Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 37

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

$2.50 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1751		1805 $2.50 Capped Bust. PCGS graded AU-58 Breen-6121, Bass-3012, R.4, the only known die pairing. Lovely natural golden toning with luster still evident. The Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle type commenced in 1796 and lasted through 1807, but the collective mintage of all ten Guide Book issues (excluding the 1796 No Stars) fails to reach 20,000 coins! The rarity of these is now much appreciated by collectors, hence the activity seen whenever one is offered for sale. 1805 doesn't stand out within the series as a great rarity but is still elusive in the overall sense. This choice About Uncirculated has attractive luster on both sides and only a few wispy marks. Only 1,781 struck. Pop 13; 7 finer; 1 in 60; 2 in 61; 3 in 62; 1 in 64. (PCGS # 7653) . Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1752		1831 $2.50 Capped Head. NGC graded AU-58. Lightly toned with semi reflective fields. The early period of the 19th century, the demand for half eagles caused this denomination to be top-dog among the gold denominations. It was the $5 coin, and not the $2.50 quarter eagle or $10 eagle, that showed up in the orders of banks and bullion depositors with the greatest degree of frequency. Of course, a limited number of quarter eagles were requested from time-to-time, such as the 4,520 examples of the capped head left pieces reported for 1831. Like its contemporaries of 1829, 1830, 1832, 1833, and 1834, the 1831 uses a smaller diameter than the 1821-1827 coins. However, all dates in this series from 1821 to 1834 do have one thing in common: acute rarity and unavailability in all grades as a result of the widespread export and melting of gold coins that was prevalent during this time period. Both sides of the present AU58 are richly colored in orange-gold shades with a noticeably prooflike finish still adhering around the main devices. Unlike the fields, however, the devices are not appreciably reflective with more of a satiny texture. The coin has a nice uncleaned look about it, the fresh look of "old gold" preservation so valued by today's top buyers. Pop 10; 40 finer. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1753		1832 $2.50 Capped Head. NGC graded EF-45. Some fine granularity in the planchet and typical surface abrasions for a soft gold coin that circulated. Generally well preserved for this rare Type. Central areas a trifle weak but the stars are full, as are the rims. A rarely encountered date from an issue of just 4,400 coins minted. Pop 1; 34 finer. Estimated Value $5,500 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,763
Lot 1754		1833 $2.50 Capped Head. NCS graded Details of AU-50. Rim filed. Deep purple and gold toning on the otherwise chioce fields and devices, with a few light signs of circulation contact on Liberty's nose and chin. This is a very scarce Capped Head piece struck during the 1820s and 1830s; mintage dribbled out of Philadelphia each year since there was little demand for the denomination from bullion depositors. Only 4,160 struck. Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1755		1836 $2.50 Classic Head. Block 8. NGC graded MS-62. Bold, bright and frosty. A high degree of luster spins smoothly on the satin, deep golden surfaces of this bright and elusive early quarter eagle bearing William Kneass's attractive curly headed visage of Liberty. The strike is crisp in most areas, though some lack of detail may be noted at the one hair curl above the ear. Bold stars throughout. Pop 22; 13 finer in 63. Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,200. The Greenhill Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,485
Lot 1756		1837 $2.50 Classic Head. SEGS graded MS-63. Semi prooflike surfaces. Our grade MS-61. This lovely little coin is full of charm and luster, has brilliant, satiny orange-gold luster with minimal surface marks. Adequately struck with plenty of aesthetic appeal. A portion of the hair braid is soft as is the lovelock on Liberty's cheek. Seldom does a choicer example of this date appear on the market. We are delighted to offer this Mint State 63. Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,485
Lot 1757		1839-C $2.50 Classic Head. PCGS graded MS-61. Mintmark on obverse above the date. Light yellow gold still evident in the protected areas merging into warm orange shades of "old gold" toning on the topmost design and throughout much of the field, very pretty, and with indications of extra careful handling and preservation over the years. Probably the net result of loving ownership by its former admirers. Sharply struck with a wealth of detail, this scarce issue has extraordinary importance as the first quarter eagle from the newly opened Charlotte Mint. Three die varieties are described below, this example being variety C. Rather than being an overdate, this is better described as a repunched date, in our opinion. On the present piece a tiny line or crack connects the left tip of the shield to the eagle's beak, and there are other die cracks noted as well. Identification of three die varieties: A: Mintmark over left half of digit 3. Tip of branch stem over right upright of D. Usually cracked, neck to right wing. B: Mintmark over left half of digit 3. Tip of branch stem over left edge of D. Usually cracked through E of STATES. C: Mintmark over space between 83. Usually cracked, left shield tip to beak. The only mint state example ever graded by PCGS. 18,140 coins minted. Pop 1; finest graded, recently slabbed. (PCGS # 7699) . Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1758		1839-C $2.50 Classic Head. NGC graded MS-61. Untoned. A small mark below Liberty's chin plus others (much less obvious) in the lightly abraded fields on either side. The surfaces are nicely toned and lustrous with just a hint of original tawny gold toning in the fields, a result of many years in an old collector's cabinet in all probability. Excellent detail can be seen with magnification. Sharply defined in the centers, the peripheral stars are also better defined than usual. A new effigy of Liberty was produced in 1834 by Mint engraver William Kneass's choosing it for the revised quarter eagles and half eagles. The flood of gold deposits anticipated by Mint Director Moore began that summer and increased during the next two years after the government began melting earlier gold coins for recoinage. Issues of quarter eagles (beginning officially as of Aug. 1) exceeded all expectations. From then through 1839, over 910,000 came from Philadelphia bearing this design, plus a trickle (some 57,475) from the newly built Southern branches at Charlotte, North Carolina, Dahlonega, Georgia, and New Orleans, Louisiana, all with mintmark above date (1838-39). The Philadelphia total for 1834-36 alone is over 10 times the total old-tenor quarter-eagle coinage. With such low mintage at the branch mints, one would expect the coins to be relatively rare. They are. Even in ordinary grades they are always difficult to find, though can be had for a price; however any Mint State "C" or "D" strike of this "Classic Head" gold coin is a rarity. These coins went into circulation at once and stayed there, few being saved as souvenirs. Only 18,140 minted. Pop 2; 1 in 63. Estimated Value $27,000 - 29,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1759		1839-C $2.50 Classic Head. NGC graded MS-61. A nice frosty coin. 18,140 coins minted. Pop 9; 3 finer; 2 in 62; 1 in 63. Estimated Value $27,000 - 29,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1760		1839-C $2.50 Classic Head. NGC graded AU-55. The 3 and 9 in the date are boldly recut. This issue along with the 1838-C is in demand from type collectors because of the obverse C mintmark. This handsome piece shows a late die state: there are spindly die breaks almost everywhere you look. The strike is relatively sharp, and there are no obtrusive abrasions. Considerable mint luster clings to the surfaces. A small contact mark on the chin near the neck of Liberty will pedigree this example. 18,140 coins minted. Pop 34; 74 finer. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1761		1839-D $2.50 Classic Head. PCGS graded MS-62. A boldly struck example with subdue mint luster and reddish golden in color. One minor scrape in the right obverse field away from a much higher grade. Popular for being the first quarter eagle from the Dahlonega Mint and the only example of the Classic Head type from this Southern mint. Only 13,674 minted. Pop 5; 2 in 63 and 1 in 64 (PCGS # 7700) . Estimated Value $26,000 - 30,000. The Greenhill Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $32,200
Lot 1762		1839-D $2.50 Classic Head. NGC graded MS-61. Nicely toned. As far as D-mint quarter eagles go, the 1839-D is not a great rarity. It ranks 16th in overall rarity out of the 20 quarter eagles produced at this Southern coinage facility. All the same, it compares favorably to the 1844-D, both of which are more difficult to locate than the 1843-D, 1846-D, and 1847-D. The popularity of the '39-D stems from its status as the first quarter eagle produced at the Dahlonega Mint. It is also the only D-mint issue in the Classic quarter eagle series. An understandably important Mint State representative, both sides are tinged in deep orange-gold color with a suitably lustrous sheen and a warm golden halo around Liberty as well as the stars. The texture is frosty, the strike is crisp in most areas, and no grade-limiting abrasions detract from this coin's eye appeal. 13,674 coins minted. Pop 8; 7 finer; 2 in 62; 3 in 63; 2 in 64. Estimated Value $25,000 - 29,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold