Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 78

January Pre-Long Beach Sale 17.5% BP

Liberty Nickels

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1002		1883. Without "CENTS". PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. CAC Approved. Only 5,219 minted. A bright glittering gem with a hint of light gold toning on the reverse. Pop 76; 19 finer, 6 in 66+, 13 in 67 (PCGS # 83878) . Note: A humorous story is associated with the first Liberty Nickel issue of 1883. Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber designed the coin and made working hubs and dies, from which came almost 5.5 million 1883 No CENTS coins. At which point, as Herman Melville put it, "the whole powder train went up." People noticed that the coins had no mention of CENTS, and began saving these "mistake" Nickels on the correct assumption that the design would be changed to incorporate the necessary word. (Unsurprisingly, they are still plentiful in high grades, mostly VF to AU.) But worse was to follow. According to the Breen encyclopedia, "Unscrupulous persons reeded the edges of many of these coins, gold plated them, and palmed them off on the unwary as new $5 gold pieces. At least one famous court case reportedly involved a deaf-mute, Josh Tatum, who did the actual "shoving" so that his victims could never testify under oath that he had called the coins anything whatever. Thousands of the original "Racketeer" nickels, with partly rubbed-off gold wash, survive today; many with reeded edges, some with plain. Other parties, aiming at coin collectors, have within the last 30 years gilt ordinary centless nickels and sold them as 'Racketeer' coins, thereby exposing themselves to this epithet, but doubtless crying all the way to the bank.". Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1003		1885. PCGS graded MS-64+. CAC Approved. Well struck, needle sharp and a fully lustrous example. Delicate nature pastel toning is noted on both sides. Popular key date. Pop 1; 75 finer, 50 in 65, 1 in 65+, 20 in 66, 1 in 66+, 3 in 67. (PCGS # 3846) . 1885 is the year LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the roller coaster. Also that year, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawaii (then a sovereign Kingdom). On February 21, 1885, United States President Chester A. Arthur dedicated the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. Ex Bowers and Ruddy Sale 1978 Lot 169. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $6,463
Lot 1004		1885 NGC graded AG Details. Nice even wear. Reverse damage. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $212
Lot 1005		1886. PCGS graded Proof 66. CAC Approved. A gorgeous steel-blue gem! A spot-free example that should stir considerable bidder interest. Only 4,290 struck. Pop 104; 22 finer, 3 in 66+, 19 in 67. (PCGS # 3884) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,400. Ex Bowers and Ruddy Galleries The Fulton Collection June, 1978 Lot 773. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,469
Lot 1006		1886. NGC graded About Good-3. Estimated Value $100 - 110. View details	Realized $94
Lot 1007		1898. PCGS graded MS-65 PQ. Well struck with light even toning. Pop 84; 26 finer, 3 in 65+, 22 in 66, 1 in 67 (PCGS # 3859) . Estimated Value $700 - 800. The Coltrin Family Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $588
Lot 1008		1898. PCGS graded MS-64. A marvelous light golden specimen (PCGS # 3859) . Estimated Value $200 - 220. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $294
Lot 1009		1900. PCGS graded Proof 64 PQ. Nice light even toning. Only 2,262 minted (PCGS # 3898) . Estimated Value $250 - 275. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $323
Lot 1010		1903. NGC graded MS-66. A fully white gem that gleams with originality. Well struck. Pop 54; 4 finer, 1 in 66 Star, 3 in 67. Estimated Value $700 - 750. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1011		1903. PCGS graded Proof 64. CAC Approved. Only 1,790 minted. Lovely toning on both sides (PCGS # 3901) . Estimated Value $275 - 300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $376
Lot 1012		1912-S. NGC graded Mint Error Fine-12 Broadstruck. Seldom seen Mint Error. In coin manufacturing, historically the designs are imparted into the coin with a third die called a collar, whose inner edge diameter is the same as that of the edge of the coin. When the obverse and reverse dies strike the planchet, the resulting coin expands to fill the collar, impressing the collar design into the edge of the coin (in this case, a plain edge). The coin is then ejected from the collar and into a waiting chute where it lands in a bin with the other struck coins. When the collar is missing or out of alignment, it results in a type of error called a broadstrike. A broadstruck coin is generally a bit flatter and quite a bit bigger around than the regular non-error coin of the same denomination, as seen here (PCGS # 3875) . Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $376
Lot 1013		1912-S. NGC graded VG-8. Popular key date. Estimated Value $120 - 130. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $129
Lot 1014		1912-S. NGC graded Good-6 PQ. Partial "Liberty" shown on the obverse. Lowest mintage in the series: 238,000. Estimated Value $110 - 120. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $129
Lot 1015		1912-S. PCGS graded Good-4. Popular key date (PCGS # 3875) . Estimated Value $90 - 100. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $94
Lot 1016		A group of UNC Liberty Nickels. Consists of: 1883 N/C (4); 1890; 1900; 1903 (2). Coins range from MS-60 to MS-64. Lot of 8 coins. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details	Realized $541
Lot 1017		A group of 1912-S Liberty Nickels. Coins will grade About Good to Good. Popular key date. Lot of 77 coins. Estimated Value $6,900 - 7,200. View details	Realized $6,756
Lot 1018		A group of 1912-S Liberty Nickels. Coins will grade Good to Very Good. Popular key date. Lot of 50 coins. Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details	Unsold
Lot 1019		A group of 1912-S Liberty Nickels. Coins will grade Good to Very Good. Popular key date. Lot of 23 coins. Estimated Value $2,300 - 2,500. View details	Realized $2,468