1854 Proof gold coins

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Dentuck
Dentuck Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Walter Breen asserted that the United States Mint made a set of Proof gold coins in 1854 to ship to the autonomous German city of Bremen, in exchange for coins needed for the Mint Cabinet collection. According to Breen, the Proof set was "liberated" near the end of World War II and, at some point, broken up.

Various gold Proofs of 1854 have come to market over the years. But I don't think Breen's information about the City of Bremen has ever been substantiated by government documents, newspaper coverage, or other sources.

Does anyone have insight, or a source other than Breen, regarding the alleged City of Bremen connection?

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  • The_Dinosaur_Man
    The_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The timeline is correct, but from what I understand Breen's sources were often dubious.

    Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
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  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,073 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Dubious honors 🎖 👍

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,168 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    David T. Alexander has written about Alexandre (sp?) Vattemare and his connection to these mid-19th century Proof swaps. See what you can find there

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • CaptainBlunt
    CaptainBlunt Posts: 212 ✭✭✭
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    Mint of United States
    Philadelphia
    July 21, 1854
    Hon. James Guthrie
    Secretary of the Treasury
    Washington City
    Sir:
    In compliance with your request I send to you to-day , per Adam’s & Co. Express, put up in a handsome case, a full set of our coins for presentation to the government of the city of Bremen. Enclosed in the box you will find a statement of the fineness, weight and value of each of our coins.
    I have the honor to be with great respect, your faithful servant,
    James Ross Snowden
    Director

    Mr Schleiden the Minister of Bremen had sent a set of coins on behalf of his government to the Mint

    Originally I thought Snowden purposed sending Bremen 1 DE 1 QE 1 $3 1gold dollar and some silver and copper coin

  • JimTyler
    JimTyler Posts: 4,100 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    100 years older than me.

  • logger7
    logger7 Posts: 9,861 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Interesting story. Apparently not all of Walter Breen's (not to be confused with guitarist Julian Bream) stories were accurate.

  • CaptainBlunt
    CaptainBlunt Posts: 212 ✭✭✭
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    Snowden valued the coins received from Bremen at $28,88
    Thus he wanted to send
    them
    1 Double Eagle $20
    1 Quarter Eagle 2.50
    1 Three dollar piece 3,00
    1 gold dollar 1.00
    Silver 2 Copper 2,38
    $28.88

    If the Sec of the Treasury desired that a full US set be sent they could take the difference in the value from the ordinary fund

    July 11, 1854
    James Ross Snowden to James Guthrie Sec of the Treasury

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