Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 54

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Commemorative Gold Coins

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 3565		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, with star. PCGS graded MS-65. A golden frosty gem specimen as though someone switched on a spotlight to focus on its mint bloom. Lustrous frosted surface is a pleasure to see on this 1922 Memorial issue. Full head and nearly full beard details on the Grant. A truly beautiful gem specimen of a popular Commemorative gold piece from our central coining facility at Philadelphia (PCGS # 7459) . Estimated Value $2,100 - 2,200. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,520
Lot 3566		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, with star. PCGS graded MS-64. Delicate golden-orange toning. Fully original with warm lustrous radiance. In an old green label PCGS holder (PCGS # 7459) . Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,840
Lot 3567		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, no star. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Rich golden toning. Only 5,016 minted. Strong metal flow augments the already showy mint luster that covers the surfaces on this handsome Grant Memorial Dollar, giving the coin a brand new, glowing appearance. The mint brilliance is only broken up by an rare overlay of pale orange patina. A sharp impression is nearly always the rule for Grants imprinted by the stamp of the dies that had no star on them; we are happy to say that the present example is a grand illustration of that rule being applied to Gem-quality luster and surface originality. Collectors will be drawn to its beauty automatically! Pop 412. (PCGS # 7458) . Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,200. Ex: Benson Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,070
Lot 3568		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, no star. PCGS graded MS-64. Intensely lustrous and right on the cusp of gem quality as indicated by its frosty allure plus sharp strike on both sides. In an old green label holder. The surfaces call for no comment since they are, except for a tiny flake at Grant's forehead, virtually flawless (PCGS # 7458) . Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,783
Lot 3569		1922 Grant Gold Dollar, no star. PCGS graded MS-64. Delicate golden toning over frosty mint originality. The streaming luster is smooth and consistent, and never inferior to others in its class. A well struck and swirling MS64 that has carefully preserved surfaces (PCGS # 7458) . Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,700. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,920
Lot 3570		1904 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64. A very choice example with delicate golden toning. Excellent quality and overall surfaces for this elusive Commemorative issue. The coin has vivid mint luster and is nearly abrasion-free, except for a few light scuffs in the fields. At best, it is not easy to find such luster on a Lewis & Clark dollar. So too crisp definition on the main devices counts for a lot. Mathematically exact standards are seen in the sharp portraits and hair (PCGS # 7447) . Estimated Value $2,200 - 2,300. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $4,370
Lot 3571		1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. Lovely rich golden toning on both sides. A wonderful looking coin. Engraved by Charles E. Barber and struck for the exposition held in Portland, Oregon. The Lewis and Clark Dollar honored the Corps of Discovery which explored the Northwest in 1803 to 1806 at the behest of President Jefferson. They were sold for between $2.00 and $2.50 apiece, with the proceeds earmarked for completion of the bronze memorial to Sacagawea, part-time guide and full-time interpreter between the Corps of Discovery and the Indian tribes. Mintage figures show 10,025 dated 1904 and 10,041 dated 1905. Collectors had very little interest in the Lewis and Clark gold dollars as it followed closely on the heels of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Those that were sold mainly went to the public and were not handled with care. Today the 1904 and 1905 Lewis and Clark dollars are several times rarer in Mint State grades than are the other pairs of commemorative gold dollars -- the 1903 Louisiana Purchase, the 1916 and 1917 McKinley, and the 1922 Grant varieties. Gleaming, satiny gold luster with light peach-colored ting and excellent detail. The surfaces are magnificent. Keen-edged devices throughout, including both portraits. Spot-free Gem. Pop 69; 2 finer in 67 (PCGS # 7448) . Estimated Value $15,000 - 16,000. Ex: Benson Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $16,100
Lot 3572		1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar. PCGS graded AU-58 PQ. No other alternative than to proclaim this coin has wonderful delicate light golden toning over flashy reflective surfaces. Definitely a Premium Quality coin for the given grade (PCGS # 7448) . Estimated Value $900 - 950. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,208
Lot 3573		1903 Louisiana Purchase-Jefferson Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64. Hints of golden-olive toning around the devices adds to its appeal as it rivals many a Gem BU example of this design. Frosty and delightful. Only a few light copper toned areas (PCGS # 7443) . Estimated Value $825 - 850. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,035
Lot 3574		1903 Louisiana Purchase-McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. Lovely rich golden toning. 17,500 struck. A golden bright specimen glowing with original mint bloom. The original Louisiana Purchase authorization called for one coin with Jefferson's portrait on it. But due to the assassination of President William McKinley in the summer of 1901, after the design had been authorized, the Congress decided to add this memorial striking to the martyred President. In time, the Congress would authorize a second memorial issue to McKinley (1916-17). Pop 428; 76 finer; 75 in 67; 1 in 68. (PCGS # 7444) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,783
Lot 3575		1903 Louisiana Purchase-McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. A brilliant untoned gem. A pleasant gem example swooning with afternoon-glowing frost. One would be hard put to add more about the mint bloom. And as for the strike, the coin was struck with technical exactness throughout -- including full sharp hair strands on the back of McKinley's head -- a regular with both the well-made Jefferson and McKinley dollars sold at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1903 (PCGS # 7444) . Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 3576		1903 Louisiana Purchase-McKinley Gold Dollar. Sharpness of AU. Cleaned. Estimated Value $300 - 350. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details	Realized $460
Lot 3577		1916 McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64. Hints of light golden toning. A crisply struck coin that beckons bids with its fresh golden color from the fields and devices (PCGS # 7454) . Estimated Value $625 - 650. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $690
Lot 3578		1917 McKinley Gold Dollar. PCGS graded MS-64. A hint of delicate golden toning adds to its appeal. An appealing fresh golden specimen, fully struck, and unmarred by copper spots, discoloration or deep contact marks. Easy to find in this nice a grade, since thoughtful collectors were the main buyers, but all the same, showing full, undiminished mint bloom. First issued in 1916, the design was reconstructed on new dies for the 1917 issue. Both are of comparable rarity (PCGS # 7455) . Estimated Value $850 - 900. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,064
Lot 3579		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold Dollar. PCGS graded AU-58 PQ. Nice and frosty and certainly looks fully Mint State with its 95% luster coverage. Two dolphins cavort on the reverse of this one-year design (PCGS # 7449) . Estimated Value $400 - 425. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $552
Lot 3580		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-66. An outstanding frosty mint gem that will have a crowd standing around admiring its delicate golden toning. Opulent vivid-gold color is seen over each side, in fact, with light raised "swirls" in the fields from the treatment given to the dies. The strike as keen as a razor on this handsome Pan-Pac $2.50, as well, showing complete scales on the mythical hippocamp. Pop 404; 19 in 67 (PCGS # 7450) . Estimated Value $5,500 - 5,800. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,325
Lot 3581		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Round. PCGS graded MS-65. A splendid gem example with lovely original golden toning on both sides. Only 483 struck. The goddess Minerva or Athena wears the crested helmet found on numerous depictions of her in ancient Greek coinage; it is pushed back off her face, to signify peaceful intentions. According to the Breen-Swiatek history of these important $50 coins, "We have not found the exact Greek coin used as prototype of this head, though the crested helmet is of the Athenian type, and there are numerous silver coins of Velia and Corinth showing her in this type of helmet, sometimes wreathed as here, often with other devices on it. Most such types have a long tailpiece to the crest, which is omitted here." On her shield is MCMXV (1915), only the second use of Roman numerals for date in United States coinage history up to that time (the first was the various types of Saint-Gaudens double eagles of 1907). Why Athena or Minerva? She was the goddess of wisdom, skill, agriculture, horticulture, spinning and weaving, crop rotation, among other things, and she taught her followers to grow and use olives, whose oil was long indispensable in cooking and providing light by night. All these were important in early California. Pop 9; none finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 7451) . Estimated Value $100,000 - 110,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $138,000
Lot 3582		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Round. NGC graded MS-65. A brilliant untoned satiny mint gem and a perfect match with the Octagonal example. Only 483 minted. In 1915, pilgrims of all nationalities made their way by steamer, train, and automobile to a veritable new city that had sprung up on the San Francisco waterfront. Following upon the great publicity awarded the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, 1892-1893 World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago), the 1900 Paris Exposition, the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, and other events, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition showcased marvels of technology, art, history, and science. After the event ended, nearly everything was torn down. An exception was the Palace of Fine Arts, which, while never intended to be a permanent structure, survived to be used to store fire engines and other municipal equipment. In recent times it has been restored. This building in 1915 housed the numismatic exhibit of the Exposition. Under its huge dome was Farran Zerbe's Money of the World display and, after the fair's closing, his concession to sell the remaining Panama-Pacific coins by mail order. America's fairs and expos usually revolve around a theme. For 1915, the fair organizers honored the discovery of the Pacific Ocean (1513) and the aforementioned completion of the Panama Canal (1914) as the dual anchor points for their theme. A series of 5 coins was struck for the occasion, including complete sets mounted in metal frames or leather cases sold for $200. Many sales were made to banks and other novices; for this reason, high grade examples, especially of the two $50 gold denominations, are a challenge to find. The larger the denomination, the harder to locate. Some were also carried as souvenir pieces, in fact. When all was said and done, only 483 Round $50 gold pieces were sold. And it can be assumed (though no separate records were kept in this regard) that numerous specimens in the hands of the public were melted after the federal government seized America's gold coins in 1933. We estimate there are 200 or so of the round $50 pieces remaining. Today the five different coins issued in connection with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition stand as the high-water mark of American commemoratives. The $50 round is legendary in U.S. federal coinage, both for its size ($50 or two and one-half ounces of 900 Fine gold) and dimensions. The artistry was by Robert Aitken, noted sculptor and coin designer whose handiwork presents Minerva, goddess of the harvest, wearing a Corinthian plumed helmet. Aitken used a more down-home emblem for his reverse, a "wise" owl perched upon a pine branch. Curiously, the wisdom of owls is much overrated. According to the trainers who worked the various owls in the Harry Potter series of movies, owls are little more than flying sharks -- sophisticated eating machines with only enough brains to get along with. They're downright unfriendly and almost impossible to train to do tricks. Nevertheless, Minerva's owl is golden and beautiful, and we'll stick with the proverbial "wise", on this foremost of all U.S. commemorative gold pieces! What a spectacular way to preserve the occasion than by this well struck, satin-gem Mint State 65 certified by America's top-tier grading firm, NGC (Numismatic Guarantee Corporation). *Pop 44; 23 finer with 1 in 65, 19 in 66, 3 in 67**. Estimated Value $90,000 - 100,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $97,750
Lot 3583		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Round. NGC graded MS-64. A magnificent intensely lustrous example with hints of light gold color toning. And an indispensable addition towards completing a full U.S. Commemorative gold set. Only 483 struck. It is difficult, but not to tricky to find a choice example in, say, the 62 or 63 grade. However, fewer MS64s exist nowadays than some might assume.This handsome example is one of the nicest around! The Pan-Pac $50 round also happens to be one of the most incredible coins ever conceived and offered for sale; it is replete with symbolism, though the symbolic nuances are lost on modern numismatists. Stuck at the time of America's involvement in the European "Great War," the Greek helmet is lifted back on Minerva's head in a ready but not fully combative pose, similar to the helmeted head seen on the famous Corinthian staters of ancient times featuring Pegasus the flying horse. The owl on the reverse signifies watchfulness. This is a resolutely gorgeous MS64 example, then, and one right on the cusp of full MS65quality. We think deserves special mention in the listing. When was the last time you dreamed of owning a solid 2-1/2 ounce $50 Round gold piece of this type. Now is your chance. The surface is impressive which is only to be expected. The luster envelops all areas in its smooth, bright, satiny embrace. This coin has clearly been well preserved since the day it was sold to a fortunate collector back in nineteen-and-fifteen. Extremely desirable in such remarkable condition. Always in great demand Pop 157; 67 finer. Estimated Value $60,000 - 70,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $80,500
Lot 3584		1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Octagonal. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. A stunning gem example exhibiting lovely original golden mint bloom colors on both sides. Only 645 struck of the octagonal variety. An absolutely lovely exaample and thus our Premium Quality designation. One of several examples of this massive coin we offer bidders this time around. A satiny specimen with strong fundamental luster and superlative surfaces throughout. Nicely struck, too, in fact totally so -- with such strikingly full devices on both side that special mention is merited. Indeed, the strike of the present coin easily rivals that of a higher-grade specimen. During preparations for the Panama-Pacific Exposition's opening, the Philadelphia Mint shipped a 14-ton hydraulic press to the fairgrounds for the specific purpose of striking these large $50 gold pieces. (Research has not been able to ascertain how they managed it: probably the press went disassembled by ship.) On June 15, the first octagonal pieces were struck at a ceremony which attracted Vips from all over the country. This had been arranged by Farran Zerbe, then possibly the best known numismatist in the country. Zerbe had the political influence to have himself put in charge of the Exposition's Coin and Medal Department, which was named in the authorizing act as responsible for distributing the commemorative coins. Zerbe set up his own collection (over 20,000 specimens after he included additions) in a trellised display area of the Palace of Liberal Arts on the Exposition grounds labeling it Zerbe's Unique Money of the World. It became one of the more popular displays, and the Panama-Pacific Commemorative coins, each with its own story appended, were probably seen by several million visitors between the Exposition's opening February 20 and its close on December 4, 1915. Pop 17; 1 in 66. (PCGS # 7452) . Estimated Value $90,000 - 95,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $120,750
Lot 3585		1926 Sesquicentennial Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-64. A touch of rose-color gold adds to its appeal. Before a spreading sunrise sits Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1776 on this gold quarter eagle commemorating the 150th anniversary of the event (PCGS # 7466) . Estimated Value $850 - 900. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $920
Lot 3586		1926 Sesquicentennial Gold $2.50. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice golden toning. Has a few marks on the legs but these are immaterial when one considers the problems most of these started having the morning after their purchase when collectors started to handle them in admiration of the new design. Glittering rivulets of sun-bright mint frost from center to edge (PCGS # 7466) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. The Leo Wexler Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $594
Lot 3587		1926 Sesquicentennial Gold $2.50. PCGS graded AU-58 PQ. A golden beauty and Premium Quality for the grade. Certain to please any collector given its lustrous surface (PCGS # 7466) . Estimated Value $350 - 375. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $384