Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 20

Pre-Long Beach Coin Auction

$5 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 892		1802 $5 Capped Bust. 2 over 1. NGC graded MS-64. A bright, fully lustrous, sunny-yellow coin that comes oh-so-close to the Gem level. In fact, no Gems of this date have been certified by NGC and we suspect that some of the MS-64s they report may be resubmissions of this very coin, hoping to be the first at the MS-65 level. This coin features a bold strike and brilliant fields, with no noticeable marks of any kind. Faint adjustment marks can be seen at the base of the reverse, but these are a natural part of the coining process and virtually endemic to early U.S. gold and silver coins. We expect a strong price for this coin, which it richly deserves. Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 893		1834 $5 Classic Head. Plain 4. Population reports 52 in this grade with 7 higher, all in MS-67. NGC graded MS-64. Mostly well struck, although a trifle soft at the forehead curls as usually seen. A splendid example that abounds with frosty mint luster. The lovely surfaces exhibit rich full mint bloom color with golden-orange highlights about the borders. The perfect example of the Classic Head design for a top notch type set. Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 894		1838-D $5 Classic Head. SEGS graded MS-64. A beautifully struck, glittering gold example of the only D-mintmarked Classic Head $5. This is the finest example graded by any service. The best reported by PCGS is a single MS-63; the best at NGC is a single MS-63. In the Significant Auction Records compiled by Jeff Garrett and John Dannreuther for the period from 1997 to 2001, none of the MS-63 examples appeared on the market. MS-62 graded examples appeared 5 times, bringing from $20,700 to $40,250. Bidding for this beauty should be fierce. Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 895		1841-C $5 Liberty. NGC population reports only 4 in this grade with none higher. NGC graded MS-61. A splendid well struck example with none of the problems usually associated with coins struck from this Southern Mint. The stars are completely defined and the undisturbed borders are nice and wide. The cheek and neck on Liberty are as smooth as a baby's and this specimen shimmers with semi-reflective mint surfaces. Expect lots of competition on this little treasure. Estimated Value $14,000 - 16,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 896		1842-C $5 Liberty. Small date. PCGS graded AU-53. Well struck with nice, original toning and luster. Thankfully, this coin has not been "dipped out" as have so many of the Southern gold pieces (a travesty that has altered completely original coins just to get a higher number on a holder)! PCGS reports 4 in this grade and 8 finer, the best of which is an MS-62. The low mintage for the Small Date 1842-C (approximately 4,595 pieces) resulted when the obverse die broke early in the coining process. The very last coins from the die show a neat "cud" break at 12:00. From there, the process of attrition began and the number of pieces that have survived until today is indeed small. In fact, the 1842-C Small Date Half Eagle is the rarest and most valuable C-Mint $5 across the board. It is the key to the Charlotte Mint Half Eagle set. Here are some recent comparables: Harry Bass' PCGS AU-53 sold for $41,400 in May 2000; an NGC AU-55 brought $43,700 in a 1998 sale; a PCGS AU-58 realized $77,625 in a 1999 sale; and an NGC graded AU-58 sold for $51,750 in our February 2001 sale. Clearly, this example represents a nice balance between high grade and high value -- it's one of the nicest examples known, yet it's affordable by comparison (PCGS # 8208) . Estimated Value $32,000 - 40,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $33,350
Lot 897		1843 $5 Liberty. NGC graded MS-65. Notable not only for its bright yellow luster and remarkable eye appeal, but it is also the finest example of the date graded by either NGC or PCGS! That's a pretty impressive fact, considering we've had 17 years of third-party grading and all sorts of incredible collections coming onto the market. After all these years and all the possibilities, this Gem stands alone waiting for your bid. Consider also that NGC has graded only 29 MS-65 No Motto Half Eagles since its inception! Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $34,500
Lot 898		1843-O $5 Liberty. Small letters. Sharpness of VF-30. We note some contact marks in the unprotected areas of the fields. Many times rarer than the Large Letter variety and seldom encountered better. Estimated Value $800 - 850. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,093
Lot 899		1846-C $5 Liberty. MS-60. A full Mint State piece with the luster and sunny yellow color of a Choice example, but downgraded because of a tiny group of marks between the D of UNITED and the eagle's wingtip. Well struck and still a remarkable example of a date that rarely appears in Mint State. Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 900		1847-O $5 Liberty. Population of only 4 with 1 higher in AU-58. NGC graded AU-55. A pleasing strike with a good amount of luster still present and free from serious marks or nicks. Slight greenish color gold adds to its appeal. A very rare coin in high grade, prohibitively so above extremely fine. Estimated Value $13,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 901		1847-O $5 Liberty. NGC reports only 4 in this grade with 11 higher, the finest being AU-58. NGC graded EF-45. A decent impression from the dies and struck on a problem-free planchet. No discernible marks or scratches of note, just some light friction, all lightly toned. This is the rarest issue half eagle from this mint and is seldom seen in grades above very fine. Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 902		1848 $5 Liberty. NGC graded MS-65. A well struck Gem with some of the most impressive luster you will ever see on a No Motto Half Eagle. This is the finest example graded by NGC and it stands alone at this grade level. No other competition. Beautiful, yellow color and rich, shimmering luster. Unimprovable at present and clearly superior to anything graded by PCGS, as well. Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 903		1855 $5 Liberty. PCGS reports only 4 in this grade, none higher . PCGS graded MS-64. Slanting 55's. Well struck and very frosty with light delicate toning. Although a healthy quantity of business strikes were made this year, few were saved from circulation and high grades examples are seldom encountered. Estimated Value $17,000 - 20,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 904		1857-D $5 Liberty. Population of 9 with only 4 higher, all by a point. NGC graded MS-61. A somewhat shallow strike on the lower obverse date area, otherwise a decent impression with the reverse being particularly bold. We note some scattered light handling marks on the obverse, commensurate for this numerical grade, yet with more than enough mint luster to easily justify this lofty grade. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 905		1858-S $5 Liberty. Population reports but 3 in this grade, none higher. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck with some scattered light handling marks evenly spread about, none of which are worthy of note, and plenty of mint luster remains about the protected areas of the devices. Another rare date that is seldom encountered in grades higher than very fine. This example is tied for Finest Known. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 906		1859-S $5 Liberty. Population reports but 8 in this grade with 1 higher, that being in MS-62. NGC graded AU-58. A very pleasing well struck example with a nice clean cheek on Liberty. This piece still retains plenty of mint luster with a hint of light olive overtones about the protected areas around the borders. A decidedly rare low mintage date that is nearly impossible to locate in high grade as most were spent and those saved show plenty of wear. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 907		1860-C $5 Liberty. Population reports only 7 in this grade with 6 higher. NGC graded MS-61. Well struck with a nice deep impression and none of the planchet flaws sometimes seen on this issue. Some scattered hairline scratches can be seen under magnification when tilted towards a light source, but overall, a phenomenal high grade example that is seldom offered better. Estimated Value $10,500 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $11,788
Lot 908		1860-C $5 Liberty. Population of 12 with 13 higher. NGC graded AU-58 Ashland City. A better than average strike for this notorious rusty, flat and weakly struck issue. The mint luster easily justifies its lofty grade. Estimated Value $7,200 - 7,500. Ashland City Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 909		1865-S $5 Liberty. MS-60. Soft pinkish-gold on the obverse, while the reverse has some scattered flecks of orange color. Nice luster, lightly abraded surfaces. A classic condition-rarity in the No Motto Half Eagles series, as only a handful of Mint State examples have been certified by NGC and PCGS combined. Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 910		1867-S $5 Liberty. Population reports but 2 in this grade with none higher. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck in pale yellow gold with no distracting marks worthy of note. A scarce date that is seldom encountered in grades about Very Fine. Estimated Value $11,500 - 12,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 911		1867-S $5 Liberty. Population of 5, 2 in AU-55 and 2 in AU-58. NGC graded AU-53. A better than average strike for this issue, as some are mistaken for a Philadelphia coin because the mint mark is so weak, not this one. Lightly toned about the protected areas of the devices. Usually found only in the lower grades. This is a very high grade specimen as there are no known uncs. Estimated Value $9,500 - 10,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 912		1868 $5 Liberty. Population of 9 with only 2 higher, the best being MS-62. NGC graded AU-58. Well struck with golden-orange mint luster and light handling marks in the fields. A decidedly rare date as only 5700 business strikes were made of which Walter Breen estimates than a mere 10-12 survive in all grades. The population reports probably include duplicates from multiple submissions. Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 913		1870-S $5 Liberty. Population of 2 with 6 higher, the finest being AU-58. NGC graded AU-53. A normal strike for this somewhat softly struck issue. The friction is evenly distributed with light contact marks scattered about on both sides. Light golden-orange in color and lightly toned. Usually found in low grade, this date is prohibitively rare in extremely fine or better as is confirmed by the population reports. Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 914		1871 $5 Liberty. Population of 9 with only 2 higher, the finest being MS-61. NGC graded AU-58. Very well struck with semi-reflective mint luster adhering about the devices on both sides. Some light to moderate contact marks are scattered about, and all, is lightly toned. Only 3000 business strikes were made and when encountered are usually VF-EF at best. A choice example such as this is prohibitively rare. Estimated Value $5,700 - 6,200. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 915		1871-CC $5 Liberty. NGC graded MS-61. Soft, subtle luster, some minor surfaces abrasions on both sides. A remarkable, extremely important coin from a popular mint and a long and popular series. The 1871-CC Half Eagle is tough in any grade -- most of the known examples grade EF or worse. AU examples are extremely rare and Mint State examples are represented by only two pieces, this being the second finest of the two (the only better one is a single NGC MS-63). To date, PCGS has graded NO Mint State examples of the date. A fabulous opportunity for the CC gold specialist. Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $41,400
Lot 916		1871-S $5 Liberty. Population reports only 8 in this grade with 12 in AU-58 and 1 in MS-61. NGC graded AU-55. A well struck example with some scattered contact marks in the unprotected obverse fields. A very lustrous example, even for this numerical grade, and attractive orangish color gold in appearance. Like many of the gold coins of this era from San Francisco, few were saved and high grade examples are as scarce as hen's teeth. Estimated Value $5,700 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 917		1873-S $5 Liberty. Population reports 10 in this grade with 8 in AU-53, 3 in AU-55 and 1 in MS-61. NGC graded AU-50. A well struck example with some chatter marks scattered about the obverse services. Although a fair number were struck for circulation, few were saved and specimens above very fine are seldom encountered. Estimated Value $2,250 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,645
Lot 918		1874-S $5 Liberty. Population of 2 with none higher. NGC graded AU-58. A decent strike with attractive golden-orange mint luster. Some light to moderate handling marks appear in the unprotected fields, but none by themselves is too troublesome for this high grade. Although 16,000 were struck, a fair mintage for this time period, this issue is prohibitively rare above very fine and when Breen published his Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins in 1988, this date was unknown in AU! This example is tied as finest graded by either service. Weak mint mark. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 919		1876 $5 Liberty. Population of only 2 with 7 higher, the finest being a MS-64. NGC graded MS-61. A stunning high grade example of this popular rarity. Boldly struck throughout including full definition within all the stars. Rich coppery-golden in color this beauty shimmers with semi-reflective mint luster. A popular rarity that boasts of one of the lowest mintages in the entire half eagle series. Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 920		1876-CC $5 Liberty. NGC reports only 3 in this grade with 8 higher, the finest being in MS-61. NGC graded AU-50. A wonderful high grade example of this important Carson City issue. The rims are nice and clean and the surfaces exhibit the normal allotment of contact marks commensurate for this numerical grade. Very rare, particularly in such high grade in addition to being lowest mintage of all half eagles from this western mint. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,488
Lot 921		1877-CC $5 Liberty. SEGS graded MS-63. Soft golden luster and a nice, even strike. One of the classic, condition rarities of the CC-mintmarked Half Eagles. The low mintage of 8,680 pieces automatically limited the number of possible Mint State survivors, and virtually the entire mintage circulated heavily. At auction, this date appears perhaps twice a year, so the opportunities to buy any example in any grade is rare, indeed. The best example certified by PCGS is a single MS-62; NGC has yet to grade a Mint State example of this date! Thus, in theory at least, this may be the finest example known to exist. It is certainly the finest example we've ever handled. Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $40,250
Lot 922		1880-CC $5 Liberty. NGC graded VF-20. Just even wear. Estimated Value $300 - 350. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $380
Lot 923		1881 $5 Liberty. NGC graded MS-65. Heavy mint frost and luster. Well struck. NGC has graded only 33 at this level, with only 9 higher (all MS-66's). This is such a great value. We recall that back in 1989, at the peak of a hot market, MS-64 Liberty Head Half Eagles were selling for over $6,000 each. Now, almost fifteen years later, one can buy a Gem for much, much less. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,300
Lot 924		1884-CC $5 Liberty. Population of 5 with only 2 higher, the highest being MS-62. PCGS graded AU-58 Ashland City. A flashy coin with intense golden-yellow mint luster. Well struck with light handling marks in the fields, none of which are too serious. A very high grade example of this popular Carson City issue (PCGS # 8365) . Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000. Ashland City Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 925		1895 $5 Liberty. PCGS graded Proof 64. Premium Quality. This lovely coin hails from the celebrated collection of John Jay Pittman, a man of moderate means who built one of the finest collections of Proof American coins through shrewd and judicious purchases (not to mention a little foresight and good luck). He selected this coin for its excellent eye appeal and lovely, golden toning. PCGS reports 5 at this level, with 6 graded higher. Housed in an old style, green label PCGS holder. Original mintage -- 81 Proofs. No identifying marks -- presumably the 64 grade stems from a tiny patch of hairlines on Liberty's chin. It's still a premium-quality coin! (PCGS # 8490) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000. Ex John Pittman Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,950
Lot 926		1898 $5 Liberty. NGC graded MS-65. Strong luster and clean surfaces that show just a few scattered ticks, all of which are perfectly consistent with the grade. Not to be confused with later P-mint Half Eagles that are very common in Gem condition. NGC has graded only 9 at this level, with only 5 finer. Compare with the next year, 1899, where over 200 Gems have been certified by NGC! Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 927		1900 $5 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-62 PQ (PCGS # 8400) . Estimated Value $200 - 240. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $253
Lot 928		1901-S $5 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-58. Fully lustrous with golden-orange highlights (PCGS # 8404) . Estimated Value $130 - 145. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $173
Lot 929		1903-S $5 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-65. Premium Quality. Soft, creamy, dreamy mint bloom combined with subtle green and coppery gold toning. Yes, PCGS has graded about a dozen finer (all MS-66's), but you won't be "settling" if you buy this beautiful example (PCGS # 8408) . Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,105
Lot 930		1909-D $5 Indian. MS-60. Estimated Value $225 - 250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $345
Lot 931		1909-O $5 Indian. NGC graded MS-62. This scarce date is hard to find in any grade, let alone Mint State. The reported mintage for the 1909-O is the lowest of the series, by far, and the value is second only to the rare 1929. This example has a soft, muted luster, a few scattered marks, but the strike is good and the mintmark, which is often seen as a blob, is clearly defined. Here's what you can expect for this date: NGC reports 17 at this level, 5 in MS-63, 14 in MS-64, and none finer. Thus, this coin offers plenty of value at a fraction of the price of an MS-64. Estimated Value $16,000 - 18,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 932		1909-S $5 Indian. NGC graded MS-65. A visual stunner, with some of the most incredible, orange-gold sheen possible on this unusual, incuse type. Fully struck, even down to the crisp mintmark. As late as the middle of 2002, this date was still unknown in Gem condition at NGC. Today, this piece is tied with one other as the only 2 NGC graded MS-65 examples. They just don't come any better than this -- literally! Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 933		1911 $5 Indian. PCGS graded MS-62 PQ (PCGS # 8520) . Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $529
Lot 934		1913 $5 Indian. PCGS graded MS-65. Premium Quality. PCGS has graded 43 examples in this grade, with none higher! A perfect combination of shimmering luster, clean surfaces, and delightful orange-yellow toning. As frosty and as nice as this date comes. Bela Lyon Pratt's incuse design is a delight to behold but it left the flat surfaces vulnerable to all sorts of damage and abuse. This is why Gems, such as the beauty offered here, are so rare (PCGS # 8525) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,650
Lot 935		1913-S. Population of only 12 with 2 higher (1 in MS-65, 1 in MS-66). PCGS graded MS-64. A well struck beauty that exhibits full mint bloom color. The surfaces are ablaze with reddish-golden and faint olive overtones. In high grade, this is one of the important rarities in the series (PCGS # 8526) . Estimated Value $13,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold