleans Mint was mistakenly overstruck in the process of creating an 1851 Restrike Silver Dollar. Since no Silver Dollars were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1851, the only possibilities for the host coin were the 1846-O, 1850-O, 1859-O, and 1860-O dates.
1851-(O) $1 Restrike Over O-Mint PCGS PR 62+ (Pop 1/0)
When I repurchased the seated dollar set from The Fund, they had added this specific coin to the set. I didn’t think it real so I sold it off individually prior to reselling the set to Hansen
The 1909-S VDB ranks as one of the most popular and widely known of all the Lincoln cents and some might argue that it is one of the favorites in the entire run of United States coins. Collectors love coins with stories, and this one has a couple.
First, there's the controversy over the initials on the reverse. When Victor David Brenner created his new design, he placed his full name in tiny letters on the base of the reverse, bottom center. This was nothing new, as other designers and engravers had placed their names and/or initials on coins of the past. As part of modifications to Brenner's models, Mint Engraver Charles Barber changed the name to the artist's three initials (VDB). Once the coins were issued, some newspaper reporters took issue with the placement of the initials, arguing that the bottom of the reverse was far from inconspicuous and that the initials amounted to free, illegal advertising for the designer. Instead of placing the initials elsewhere in new dies, mint employees simply removed them entirely from the coin, and a new round of cents were produced without the VDB.
The short period of time in which the VDB coins were produced in San Francisco led to the second desirable attribute of this coin: it's low mintage. Only 484,000 Cents were issued with the VDB initials, creating an instant scarcity. It's popularity has remained high ever since.
On September 12, 1857, the steamship SS Central America sank in the Atlantic Ocean, 200 miles off the coast of North Carolina, on the way to New York with treasure fresh from the California gold rush. On board was an incredible quantity of gold bars, gold dust, and silver coins, and more than 12,000 gold coins. Unfortunately, nearly 600 people were also making the trip home from the land of opportunity. When the ship sank below the waves, 425 lives were lost. The story of the SS Central America is one the most heart-wrenching episodes of bravery and courage in U.S. history. Because of a Herculean effort on the part of the passengers and crew, 153 passengers survived the ravages of the storm.
The ship and her golden bounty lay on the ocean floor in 7,200 feet of water for the next 130 years. In 1985, a group of explorers and investors formed the Columbus-America Discovery Group to locate the treasure. The wreck was found in September 1986. It was one of the largest discoveries of treasure ever found. Over the next few years, the artifacts were brought to the surface. A legal battle ensued with insurance companies over the ownership of the find. A settlement was reached, and the gold was finally brought to market. The California Gold Marketing Group, headed by Dwight Manley, was formed to marker the rare coins and gold bars.
Nearly all of the 1857-S double eagles from the SS Central America are pristine in appearance, and some very choice examples of a few earlier issues-notably 1856-S-were found as well. Prior to the find, double eagles from the 1850s were nearly impossible to locate in higher states of preservation. Now, for a relatively small investment, one can own a tangible piece of this incredibly important chapter of U.S. history.
1857-S $20 SS Central America PCGS MS 67+ CAC (Pop 1/0)
@tradedollarnut said:
When I repurchased the seated dollar set from The Fund, they had added this specific coin to the set. I didn’t think it real so I sold it off individually prior to reselling the set to Hansen
Of course it’s real. Whether it belongs in the top 100 list or in a Seated Dollar registry set is another matter, and I’m sure we would agree about those issues.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
@tradedollarnut said:
When I repurchased the seated dollar set from The Fund, they had added this specific coin to the set. I didn’t think it real so I sold it off individually prior to reselling the set to Hansen.
When I saw Proof "Restrike" over another coin, my immediate thought was why the Mint would strike a PR over another coin? Then, what condition was the other coin? Did it have any "mirror". It is definitely of mint quality, so it had to be done at A U.S. MINT. Something interesting going on here.
All 1798 $10 gold pieces are overdates. Two varieties comprise the entire mintage for the year and both share the same reverse die. The difference between the two varieties is the placement of the stars: one has four on the right side of the obverse (BD-1); the other has six stars on the right side (BD-2). BD-1 is relatively common, though any coin with an estimated population of 100 pieces is a classic, American rarity. Mint State examples of this variety are very rare, and are led by a Gem example that was once in the Garrett Collection and which now resides in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation Permanent Collection of U. S. Gold, Patterns and Currency.
David Akers:
This is one of the rarest of the early Eagles but, despite the similarity in the mintages of this and the 1798/7, 7x6 Stars, the 1798/7, 9x4 Stars is not nearly as rare as the 7x6. In fact, based on the auction appearances, this issue is not really as rare as generally believed and has appeared with the same frequency as the 1804 and less often than the underappreciated 1797 Small Eagle. Most known specimens grade from VF to AU but several strictly uncirculated examples are also known.
Really enjoying this thread Elite! Its great to see a top shelf collector really dig into the history with a strong effort to learn in depth about each and every coin in your historic set. You really are becoming a card carrying, solid numismatist at a very brisk pace, which isn't the case for many deep-resouced collectors. Would love to hear a bit of your history and the impetus to dive into the "Hobby of Kings" with such drive and fevor and enjoyment. I have between 10 and 20 coins on the greatest 100 list such as the Eliasberg 1817/4 and 1838-O halves (I started my collecting focus in the capped half dollar arena). I've stayed focused on early silver, patterns and fugio cents (pre-1840) from the list for the most part. But what you're doing really is both historic and astounding!
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco, California from in 1915 to commemorate the completion and opening of the Panama Canal, and also to celebrate the city’s rise from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake. A commemorative series was authorized by the United States Congress to be struck at the San Francisco Mint: a silver 50C, a gold $1, a gold $2.5, an Octagonal $50 Gold Piece, and a Round $50 Gold Piece.
@yosclimber said:
The 20c 1876-CC is not only extremely rare, but it has one of the most dramatic DDOs on US coins.
(Maybe only surpassed by the 1c 1955 DDO).
Unfortunately, it's one of those varieties that is not going to be possible to cherry pick on ebay!
there are quite a few dramatic doubled dies for 1876cc coins
This is another of the major rarities in the Half Eagle series. Only six specimens are known, two of them permanently impounded in the Smithsonian Institution including the Lilly specimen which is a plugged VF formerly in the Jenks Collection. A third specimen, EF, is in the Eliasberg Collection and a fourth is in the Byron Reed Collection. The fifth specimen is the uncirculated Farouk Coin (Ex Col. Green). The sixth and final known specimen was at the 1977 ANA Convention in Atlanta in the possession of dealer Chuck Varner. The coin, a nice EF, reportedly traded hands at the convention for approximately $26,000.
Very cool coin.
For coins with a very small roster like many in the Top 100 list, I like looking at the roster/provenance for the handful of known coins.
The roster from the Heritage Bass sale of this coin is an improvement on the Akers list.
Roster of 1832 12 Stars, BD-2 Half Eagles
Thanks to Ron Guth (Numismatic Detective Agency) and Saul Teichman for their help in compiling this roster.
1. MS63 PCGS. George Seavey, exhibited at the February 4, 1869 meeting of the Boston Numismatic Society; Seavey Descriptive Catalog (William Strobridge, 1873), lot 514; Seavey's entire collection was purchased intact by millionaire Boston collector Lorin G. Parmelee before the Strobridge auction took place; Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp, 6/1890), lot 1013; Byron Reed; City of Omaha; Durham Western Heritage Museum; Byron Reed Collection (Christie's and Spink America, 10/1996), lot 120, realized $297,000; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part IV (Stack's Bowers and Sotheby's, 5/2016), lot 4043, realized $822,500; D.L. Hansen Collection.
2. AU53 PCGS. William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1650; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate; United States Gold Coin Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 393, realized $44,000; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; Harry Bass Core Collection, on display at ANA Headquarters in Colorado Springs until 2022 (HBCC #3160). The present coin.
3. XF45 NGC. Royal Coins of Houston, reportedly purchased over the counter in the 1970s; Chuck Varner; Mike Brownlee; Dr. Robert C. Wynsen Collection (David Akers, 5/1998), lot 375, realized $159,500.
4. VF, holed and plugged, uncertified. Matthew Stickney Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1907), lot 674, holed above the head, realized $50, to "Iron", a.k.a. John Story Jenks; John Story Jenks Collection (Henry Chapman, 12/1921), lot 5772, still holed; possibly "Colonel" E.H.R. Green, as the F.C.C. Boyd appraisal of his collection indicates he owned a holed 1832 half eagle, in addition to his primary coin; Stack's in 1943; Clifford T. Weihman; Josiah K. Lilly in 1954, via Stack's, now with hole plugged; Lilly Estate, donated intact to the National Numismatic Collection in exchange for a $5.5 million tax credit, National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, ID #68.159.0203 and pictured on the Smithsonian website.
5. Uncirculated. William H. Woodin, exhibited at the 1914 ANS Exhibition; Waldo Newcomer, imaged on the Newcomer plates; "Colonel" E.H.R. Green, imaged on Stack's "Colonel" Green plates; King Farouk; Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), part of lot 247.
Additional Appearances
A. Very Fine. H.O. Granberg Collection (B. Max Mehl, 7/1913), lot 1023, realized $515; Waldo Newcomer, listed in the Newcomer Inventory as #124, with a grade of "Ex. fine" and a value of $515. Possibly the coin in number 2 or 3 above.
B. Extremely Fine, traces of mint luster. H.E. Rawson Collection (B. Max Mehl, 12/1922), lot 114, realized $1,310. Possibly the coin in number 2 or 3 above.
Note: Walter Breen reported a sixth example in the National Numismatic Collection, because the Mint Cabinet Acquisition Book indicates an 1832 half eagle was purchased on 2/24/1883, for $20. However, that coin was a 13 Stars, BD-1 example.
First thing every morning, run to the computer to see what Trophy coin you posted. Your accomplishments are amazing and doing this in so few years is incredible. Super excited to see future additions.
Comments
Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth's 100 Greatest US Coins book inspired me to start this set but also credit to Ian for saying to me: "you already own the hardest to get and most valuable coin on the list, the rest should be easy." 😂
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Thanks!
Here is my 1851 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar Restrike Over O Mint CACG Proof-62+. This coin is the single finest known as it is unique.
This coin was ranked #60 in the first edition of the 100 Greatest US Coins book, but it is no longer included in the latest edition of the book.
This has a CACG certificate number of #0010 and is one of the first 20 coins graded first at CACG. The original owner won an essay contest held by CACG for the first 20 coins graded.
Ron Guth:
The 1851-O Silver Dollar is one of the most mysterious and little known American coins. The date does not appear in the GUIDEBOOK or in Walter Breen's "Encyclopedia", nor does it show up in Mint Reports for the period. Nevertheless, this is an authentic coin that was struck at the U.S. Mint, albeit under suspicious circumstances.
Breen believed that this coin was struck surreptitiously at the Philadelphia Mint sometime in the 1860's to 1870's by employees utilizing an 1851 Obverse and an "O"-mintmarked Reverse. He believed that whoever made this piece attempted to remove the mintmark upon discovering that they had inadvertently created a previously unknown rarity.
On October 18, 2002, I examined the coin in the offices of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. I viewed the coin with the following possibilities in mind:
Possibility #1: that this was indeed a muling of an 1851 Obverse with an "O"-mintmarked Reverse. Finding: the mintmark is clearly visible but completely flat. While there are some very fine, almost microscopic scratches in the area of the mintmark, I believe that this was an attempt to efface the already flattened mintmark, not to remove a raised mintmark.
Possibility #2: that a Silver Dollar previously struck at the New Orleans Mint was mistakenly overstruck in the process of creating an 1851 Restrike Silver Dollar. Since no Silver Dollars were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1851, the only possibilities for the host coin were the 1846-O, 1850-O, 1859-O, and 1860-O dates.
1851-(O) $1 Restrike Over O-Mint PCGS PR 62+ (Pop 1/0)
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When I repurchased the seated dollar set from The Fund, they had added this specific coin to the set. I didn’t think it real so I sold it off individually prior to reselling the set to Hansen
Here is my 1909-S Lincoln Cent V.D.B. PCGS MS-67 RD (CAC Green). This coin is one of the finest known with a population of 17 with no coins graded higher. It is in a PCGS old green holder.
This coin is #47 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Ron Guth:
The 1909-S VDB ranks as one of the most popular and widely known of all the Lincoln cents and some might argue that it is one of the favorites in the entire run of United States coins. Collectors love coins with stories, and this one has a couple.
First, there's the controversy over the initials on the reverse. When Victor David Brenner created his new design, he placed his full name in tiny letters on the base of the reverse, bottom center. This was nothing new, as other designers and engravers had placed their names and/or initials on coins of the past. As part of modifications to Brenner's models, Mint Engraver Charles Barber changed the name to the artist's three initials (VDB). Once the coins were issued, some newspaper reporters took issue with the placement of the initials, arguing that the bottom of the reverse was far from inconspicuous and that the initials amounted to free, illegal advertising for the designer. Instead of placing the initials elsewhere in new dies, mint employees simply removed them entirely from the coin, and a new round of cents were produced without the VDB.
The short period of time in which the VDB coins were produced in San Francisco led to the second desirable attribute of this coin: it's low mintage. Only 484,000 Cents were issued with the VDB initials, creating an instant scarcity. It's popularity has remained high ever since.
1909-S 1C VDB PCGS MS 67 RD CAC (Pop 17/0)
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Here is my 1857-S Liberty Gold Double Eagle Spiked Shield S.S. Central America #2 (with Pinch) PCGS MS-67+ (CAC Green). This coin is the single finest known with no coins graded higher.
This coin is #97 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
100 Greatest Unites States Coins 6th Edition:
On September 12, 1857, the steamship SS Central America sank in the Atlantic Ocean, 200 miles off the coast of North Carolina, on the way to New York with treasure fresh from the California gold rush. On board was an incredible quantity of gold bars, gold dust, and silver coins, and more than 12,000 gold coins. Unfortunately, nearly 600 people were also making the trip home from the land of opportunity. When the ship sank below the waves, 425 lives were lost. The story of the SS Central America is one the most heart-wrenching episodes of bravery and courage in U.S. history. Because of a Herculean effort on the part of the passengers and crew, 153 passengers survived the ravages of the storm.
The ship and her golden bounty lay on the ocean floor in 7,200 feet of water for the next 130 years. In 1985, a group of explorers and investors formed the Columbus-America Discovery Group to locate the treasure. The wreck was found in September 1986. It was one of the largest discoveries of treasure ever found. Over the next few years, the artifacts were brought to the surface. A legal battle ensued with insurance companies over the ownership of the find. A settlement was reached, and the gold was finally brought to market. The California Gold Marketing Group, headed by Dwight Manley, was formed to marker the rare coins and gold bars.
Nearly all of the 1857-S double eagles from the SS Central America are pristine in appearance, and some very choice examples of a few earlier issues-notably 1856-S-were found as well. Prior to the find, double eagles from the 1850s were nearly impossible to locate in higher states of preservation. Now, for a relatively small investment, one can own a tangible piece of this incredibly important chapter of U.S. history.
1857-S $20 SS Central America PCGS MS 67+ CAC (Pop 1/0)
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Nice even rose gold throughout!
Really like the way this collection is coming together. Some beautiful coins represented with great pedigrees.
Of course it’s real. Whether it belongs in the top 100 list or in a Seated Dollar registry set is another matter, and I’m sure we would agree about those issues.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
When I saw Proof "Restrike" over another coin, my immediate thought was why the Mint would strike a PR over another coin? Then, what condition was the other coin? Did it have any "mirror". It is definitely of mint quality, so it had to be done at A U.S. MINT. Something interesting going on here.
Amazing coin BUT: Your coin is a credit to the PCGS SLAB because it has kept it from spotting" all these years!
Here is my 1798/7 Capped Bust Gold Eagle Stars 9x4 BD-1 PCGS MS-63. This coin is the single finest known with no coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to Harry W. Bass, Jr.
This coin is #52 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Ron Guth:
All 1798 $10 gold pieces are overdates. Two varieties comprise the entire mintage for the year and both share the same reverse die. The difference between the two varieties is the placement of the stars: one has four on the right side of the obverse (BD-1); the other has six stars on the right side (BD-2). BD-1 is relatively common, though any coin with an estimated population of 100 pieces is a classic, American rarity. Mint State examples of this variety are very rare, and are led by a Gem example that was once in the Garrett Collection and which now resides in the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation Permanent Collection of U. S. Gold, Patterns and Currency.
David Akers:
This is one of the rarest of the early Eagles but, despite the similarity in the mintages of this and the 1798/7, 7x6 Stars, the 1798/7, 9x4 Stars is not nearly as rare as the 7x6. In fact, based on the auction appearances, this issue is not really as rare as generally believed and has appeared with the same frequency as the 1804 and less often than the underappreciated 1797 Small Eagle. Most known specimens grade from VF to AU but several strictly uncirculated examples are also known.
1798/7 $10 Stars 9x4 PCGS MS 63 (Pop 1/0)
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Thats a Beaut!
That restrike is fascinating. Do we know its pedigree?
Coin Photographer and Videographer
https://www.youtube.com/@FriendlyEagle7
@EliteCollection - this quest and this thread is amazing. You acquired so many Trophy coins that its mindblowing......
The best ones are yet to come. 😲
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This is great, thanks for sharing. Keep 'em coming!
Really enjoying this thread Elite! Its great to see a top shelf collector really dig into the history with a strong effort to learn in depth about each and every coin in your historic set. You really are becoming a card carrying, solid numismatist at a very brisk pace, which isn't the case for many deep-resouced collectors. Would love to hear a bit of your history and the impetus to dive into the "Hobby of Kings" with such drive and fevor and enjoyment. I have between 10 and 20 coins on the greatest 100 list such as the Eliasberg 1817/4 and 1838-O halves (I started my collecting focus in the capped half dollar arena). I've stayed focused on early silver, patterns and fugio cents (pre-1840) from the list for the most part. But what you're doing really is both historic and astounding!
Here is my 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50 Gold, Round CACG MS-67. This coin is one of the finest known with a population of only 2 with no coins graded higher.
This coin is #37 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was held in San Francisco, California from in 1915 to commemorate the completion and opening of the Panama Canal, and also to celebrate the city’s rise from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake. A commemorative series was authorized by the United States Congress to be struck at the San Francisco Mint: a silver 50C, a gold $1, a gold $2.5, an Octagonal $50 Gold Piece, and a Round $50 Gold Piece.
1915-S $50 Pan-Pac Round CACG MS 67 (Pop 2/0)
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there are quite a few dramatic doubled dies for 1876cc coins
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
That Pan-Pac $50… I don’t think “Like” is superlative enough. Where’s the “Dayum!” button?
Empty Nest Collection
Here is my 1832 Capped Head Gold Half Eagle 12 Stars BD-2 PCGS AU-53. This coin has a population of 1 with only 1 coin graded higher at MS 63. The coin is pedigreed to Harry W. Bass, Jr.
This coin is #94 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
This is another of the major rarities in the Half Eagle series. Only six specimens are known, two of them permanently impounded in the Smithsonian Institution including the Lilly specimen which is a plugged VF formerly in the Jenks Collection. A third specimen, EF, is in the Eliasberg Collection and a fourth is in the Byron Reed Collection. The fifth specimen is the uncirculated Farouk Coin (Ex Col. Green). The sixth and final known specimen was at the 1977 ANA Convention in Atlanta in the possession of dealer Chuck Varner. The coin, a nice EF, reportedly traded hands at the convention for approximately $26,000.
1832 $5 12 Stars PCGS AU 53 (Pop 1/1)
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Very cool coin.
For coins with a very small roster like many in the Top 100 list, I like looking at the roster/provenance for the handful of known coins.
The roster from the Heritage Bass sale of this coin is an improvement on the Akers list.
from
https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half-eagles/half-eagles/1832-5-12-stars-bd-2-high-r7-au53-pcgs-pcgs-519951-/a/1353-11054.s
The rosters on PCGS CoinFacts (by Ron Guth) are also generally excellent and only slightly out of date:
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1832-5-12-stars/8155
First thing every morning, run to the computer to see what Trophy coin you posted. Your accomplishments are amazing and doing this in so few years is incredible. Super excited to see future additions.