Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 81

The Pre-Long Beach Sale

Liberty Nickels

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 710		1883. Without "CENTS". PCGS graded MS-67. Lovely light golden toning. Blazing luster. Keen-edge detail on all devices. Pop 21; none finer at PCGS. (PCGS # 3841) . Historic Account: Breen, in his encyclopedia, describes this new arrival on the American scene in his usual colorful language: "Barber 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. 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. Protests multiplied. Mint Director Snowden at once ordered Barber to modify the reverse Barber's first and better idea was to place the word CENTS on a scroll across V; this was inexplicably rejected in favor of the more crowded arrangement with CENTS below and the Latin motto in minute letters above. However, the centless nickels were not withdrawn, many reportedly going to the Mississippi Valley and the West Coast, where minor coinage was always in short supply: Gibbs {1983}. Only the proliferation of the new type with CENTS finally ended the gilding racket. Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 711		1883. Without "CENTS". NGC graded MS-67. Fully white. Superbly original throughout, the surfaces show even nickel-bright bloom and there are no objectionable abrasions on either side. About as fully struck as these are normally found, with just terrific detail in hair and wreath with only the first five stars from the lower left showing any inadequacy. Pop 64; 4 finer in 67 Star. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 712		1883. Without "CENTS". PCGS graded MS-63. PQ. Well struck with light golden toning (PCGS # 3841) . Estimated Value $40 - 45. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $94
Lot 713		1885. PCGS graded Proof 65 PQ. CAC Approved. Beautiful toning on both sides. Only 3,790 struck of this desirable, scarce issue. Always popular and no longer as easily found in Gem Proof condition as it once was (PCGS # 3883) . Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,234
Lot 714		1885. PCGS graded Poor-1. A very low grade key date (PCGS # 3846) . Estimated Value $120 - 130. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $129
Lot 715		1898. NGC graded MS-66. Well struck. A few obverse marks. Most examples of this late-1890s decade issue barely eke out a choice "63" rating when certified. Yet all the evidence from this piece shows that from front to back it is an untoned gem with impressive mint brilliance over spotless surfaces. Pop 17; 2 finer in 67. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,050. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 716		1902. NGC graded MS-67. A nice white low pop date. Creamy white surfaces eddy and churn with almost "frothy" luster on this pristine 1902 V Nickel. Fortunately for the strike, which on some of these fails to show all the detail, it, like the luster, is razor's edge sharp and outstanding. A well-struck example for the specialist who wants Registry Set level coins. Today, this piece appears exactly as it did in the 1902, moments after it was struck by the dies Pop 4; 1 finer in 68. Estimated Value $3,600 - 3,700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 717		1908. NGC graded Proof 67 Cameo. CAC Approved. PQ. Nice light even toning on both sides. Only 1,620 struck. A lustrous Liberty Nickel specimen with a grand display of nickel-bluish iridescence on both sides. Boldly struck as expected on a Proof, in fact fully so at the hair and coronet and throughout the reverse wreath, so much detail that its Victorian Era charm is enhanced immeasurably. Pop 7; tied for the finest graded cameo at NGC. Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 718		1909. NGC graded Proof 68. Fully white gem proof. Only 4,763 struck. The nickel-bright luster on both sides is full with a beautiful mirror sparkle. This is a decidedly well-struck Proof with crisp details, unlike most circulation strikes made on the mint�s high-speed presses. It of course has no bothersome abrasions or points of wear, as is often the case with lesser quality, slightly mishandled Proof specimens; nor did the dies leave behind anything except a rigid impression of razor-sharpness in the centers. The centers and stars, legends and wreath are fully defined. Spectacular quality. Condition Census. Pop 8; 1 finer in 68 Star. Estimated Value $3,800 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 719		1911. PCGS graded Proof 66 Cameo. A stunning Gem Cameo Proof further highlighted by a touch of delicate golden-violet toning. Only 1,733 struck. Pop 29; 14 finer with 3 in 66+, 11 in 67 (PCGS # 83909) . Estimated Value $650 - 700. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $881
Lot 720		1911. PCGS graded Proof 66 PQ. CAC Approved. What a lovely Gem Proof coin. All the right colors. Only 1,733 minted. Pop 45; 9 finer, 2 in 66+, 6 in 67, 1 in 68 (PCGS # 3909) . Estimated Value $600-UP. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $1,704
Lot 721		1912. PCGS graded Proof 63. CAC Approved with Gold Sticker. A nice cameo proof and should be graded a point or more higher. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Only 2,145 struck (PCGS # 3910) . Estimated Value $250-UP. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $400
Lot 722		1912-D. PCGS graded MS-64. CAC Approved. Light gold toning. First year issue, it was only in 1911 that Denver got the nod to strike One-cent pieces, and starting in 1912, Denver followed that up by minting its first Liberty Five-cent coins. Today, Denver produces the bulk of the coinage for the states west of the Mississippi River (PCGS # 3874) . Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 723		1912-S. PCGS graded Fine-12. Well worn but problem free. Mintage: 238,000 (PCGS # 3875) . Estimated Value $150 - 160. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $153
Lot 724		A Set of Proof and Mint State Liberty Nickels. From 1883 to 1912-D. Contains some cameos and gems, plus a 1912-D in UNC, all housed in a special Capital plastic holder. Careful study highly recommended. A total of 32 coins, including 31 in Proof and 1 business strike. Estimated Value $10,000-UP. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $14,688
Lot 725		1883-1912-S. A Complete Set of Liberty Nickels. Coins range in grade from Poor to Fine. All housed in two old Wayte Raymond folders. Estimated Value $500-UP. View details	Realized $382
Lot 726		1885 and 1886. NTC graded both Fair-2. Popular key dates. Estimated Value $300 - 325. View details	Realized $188