Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 32

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Commemorative Gold Coins

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2605		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, with star. PCGS graded MS-66. Nice original toning. Pop 470; 209 in 67; 1 in 68. The frosty textured surfaces are awash in rich orange-gold colors, and both sides are decidedly well struck for this often boldly produced type. Struck with meticulous care by the dies, in fact (PCGS # 7459) . In order to sell extra Grant Commemoratives to the public, the commission releasing these arrogated to themselves a lesson learned from the Alabama commission people the year before. They had the mint stamp a tiny star into the obverse field above the word GRANT. A total of 4,256 were so counterpunched while each coin was in the die so as not to cause a flat spot to appear on the opposite side. Only a few people were hoodwinked by this sly trick. Today's collector, therefore, has very few nice Grant with Star examples from which to choose. The present coin is far better than most. Estimated Value $3,200 - 3,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,255
Lot 2606		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, no star. PCGS graded MS-66 PQ. Nice original toning. Pop 324. Fully pulsating with lovely greenish to yellow-gold color, the surfaces are free of bothersome striking incompleteness (PCGS # 7458) . Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and later president, died in 1885. His birth in 1822 is commemorated here by the artist Laura Gardin Fraser after a photograph by the famed Civil War photographer, Matthew Brady. Grant was born in a traditional frame house of the period, but this has come down to us as a "log cabin." The house depicted is correct. Some consider Grant as our worst president because of the scandals which rocked his administration; perhaps he should more charitably be described as a soft touch for his scheming "friends." Two Half Dollar Commemoratives and two Gold Dollars were struck, one of each with or without star before Grant's bust. Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,140
Lot 2607		1904 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar. MS-60 Plus. Excellent sharpness on all devices. Heavy with orange-colored golden frost from edge to edge. Estimated Value $850 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,093
Lot 2608		1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64. Rich golden toning. Semi prooflike surfaces. Pop 612; 182 in 65; 54 in 66, 2 in 67. The otherwise golden-orange color deepens to polychrome-gold shadings in select areas. Struck with exactitude rarely found on a Lewis and Clark commemorative gold dollar, the quality nudges up against the gem category. Scarce! (PCGS # 7448) . Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,750
Lot 2609		1903 Louisiana Purchase-Jefferson Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-63. Orange and golden toning. This boldly detailed representative is mostly orange-gold in color with sleek, bright metallic frosted features on Jefferson's portrait. Jefferson was a redhead, but in this youthful depiction, he wears a powdered wig of the Colonial period. He was born April 13, 1745 and died on July 4, 1826, coincidentally, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (PCGS # 7443) . Estimated Value $625 - 675. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $863
Lot 2610		1903 Louisiana Purchase-McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. Rich folder-orange toning. Dual-commemorative issue for the Louisiana Purchase as well as to honor the fallen (assassinated) William McKinley, who was shot in 1901 and died several weeks later (PCGS # 7444) . America's better items-metallic money system called for silver to be valued at a ratio of 16:1 with gold. Since much silver was being produced out west by the silver states in the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s, there was a big political push with both the farm states and the silver states together lobbying for the proposed better items-metallic plan. The presidential election of 1896 was about two main issues; silver and American imperialism. During the election William McKinley sat on his front porch in Ohio and lectured delegations from around the country while William Jennings Bryan stormed across Middle America. Bryan claimed that mankind was being crucified on a "cross of gold". Bryan said the existing gold standard was being forced upon the common man by the big Eastern bankers. He campaigned forcefully for a better items-metallic monetary system (easy money) and against imperialism, but McKinley won the election and the gold standard held firm. Estimated Value $2,100 - 2,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,530
Lot 2611		1903 Louisiana Purchase-McKinley Gold Dollar. NGC graded MS-64 PQ. A nice dusting of flaming golden orange luster covers the surface. Crisp detail on all devices. A remarkable coin for the grade, which is why we consider it to be Premium Quality (PCGS # 7444) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,783
Lot 2612		1916 McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice golden toning on this choice specimen of the gold dollar whose sales were used to construct a William McKinley memorial in his home town (PCGS # 7454) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $661
Lot 2613		1917 McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. Nice rich orange and gold toning. This warmly colored example displays beams of golden metallic detail in virtually all areas (PCGS # 7455) . Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,875
Lot 2614		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Probably the most beautiful MS-64 you will ever see! Why this little gem did not receive a grade at least two points higher is beyond this cataloger. The strike is full, the color absolutely gorgeous and the surfaces glitter with intense luster. You be the judge and see why we call this Premium Quality for yourself (PCGS # 7449) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,588
Lot 2615		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64. Nice golden toning. A well struck example of this issue features the left-facing bust of a Panama Canal workman; the simple reverse has two dolphins above and below the denomination (PCGS # 7449) . Estimated Value $950 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,150
Lot 2616		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Well struck and nice even toning. Pop 469; 332 in 66; 13 in 67. The otherwise orange-gold color yields to warmer golden-rose hues toward the centers of this gem quality Pan-Pacific quarter eagle. The woman depicted is seated on a mythological sea creature known as a hippocamp or hippocampus: part horse, part sea serpent (note the scaly body) (PCGS # 7450) . Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,520
Lot 2617		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-65. A well struck frosty mint gem. Completely untouched and original with the lustrous surfaces exhibiting rich mint bloom colors. Here is a quality example that will grace the finest set of commems. In an old green label holder and quite choice for the grade (PCGS # 7450) . Estimated Value $4,200 - 4,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,188
Lot 2618		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. A beauty, totally untouched with the surfaces exhibiting full rich golden-orange mint bloom color. In an old green PCGS holder and will probably be cracked out and resubmitted for a higher grade. Definitely rates as a Premium Quality example (PCGS # 7450) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,153
Lot 2619		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $2.50. PCGS graded AU-58 PQ. Nice original golden orange toning. In an old green holder and should be regraded to a full Mint State coin thus our Premium Quality designation (PCGS # 7450) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,013
Lot 2620		1926 Sesquicentennial Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Gorgeous natural mint bloom color. Could bring a run away price since it is pleasingly bright and lustrous, both sides are warmly colored in greenish to orange-gold hues (PCGS # 7466) . John R. Sinnock created both the Half Dollar and Quarter Eagle Commemoratives made to celebrate our 150th anniversary as a nation. The Quarter Eagle has a representation of Liberty on the obverse holding a torch and wearing a liberty cap denoting freedom. The building on the reverse is Independence Hall, Philadelphia, with a rising sun behind it. Initials JRS are to the right of the building. In all, 45,793 Quarter Eagles were sold for $4.00 apiece. Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2621		1926 Sesquicentennial Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-62. Nicely toned with some moderate dullness on the hips and lower legs of the standing figure (PCGS # 7466) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $518
Lot 2622		2001-W. $5 Capitol Visitor Center. PCGS graded MS-70. Together with another, PCGS MS-69. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details	Realized $1,080
Lot 2623		2003-W. $10 First Flight. PCGS graded MS-70. Fulsome mint frost and pulsating reddish-gold color. Struck with controlled precision throughout (PCGS # 21003) . Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 2624		1857 S.S. Central America Pinch 1.5 grams. Gold granules housed in a PCGS holder. Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2625		1857 S.S. Central America Gold Nuggets .8 grams. Housed in a PCGS holder. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 2626		Colorado Gold Ingot. The Economic Gold Extraction Co. 1904. 21. 5/10 carat; 220.4 DWT. $204.10 gold value. Arequa Colo. Bar #7. Assayed by Arequa Assay Office. This is the first such bar we have seen in our 50 plus years in business! Possibly unique and certainly extremely rare. Housed in a custom plastic holder. Worthy of further research is it might have intriguing attachments to the then soon-to-be-open Mint at Denver, Colorado, two years after the date on this gold bar. Up to the 1890's much of Colorado's mining wealth came in the form of silver and the nation became dependant on its silver for coinage; Colorado produced over 50% of the total silver mined in the U.S. each year. With silver coinage in political trouble and the panic of 1893, Colorado's great silver mines had been delivered a devastating blow. It was Cripple Creek that came to the rescue! With gold production that was at ever-increasing levels, some thought there to be an unending supply of gold and the camp grew almost faster than it could keep up with itself. New capital from the East and around the world flowed into the Cripple Creek area, including the many mining towns such as Arequa Gulch and Victor that popped up at this time. This activity bolstered not only the Colorado economy, but undoubtedly, the entire nation. Some believe that it was Cripple Creek that helped pull the entire nation out of the panic of 1893. This activity and enormous gold production gained the Cripple Creek region the name of "The Greatest Gold Camp on Earth." This bar was on exhibit at our table at this years ANA in San Francisco. Don Kagin recalls examining this bar or a similar one many years ago. No photos or other information is available and thus further research is needed. From an old time collection, this bar is being offered AS IS. Estimated Value $10,000 - 20,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,200
Lot 2627		Christopher Bechtler, 5 DOLLARS CAROLINA, 134 gr. 21 carats, with star. PCGS graded AU-50. Slight uneveness on the legends but a generally sharply struck example featuring original luster around the devices and attractive old-gold reddish-orange patina. The Bechtler mint was a private enterprise conducted at the residence of Christopher Bechtler, and operated by him and the Bechtler family. The enterprise was highly esteemed in its time, well covered in newspapers and financial journals, and served great utility in providing circulating coins in that region. There were no mints in North Carolina or Georgia until 1838, and the Bechtler enterprise, which began in 1830, served an important role in monetary affairs (PCGS # 10097) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2628		August Bechtler, 1 DOLLAR CAROLINA, 27 gr. 21 carats. PCGS graded MS-63. Flashy reflective surfaces. Very high grade for this issue. Pop 6 with none higher at PCGS. (PCGS # 10040) . The Bechtler coinage extended over the better part of 20 years and was successful in every way. It received the de facto consent of the United States government and at the same time was accepted by businesses and banks in many districts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Based upon the recorded coinage of $2,241,850.50 from the period 1831-1840 plus additional specimens made in the next decade, it is probable that close to a million coins, if not more, were struck bearing the Bechtler imprint. Most, of course, were later melted. Their prevalence in circulation at one time was attested to by one of Rutherfordton County's older citizens who during the early 20th century told researcher Clarence Griffin that he was 16 years old before he ever saw any coins other than those minted by Bechtler. Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,935
Lot 2629		1851 U.S. Assay Office $50 "slug", 880 THOUS. Lettered edge, no 50 on reverse. Sharpness of AU-55 .The corner dents smoothed by an expert. Light marks on the reverse rims, but these are so inconspicuous as to be all but meaningless considering the overall impressive condition of this specimen. There is luster everywhere, including the eagle's wings and breast area and throughout the shield. What is more, the main design elements, rather than being soft in many areas, show incredible detail in the wings, the breast feathers, the vertical shield lines. Even the three arrowheads show, with only their shafts a little weak. There is also complete lettering around the maring, which, for those not too familiar with this grand 2-1/2 ounce Territorial gold coin reads AUGUSTUS HUMBERT UNITED STATES ASSAYER OF GOLD CALIFORNIA 1851. For it was Humbert who oversaw the assaying and minting process of the prolific Assay Office of gold in the days before the official federal mint opened in 1854. This piece has the standard engine-turned reverse pattern of crisscross curves, centered on a circular target. There is no lettering of any kind on this side of the piece. We call these $50 pieces coins, but technically (to sneak past the law) they were known in their day as "ingots" or, popularly, "slugs". Most California mined gold was in the neighborhood of 880 to 900 fine. Since parting acids weren't readily available to increase the fineness to mint standard of .900 fine until well into the middle of the decade, typical Territorial issues are found in varying finenesses such as 880, 884, 887, and 900. Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000. Ex Charles Kramer Auction. Dec 1988 by STACKS and Superior Galleries, Lot #929. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $21,000
Lot 2630		1853 U.S. Assay Office $20 Gold, 900 THOUS. PCGS graded MS-62. Well struck with lovely light gold color. Pop 23; 23 in 63 11 in 64, 4 in 65. Assay Twenties were the workhorse gold coins in Gold Rush California of the 1850s and 1860s. As such, they are only on occasion found in Uncirculated grades even though hundreds of thousands were produced. These are the most available territorial gold issues. The date 1853 precedes by one year the opening of the San Francisco Mint. Few know it, but this 1853 Assay $20 gold is, in fact, an official issue of the United States Government. As such, it is legitimately collectible as an issue that should be considered part of the Federal double eagle series. Given the 90% gold content, the same as Federal double eagles, this is closely associated with twenty dollar gold coins. This piece is sharply defined throughout with notably strong luster on the eagle's main elements. The green-gold surfaces show a few typical light abrasions and have just outstanding quality for Mint State 62 quality. See page 299 of the 2005 Guide Book for further information on the Unites States Assay Office gold pieces (PCGS # 10013) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2631		1853 U.S. Assay Office $20 Gold, 900 THOUS. NGC graded MS-62. Well Struck and untoned. Pop 42; 18 in 63, 11 in 64, 2 in 65. Another outstanding example of this Territorial gold issue, the obverse has a tiny dent mark in the field below the fineness ribbon, a mark or two on the eagle's shield, and several others in the left obverse field as well as one tiny mark along the lower rim, all in line with the choice but not gem grade level assigned as MS62. Keen-edged devices throughout, including feathers, shield, and legs of the main device (PCGS # 10013) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2632		1853 U.S. Assay Office $20 Gold, 900 THOUS. NGC graded MS-62. Well struck. Pop 42; 31 finer. Deep straw color luster and a satiny texture are just a few of the pleasing characteristics of this U.S. Assay issue. Assay $20 gold pieces became the hardest working gold coins in Gold Rush San Francisco. As such, they are only rarely found in Uncirculated grades even though quite a number were produced. These are, fortunately, the most readily affordable of all territorial gold coins in Mint condition. They were struck the year before the San Francisco Mint opened, and are, in some ways the predecessors of that famous Granite Lady mint's double eagle production. Estimated Value $10,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,200
Lot 2633		1854 Kellogg & Co. (San Francisco) $20 Gold. NGC graded AU-58. The usual antique look of "old gold" with plenty of character and, this is interesting, fewer than average surface abrasions - a definite "plus" for the Territorial gold collector. This design follows the federal coinage closely, but in the space on the coronet where LIBERTY is usually seen, Kellogg inserted its firm name of Kellogg & Co. John G. Kellogg went to San Francisco in October 1849, from Auburn, New York. At first, he was employed by Moffat and Company and remained there until 1853 when Kellogg became associated with G. F. Richter, who had been an assayer in the government assay office. These two set up business as Kellogg & Richter in December 1853 and later struck gold $20 pieces and the rare $50 rounds. Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,400. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2634		1855 Kellogg & Co. (San Francisco) $20 Gold. NGC graded MS-60. Struck in natural greenish-yellow gold, this desirable uncirculated example contains numerious small marks from contact with other coins. A very high grade example and among the finest we have handled in years. NGC reports only 5 in this grade with 1 in MS-61 and 2 in MS-62. A very popular Territorial issue and much scarcer than the 1854 issue. When the U.S. Assay Office closed operations, no private firm was striking gold. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854, but because of a shortage of parting acids could not yet completely fulfill the local demand and this shortage was taken up by Kellogg & Co. Estimated Value $9,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,925
Lot 2635		1855 Kellogg & Co. (San Francisco) $50 Gold. PCGS graded Gem Proof. Struck in San Francisco September 4, 2001. These huge gold coins were struck from transfer dies made from the original 1855 Kellogg and Company dies. The planchets were made from original Kellogg and Humbert assayers gold ingots recovered from the S.S. Central America treasure. This coin has a stamp on the reverse above the eagle showing "Struck September 10, 2001. C.H.S." (California Historical Society). This coin also bears an inscription "S.S. Central America Gold, C.H.S." on the reverse ribbon. This coin is listed in the Guide Book on page 299. This coin comes with a custom hand-hammered copper frame with gold imprinted purple ribbons -- modeled after the San Francisco Jewelers Shreve & Co., for the famous 1915-S Panama-Pacific commemorative coins, and all is housed in a custom box. Less than 5000 of these coins were minted in 2001 and they have retailed for $5000. The original 1855 $50.00 round Kellogg & Co. coin sells in excess of $150,000 when available. A truly historic commemorative coin struck from the actual gold recovered from the S.S. Central America ship wreck. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,450
Lot 2636		1860 Clark, Gruber & Co. (Denver, Colorado) $5 Gold. NGC graded MS-63. Nice example. The otherwise greenish-gold color yields to warmer antique hues and has splendid light satin luster throughout including the curvature of Liberty's face and cheek. Very sharp stars, and most of the hair curls sharp as well (only a little softness seen at the hair near the ear). On the coronet, in place of LIBERTY, is CLARK & CO., the firm's shortened name. Clark, Gruber was a well-known private minting house in Denver, Colorado in the early 1860s and struck $2.50, $5, $10, and $20 denominations of several designs, this lovely $5 piece among the best preserved. NGC reports 4 at this level with 3 better by a point. Estimated Value $17,000 - 19,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2637		1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. (Denver, Colorado) $2.50 Gold. NGC graded AU-58. This is an attractive, if indifferently struck example with sharp petite stars around a somewhat softly impressed head of Liberty. The coin nicely mimics the standard U.S. quarter eagles of the period, but with PIKES PEAK on the coronet in place of LIBERTY. The date is in crude numerals, unevenly punched or engraved into the space below the bust. Lustrous, with only slight friction on the high points away from full Mint State grade. Clark, Gruber & Co., bankers in Leavenworth, Kansas, set up operations in Denver, then a scene of a great gold rush. Images of covered wagons heading west bearing the inscription PIKES PEAK OR BUST are familiar to historians today, and reflect the mass immigration from the east to the Rocky Mountains. Although Pikes Peak (no apostrophe in Pikes, per post office edict) is located about 70 or miles south of Denver, and not particularly relevant to the gold strike in the latter location, it did serve as a catch term for the district. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2638		1959 U.S. Mint San Francisco Silver Bar. 999.75 Fine, 26 oz. Extremely Fine and delicately toned. Estimated Value $260 - 350. View details	Realized $444