Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 91

June 2016 Pre-Long Beach

$5 Liberty/With Motto

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1446		1869 $5 Liberty NGC Proof 65. NGC graded Proof 65 Star Cameo. A wonderful coin with lovely light golden toning and fantastic eye appeal. The devices are bold throughout with glittering Cameo frost imparted by the dies while the mirror fields show the high degree of reflectivity one expects in an outstaning gem coin. However, this isn't just any typical gem proof half eagle, this is an 1869. Only 25 minted, and while CoinFacts estimates the number known today at 20 this seems quite generous as PCGS records only 7 examples in all grades, five as regular Proof examples from PR-55 to PR-64, and two more with the Cameo designation, one as PR-64 and this coin as PR-65, the only gem seen by PCGS. The present offering is one of two seen by NGC at this grade level, but none are finer. It is notworthy that the other PR-64 PCGS Cameo example, while no doubt exceptional in its own right, does have a rather prodigious lintmark on the reverse, perhaps a strike through, which can be viewed on the CoinFacts website. 1869 was such an important year in history, one important fact on gold coins of this year involves President Grant. One of Grant's shirt tail relations (Grant's brother-in-law Abel Corbin) decided it would be useful to corner the gold market, and in the process make a whole lot of money. Corbin earned time with Grant and told him to withhold all the United States gold reserves and keep them off the market, then with this inside information Corbin and his co-conspirators (James Fisk and Jay Gould) bought up all the available gold on the market. Little was to be had as the monetary disruptions from the Civil War continued and most of the gold coinage remained in hoards. This drove up the premium of gold coins relative to the greenback dollars in circulation. Gold soon carried a 30% premium at market as to when Grant took office a few years before. The demand for gold forced the price to rise rapidly as others jumped on the bandwagon to easy profits. Meanwhile, President Grant learned of the scheme he had inadvertantly allowed, and pulled the plug by selling tons of Treasury gold into the market, roughly $4 million dollars worth. The premium of gold to greenbacks plummeted. Corbin was financially destroyed, but Gould and Fisk barely escaped the selling deluge. Investigations into the corruption were complex. In the end Grant survived in his presidency, but just barely. Looking at this Gem Cameo Proof eagle can often lead one into the immense history of the era, and the tidal forces that were ever changing the sandy coast of the politics of 1869. Pop 2; none finer at NGC (PCGS # 88464) Estimated Value $45,000 - 50,000 Ex: Eliasberg. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $71,969
Lot 1447		1876 $5 Liberty PCGS MS62. PCGS graded MS-62+. A choice frosty mint example. Only 40 to 50 examples are known to exist and this is one of the finer ones known today. The origianl mintage of 1,432 pieces suffered the usual indignities to the degree that such a small number remain. It is curious that so few were struck for the Centennial year of this country, as some other mintages were quite high for this particular year, others quite low. Demand for coins and production was still out of balance due to the Civil War, with paper money trading at a discount to gold until 1879. If you have been looking for an example of this prized date, especially a mint fresh uncirculated coin then look no further than this splendid example! Pop 1; 8 finer. (PCGS # 8339) Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1448		1877 $5 Liberty NGC AU55. NGC graded AU-55. A hint of tone with reflective surfaces on both sides on this rare and desirable date. The mintage came in at only 1,132 pieces struck. Most of those have long since disappeared leaving collectors struggling to find any example of this date and mint. Don't miss out if you are a serious date collector! Pop 4; 20 finer, 11 in 58, 3 in 58+, 1 in 60, 5 in 61. (PCGS # 8342) Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,300 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $5,170
Lot 1449		1881-S $5 Liberty PCGS MS63. PCGS graded MS-63. Well struck and totally brilliant (PCGS # 8357) Estimated Value $450 - 500 View details Check results on similar lots	Realized $705
Lot 1450		1893 $5 Liberty NGC MS64. NGC graded MS-64+. Well struck (PCGS # 8383) Estimated Value $800 - 850 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1451		1901 PCGS MS64. PCGS graded MS-64. Scarce this well preserved, with glowing luster and a solid strike. Best of all the devices and fields are quite clean, keeping the technical grade high along with the eye appeal. Pop 368; 96 finer . Estimated Value $650 - 700 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $764
Lot 1452		1903 $5 Liberty PCGS Proof 65. PCGS graded Proof 65+ Cameo. A flashy white proof that has one minor copper speck on the reverse which is mentioned for identification. In the prior year the Mint introduced a more uniform proof style of an all mirror finish. That generally reduced the degree of frost on the devices and also reduced the number of Cameo coins. Only one Proof 1903 half eagle has the Ultra Cameo contrast, and precious few offer the desirable Cameo contrast. Finding this combination on a gem proof makes it even better. Only 154 minted. Pop 1; 5 finer, 1 in 66, 2 in 67, 2 in 67+ (PCGS # 88498) Estimated Value $25,000 - 27,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1453		1903 $5 Liberty PCGS Proof 65. PCGS graded Proof 65 PQ. CAC Approved. Fully white gem example. Only 154 minted and this is one of the finest seen of the Proofs. The Mint changed the process for preparing the dies to make Proofs in 1902, reducing the depth of frost on the devices and producing more of an all mirror effect for the entire coin. This is an example of that revision, and these are rare in all grades, especially so in Gem. Appealing and important! Pop 4; 3 finer, 2 in 66, 1 in 67 (PCGS # 8498) Estimated Value $23,000 - 24,000 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1454		1904 $5 Liberty PCGS MS65. PCGS graded MS-65. Well struck with a hint of light gold tone and incredible originality. Exceptional satin luster and amazing quality surfaces for any date half eagle. One of the finer pieces as noted of this date. Pop 69; 26 finer (PCGS # 8409) Estimated Value $2,100 - 2,200 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 1455		1908 $5 Liberty PCGS MS63. PCGS graded MS-63. CAC Approved. A nice untoned (PCGS # 8418) Estimated Value $450 - 500 View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $646
Lot 1456		Quartet of NGC graded $5.00 Liberties. Consists of: 1880 MS-60; 1881 MS-62; 1900 MS-62; 1906 MS-61. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,299 View details	Realized $1,498
Lot 1457		A 5-piece lot of $5.00 Liberties. Consists of: 1879, 1881, 1886-S, 1894, 1898. Coins are VF to EF, some cleaned. Lot of 5 coins. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,100 View details	Realized $1,674
Lot 1458		1880 $5 Liberty. Consists of: 1880 (2); 1882 (2). Coins will grade VF, some cleaned. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $800 - 900 View details	Realized $1,204
Lot 1459		1885-S $5 Liberty PCGS MS61. PCGS graded Each MS-61. Lot of 2 coins (PCGS # 8368) Estimated Value $650 - 700 View details Check results on similar lots	Realized $764
Lot 1460		A trio of graded $5.00 Liberties. Consists of: 1898 NGC AU-58; 1899 PCGS AU-53; 1901-S NGC AU-58. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $750 - 800 View details	Realized $1,028