Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 80

June Pre Long Beach Sale

Seated Liberty Half Dimes

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 294		1837. No Stars, Large Date. NGC graded MS-65. Nice blue toning for this well struck type coin. Pop 3; 6 finer, 5 in 66, 1 in 67. Estimated Value $1,900 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,233
Lot 295		1838. NGC graded MS-67 PQ. CAC Approved. Large Stars. No Drapery. Pop 20; 9 finer, 2 in 67 Star, 2 in 68, 5 in 68 Star . Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,931
Lot 296		1838. NGC graded MS-66. Nice blue and gold toning. Pop 48; 31 finer. Estimated Value $1,800 - 1,900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,056
Lot 297		1838. Stars, No Drapery. PCGS graded MS-68 PQ. A frosty white gem. Beginning at the Philadelphia Mint in 1838 and continuing through November 1840, working dies for the Seated Half Dime were sunk from the No Stars hub of 1837. The 13 stars weren�t part of the hub and therefore had to be hand-punched into the working dies around the obverse border. This type with Liberty's portrait style of 1837 and 13 obverse stars is known as the "No Drapery." Production lasted only three calendar years. The first-year 1838, therefore, enjoys great collector demand, more so than one might initially suspect for an issue that is among the more available dates in the early Seated Half Dime series. This traces to its use in Type Sets as the first year of issue. For the type collector who will accept nothing less than the finest for his/her collection, we are proud to present this utterly fantastic pure white Gem No Drapery Half Dime. The obverse and reverse resonate their satiny glow across all surfaces, reaching their brilliance into the deepest design recesses. Full mint luster is seen throughout, and the strike is pretty much razor-sharp. Blemish-free, this coin is among the finest offered 1838 No Drapery Half Dimes of both varieties known to the two major grading services. Pop 2; 1 finer in 68+ (PCGS # 4317) . Estimated Value $30,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $35,250
Lot 298		1839 No Drapery. NGC graded MS-67. Lovely light blue toning. Boldly struck. Pop 8; 2 finer, 1 in 67 Star, 1 in 68. Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,405
Lot 299		1840. No Drapery. PCGS graded MS-67 PQ. CAC Approved. Boldly struck with lovely iridescent amber toning on both sides that includes a few colorful shades at different angles. A wonderful coin, indeed a spectacular No Drapery Half Dime. About as close to flawless as will ever be seen on this Type, a robust Stars Obverse Half Dime that stands on the shoulders of any wannabe competitor. The strike is knife-edge sharp on the devices (including all stars), with clear definition to the high points such as Liberty�s hair and the small shield she is balancing on its pointed tip by her side. From January 1838 through November 1840, half-dime working dies came from the old starless hub of 1837, but with 13 stars hand punched into each die (about 18 obverses in all for Philadelphia, 10 for New Orleans according to the Breen encyclopedia). Stars therefore vary notably in spacing, never completely even; they also vary slightly in size depending on how heavily they were input into each die, or how much the working dies were later repolished. Double punching on stars is the rule, not the exception. Pop 5; 1 finer in 68 (PCGS # 4321) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,100
Lot 300		1841-O. PCGS graded MS-65. CAC Approved. Boldly struck and fully lustrous. An untoned gem. Pop 1; 1 finer in 67+. (PCGS # 4329) . Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 301		1842-O. PCGS graded MS-65. Delicate golden toning highlights the surfaces on both sides. Pop 4; 1 finer in 66. (PCGS # 4331) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 302		1844. PCGS graded MS-67 PQ. CAC Approved. Lovely blue and gold toning on both sides. Well struck. A worldly measure of pouring frosted luster livens up the fields and expanse of design on this handsome 1844 Seated Liberty Half Dime. The fields are for all intents and purposes immaculate, heavily and beautifully toned, while the strike is intrepid enough to call for special mention in an era when US coinage tended toward uneven strikes, usually on the branch mints, not so often on Philadelphia�s production. Pop 11; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 4333) . On February 20, 1844 President Tyler and other dignitaries were on board the steam frigate Princeton on the Potomac River to see the action of a powerful new gun, the Peacemaker, which could fire a 212-pound load the remarkable distance of three miles. Without warning, the gun exploded on deck, and eight people were killed, including the Secretary of State. James Knox Polk, a relatively unknown figure, was nominated for the presidency by the Democrats who were deadlocked in convention. Polk became the first "dark horse" candidate to run in a national election, which he did successfully, besting Henry Clay by 170 electoral votes to 105. Samuel F.B. Morse harvested the fruits of his congressional backing and transmitted the first telegraph message, "What Hath God Wrought?" from the Capitol building to Baltimore. Wells, Fargo & Company had its beginnings in an express route between Detroit and Buffalo. At the time there were dozens of express companies that carried goods from one location to another, employing ship, rail, and horse transportation. Charles Goodyear obtained the basic patent for the vulcanization of rubber, which led to the expanded use of the product in overshoes, rainwear, and other articles. Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,581
Lot 303		1844-O. PCGS graded MS-62. CAC Approved. Needle sharp with pleasing antique toning. Pop 5; 5 finer, 1 in 63, 3 in 64, 1 in 65. (PCGS # 4334) . Estimated Value $6,000 - 6,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 304		1852. NGC graded Proof 65 Cameo. Only 10 minted. The finest graded at NGC. Fully white. A glittering Gem Proof! This coin is very likely among the finest known examples of the date, surpassed only by the PCGS Proof 66, ex James Kelly coin we sold in February 2002. The coin is a point better than any other reported by NGC. Although the mintage is unknown, some expert estimates suggest that 10 were struck in Proof, which agrees with Breen. Noteworthy too that the Eliasberg coin, which was cataloged as Prooflike Mint State in that 1996 sale, has since been NGC graded Proof 65, and could be this very coin. Simply stated, this is a magnificent specimen, the devices are vibrant silvery color, while the surrounding fields are deeply mirrored and glowing. On the reverse, the devices are incredibly beautiful, 100% razor-sharp. As to the variety, this is Valentine-3, with the date punched high and slanting down to the right slightly. Perfectly centered under Liberty and perfectly struck, with each star and device bold. Some residual die polishing lines can be seen on the obverse. Nearly perfect in condition, and a treasure for the accomplished numismatist. Pop 1; none finer at NGC . Estimated Value $25,000 - 28,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $29,375
Lot 305		1856. NGC graded Proof 65. Only 50 minted. Boldly struck with nice blue and gold toning. Pop 8; 5 finer in 66. Estimated Value $8,000 - 8,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,106
Lot 306		1856-O. PCGS graded MS-66+. Lovely rainbow toning. A great looking coin. By virtue of the Plus designation, this is the single finest 1856-O half dime in the PCGS certified population. The eye appeal is spectacular, from the bright obverse luster to the mix of gold, orange, and cerulean patina covering each side. A well-defined and important New Orleans beauty. Pop 1; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 4364) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,869
Lot 307		1857. NGC graded Proof 66. Only 70 minted. Well struck with lovely toning on both sides. Pop 8; 1 finer in 67. Estimated Value $6,500 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,344
Lot 308		1859. NGC graded MS-68. Wonderful rainbow toning on both sides. Boldly struck. Pop 4; none finer at NGC . Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,869
Lot 309		1859. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. Lovely obverse rainbow toning. Only 800 minted. Both sides exhibit moderate cameo contrast with fully and deeply mirrored fields beneath champagne, sea-green, cobalt-blue, and iridescent toning. Obviously the Valentine-8 variety described by Breen: "8's have a rather soft, indefinite appearance, as does lower part of the 5." The entire figure of Liberty has a similar soft appearance, suggesting a worn obverse die. The reverse is crisp and sharply defined. Pop 2; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 84438) . Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $10,869
Lot 310		1859. NGC graded Proof 66. Fully white proof. Only 800 struck. In 1859 the Philadelphia Mint experimented with switching the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA from the reverse to the obverse. Barring a few Patterns, all 1859 Half Dimes have the legend on the reverse, while all 1860 issues have it on the obverse. A white, untoned Gem Proof, as crisp and lustrous as when it was first issued. Probably a good many are not as carefully struck or well preserved as this handsome coin, with no suggestion or even a whisper of weakness at the main devices. The Mint had begun regular production of Proofs only the year before, and it is believed that about 800 pieces were struck in that format for 1859. Pop 16; 8 finer, 7 in 67, 1 in 68. Estimated Value $3,500 - 3,800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,583
Lot 311		1863. PCGS graded Proof 65 Cameo. Mostly untoned. A dazzling bright and needle-sharp Gem! Interestingly, the U.S. mint retained its old screw press in this period for use in striking Proof coins. The press gave the dies a strong, forceful "squeeze", and thereby imparted finer detail than on the faster steam-operated press in day-to-day use in the 1860s. Only 460 Proofs struck. Pop 6; 4 finer in 66. (PCGS # 84446) . Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,880
Lot 312		1863. NGC graded Proof 65. Only 460 minted. Well struck with natural toning on both sides. Pop 11; 9 finer, 5 in 66, 1 in 66+, 2 in 67, 1 in 67 Star . Estimated Value $1,100 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,175
Lot 313		1864. PCGS graded Proof 64. CAC Approved. PQ. Lovely light golden toning. Housed in an Old Green holder. Only 470 Proofs struck. Pop 45; 32 finer, 24 in 65, 5 in 66, 3 in 67. (PCGS # 4447) . Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $911