Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1989

Eagle. [25] *B-1. Date from the half dollar logotype, thin (lightly impressed), placed to left, the 9 far from truncation; 10th star double. Rev. Partial "shift" (double entry from hub). (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Garrett:429, $9,000. (4) Ullmer:493, $12,000, ex Wolfson: 698, possibly ex Neumoyer:2585. (5) PNG 10/65. (6) KS 2/60:2793, possibly same as one of last two, and/or DiBello: 1078. (7) Amon Carter. Under great pressure from date collectors as almost unobtainable in business strike form. The latter are from B-2 dies: date low and left, 11th star double, thin letters, scroll incomplete around IN.

Double Eagle. [25] Silver dollar logotype for date, fills up space between device and border; date well to left, 1 touches bust and very close to border. (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg. (4) PNG 10/65:693, possibly ex Baldenhofer: 1532. (5) Garrett: 428, $14,000. (6) WGC :872, "Memorable": 692. (7) Bell I, "H. R. Lee" : 1713, DiBello: 1235. (8) Amon Carter.

Gold proof sets. [25] All delivered Feb. 19.

Garrett's, sold piecemeal, brought only $42,250.

Complete proof sets. [25] One of the gold sets was joined to a silver-minor set and turned over by the Coiner to the Curator of the Mint Cabinet, March 8, for $57 in greenbacks; it is now in S1. Another in ANS, ex Brock, Morgan.

1870

Cent. [1000+] Many have J-shaped raised line (lint mark in hub?) before earlobe, line from border towards top feather. Minute positional varieties probable. Hardly rare, but under date collector pressure. Often rather dull in color.

Two Cents. [1000+] Usually, date high, ball above 8 and serif of 7, ornament incomplete below W; stripes weak at center (die lapped). Rev. As usual, top serif of D missing. Like the cent, often rather dull in color, though not as much as in 1864-65.

Three Cents Nickel. [1000+] Planchets often rather granular on this and some later dates in the seventies. First die: Date high, not recut; two lines from rim to left top of M; rev. of 1869.

Second die: Date double punched, very plainly on r. side of zero. Left base of 1 above r. edge of dentils. Rev. Possibly the same die.

Five Cents Nickel. [1000+] Same comment as to 3¢ planchets. First die: Die file marks slant down to r. near cross; curved lines in lower white stripes.

Second die: Left arrow butt attenuated, right hand line in first two red stripes incomplete at top. Some outlines on shield and side ornaments incomplete.

Minor proof sets. Cent, 2¢, nickel 3¢ and 5¢. None seen.

Trime. [1000] First die: Star point well above date, about midway between 87. Light recutting within top loop of 8, below crossbar of 7. NN 53:425, others.

Second die: As above, no recutting, top of D more nearly closed than usual. ANS.

Third die: Heavier date, no recutting, star point much nearer to 7 than to 8, though closer to both (higher date); line between F and A. NN 53:426, others.

Half Dime. [1000] V-l. Date about centered, shield point about over tip of serif of 1 or minutely left, skirt pendant well to left of center of 7; r. end of ribbon barely clear of wreath. Valentine; Bullowa, May 1952, others. This reverse (identifiable by pattern of faint striations, etc.) was also used on patterns of 1870-71 and restrikes dated 1863 and 1864 in various metals.

- V-2. high date, placed to left, slanting down very slightly. Shield point between tip and left upright, skirt pendant about over center of 7; rev. apparently as last. ANS, Valentine, Garrett set, others.

- *(?) B-7, not in V. Low date, farther left; shield point above left upright, pendant r. of center of 7. Rev. as last two. Eliasberg. Rarer than others.

Dime. [1000] B-1 . Date slants down to r., pendant left of center of 7. Rev. Ribbon ends free. Often with crack joining ribbons. Garrett set; Neil: 1280; Merkin 4/66.

_ *(?) B-2. Date very high and level. ANS; Neil: 1282, others.

Quarter. [1000] Date centered, shield point over r. upright, left base of 1 central. Rev. Fold of scroll left of TRUST vague. Other varieties are possible.

Half Dollar. [1000] At least two varieties; others possible:

- Beistle I-A. Date well above center. One full and two partial drapery lines. Shield point slightly r. of upright of 1, left base of 1 r. of center; 11th and 12th stars often show extra outlines. Rev. Die of 1868, weak red stripes.

_ Not in Beistle. Shield point over r. foot, left base of lover center; full drapery. Rev. as preceding. Which is scarcer?

Silver Dollar. [1000] *B-1. High date, tiny rust pits in drapery and at crook of elbow of shield arm. Rev. of 1869 B-2, B-3. Other varieties possible.

Silver-minor proof sets. The 1,000 recorded were struck in small lots throughout the year. Many survive, some probably assembled, others original, e.g. Garrett: 304 at $3,400. One seen in case of issue.

Gold Dollar. [35] *B-2. Obv. Polish around ERT and top feather. Rev. Date about central, not as low as on business strikes; DOLLAR thin. The first 25 came with the sets, Feb. 3; the others, not distinguishable, June 1. Under 20 survivors.