Walter Breen
Eagle. [30] *B-1. Very low level date, 71 very close, left base of first 1 slightly r. of center, r. base of final 1 minutely left of center. Rev. Vertical die file marks left of first S, possibly not constant. Exceedingly rare. (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg? (4) Garrett:441, $10,500, hairlined. (5) Boyd, WGC:676, impaired. (6) Wolfson: 703, impaired. Few others reported. The same dies were later used on copper, aluminum and nickel strikes. Business strikes are of the variety B-2, date centered between bust and border, rev. left line of second stripe incomplete. The odd delivery of 40 on Nov. 18 probably did not include proofs.
Double Eagle. [30] 7 1 apart; left base of first 1 left of center, r. base of second 1 over space; first 1 nearer to bust than to border. Rev. Middle arrow shaft gone but for one tiny fragment; possibly the die of 1870. Still rarer than lower denominations. (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg. (4) Garrett:440, $10,500, cloudy. (5) Atwater: 1263, Dr. Green: 740, Amon Carter Sr. & Jr. These dies were later used on copper, aluminum and nickel strikes.
Gold proof sets. All delivered Feb. 20. Garrett's was dispersed, totalling $46,850. A triple set in copper, aluminum and nickel brought $12,580 as Breen 1:434.
Complete proof sets. Feb. 10 is recorded in Mint Cabinet Accounts and Memoranda as the date when the Coiner turned over a complete set, cent to $20, to the Mint Cabinet Curator, for $48.65 in greenbacks = $43.54 face + 8¢ proofing charge. The only other complete set known is in ANS, ex Brock, Morgan, as usual.
1872
Straight dates are the rule from now through 1880 on most denominations, the nickel 3¢ and 5¢ being exceptions. Dates of 1872 come sometimes with 18 touching, sometimes with these digits free, which may not represent a second logotype (dies lapped?).
Cent. [950+] Numerals often rounded at edges and not in too high relief; one such die comes with a few rust pits on neck. Rev. E of CENT often closed, r. serif of T strengthened and unusually bold, shield filled with file marks. This rev., or its identical twin, recurs on proofs of 1873-75 and - apparently -1878. No rumor of restrikes. This date is under continuous pressure from date collectors.
Two Cents. [950+] Date high, close to ball; ball above 8 and space to r.; left base of 1 above r. edge. Two reverses: without and with horizontal line from narrow leaf just left of 2, the former rusting progressively, the latter reused in 1873. In great demand because business strikes usually come very worn.
Three Cents Nickel. [950+] Several minor varieties. Same comment as to 1871 for quality; not in as much demand as 1871 though actually slightly scarcer.
- Date slants down, left base of 1 central, 72 lightly touching; clear 2. Rev. of 1871. Sometimes with light extra outlines on CA.
- Date more nearly level; double cut 72, date first cut lower then corrected. This is probably scarcer. Other dies may exist, especially with filled 2.
Five Cents Nickel. [950+] Several minor varieties. Same comment as to 1871 for quality, though quite a few extra brilliant pieces are around. Scarcer than 1871 but not nearly so much date collector pressure.
- Heavy date, partly filled 2.
- Thin numerals, clear 2. Doubling on shield so that many red stripes markedly overlap azure; but motto and arrows are normal. Rare. Several dies of business strikes (much rarer) show similar blundering. 1975 ANA:127, 128; LM 11/68:204.
Minor proof sets. As in 1870, none seen.
Trime. [950] Only one variety on proofs and business strikes; top of D thin but present, evidently restored in the working die. Star point about midway r. curves of 8; stria from base of (N)I to star, spur to left from re-entrant angle at 5: 00. This one ought to be in much greater demand from date collectors than it actually is; only 1000 business strikes were minted and I have seen exactly two of them in the past 25 years, one in the Ruby
collection, but the proofs turn up with reasonable frequency - sometimes impaired.
Half Dime. [950] All three varieties have open top to D.
- V-1. Date above center, shield point minutely left of tip of serif, skirt pendant slightly left of center of 7, left base of 1 left of center of denticle, both ribbon ends touch wreath. Bullowa, May 1952 and others. Often carelessly made.
- V-2. Date about centered, double punched on early examples (Eliasberg, Neil: 1697, others), positions as on V-I save that skirt pendant is about centered over 7 and left base of 1 is minutely nearer border than top of 1 is to base; r. end of ribbon clear of wreath. Cf. Garrett set.
- V-4. Date low, close to border, shield point well to left of 1, skirt pendant just r. of serif of 7, left base of 1 almost touches left side of denticle; reverse like V-I and possibly same die. Rarer than the others. Note the Valentine illustration.
Dime. [950] Low date, very near border, skirt pendant above left serif of 7. Some of the specimens included in proof sets were carelessly enough made to have been given only one blow from the dies, so that some details (notably Liberty's head, part of rock, parts of drapery, etc.) were not properly brought up. Cf. that in Lester Merkin's April 1966 auction - and that in the ANS proof set (ex Mint, Brock, Morgan). This sort of carelessness is seen on various denominations during the 1870's; possibly inexperienced employees were on duty making proofs, possibly there was enough haste and chaos in the mint that nobody really cared a whistle in a high wind about quality control.
Quarter. [950] Shield point over center of 1, left base of lover r. edge. Faint border striae over 10th to 12th stars. Die cut from left border of shield. Same comment as to last, though there are no recent auction records for the carelessly made specimens.
Half Dollar [950] High date, scarcer.
- Low date, shield point r. of center of 1, left base of 1 almost over r. edge; 87 joined by defect, toe not enclosed. Rev.: Beak partly filled; rust pit in azure near chief point, others in E(D). Cf. Garrett set.