Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 13

The Benson Collection of U.S. Coins, Part 2

Territorial and California Gold Coins

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1834		Christopher Bechtler, $2.50 GEORGIA, 64 gr. 22 carats. Sharpness of EF-45 or better. This one has been lightly burnished some time in the past, and is still rather bright. Decent surfaces otherwise, and a rare coin which is seldom offered. Boldly struck by the dies, which show a few of the usual cracks seen on this die pairing, and still appealing overall. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1835		No Date (1853). BG-501, R-5+. Octagonal Liberty Gold Dollar. . BG-501. PCGS graded MS-63. One of the finest graded of this important Frontier & Deviercy issue that has the Kellogg-Humbert style eagle reverse. Although no date is present on the coin, research shows that it was coined in 1853. Further, PCGS has graded a total of 34 of this variety, with only 5 this high, with none graded higher, making this tied for the finest seen by that service! We note it is identifiable by a small semi circle of tiny planchet flaws on Liberty's cheek, and a minute copper spot in the field before her mouth. Sharply struck for this is a later die state with a faint crack through the right end of the ribbon, and this is not reported in the Breen Gillio reference. Certainly an opportunity for the advanced specialist of California Fractional Gold. Estimated Value $4,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,830
Lot 1836		No Date (1853). BG-501, R-5+. Octagonal Liberty Gold Dollar. . BG-501. PCGS graded MS-63. One of the finest graded of this important variety, PCGS has only graded 5 this high, with none graded higher! Further, this one is housed in an old green insert PCGS holder. Popular because of the reverse motif, with the Kellogg style eagle with ribbon familiar to territorial gold collectors. Liberty's hair is sharp, and her cheek is clean. On the reverse we note some minor hairlines under GOLD in the field, and a die crack from the tip of the right ribbon end to the rim below. Worth a strong bid and very difficult to locate in top grades. Featured on Doering's cover for good reason. Estimated Value $4,000-UP. Purchased privately from Jay Roe in 1990. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,290
Lot 1837		Withdrawn	Unsold
Lot 1838		1852. BG-401, R-4. Round Liberty Half Dollar. . BG-401. PCGS graded MS-64. A scarce issue from Frontier & Deviercy, one which is seldom found so exceptional. The surfaces and quite frosty, and the strike is good for the issue. We note that all the stars are full, and Liberty shows good detail too, with the only trivial weakness on the top of the 5 of the date at the center of the reverse. Yellow gold in color and a delight for the specialist. PCGS has graded 5 this high, with just 2 graded higher (both MS-65), making this one of the best around of the variety. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $834
Lot 1839		1853. BG-302, R-5. "Peacock reverse". Octagonal Liberty Half Dollar. . BG-302. PCGS graded MS-63. One of the finest of this popular variety, PCGS notes just 16 graded this high, with 11 graded higher for the variety. This one is toned with coppery hues and is mounted in an old green insert PCGS holder. Well struck for the variety, and we note this is the early die state before the cud formed over the right obverse star. In feverish demand for the unusual reverse design, which is a small eagle with rays behind (like the quarters and half dollars of 1853), the rays have the appearance of a peacock with his tail feathers spread, hence the name. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 1840		1853. BG-435, R-5. State Arms of California. Round Liberty Half Dollar. . BG-435. PCGS graded MS-64. A classic example of this highly desirable issue. Mint fresh luster throughout, with slightly prooflike fields on the obverse. Boldly struck by the dies, and quite well preserved. An excellent coin for the grade in every way. One faint coppery spot right of the eagle's beak may help trace the pedigree. It is not known who struck these, but they are almost certainly a Period One issue (1852-56). The State Arms of California shows a draped and helmeted Liberty, holding a spear and shield with a bear at her side. On the reverse, an eagle with outstretched wings, holding a scroll in its beak, with a shield in one claw, and a branch in the other, encircled by the inscription CALIFORNIA GOLD HALF DOLLAR. Needless to say, this is an extremely important type issue, and one that is rare in high grades. In a recent PCGS Population Report we see that 5 have been graded this high, with 2 graded higher. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,763
Lot 1841		1856. BG-311, R-4. Octagonal Liberty Half Dollar. . BG-311. PCGS graded MS-64. Lovely color and clean surfaces for this issue, and very choice indeed. Liberty's head is well frosted, and the fields retain their mirror polish from the original finish work on the dies. Sharply defined throughout. This appears to be an early die state, but it is impossible to tell as the PCGS holder covers over the edges where the die breaks first appear. PCGS notes only 2 coins graded this high of the variety, with none graded higher! A foremost opportunity for the advanced specialist. Estimated Value $1,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,783
Lot 1842		1867. BG-709, R-5. Octagonal Liberty Quarter Dollar. . BG-709. PCGS graded MS-64. As Jay Roe says, "This is the best made of the large Liberty Head types", and as Breen notes, "which isn't saying much" an interesting dialogue that has kept numismatics amusing. On this particular example, we note excellent contrast between the frosty devices and the mirror fields, and the coin boasts a delightful rich yellow gold color. As to the die execution, the stars are somewhat crude, and Liberty's head is a bit large and forbidding, with an athlete's neck to support her. Note the reverse die alignment is 180 degrees from a normal coin. PCGS has graded 16 this high, with 32 graded higher. Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $380
Lot 1843		1870. BG-1203, R-5. Round Liberty Gold Dollar. . BG-1203. PCGS graded MS-63. Prooflike fields on both sides and well struck for this issue. These gold dollars were coined by Robert B. Gray & Co., and signed with a small "G" below the truncation of Liberty, just above the date. There are some minute hairlines and these probably account for the grade, and we note a small hazy toning spot just above Liberty's head behind her coronet. This is the later die state with the light crack through the center of the reverse. Always popular and rare this nice, PCGS in their Population Report show 6 graded this high with just 2 graded higher (both MS-64). Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,500. Purchased from Jay Roe in February 1989. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,338
Lot 1844		1871. BG-813, R-4. Round Liberty Quarter Dollar. . BG-813. PCGS graded MS-65. Bold and beautiful, with full frost on the devices and mirror fields around. This is an early die state, with the so called "broken nose" on Liberty from die polishing. These were struck by Frontier & Co. PCGS has graded 9 this high, with a single coin graded higher. Another opportunity for the specialist. Estimated Value $500-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 1845		1871. BG-1104, High R-5. Octagonal Liberty Gold Dollar. . BG-1104. PCGS graded MS-64. A gorgeous example from Frontier & Co. that is boldly struck from an early die state, although the reeding is difficult to see in the holder. One faint toning speck just below the bust, and another between the last pair of stars should help to identify this one. PCGS has graded 7 this high, with just 2 graded higher, making this well up in the condition census for the variety. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. Purchased from Jay Roe privately in March 1989. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,415
Lot 1846		1872. BG-722, R-4. Washington Head. Round Liberty Quarter Dollar. . BG-722. PCGS graded MS-65. One of the most popular of all designs of California Fractional Gold, the Washington obverse by Frontier & Bellemere was believed to have been struck from the Peace Jubilee Exposition. Washington remained an enormously popular figure in America then, as he remains today. Further, these coins boast excellent contrast between the frosty devices and the mirror fields, making them quite handsome to behold. The stars are sharply engraved in the die, and well struck here, as are the balance of the devices. We note a trace of a die crack through the tops of CAL. Sharply struck by the dies, and with hazy gold toning on both sides. On the PCGS insert the coin is identified as a BG-818, but it should be a BG-722. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 1847		1872. BG-818, R-5. Washington Head. Round Liberty Quarter Dollar. . BG-818. PCGS graded MS-65. One of the most popular designs of the entire series, the Washington head only occurs on a few die pairings by Frontier & Bellemere. On the round quarter eagles, it was only used on BG-818. Frosty gold luster on the devices, the fields are a bit reflective and toned with hazy gold accents. Breen speculates that these were struck for the Peace Jubilee Exposition. As to the strike, it is sharp on Washington, but there is some trivial weakness on the 4 of the denomination. PCGS has graded just 14 this high, with 2 graded higher, making this one of the around. An important opportunity for the specialist. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. Purchased from Jay Roe in October 1990. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 1848		1872. BG-818, R-5. Washington Head. Round Liberty Quarter Dollar. . BG-818. PCGS graded MS-65. This rare Washington obverse was engraved by Frontier & Bellemere, likely for the Peace Jubilee Exposition. Few have been found in gem grades, but this is one of them! This particular coin is well struck, with the five pointed stars all full and complete including some that show recutting, and Washington himself is well executed, save for his eye which is a series of lines, and his ear is a lump. On the reverse, we note weakness at the centers, but all lettering and devices are present. Excellent gold color and well preserved throughout. PCGS has graded just 14 this high with 2 graded higher of this very important and popular Washington issue. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. Purchased from Jay Roe privately in October 1989. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 1849		1872. BG-1208, High R-6. Round Indian Gold Dollar. . BG-1208. PCGS graded MS-63. One of the finest of this very rare issue, of which perhaps 20 are known (PCGS reports a total 15 graded). The fields are prooflike, and the strike bold in every way. Although research has yet to determine the maker of these, it may have been Herman J. Brand. One aspect that is extremely important is that this is the only issue in the series that declares itself a "token". Excellent gold color and abundant frost on the devices. Problem free surfaces, with few signs of handling and no problematic hairlines. PCGS has only graded 3 this high, with a single coin graded higher as MS-64. Don't miss this one if you are a specialist. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. From Bowers and Merena's Virgil Brand sale, and Brand's inventory number 93,133, and from a later Bowers and Merena sale, unknown date, lot 1820. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,038
Lot 1850		1874 BG-1124, R-5, Octagonal Indian Gold Dollar. . BG-1124. PCGS graded MS-62. Golden in color with most of the luster intact in the fields. We note a few wispy hairlines on the reverse, and these must account for the grade, as there is little else wrong with the coin. Identifiable by two small ticks below the 8 in the date, and somewhat weakly struck on the central reverse devices. All gold dollars are rare, and this one is no exception. PCGS has graded 8 as such, with 15 graded higher. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,495
Lot 1851		1874. BG-876, R-5. Round Indian Quarter Dollar. . BG-876. PCGS graded MS-63. Prooflike in the obverse fields, less so on the reverse. We note a faint scratch down Liberty's face and a few similar surface marks at the upper right center of the reverse. Strong clash marks from the stars visible on the wreath. Typical die state, with a bisecting reverse crack and clashed dies. Great color overall. Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $345
Lot 1852		1874. BG-958, High R-6. Octagonal Indian Half Dollar. . BG-958. PCGS graded MS-64. This is one of the very rare backdated issues from an unknown maker, but possibly Herman J. Brand. All of these are rare and seldom encountered. Prooflike fields, and this is an early die state with stars six and seven touching feathers, and the wreath touching the D on the reverse. The reverse has some dark toning flecks through the center mostly on the devices but also in part of the fields surrounding. This may have been as struck. Here is one of the finest seen, PCGS notes just 5 graded this high, with 2 graded higher out of a total population they've seen of 13 coins. Estimated Value $700 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,150
Lot 1853		1874/3. BG-1052, R-5. Round Indian Half Dollar. . BG-1052. PCGS graded MS-64. Deeply prooflike in the fields and boldly struck by the dies. This variety has the curious die scratch from the third star to Liberty's chin, where the engraver slipped and left a long mark on the obverse die. We also note a die crack from the rim through the fourth feather (counting from the top) nearly to Liberty's ear. The reverse die shows clash marks from the stars in the wreath. PCGS notes 8 graded this high, with a single coin graded higher, making this well up in the Condition Census for the variety. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $529
Lot 1854		1875. BG-1125, R-6. Octagonal Indian Gold Dollar. . BG-1125. PCGS graded MS-64. An important issue thought to have been coined by Herman J. Brand. The new obverse die (first use) was paired with an old reverse die, which has cracked and broken badly, especially at the top. Only a few were struck before the reverse die was discarded, and a new reverse die was paired with this obverse (BG-1126). Rich gold colors over the mirror fields, and well frosted. A few stray hairlines in the fields, but they are light and only visible at certain angles. All gold dollars are rare and always in strong demand. PCGS has graded 12 this high of the variety, and just a single coin higher (MS-65) of a total of 31 graded in all. A rare issue that will certainly attract considerable attention. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,645
Lot 1855		1880. BG-799J, R-4. Octagonal Indian Quarter Dollar. . BG-799J. PCGS graded MS-64. Prooflike mirror fields and frosted devices. Gleaming gold color and very choice. One coppery toned area on Liberty's cheek, and a long thin hairline before Liberty's face in the field. On the reverse we note a crease in the field left of the denomination, and this may have been mint caused. PCGS has graded 30 this high, with 32 graded higher. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 1856		1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition quarter and half coins in gold. . BG-1500. This pair grades MS-65, Prooflike. Both are frosty and original, the obverse shows a Fleur Di Lis with L.P.E. stamped on the extremities, the reverse has LOUISIANA GOLD with a fraction of the denomination at the center. Flashy and bright. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $150 - 200. Pruchased from a Coin Galleries Sale, July 14, 1993, lot 2856. View details	Realized $144
Lot 1857		Withdrawn	Unsold