Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 53

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

$10 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1319		1795 $10 Capped Bust. . BD-1, Breen-6830. NGC graded AU-55 PQ, CAC Approved. Well struck and lustrous. Only 5,583 minted. Diagnostics for the variety include the 5 slightly overlapping the bust, Star 11 neary Y, and a leaf nearly touches U. The letter Y in LIBERTY has two small lumps at the top left (diagnostic), while the stars to the right look cramped as though they had to be squeezed into the space provided. The estimated mintage for the BD-1 variety is 225 to 325 pieces (Dannreuther) based on the knowledge that this is the most often seen of the five varieties of 1795. A heart-stopping AU55 example of the premium quality one likes to see for this actively collected design early $10 capped bust design. Touches of original luster blend naturally into the delicately toned warm golden color of the choice surfaces. There is a hint (only a hint) of adjustment in the obverse rim dentils. A top-notch strike at centers with the key hair features and eagle's breast strongly hit by the dies. All legends bold as is the date. We expect bidders will come out in droves to place bids the day this coin sells. Pop 19. Historic note: Production of 1795 capped bust eagles began September 22, with 5,583 struck between that date and March 30, 1796. Some die varieties are from reverse die with a palm branch bearing 13 leaves, while a fourth variety bears a branch with nine leaves. All four 1795 obverses bear 15 stars (representing the 15 states in the Union), arranged 10 to the left and five to the right. (Spacing differs on each obverse die, since each star was hand-punched into the die.) LIBERTY is positioned from the upper front of Liberty's cap to just in front of her nose, in the same general position on each die. Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $74,750
Lot 1320		1795 $10 Capped Bust. NGC graded MS-61. Mostly well struck in natural greenish-yellow gold. Free from adjustment marks and just a few die chips noted in the planchet. A lustrous example of our first gold coin. The date on the BD-1 variety is the most closely spaced of the year and the top of the 1 is very close to the curl while the top of the 5 overlaps the bust. Star 11 very near Y with two lumps as top left of Y (these are key identifiers of the variety). Only a few examples remain in Mint State grades, barely enough to supply the growing cohort of numismatists of means who will have to settle for a bidding tussle to finally obtain one. A fair number of the Mint quality survivors have traces of prooflike fields, much as this coin does. We cannot fail to see this coin becoming anything other than the highlight of a major early gold Type collection. Because 1795 is the initial release of the denomination, the importance of this handsome Mint State 61 example will be established for decades to come. 5,583 struck. Pop 19. In a new NGC 4 pronged holder. Historic note: Mintage of only three denominations -- the dime, the silver dollar, and the 10-dollar coin officially called the eagle -- sufficed to commit American coinage firmly to the decimal system in the early days of the U.S. mint. For years it seemed that coinage of these denominations had no other purpose, according to Breen, since they enjoyed little circulation. As it turned out, in the first few decades the Mint's principal output consisted of one denomination in each metal: gold half eagles, silver half dollars, and copper cents. The half eagle seems to have been favored because its bullion value was conveniently close to that of many foreign coins of the period (British guineas and sovereigns, French louis d'or and 24 Livres coins, Portuguese/Brazilian 4,000 Reis and 2 Escudos, etc.); the half dollar because of its size; cents primarily as an alternative to privately made copper tokens. The 10-dollar eagle, though specially named in the Coinage Act of 1792 as our nation's gold monetary unit, was for various reasons inconvenient for international trade. Estimated Value $80,000 - 90,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $92,000
Lot 1321		1795 $10 Capped Bust. 13 leaves. . BD-1, Breen-6830. PCGS graded AU-58. A nice strike with slight hint of toning. Key identifiers of the BD-1 is a date that is the most closely spaced of the year while the top of the 1 is very close to the curl and the tip of 5 overlaps the bust. Star 11 very near Y with two lumps at top left of Y (keys); stars to the right appear cramped; reverse has leaf virtually touching U, in fact, upon first glance it appears to touch it (another key). Magnificent mint-frosty surfaces put on a show with their rich yellowish gold and fresh appearance, the overall effect greatly reinforced by abundant luster. We'd also like to emphasize the strong relief, the freedom from marks. Devices are sharp in all areas, which isn't always the case on early Capped Bust eagles, and this coin is indeed sharp, as struck, as desired by collectors, which the grading service has noticed when taking it into consideration when assigning the grade, we surmise. Would make as fine a conversation piece as any early American gold coin on the market today. We might even go so far as to say the coin is a connoisseur's delight! (You can always tell a coin's character by whether specialists and numismatists of long standing take to it or not. They have such wonderful instinct born of years of experience in the field.) Pop 24; 44 finer. (PCGS # 8551) . Estimated Value $75,000 - 85,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $87,400
Lot 1322		1795 $10 Capped Bust. 13 leaves. . BD-4, Breen-6830. PCGS graded AU-55 PQ. Lovely goldent oning on both sides. Reflective surfaces. On the BD-4 variety, the key identifiers are these: date is widely spaced, though not the widest of the year, but the 5 is close to, but does not touch, the bust (only key needed, as this is the only use of this obverse die, and the other two dies have the 5 either over or under the bust); reverse has leaf tip furthest from U of UNITED. It is not all that uncommon to find a 1795 Capped Bust, Small Eagle $10 with some original luster and natural patina, but it probably won't look as nice as this rich orange-gold specimen with its smooth fields and sharp devices. That being the case, this date is also somewhat difficult to find fully struck on the legs of the eagle. The present coin shows full rounded legs with each talon visible. The present coin retains nice detail to Liberty's hair, as well, from a strictly above-average strike. There are two short diagonal marks we will use as "identifiers", one at Liberty's eyebrow and the second being just to the right of the lips. According to Dannreuther, "this is the easiest variety of 1795 eagles to recognize… Perhaps 60 or more coins are still extant for this issue." Pop 30; 68 finer. (PCGS # 8551) . Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $86,250
Lot 1323		1795 $10 Capped Bust. 13 leaves. NGC graded AU-50 BD-2, R-4+. Light even toning in a new 4 prong NGC holder. Bright yellow-gold luster on satiny surfaces that have some granularity to them due to minor abrasion contact with other coins. There is a short hairline scratch in the field between D and S on the reverse. A touch of weakness is seen at the eagle's breast and legs on the reverse, as well, but here it is probably that a design flaw is the culprit, since the high point of the opposite side lies opposite this area on Small Eagle tens of 1795-97 which often did not allow for sufficient metal flow into the deepest die recesses. The luster that remains is located around the stars and legends mainly, with a few traces of frost in the portrait. Pop 2; 24 finer. (PCGS # 8551) . Under the terms of the Coinage Act of 1792, the obverses of all the coins, copper, silver, and gold, had to depict Liberty, then as now an allegorical female figure. The reverses of the silver and gold coins had to depict an eagle. With those requirements in force, and a requirement that certain inscriptions appear on all the coins, mint engraver Robert Scot set to work in 1795 on the eagle designs. The gold eagle obverse depicts a bust of Liberty facing right and wearing a soft cap (not the pileus or Liberty cap found on the Liberty cap half cent and cent, among other U.S. coins). Liberty's hair flows freely, down over her truncated shoulders. LIBERTY occupies the under border above and to the right of the portrait, with stars arranged along the back of her head and from the Y in LIBERTY to the tip of the bust. The number of stars and their arrangement and exact positioning of LIBERTY vary from year to year. The first reverse, that of 1795-97, depicts the mandatory eagle, which some believe Scot copied from a sketch or engraving of a first century A.D. onyx cameo held in a museum in Vienna. The eagle holds a small wreath aloft in its beak and a palm branch in its talons. The eagle's wings are outstretched. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles the design. Estimated Value $55,000 - 60,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $49,450
Lot 1324		1797 $10 Capped Bust. Small Eagle. NGC graded MS-63. Mostly well struck on a remarkably clean planchet and shimmering with luster. Medium golden-yellow with some faint hairlines seen only under magnification. Only 55-65 known in all grades. With the exception of the 1795 9 leaf, this is the rarest small eagle $10.00 and is a candidate for finest known. The early Small Eagle $10 gold pieces are some of the most prized acquisitions in all of numismatics. The Small Eagle type is narrowly confined to just three dates but within that range are several intriguing die varieties, and there really is only one date that can be considered available, the 1795. The Small Eagle ten dollar pieces were struck in 1795, 1796, and 1797, but the mintage was probably produced only from September 1795 until June 1797. The 16 stars on the obverse of the 1797 eagle are arranged 12 and four. LIBERTY is positioned from just to the right of the peak of Liberty's cap to adjacent to the bridge of her nose. The mintage was 3,615, making this date the scarcest of the three Small Eagle years. A single die variety has the obverse with a fine a die break crossing from the rim through the final 7 in the date and upwards into the bust on all known examples. Another die break extends into the field from the rim below the last star on the right. The present example boasts beautiful rich luster whose vibrancy is barely diminished by the faint hairlines already noted. Beautiful and rare. Pop 1, finest graded at either service (PCGS # 8555) . Estimated Value $300,000 - 350,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1325		1797 $10 Capped Bust. Large Eagle. NGC graded MS-61 BD-4. Well struck with plenty of mint luster still intact. A lovely high grade, problem-free specimen and bascially untoned. Only 10,940 minted. No fault can be found with the manner of this coin's preservation and carefully handling after more than two centuries! First year of the Capped Bust, Heraldic Eagle type and a rarity in the series in this outstanding condition. This variety is characterized by a "cross" star arrangement above the eagle and within the semicircle of clouds, with stars 2 through 8 aligned toward the eagle's eye. This variety is even scarcer as a late die state with the die break between ER to the leaf, as seen on this piece. This break undoubtedly led to the early discarding of this die. The surfaces have the usual bright green-gold color with traces of satiny luster intermixed with the semi-reflectiveness in the fields. Sharply struck throughout and well centered on a problem-free planchet with a few of the usual small marks on each side seen on others, the most individual of which is a short diagonal line between L and I of LIBERTY. The overall quality makes this piece appear choicer than the modest MS61 grade usually entails. In a new NGC 4 pronged holder. Pop 32; 13 in 62, 1 in 63, 1 in 64 (PCGS # 8559) . The long thick necked eagle is a little know subvariety of the Large Eagle type of 1797. It has a different style eagle which makes it sort of a transitional reverse between the tall and short necked varieties. Because these devices were hubbed, the first reverse punch may have been modified to create this subvariety. The long thick neck eagle is unique to this variety, as are the other two eagles for BD-2 and BD-3. Estimated Value $38,000 - 40,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $43,700
Lot 1326		1797 $10 Capped Bust. Large eagle. NGC graded MS-61. In NGC holder 1785326-012. Long tapered neck on the eagle. Mostly well struck and loaded with flashy mint luster, particularly so on the reverse. Free from adjustment marks and other defects, just some light handling marks in the exposed fields. A very attractive specimen, all things considered, and noteworthy in many respects for its high condition. When the small eagle design was revised in 1797, it bore the same obverse as before, but a new reverse, generally known as the heraldic eagle or large eagle. The eagle gazes to the left on the new design and holds in its beak a ribbon inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM, a Latin phrase connoting One Among Many. A shield is mounted on the eagle's breast. The eagle holds a bundle of arrows in its right talons (the viewer's left) and an olive branch in its left talons, and is similar to that found on the Great Seal of the United States. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles the design, as on the small eagle 1797. A semicircle of clouds stretches from wing to wing, with 13 stars positioned between the clouds and the eagle in arrangements that vary from die to die. Mint engraver Robert Scot's new reverse was introduced on the eagle in mid-1797, so eagles of this year are found with both reverse design types. The estimated mintage of the 1797 capped bust, heraldic eagle $10 is 10,940. Pop 32; 13 in 62, 3 in 63, 1 in 64 (PCGS # 8559) . Estimated Value $38,000 - 40,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $43,700
Lot 1327		1801 $10 Capped Bust. . BD-2, Breen-6843. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice golden toning on both sides. Well struck. Only 44,344 minted. This is the most available early eagle variety as the dies were among the most productive of the type. About 600 to 800 are known, though only a fraction of these remain in Mint condition. Both sides are remarkably lustrous with full golden frosty and a spray of delicate toning from center to periphery. It wouldn't do without including a word about the strike. The pressure transmitted from the die to the blank on this 1801 Capped Bust eagle reveals itself in sharp hair and cap detail (including the small curl at the ear and the larger one at the forehead. Most of the stars show their radials, too. There are no marks of note except for a couple of tiny ones near the top of the cap. Switching to the reverse, we detect only a small area where the shield at center isn't 100% crisply detailed, but this is virtually immaterial given the consistent high quality of the surface luster, and its freedom from marks or copper spotting. The entire coin is, in other words, right up there among the best looking MS63s around. Before we depart from the description, let us remind bidders once more that a coin of this caliber may be off the market for 10 or 20 years, maybe more, once the sale is over. Bid in view of that. Pop 37; 34 in 64; 3 in 65. (PCGS # 8564) . Estimated Value $50,000 - 55,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $48,300
Lot 1328		1803 Capped Bust $10. Rarity 4. NGC graded MS-62 Small Stars. BD-3, Breen-6844. Small stars reverse. Well struck on a problem-free planchet with plenty of frosty mint luster present. Lightly toned. Full glowing mint luster, the color of bright gold. Where a collector might expect to see the usual deviation in the sharp relief at the hair and portions of the eagle, mainly in the centers of the coin where the design often failed to completely fill the dies, this standout specimen takes the opposite road by being boldness personified! According to Breen, the date on all 1803 eagles was made from punches normally used on half dollars (this may have been intentional or a mere mistake on the engraver's part, but it is certainly not the only time that punches were shared between denominations). The Small Reverse Stars variety is the most plentiful of the three major varieties this year, but "plentiful" is a relative term, since any 1803 eagle is scarce in choice Mint condition like this lovely MS62. Like pushing back from the table after a well-prepared meal, everything about this coin is agreeable, tasteful, and worthy of the highest commendation. Pop 18; 26 finer, 17 in 63, 9 in 64. BD-3. Estimated Value $30,000 - 33,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1329		1844 $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. 6,361 pieces struck. Choice and attractive. Very low mintage for the 1844 Ten Dollar. This serves as a good indicator of its rarity, but it isn't the only reason why so few high grade examples are known today. The years from 1838 through 1844 were ones of economic hardwhip and outright starvation during what came to be called The Hard Times. As a result, gold coins of this era were usually not saved because they had a lot of purchasing power. The 1844 is considered "prohibitively rare" above Extremely Fine condition. Few are known in About Uncirculated to mint condition and this shows in the population figures: Pop 6; 2 finer; 1 in 61; 1 in 63. (PCGS # 8590) . Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,763
Lot 1330		1846 $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. Only 20,095 pieces struck. Wide-ranging luster spreads evenly beneath the pale golden highlights of this scarce P-mint Liberty ten, while a noticeable absence of deep circulation marks form a smooth finish across the edges of the design elements of this still frosty specimen. The strike is much more than just "adequate" in an era where uneven strikes are to be expected. Indeed, it is strong save for a limited area of lightness at stars. Low census in this elevated grade: Pop 3; 5 finer, 1 in 60, 2 in 61, 2 in 62. Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,900
Lot 1331		1848 $10 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-64. Lovely golden toning with much luster. Very rare coin in this grade. A spectacular original offering that prides itself on a display of brilliant mint luster and a sharp strike. This is certainly one of the finest known of the date, and it is currently the highest one graded by PCGS as the only Mint State 64 seen by that service. NGC has also graded one as Mint State 64, and another as Mint State 65, to give the buyer an indication of just how rare this date is in the choice grades. The surfaces are remarkably clean for a gold coin of the Gold Rush era. This piece has obviously seen judicious handling since the time it was first taken possession of. If you are a date specialist, or if someone looking for a great example for your type collection, then here is a coin worthy of its grade. Faint wispy hairlines can be seen with a glass, but they are not detracting. Identifiable by a tiny vertical mark on the cheek about half way between the ear and base of Liberty's nose, and a small tick on the lower right loop of the first 8, and on the reverse by a couple of small copper toned areas between AM of AMERICA and UN of UNITED. Pop 1; none finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 8599) . Estimated Value $25,000 - 27,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $60,375
Lot 1332		1871-S $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-53. Light golden toning. Another particularly elusive date in all grades, and this coin is probably one of the finesr known to exist from the low original mintage. The surfaces show scattered light abrasions marks, along with a short scuff on the cheek. Liberty's curls and the eagle show mild wear from brief circulation, and the striking quality is acceptable for this date. There are no rim bumps or other surface problems. A classic condition rarity which is certain to draw bids from far and wide. 16,500 minted. Pop 13; 18 finer; 10 in 55; 8 in 58. (PCGS # 8662) . Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,910
Lot 1333		1872-S $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. Lightly toned. A classic elusive date from the 1870s. There were so pitifully few struck of the 1872-S, and most reached circulation, there are not many with this much original luster to go around. One noticeable scratch below the end of the bust. The strike is full and complete with the possibly exception (for those who wish to be choosy) of some softness at one claw and the upper arrow feather; otherwise, the surfaces show only limited circulation marks barring the aforesaid mark, and the upper devices reflect very little actual wear. All in all, that makes this frosty coin a delight for the date collector and a great opportunity for the advanced numismatist. 17,300 minted. Pop 11; 2 finer; 1 in 60; 1 in 61 (PCGS # 8665) . Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,290
Lot 1334		1876-CC $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-53. A hint of light toning. Very rare date. Only 4,696 struck. This lovely coin joins others in the Carson City Mint pantheon that have a shot at Condition Census class in being every attractive. Pre-eminent figures of the past in the collecting of American gold coins and research were always attracted to CC-mint gold, as they are today. This coin stands as one of the most admired due to its association with the Centennial year of American independence, 1876. The coin is natural dusky gold with the uncleaned appearance collectors respect and the grading service rewards. A prized grade rarity, examples are apt to be encountered in Very Fine grade. The Winter-Cutler reference notes: "From the standpoint of overall rarity, the 1876-CC is among the rarest of all eagles struck at this mint." Once the AU level is attained for this date, you have reached the pinnacle of the grading curve; there are no known Mint State examples. Pop 10; 8 in AU55; 3 in AU58. (PCGS # 8675) . Die note: Date logotype fully impressed, with numerals centered horizontally and vertically. The left edge of lower serif of 1 over left side of dentil. Die artifacts around first few stars. Reverse CC mintmark high and lightly impressed, both letters on the same plane with nearly a letter's space between E and N below, second C close to and nearly completely under tip of arrow feather above, just to right of center of N below. Estimated Value $17,000 - 19,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1335		1877-S $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. In NGC holder 9173901-008. Rich coppery-golden color. All three mints then in operation struck Eagles in 1877, but only in low numbers. The distinctive San Francisco pieces are all very well executed and, when lustrous, have nice frosty surface as those seen here. Most of the original mintage was not saved, and only a relative few examples are certified in Mint State by either NGC or PCGS. Straw-gold blending into nice rich warm orange-gold color, where glimpses of luster persist within and around all devices extending well into the field on both sides. A couple of minor scuffs at the date with a disturbance in the luster below the first A in AMERICA on the reverse. Only 17,000 struck. Pop 13; 2 finer with 1 in 60, 1 in 61. (PCGS # 8679) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1336		1882-O $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-60. Only 10,820 pieces struck. Exhibits nice flashy mint luster. 1882-O is a rarity in all grade, with only a few pieces certified at or above the MS60 level. The low mintage tells the story; furthermore, no numismatic consideration was given to these while they circulated. Typically found abraded, the present example is sharply struck and possesses fresh luster with the normal assortment of light handling marks for the grade. Population figures confirm the scarcity factor: Pop 9; 5 finer, 4 in 61, 1 in 62. Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 1337		1882-CC $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. Only 6,764 pieces struck. Toned on both sides. Reflective surfaces. A scarce date Carson City mint issue, for years these would rarely show in auctions, even well-circulated pieces are few and far between. Although the 1882-CC doesn't have the same cache as, say, 1870-CC, it still takes a lot of searching to find one as crisply detailed, as lustrous, as the present AU58 specimen. There is no substitute for quality! Pop 35; 3 finer, 2 in 61, 1 in 62 (PCGS # 8696) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $7,763
Lot 1338		1889 $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-61. CAC Approved. The painfully low mintage of only 4,440 pieces is a hallmark of the 1889 P-mint Eagle. Primarily untoned. What is with the drop-off in gold coin mintage at Philadelphia in 1889? For one thing, panic began gripping the nation's East Coast money markets in 1888-9 as the government's bullion deposits which were used to back its bonds dwindled ever closer to nonexistence. Financiers scratched their heads about what to do and pointed fingers at one another as to the culprit; they talked up a storm -- and did virtually nothing (exactly like today). US Half Eagle, Eagle, and Double Eagle mintage recorded the unfolding drama in its own silent fashion: very low production numbers. The crisis eventually eased but not before much fear had occurred. Pop 20; 7 finer in 62. Estimated Value $1,700 - 1,800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,105
Lot 1339		1893 $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-64. Lightly toned; choice frosty surfaces with only minor bagmarks. Pop 598; 26 finer, 25 in 65, 1 in 66 (PCGS # 8725) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,984
Lot 1340		1893 $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-60. Moderate bag marks on the obverse (PCGS # 8725) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $633
Lot 1341		1895-O $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-63. Nice original toning. Scarce date. Only 98,000 minted. The mostly reddish-gold surfaces display modest, yet pleasing cartwheel luster effects as the coin turns under the light. There are a couple of light chattermarks in the obverse field, though Liberty is left free of these, displaying only a single tic on the neck near the lowest bend in the lovelock curl with another at the forehead. Scarce O-mint delivery; seldom available in choice Mint State 63 condition. Miss this opportunity and you may be waiting long for another such chance. In a new NGC 4 prong holder. Pop 11; 1 in 64. (PCGS # 8733) . Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,370
Lot 1342		1898 $10 Liberty. EF-40. Cleaned. Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $506
Lot 1343		1901 $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-65. Mint error. Reverse lamination. This highly glossy Gem has careening "cartwheel" luster whose brilliance seems to stretch to the horizon and beyond, plus a razor sharp strike. All par for the course in 1901-S, the most famous $10 gold piece in terms of flashy luster and superior preservation. An impressive gem example. Estimated Value $3,400 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,910
Lot 1344		1901-S $10 Liberty. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Wonderful rich golden toning. Boldly struck. Creamy gold surfaces eddy and churn with blazing "cartwheel" luster. Both the peripheries and the central areas are detailed and close to 100% crisp for their sharpness of strike, which is a forceful reminder in a 1901 Eagle from this mint that it is quality that matters (PCGS # 8749) . Estimated Value $3,300 - 3,500. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,830
Lot 1345		1902 $10 Liberty. NGC graded Proof 65. Both sides are smoothly mirrored in the familiar "all brilliant" finish of 1902, with bright, reflective fields supporting sharp, crisp devices. Even yellow-gold color is seen throughout. Fortunately for bidders, there are no blemishes found, nor is there anything else that is worthy of note in a negative way. Instead, the entire coin is exemplary in its detail, beauty, originality. With such strong technical merits and captivating eye appeal, this coin would serve as a centerpiece in even the most advanced collection of U.S. Proof gold. 113 Proofs struck. Extremely low population at this grade level: Pop 2; 3 finer; 1 in 66; 2 in 67. (PCGS # 8842) . Features unique to the Proofs this year include: Low date, open 9, die polish around eye and at LIBERTY; devices semi-brilliant, as in other denominations of this year; die file marks left of lovelock, mostly slanting down to right. Reverse: Similar to 1901, with even more die polish at missing and incomplete feathers, but without the die file mark in upper left horizontal stripes. Estimated Value $30,000 - 33,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $28,750
Lot 1346		1903-S $10 Liberty. MS-60 Plus. Nice golden toning. Light hairlines over lustrous surfaces (PCGS # 8408) . Estimated Value $500 - 525. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $690
Lot 1347		1905-S $10 Liberty. NGC graded AU-58. Close to 75% luster remains (PCGS # 8758) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $660
Lot 1348		1907 $10 Liberty. NGC graded MS-63. Mostly untoned and frosty. A choice, frosty S-mint addition to ones Type Set (PCGS # 8763) . Estimated Value $700 - 725. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,064
Lot 1349		A Pair of U.S. Gold Coins in Mounts. Consists of: 1904 $5 AU55 and 1915 $10 AU55. A total of 2 coins. Estimated Value $700 - 750. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $863
Lot 1350		1907 No Periods No Motto $10 Indian. EF-45. A few marks over still-lustrous surfaces. A two-year Type. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was restored mid-way into 1908. Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $661
Lot 1351		1907 $10 Indian. Wire rim, periods. PCGS graded MS-64 PQ. Lovely golden toning. A coin that should be sent back for regrade. Only 500 minted. As we have commented before, the year 1907 was a defining moment in American numismatics. Tossed out were several 19th century coin designs that had served their purpose. President "Teddy" Roosevelt -- considered a madman by many of his opponents as well as some of his admirers -- spearheaded the revolution by forcing the Mint to refurbish its coinage standards. This was an era when the Executive branch was flexing its muscles. America's brand-new navy, christened the Great White Fleet went steaming around the world on its grand tour in a sort of chest-pounding exercise. Regardless of one's opinion of nationalism, whether it be all mighty or all foolhardy, Theodore Roosevelt led the troops in this American numismatic "awakening." The elegant Wire Edge Ten Dollar Indian pieces by Augustus Saint-Gaudens are one of the more visible aspects of his modernization program, and should be cherished as others cherish artifacts from prior, historic openings. A problem-free coin is what we offer in this lot, one bursting with life, vivid, and warm orange-golden in appearance. What's more, the surfaces acquit themselves nicely in terms of the fewness of marks, absence of hairlines, spots or other detriment. Such, then, for luster. Turning to the other key factor, a coin that is desirable with this meticulous strike on the fancy feather work of the bonnet as well as the more subdued yet still sharp-looking modernist features of the standing eagle. The eagle clasps in its talons an olive branch of peace along with a bundle of arrows (the latter signifying preparedness for war). Readers will notice the absence of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the 1907 issue. This was done at the request (demand?) of President Roosevelt, who said it bordered on blasphemy to include the name of the Deity on the nation's coinage. (Congress later rescinded this order.) A rare and handsome example of the early version of Augustus Saint-Gaudens masterpiece. Pop 106; 69 finer; 50 in 65; 16 in 66; 3 in 67. (PCGS # 8850) . Estimated Value $40,000 - 45,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $42,550
Lot 1352		1907 $10 Indian. No periods. NGC graded MS-65. A resplendent untoned example. A brilliant coin with dazzling luster, in fact, virtually three-dimensional, almost jumping out at the viewer. Talk about a Gem quality coin with life of its own! Beyond that, the striking is needle sharp, everything melds perfectly to yield an opportunity that should be quite advantageous to the smart buyer. A solidly graded example, this coin displays above-average striking definition for a No Motto 1907 from this short-lived Type. This is to say that the strike is complete, not even a single fused hair strand over Liberty's ear to keep this coin from being full. Pop 317; 199 finer. (PCGS # 8852) . Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $8,338
Lot 1353		1907 $10 Indian. No periods. NGC graded MS-63. Frosty with some marks. The surfaces are bright with light yellow gold luster and show none of the muting often seen on this No Motto issue (PCGS # 8852) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,760
Lot 1354		1908 $10 Indian. With motto. NGC graded Proof 65. Only 116 proofs struck. This was a trend-setting year for the U.S. Mint. It was the first year Proofs were made of the modernist Saint-Gaudens design, and it was also the first time the new matte Proof finishing process appears on coins sold to collectors. The new designs were a major improvement even though collectors weren't overly familiary with matte Proofs and tended to complain about them. (Proof sales, however, continued at about the same levels as before until a noticeable decline in 1914-15.) There were 116 Indian Proof Eagles struck this year. They have a distinctive dark finish, between a khaki and olive gold color. The most affordable date in the series, the 1908 Proof can be found in all grades. Still, the number extant is not as large as one might at first believe if you judge by the Population figures (given at the end of this discussion). Factors taking their toll on survivors include mishandling and distribution among non-collectors, the difficulties encountered by people in the Great Depression (many gold pieces were, of necessity, spent to pay bills). Authoratative sources believe that somewhere between 40 to 60 pieces remain today. This crisp Gem Proof rendering of Saint-Gaudens' masterful design. Sharp in all areas, the matte (or, more properly, sand-blast) surfaces show myriad tiny diamond sparkles that spread light in a random way rather than more uniformly the way the earlier mirror Proofs did. The coin is free from impairment. And finally, it is a wonderful chance for the next owner to acquire one that has already been hand-picked from lesser examples. In a new NGC 4 prong holder. Pop 11; 16 in 66; 10 in 67; 2 in 68. (PCGS # 8890) . Estimated Value $37,000 - 40,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $36,800
Lot 1355		1910 $10 Indian. NGC graded MS-66. Light gold toning. Pleasingly bright and lustrous, both sides are warmly colored in reddish-gold hues. A solidly graded, strictly eye-catching Gem, this coin displays striking definition for an Indian Eagle that will impress everyone. No wooden-faced looking Liberty here: the strike is full, including the hair waves over her temple which often keep this from the "full strike" class. The coin wears a permanent air of superiority. In a new NGC 4 prong holder. Pop 34; 14 in 67; 3 in 68. (PCGS # 8865) . Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,000. The Mark Gordon Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,075
Lot 1356		1910 $10 Indian. PCGS graded MS-64. Nice even golden toning on both sides. Heavy with golden frost from top to bottom, this is an outstanding example of the Type and date. To get some idea just how far $10 went in those days, in 1914 Henry Ford gave a pay raise to all his Ford Motor Company assembly line workers. In an era when there were no taxes withheld from paychecks, the pay for an 8-hour day was $5 (in gold) (PCGS # 8865) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,703
Lot 1357		1911 $10 Indian. NGC graded MS-64. Well struck with golden toning. This is a remarkably lustrous Indian $10 coin whose gold features come alive rich and satiny. The fully detailed surfaces are knocking on the door of an even higher grade (PCGS # 8868) . Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,415
Lot 1358		1911 $10 Indian. PCGS graded MS-63. Frosty with light even toning. Both sides display a frosty sheen and satiny brilliance, being predominately yellow-gold with a touch of reddish color (PCGS # 8868) . Estimated Value $950 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,495
Lot 1359		1926 $10 Indian. AU-50. Lightly cleaned but still very lustrous. Has a small mark on the cheek. Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details	Realized $633
Lot 1360		1930-S $10 Indian. PCGS graded MS-66 PQ. A fantastic gem example with stunning golden mint bloom color on both sides. One of five well-known keys to the beautiful Indian Eagle series, the 1930-S is the only $10 gold delivery of the 1927-1931 years. Survivors are much more elusive than even the limited original mintage of 96,000 might suppose. Authorities believe the issue experienced widespread melting by the Treasury Department in the 1930s. Most examples today exist in Mint condition, which is why the 1930-S is not rightly regarded as a condition rarity. With that in mind, the issue is an absolute rarity at the Mint State 66 level, there'll be no denying that, with precious few available for collectors per the population numbers which follow this description. It is always an occasion of great anticipation for this auction house when it has the opportunity to offer a Gem BU 1930-S Indian Eagle. The truth of the matter is that this coin is a sleek-looking Gem, one whose smooth-cheeked Liberty pushes all others to the sidelines. Both sides emit capable-looking reddish-gold luster that yields to swirling tints as light strikes it at different angles. There are no isolated areas where this doesn't occur; in other words, the entire coin is amazing. Pleasingly sharp detail from a bold strike is seen throughout, as well. The flowing mint luster is truly exceptional in quality (even by the standards of this strict PCGS grade). There are scarcely any abrasions to be found, while the eye appeal alone positions it for an even higher Superb Gem rating. A coin that will have no difficulty attracting crowds of 21st century gold seekers in today's onrushing Gold Stampede of the decade! Pop 4; 1 in MS-67 (PCGS # 8883) . Estimated Value $75,000 - 90,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $80,500
Lot 1361		1932 $10 Indian. NGC graded MS-66. Lovely rich golden toning. What is most in full view when we examine this coin is its thick, golden mint luster -- it swirls over each side unhindered by noticeable abrasions and free of even a trace of tarnish. A coin with outward charm that will delight the serious Indian Eagle buyer. A dampened impression is rarely found on the 1932 issue, for all were extremely well made. From the strong rebound of the dies that struck this year's coinage we see that the design is boldly crisp. Pop 201; 7 in 67. (PCGS # 8884) . Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $9,775
Lot 1362		1932 $10 Indian. PCGS graded MS-63. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Nice golden toning (PCGS # 8884) . Estimated Value $900 - 925. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,208