Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 36

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

$1 Gold Indian

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 3640		1854 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded Type 2 MS-61. Original toning with the reverse showing even deeper orange-gold shades than the obverse, and boldly struck at the wrath, the denomination, the date -- all of these key areas where a collector looks to find sharp detail on a Type 2 dollar. Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,700. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,530
Lot 3641		1854 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-58. A few coppery toned spots on the face; beautiful deep peach-orange toning throughout the smooth surface. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,050. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 3642		1854 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded Type 2 AU-55. Adequately struck on most of Liberty's hair except the hair at the brow (which is a high point of the coin). Lustrous and cleaned surfaced, something for the Type set buyer (PCGS # 7531) . Estimated Value $650 - 700. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $748
Lot 3643		1854 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded Type 2 AU-55. A frosty example of this desirable Type 2 Indian design. The mint widened the planchet for 1854-56, but the high relief of the portrait caused problems when striking. Estimated Value $650 - 700. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $661
Lot 3644		1855 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-64. Nice for the grade, Very popular tyoe gold dollar. Bright mint luster and attractive, almost pulsating golden hue with one little mark in the field by the highest feather in the headdress, and some granularity on the 8 of the date (due mainly to insufficient die pressure impelling the metal all the way into the recesses of the design. And so to the next qualification, the overall strike. Here we see quite good detail for this often problematic 1855 issue, with not even minor weakness to the sharp feathers in the headdress or double-beaded border underneath. The centers show a touch of weakness on both sides, but the frosty gleaming luster more than compensates. The obverse on this beautiful coin was similar to the $3 head: "narrow Indian Princess head," in higher relief than usual (which turned out to be a mistake) and the statutory inscription replacing stars. For the reverse, Longacre copied the device originally chosen for the $3 coin but more familiar on the Flying Eagle cents: a wreath of corn, cotton, maple, and possibly tobacco leaves enclosing value and date. Dies were completely hubbed except for dates and mintmarks, which had to be entered by hand as usual. Pop 195; 49 finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 7532) . Estimated Value $15,000 - 17,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 3645		1855 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck with nice even toning on both sides. Struck from lightly clashed dies as nearly always seen, the outline of the new Indian princess design is recorded faintly inside the wreath on the reverse from when the dies came together without a planchet between them. Rich golden luster in the fields and this coin is also very well struck for the 1855 issue, with only a scant trace of weakness on the lower hair curls on the obverse; the date and denomination are all nicely defined. Liberty's cheek is especially clean and frosty, without the nicks or scratches that push most of the Mint State pieces to lower grades. What makes the Type 2 design significant is the limited time gold dollars were struck with it, only 3 years in total. The design change was moderate so did not attract any interest, not many were saved as the first of their kind as might have happened 50 years later; many, indeed, most, were spent or otherwise non-numismatically preserved. For decades this small gold coin has been sought-after by Type collectors. With countless "common" issues bringing large premiums these days, a numismatist would do well to examine the scarcity of this key Type 2 gold dollar, knowing full well others aren't about to show up at the grading services in quantity. A timeless acquisition, the Type 2 of 1855 (PCGS # 7532) . Estimated Value $14,000 - 16,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $16,100
Lot 3646		1855 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-61. Light clash marks as made. Nice and frosty. Honey color gold. An very beautiful gold dollar of this scarce Type, a coin with pleasing luster and a strike that is amazingly close to complete for a coin that had technical difficulties because it was on a thin planchet. Attractive light toning suggests that the present specimen spent much of its life in an old collection. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3647		1855 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-58. Extra crisp detail on all relief portions including all of the date, although the lower reverse rim denticles are obliterated due to lack of metal flow into this region of the die when striking. Lustrous. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 3648		1855 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-55. Normal rounded features on Liberty from a soft strike. Clean surfaces, however, with pleasing "old gold" toning. Estimated Value $650 - 700. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $661
Lot 3649		1855 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-55. The reddish tint to the golden hue comes from the alloy of 10% copper in America's coins, an agent for hardening and to limit abrasion in circulation. Scarce Type 2 design. Estimated Value $650 - 700. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 3650		1855 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-55. This is a particularly attractive toned Type 2 example with excellent detail and aesthetic appeal. Estimated Value $650 - 700. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 3651		1855 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded AU-53. A few scattered marks in the field including a short triangle-shaped nick below the chin. Luster around the main devices shows that this entered and exited circulation quickly (PCGS # 7532) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $460
Lot 3652		1856-D $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-61. Low mintage of just 1,460 struck. There are evidently no more than 80 to 90 pieces known of this rare issue. We can account for four or five Uncirculated coins that we've offered over the years, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that in high grades, the 1856-D is one of the prime rarities among the Dahlonega gold dollars. The strike is average for the issue with some diagnostic features on the obverse and the reverse. The obverse has a weak U in UNITED and some weakness on the curls above the forehead but does show exceptional definition on the denticles except those at the lower rim. On the reverse, the OL in DOLLAR is slightly blurry and the 5 in the date is always weak. The denticles are mushy at the top but are sharper on the lower reverse, especially from 4 to 9 o'clock. There are virtually no marks on the lustrous surfaces that were not produced during the minting process. The surfaces are choice and original, with a complete absence of evidence of the usual cleaning or dipping that is found on nearly every known 1856-D gold dollar. A key rarity that has a special reputation in this series. Pop 4; 2 in 62; 2 in 64. Estimated Value $22,000 - 25,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $31,050
Lot 3653		1856-S $1 Gold Indian. AU-55. Some minor hairlins. Comes with a PCGS AU55 tag. Highly lustrous and largely brilliant with warm golden highlights on both sides. Boldly fully struck as well, unlike the 1854 and 1855 Type Twos, with just outstanding sharpness and detail on Liberty's hair, feathered headdress, on the wreath, the ribbon bow, and the date and denomination. Take your pick, wherever you look the devices show completely. As the first Gold Dollar struck at the San Francisco, the mintage was capped at 24,600 pieces by a lack of orders (in those days, depositors of bullion could demand any denomination they chose, and the mint had to comply). Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3654		1857 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-64. Bright orange-gold color with sparkling mint frostiness, there are only a few small abrasions scattered about, none of which are of individual importance. Full, bold transfer from the die to planchet seen in the centers as well, propelling this 1857 dollar close to gem quality. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,380
Lot 3655		1858-D $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-63. Lovely golden toning. Only 3,477 struck. Pop 6; 1 in 64; 2 in 65. An extraordinary MS63 of this scarce date, and one fitting into the Condition Census. Broadly sweeping cartwheel luster glows bright orange on medium frosted to matte-like surfaces; at first glance it takes careful attention to find any marks, since few come to mind. The imprint that was left by the dies is less than successful and lacks a certain clarity on 1858-D gold dollars. This is evident in the blunt feather puffs and washed out look of Liberty's hair, but it is normal for this date. Some of the rim denticles are flat while others are completely struck by the dies. For its part, the wreath tends to be sharp in all areas except for the lower portion around and on the bow. But again, this high point in the design is opposite the high point on the obverse. An attractive specimen for the date specialist (PCGS # 7549) . Estimated Value $18,000 - 20,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $21,275
Lot 3656		1859-C $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-53. Very weakly struck from worn dies, the flat relief on Liberty, visible in the photographs, is typical of the Charlotte Mint's lack of quality control in 1859. Still, this has attractive original toning. Only 5,235 pieces were minted. Pop 4; 54 finer. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,200. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,933
Lot 3657		1859-D $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-62. Mostly untoned. Only 4,952 struck. Pop 16; 3 in 63; 1 in 64. Baking bright golden luster on choice satiny surfaces. A touch of weakness is seen at the usual areas on both the obverse and reverse, but here it is known that the dies were spaced just far enough apart to prevent stronger metal flow in that area. The surface originality is beautiful and beyond reproach. The rarity, too, is unquestioned on this later D-mint branch gold dollar. A high grade coin like this will meet the needs of any collector of rare date, Mint condition gold (PCGS # 7553) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,075
Lot 3658		1859-S $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded AU-55. Only a slight amount of wear due to circulation; very lustrous. One of only 15,000 pieces minted. Pop 23; 49 finer. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,150
Lot 3659		1860-D $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-61 PQ. Lovely light golden toning considerable mint luster. Nice strike for this year. Usual soft strike UN in United. Wonderful eye appeal. Pop 4; 2 in 62; 2 in 64. Only 1,566 examples of this date were struck. In the past, the rarity of the 1860-D has been glorified by dealers and auction catalogers, but it is somewhat less than that in terms of overall rarity. All the same, in higher grades it is a truly elusive coin, one that trails only the 1855-D, 1861-D, and 1854-D in MS60 and better condition. Similar to 1856-D, another famous date in the gold dollar series, the 1860-D is often weakest on the UN in UNITED along with the lower dentils. In sharp contrast, there is considerable boldness on the upper part of the obverse. Equally desirable, and also worthy of note, is that the hair has much better definition than on most other 1860-D gold dollars. The date is weak but complete, and only O in DOLLAR shows flat detail. Rim dentils on this side are as weak in areas as those on the obverse. There is a faint old staple scratch through the point of the bust and a few tiny marks hither and yon on the obverse consistent with the coin's age and grade. The reverse has some minor Mint-made roughness in the center with a faint hairline above LA. The luster is slightly steely in texture and has a typical inflexible appearance, as seen on the other Mint State 1860-D gold dollars that are known. Both sides are enveloped in pleasing rich orange-gold color. An impressive coin at this grade level with few that surpass it. Estimated Value $14,000 - 16,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $17,825
Lot 3660		1861 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-64. The devices were struck with such force and energy by the dies that all design elements show boldly, and are especially vibrant due to the crisp, clean luster. A beauty! (PCGS # 7558) . Estimated Value $1,050 - 1,150. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,323
Lot 3661		1874 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-64. Typical soft, slightly granular surface on the die polished features, lacking LIBERTY on the headband. All the same, the surface is covered from center to rim in nice frosty luster. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,093
Lot 3662		1874 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-63 Star. Untoned with semi reflective surfaces. And note this: very sharp LIBERTY on the headband. A joyous coin with grand "eye-appeal" as indicated by the star rating. Estimated Value $850 - 900. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $891
Lot 3663		1882 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded Proof 65 Cameo. Lovely toning. Only 125 proofs struck. Pop 2; 1 in 66 Cam. From stem to stern (to borrow an old sailing metaphor) this golden beauty sails off into the sunset. A marvelously colored gem, it has impressive mint brilliance over spotless warm orange toned surfaces. A great deal of discussion often surrounds a coin's strike. This has excellent detail with no sign of weakness to the main device. A gem Proof with a weak strike is absolutely no good to you, the careful bidder. It is a small thing to say, but this gorgeous 1882 Proof should, without too much trouble, attract a lot of attention and then strong bids (PCGS # 87632) . Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,338
Lot 3664		1883 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and frosty. Low mintage of 11,007. An attractive example of this later issue (PCGS # 7584) . Estimated Value $900 - 950. The Emile A. Tartakow Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,265
Lot 3665		1884 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded Proof 64 Cameo. Mostly untoned. Only 1,006 proofs minted. Pop 1; 5 finer in Cameo at PCGS. Flattering mint frost on the devices surrounded by mirror fresh fields that pulsate with yellow-gold to orange-gold color. Struck with technical exactness throughout, if you put a magnifying glass to the tiny feathers in Liberty's hair ornament, the detail that will be revealed will amaze (PCGS # 87634) . Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,060
Lot 3666		1885 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded Proof 66. Nice untoned example. Only 1,105 proofs minted. Pop 20; 3 in 67. Splendidly lustrous, both sides of this orange-gold example exhibit oscillating mirror-smooth effects. A bold impact was left by the recoil of the specially hardened Proof dies that struck this 1885 example, leaving their rigid impression behind, although there is some residaul graininess in a portion of the hair at the ear (PCGS # 7635) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,950
Lot 3667		1886 $1 Gold Indian. NGC graded MS-64 PL. Sharply struck with gleaming semi-prooflike surfaces, a treat for the eye. Only 6,016 minted. Untoned. Pop 5; 7 finer. Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,400. Frank McCarthy Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,070
Lot 3668		1888 $1 Gold Indian. PCGS graded Proof 65 Cameo. Mostly untoned. 1,079 proofs issued. Pop 8; 3 in 66 Cam. The mostly honey-gold surfaces display full, and very pleasing, glittering watery effects as the coin turns under the light. An impressive gem in all regards. The satiny devices are ablaze with fiery luster, while the strike is sharp, and the eye appeal is nothing short of extraordinary (PCGS # 87638) . Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,625