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

1926

Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. (1) The former Farouk coin, reappearing in Hydeman: 695, then in R. E. Cox: 2124 (1962 New York Metropolitan Convention sale); present whereabouts unknown. Fine matte proof, relief details plain here both of portraiture and lettering which are hardly visible even with a magnifier on the regular uncirculated pieces. (2)Reportedly ex J. R. Sinnock estate. Russell Nering swears he had seen a third before 1965. possibly a reappearance of the Sinnock coin.

Sesquicentennial Quarter Eagle. Matte proof. Lester Merkin saw this coin about 1952 in the possession of David M. Bullowa, probably the coin reappearing as S 5/68: 823. One other has been rumored to exist, ex J. R. Sinnock estate. In examining your coins for suspected matte proofs, look especially closely for unusually sharp relief details on both sides, compared to regular uncirculated coins with mint bloom. There will, of course, be no mint bloom on a matte proof.

There is no report of any of the Oregon Trail pieces in proof though those would be beautiful coins indeed.

1927

One Vermont Sesquicentennial half dollar reported in matte proof, said to be from the Sinnock estate; not traced.

Hawaiian Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. [50] Sandblast (?) proof. Possibly coarse grained matte: the ANS piece is so deeply toned as to make it hard to be certain, especially within a display case. Arlie Slabaugh says that at least ten of the fifty were impounded in museums. Most of these are probably in Hawaii. One of the others, probably a Newcomer coin, appeared in R. E. Cox: 2125. Some of the survivors are said to be in original presentation cases. I have not a complete description of any such case of issue. The proofs, as expected, show considerably greater relief detail -look especially on reverse where much of the landscape is more clearly defined than on any uncirculated specimen, as are details of the warrior chief's regalia.

The following list of recipients of the 1928 Hawaiian matte proofs from the Commission is derived from the December 1928 Numismatist, p. 734, though I have also seen a copy of the original typed list preserved in the Archives of Hawaii (courtesy Gordon Medcalf). These proofs were all presented, along with 200 of the regular uncirculated pieces, by Oct. 8, 1928, according to Bruce Cartwright, member of the Commission, simultaneously with the brief sale of the remaining 9,750 to the general public via the Bank of Hawaii, Ltd., Honolulu.

1. Edgar Henriques, Executive Secretary.
2. Bruce Cartwright, Commissioner. (Later, Newcomer, Green, R. E. Cox?)
3. Dr. Herbert E. Gregory, Commissioner.
4. Albert Pierce Taylor, Commissioner.
5. Bishop H. B. Restarick, Commissioner.
6.Col. C. P. Iaukea, Commissioner. (Seen at 1976 ANA Convention.)
7. Prof. Ralph S. Kuykendall. (Recently seen in New York.)
8. Miss Juliette Mae Fraser, designer.
9. Hon. Wallace R. Farrington.
10. Miss Marie von Holt.
11. Hawaiian Historical Society.
12. Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.
13. Hon. Gerald H. Phipps.
14. Archives of Hawaii.
15. B. C. Stewart.

16. U.S. National Museum, "not delivered." (Now in SI.)
17. British Admiralty.
18. Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce.
19. The Hon. T. R. Bavin.
20. British Museum.
21. President Calvin Coolidge. (Sold in recent years.)
22. King George V of England.
23. Lord Sandwich.
24. Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of Treasury.
25. Rear Admiral George S. Marvell, USN.
26. Major General Fox Conner, USA.
27. The ANA. (Where is it now? Not seen at Colorado Springs.)
28. Capt. Leveson-Gower, R.N., DSO.
29. Capt. Gerald Cartwell Harrison.
30. Commodore Swabey.
31. Capt. John Greenslade.
32. Hon. Dwight Davis, Secretary of War.
33. Sir Joseph Carruthers.
34. Sir Henry Newbolt.
35. Prof. Frank A. Golder.
36. Judge F. W. Howay.
37. Verne Blue (not delivered).
38. Kauai Historical Society.
39. James A. Wilder.
40. Unassigned. Later given to Hon. Lawrence M. Judd.
41. Theodore B. Pitman.
42. Dr. Peter H. Buck.
43. Hon. Maurice Cohen.
44. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates.
45. National Museum, Wellington, New Zealand.
46. Hon. John C. Lane.
47. ANS Museum.
48. Edward L. Caum, later John Dean Coin Co. (See below).
49. J. Frank Woods.
50. Han. V. S. K. Houston.