Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 36

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Small Cents

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1516		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded Proof 64. Lovely toning on both sides. Popular key date. Approximately 2,000 coins struck. Pop 119; 30 finer. Sparkling golden brown iridescence permeates this satiny beauty of this key date Flying Eagle cent with a life of its own. Add a sky-scraping level of mint originality, plus some absolutely gorgeous rose and pale blue iridescence on the eagle, and the appeal is very tempting. If you were expecting the design left by the dies to be deficient in robustness on this 1856 Proof (and it sometimes is, but on lesser coins), take heart, since this is an exceptional specimen, a mighty bold impression on Peter the flying eagle, and not the usual run-of-the-mill strike. It is, indeed, heart-stopping. Peter would fluff out his feathers with justifiable pride. Okay, hopefully we've whet your appetite to learn further after that last remark. This is the story of "Peter," drawn from an article in the American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 27, 1893, p. 85: "On the dollars of 1836, 1838 and 1839, and the nickel cent coins in 1856 is the portrait of an American eagle which was for many years a familiar sight in the streets of Philadelphia. "Peter," one of the finest eagles ever captured alive, was the pet of the Philadelphia Mint, and was generally known as the "Mint bird." Not only did he have free access to every part of the Mint, going without hindrance into the treasure vaults where even the treasurer of the United States would not go alone, but he used his own pleasure in going about the city, flying over the houses, sometimes perching upon lamp posts in the streets. Everybody knew him, and even the street boys treated him with respect. "The government provided his daily fare, and he was as much a part of the Mint establishment as the superintendent or the chief coiner. He was kindly treated and had no fear of anybody or anything, and he might be in the Mint yet if he had not sat down to rest upon one of the great flywheels. The wheel started without warning, and Peter was caught in the machinery. One of his wings was broken, and he died a few days later. The superintendent had his body beautifully mounted, with his wings spread to their fullest extent; and to this day Peter stands in a glass case in the Mint cabinet. A portrait of him as he stands in the case was put upon the coins named. "In stuffed form Peter was exhibited widely including at the Treasury exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Today the bird is on view in the lobby of the Philadelphia Mint on Independence Square." (Enter this web link in your browser to see Peter as he looks today: http://www.ushistory.org/oddities/peter.htm). Estimated Value $17,000 - 19,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $21,850
Lot 1517		1856 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded Proof 63. The key date. Approx 2,000 struck. Light even toning. Pop 132. An more than moderately bright and lively specimen of this rare, highly desired issue with strong luster in the fields, plus a confident, no-compromises strike. Everything you would want from the grade, and probably then some. The eagle's breast feathers are all complete. Its wings are finely detailed. There is an eye; a complete beak and claws; exactly what is expected from a well-made Proof. When it comes to the reverse, this has James Longacre's first "wreath of cereals". The design of this handsome, balanced wreath was used on several occasions. It appears first on the gold dollars (type 2 and 3) as well as the $3 gold pieces, and is followed on the flying eagle cents as well as several Patterns of the period. The wreath is comprised of corn, wheat, cotton and tobacco, the staple export crops of mid-19th century American agriculture. This is the first design of a cereal wreath created by the Mint's chief engraver, 1844-69. (Longacre's second wreath, used on numerous Pattern coins as well as the half dimes and dimes during his tenure in office, is comprised of cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, corn, wheat and oak leaves.) (PCGS # 2037) . Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $17,825
Lot 1518		1857 Flying Eagle Cent. PCGS graded MS-65. Light tone in color. Old green label holder. A fresh and satiny gem with nice luster and a nuance of champagne to brown toning, especially on the obverse. Nicely struck with nearly full details on both sides, the eagle showing full feathers in the wings and body as well as the tail (the latter area is sometimes flatly struck on 1857 cents). Absolutely gem quality. Pop 168; 15 better by a point. (PCGS # 2016) . Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,750. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,760
Lot 1519		1858/7 Flying Eagle Cent. NGC graded MS-65. Nicely toned and well struck. Pop 5; none finer at NGC. One of the finest examples of this very popular overdate. Careful examination is required to find even a single imperfections. This coin has an splendid lilac rose and gold to light brown tone with some areas whose amber hue is very attractive. A small darker area between the STATES and the wing appears to be the deepest area of color. This coin has all the look of its superlative grade. Turning next to another key area in a coin's grade and eye appeal, the strike is as full as this issue is seen. Very few 1858/7 cents have been seen with any more detail in this area than this coin. For the longest time there has been resistance on the part of the grading services to grade any 1858/7 a MS65. This may be because of the typical weakness on the reverse, fortunately not found here. The top part of the 7 digit on the 1858/7 overdate shows above and to the right of the last 8. A diagnostic die dot above the date is also plain and forms a triangle. The broken wing tip is just about connected to the wing. Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1520		1863. MINT ERROR. Struck 70% Off Center. NGC graded MS-64. Quite spectacular with the date so distinc and yet only the very bottom part of the Indian's portrait showing. It is indeed fascinating to encounter an Indian cent off-center strike on one of the short-lived copper-nickel, 72-grain planchets used on in 1859-64. A landmark offering for the collector of Mint Errors! Estimated Value $500 - 600. The Emile A. Tartakow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,495
Lot 1521		1864 Indian Head Cent. Bronze, with "L". PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Original surfaces with some reverse discoloration. Obverse has nice red color. A frosty, satiny near-gem with strong luster and a bold strike throughout much of the reverse details, though some typical obverse weakness is seen at words OF AMERICA. Pop 47; 35 in 65 RD; 3 in 66 RD. The mint produced a new obverse hub type for the Indian Cent in 1864 that would continue in use through 1886. Snow (1992) estimates that only 5 million coins of this new hub type were produced, a low total when compared to his estimate of 34 million examples for the 1864 Bronze No L variety. The coining staff at Philadelphia had difficulty mixing the new bronze alloy, and many With L examples display streaks or "wood grain" effect over one or both sides (PCGS # 2081) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,093
Lot 1522		1870 Indian Head Cent. PCGS graded Proof 65 Red. Approx 1000 proofs minted. Nice red coin with very few spots. Sometimes on this issue, the devices that were left by the dies come up short of the required precision due to weak die pressure even on the Proofs, but we find the opposite to be the case here, everything is finely detailed, including the centers and feather ends. Bright and lustrous deep crimson surfaces almost as glorious and fresh as the day this particular specimen left the mint. Pop 22; 4 in 66 RD. (PCGS # 2299) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,415
Lot 1523		1873 Indian Head Cent. Closed 3. PCGS graded Proof 65 Red. Lovely crimson and golden-red brilliance. Approximately 1,100 coins struck in Proof. A pleasing and colorful example of this popular issue. It is easy to see this piece was delivered a hard blow by the dies, or as some researchers believe, the dies were very carefully made and just as precisely set in the equipment to impart the requisite force for a Proof, and which imparted their sharpness to the struck planchet. Pop 28; 3 in 66 RD. (PCGS # 2308) . Estimated Value $2,200 - 2,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,070
Lot 1524		1873 Indian Head Cent. Closed 3. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Nice red color with some minor flyspecks. A satiny gem with intense underlying cartwheel luster that explodes with vivid rose, peach, orange, and carmine iridescence. Absolutely eye-popping in all regards in spite of the few tiny carbon flecks and a line of toning below the jaw. Pop 10; 12 in 65 RD; 3 in 66 RD; 1 in 67 RD. (PCGS # 2111) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,208
Lot 1525		1873 Indian Head Cent. Open 3. PCGS graded MS-63 Red. 1st generation holder. An appealing fresh red specimen, adequately struck, and only slight mottling in the coppery color. Quite apart from its originality, the 1873 is difficult to encounter in this choice a grade in full red. Sheer boldness of strike throughout would be the ideal for an 1873, but this coin failed to strike completely and was left by the rebound of the dies in a somewhat soft state at the shield top and lower portion of the date. Pop 7; 67 finer in Red at PCGS. (PCGS # 2108) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1526		1874 Indian Head Cent. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Well struck with original mint red on both sides. A few minor spots on the obverse. The full red color is unusual to find on this issue, where brown or red and brown toning tends to be the rule. A scarcer issue from the early 1870s. Pop 63; 29 in 65 RD; 5 in 66 RD. 1874 is the year Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a U.S. patent for their blue jeans with copper rivets. The style has been popular worldwide ever since. The year 1874 also saw the establishment of The United States Greenback Party as a political party comprising mostly farmers financially hurt by the Panic of 1873 (PCGS # 2120) . Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $776
Lot 1527		1877 Indian Head Cent. PCGS graded Proof 66 Red & Brown. Nice strike for this key date. Approx 900 proofs struck. Pop 4; none higher. Blazing original surfaces with intense color and superb iridescence creating a visual thrill for the viewer and sense of beauty. The colors are a rich blending of deep copper to golden copper, with a light wood-grain appearance. In the fields and on the devices, the shade has deepened to wonderful iridescent purple blue and brown, creating a handsome effect. Normal detail on all devices is typical for this scarce Proof issue; however, with present specimen we see even nicer detail in the broad regions of the feathers in the headdress as well as sharp letters in LIBERTY. The headband shows both its top and bottom borders. A remarkable Gem Proof. Appropriate for a Cent of this year comes a phrase that is disgusting to modern ears but echoed the sentiments of the time: "There are no good Indians but dead Indians," exclaimed General Philip Sheridan, who, after Appomattox, was commissioned to "pacify" a wide area of the frontier. In that spirit no small part of the undertaking was realized. "Many, if not most, of our Indian wars have had their origin in broken promises and acts of injustice on our part," laconically remarked President Rutherford B. Hayes in a message to Congress in 1877 (PCGS # 2319) . Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1528		1877 Indian Head Cent. NGC graded Proof 65 Red. Nice red colors. Popular key date. Pop 12; 2 in 66 Red; 1 in 67 Red. Unstoppable originality erupts flamboyantly beneath the deep crimson and red highlights, while gusts of faint golden patina form an aura at the edge of Liberty's profile achieving a nice composite for this handsome Proof gem. The strike is characteristically strong including the often problematic tips of the feathers, all of which show their central shafts, vanes and barbs. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,338
Lot 1529		1877 Indian Head Cent. PCGS graded MS-63 Red & Brown. Popular key date. The color is faded with irregular toning. Pop 85. Striking deep golden red to "wood grain" brown toning imbues this choice rarity with a unique appearance of its own. Although the deep toning is not for everyone, it does provide a reminder that copper coins tend to tone in unexpected ways. Just the same, there is a nice allotment of luster remaining and the appeal of this rare issue is virtually irresistible to most collectors of Indian cents (PCGS # 2128) . Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,450
Lot 1530		1877 Indian Head Cent. PCGS graded VG-10 Brown. Nice even chocolate brown. Three clear letters in LIBERTY show on this decently preserved circulated example of the key date in the Indian cent series (PCGS # 2127) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $900
Lot 1531		1884 Indian Head Cent. PCGS graded Proof 67 Red & Brown. Nice rich even brown colors. A nice bold strike. A radiant gem of the kind of quality one likes to describe for bidders of this actively collected design. Careening mirror luster blends easily with pale lightly frosted highlights on the exquisite, spot-free surfaces. Pop 15; 1 in 68 RB as best by PCGS. (PCGS # 2340) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,150
Lot 1532		1908-S Indian Head Cent. NGC graded MS-66 Red. A nice red example. Pop 20. A satiny gem of the most advantageous order for a collector of Indian cents. Its high degree of broad-spinning red luster pulses beneath brighter coppery and pale gold highlights. Decently struck, too, with just a small amount of weakness at the usual Achilles' heel on this design: the tips of the uppermost feathers in the headdress. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,565
Lot 1533		1909-S Lincoln, S over horizontal S. ANACS graded MS-66 Red & Brown. An very attractive Lincoln cent, a coin with almost superb luster and a strike that comes close to complete. Wood-grain toning suggests that the present specimen spent much of its life in an old style coin envelope or Aunt Martha's little leather coin purse. Estimated Value $500 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 1534		1909-S Lincoln Cent. VDB. AU-58. Light golden toning. Pleasing golden red with much luster, sharp details, and delightful eye appeal from the partial wood-grain texture to the color. Always commands a lot of attention for the V.D.B. initials (Victor D. Brenner, the designer) along the inside lower reverse rim. We owe the Lincoln design to a coincidence. The Lithuanian immigrant sculptor Victor David Brenner developed an obsession with the martyred President, and during the years just before Lincoln's birth centennial he modeled portrait medals and plaques. These came to the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, and probably played a part in Brenner's winning a commission to portray him on the Panama Canal service medal and then on the Lincoln cent. Estimated Value $850 - 950. The Victor Kramer Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 1535		1909-S Lincoln Cent. VDB. EF-45. A very sharp, crystal clear coin that has glossy fields, plenty of luster, and the natural light wood-grain toning often seen on this rarity. Only 484,000 minted. The V.D.B. on the reverse signifies the coin's designer, Victor D. Brenner. Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $920
Lot 1536		1909 Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded Proof 66 Red. With an added touch of delicate iridescent sunset toning. A glowing deep-crimson red color is emitted from undisturbed original surfaces, there being an arc of golden fire-red behind Lincoln. Struck with controlled precision throughout, as always seen on the rare Proofs of 1909. Beautiful, balanced composition in its design and surface preservation. Pop 35; 5 in 67; 1 in 68. (PCGS # 3305) . Estimated Value $1,700 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1537		1909-S Lincoln Cent. S over horizontal S. PCGS graded MS-65 Red. A blazer. Pop 135; 33 in 66. Luminous orange-gold color. The devices were struck with just sufficient power by the dies leaving most all design elements showing, but a few areas have a softer appearance such as the portrait. Still a first-rate Gem (PCGS # 92434) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. The Victor Kramer Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,208
Lot 1538		1910-S Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Nice sport-free red example. Pop 291. Luminous copper-gold surfaces with strong areas of crimson and other areas of wonderful golden-hued copper. A splendid arrangement, and a coin that will stand out in any collection of early Lincoln cents (PCGS # 2440) . Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1539		1912-S Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Well struck and fully red. Blazing coppery red with intense luster and fire, sharp details, and delightful eye appeal. One would be hard put to find a more truly beautiful MS64 specimen of a popular issue like the 1912-S cent with not even a smidgen of softness on the portrait or wheat ears. Only a few tiny flyspecks always from full gem classification. Pop 153; 35 in 65 Red as best by PCGS. (PCGS # 2458) . Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,093
Lot 1540		1914-D Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-65 Red & Brown. A spot-free gem with slightly faded mint red color. A beauty! Pop 32; none finer in RB. A blazing red and brown and a gem of the finest order in this grade. The 1914-D, having once been lost in the shadows with all the attention given to the 1909-S V.D.B. has, in recent years, been given the due justice it deserves. It is a genuinely scarce Lincoln cent in all grades of Mint condition, but especially when boasting nearly full red color in the fields and devices (PCGS # 2472) . Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. The Victor Kramer Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,925
Lot 1541		1914-D Lincoln Cent. NGC graded MS-65 Brown. Fresh glossy coin with some mint red visible. Popular key date. Pop 12; 2 in 66 BN. Extensive satin-frosted luster graces original and lively toned surfaces. Varying hues of purple-brown and faded mint red mingle broadly with rich iridescence on the high points. There is a tiny planchet imperfection on the beard, otherwise the design components are sharp, free of spotting and heavy marks, and well positioned to take advantage of the artist's conception of the 16th President of the United States. An attractive gem of this important '14-D that wears its bold strike proudly. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1542		1914-D Lincoln Cent. NGC graded MS-63 Red & Brown. Popular key date. A nice bold strike. Pop 22; 104 finer. A satiny purple-brown and blue-gray gem with a vivid display of rich faded mint color around the devices plus lovely iridescence on both sides. There is a single carbon spot below the ear and a thin toning line on the reverse. Most importantly, it is nice to see sheer boldness of strike throughout, an ideal situation for a rare 1914-D. This coin met the challenge to strike completely; the design left after the retraction of the dies is in an excellent state at the centers as well as the legends and wheat ears. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,990
Lot 1543		1916 Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-66 Red. Well struck with nice red color on the obverse while the reverse displays red, green and rose colors. Pop 203; 32 in 67RD. A high degree of luster spins smoothly on the satin, fresh surfaces of this high grade and elusive 1916 gem. The strike is crisp in all areas from new dies and a refashioned Master Hub for 1916, with none of the weak detail on the high points seen on previous years (PCGS # 2488) . Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $449
Lot 1544		1916-S Lincoln Cent. NGC graded MS-65 Red. Well struck with nice mint color. A high degree of luster graces the bright rose-red surfaces of this dazzling 1916-S gem Lincoln cent. Fully struck in all areas with pinpoint detailing on the tips of the wheat ears and throughout Lincoln's hair curls. Very scarce coin in 65 Red. Pop 5; 1 in 66 RD. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,888
Lot 1545		1920 Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-66 Red. Well struck with nice mint red. Indeed, this is a razor-sharp Gem that has rich coppery-gold color. Lustrous and immaculately preserved. Pop 92; 5 in 67 RD as best by PCGS. (PCGS # 2524) . Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $604
Lot 1546		1931-S Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-65 Red. Sunset red on obverse, lighter on reverse. The key issue in the 1930s as only 866,000 pieces were minted. Due to the slower economy this year, there was a plethora of coins struck in earlier years still stacked in bags in the Treasury vaults, so little need for additional coins to be struck (PCGS # 2620) . Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1547		1951-S Cent on Dime Planchet MINT ERROR. NGC graded MS-62 2.47 gr. A "silver cent," one of the most popular mint errors, inadvertently a dime planchet got into the hopper meant for cent planchets and got struck with the cent dies. Lustrous with a spot at the date. Estimated Value $500 - 650. The Emile A. Tartakow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 1548		1955 Lincoln Cent. Doubled die obverse. NGC graded MS-65 RB. Firey slightly faded mint red. A worldly measure of pouring red luster livens up the wide expanse of smooth purple-brown toning. The fields are for all intents and purposes immaculate on this high-grade piece, easily meeting or surpassing the strict criteria for MS65 quality. Meanwhile, the strike is intrepid enough to call for special mention. One of the most talked-about later issue Lincoln cents, and always a stopper to completing a date and mint set of this popular series. Pop 13; 1 better in 66 RB. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1549		1982-D Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-68 Red. Old green holder. Fabulous quality and overall surfaces. The coin has blazing orange-red mint luster and is virtually perfect. Pop 23; none finer. (PCGS # 3050) . Estimated Value $750 - 800. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1550		1996 Lincoln Cent. PCGS graded MS-64 Double Denom struck on dime. Rare. An unusual, and decidedly rare, double error. As can be seen most vividly in the photographs, Lincoln's portrait is visibly conflicted by the strong shifted doubling. There is also faint traces of the earlier Roosevelt Dime impression as a ghost image on both sides. The reverse, in particular shows much of the dimes legend and a portion of the olive branch from the torch (PCGS # 3136) . Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold