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

1913 Liberty Head Nickel. [5] Fantasy coin. Taxay (1963) has told the story in detail; I can only summarize here, recommending interested readers to his book. In the Dec. 1919 Numismatist was a small advertisement byone Samuel W. Brown (ANA808), of North Tonawanda, NY, offering to buy these pieces, "In Proof condition, if possible. Will pay $500 cash for one." This was the first hint that anything of the kind might exist. Brown, who had joined ANA membership in 1906 with recommendations from Dr. Heath (the founder) and Stephen K. Nagy, was a mint employee from Dec .. 18, 1903 through Nov. 14, 1913, through 1907 as Assistant Curator of the Mint Cabinet Collection and later as a "storekeeper," and afterwards he occupied a number of prominent positions in North Tonawanda, including several terms as mayor; he was once on the Assay Commission. In the Jan. - March 1920 issues he raised the offer to $600. In August, at the 1920 ANA Convention, he exhibited one of them, but refused to disclose the source; the fact was published in the Oct. 1920 Numismatist, which also mentioned that he reiterated his offer to buy any others at $600 in proof state.

In January 1924, August Wagner, dealer, of 31st & York Sts., Philadelphia, placed a small advertisement offering "Five (5) Five-Cent Liberty Head 1913 Coins. Proof. The only Five-Cent Liberty Head coins of this design and year in existence." This was doubtless on Brown's behalf. Col. E. H. R. Green purchased the set. At the breakup of part of the Green estate in 1942, the set went to Burdette G. Johnson, who dispersed the five coins; their subsequent history follows.

1. F. C. C. Boyd, A. Kosoff, King Farouk, Nasser's government. Included in the Sotheby (1954) sale of the "Palace Collections of Egypt," withdrawn, sold privately via S. Kaplan and A. Kosoff to Mrs. R. Henry Norweb. Proof.

2. Eric P. Newman, A. Kosoff, Louis Eliasberg. Proof.

3. James Kelly, Fred Olsen, Mehl sale of Olsen collection (Nov. 7, 1944), King Farouk, B. Max Mehl, Neil:2798, Edwin Hydeman, Hydeman:280 (not sold), A. Kosoff; then on Oct. 3, 1972, sold by him (with an 1804 dollar) to John B. Hamrick Jr. and Warren Tucker of World-Wide Investments for $100,000; this firm later resold it to a Hollywood firm, which offered it at three times that figure in 1975. Unc. Tiny mark between second and third stars.

4. James Kelly, Dr. Conway A. Bolt, R. J. Reynolds (the tobacco tycoon). This is the one George Walton used to exhibit atconventions; he was Reynolds's agent. Unc. Minute handling marks.

5. James Kelly, James V. McDermott, McDermott estate, 1967 ANA:2214, Aubrey E. Bebee, who later refused the trade of an 1804 dollar for this coin. Ex. Fine, nicked and scratched, This is the famous one McDermott used for bar-room betting and exhibited in conventions nationwide.

A rumored sixth specimen has not been confirmed and is extremely improbable. The original presentation case in which August Wagner sold the above five to Col. Greenhad space for a sixth example, which space contained, at last report, a Buffalo nickel without F, said to be (in some accounts) an "experimental" piece assayed at 95% copper, 5% nickel and zinc, and in other accounts an electrotype. Case and coin are in the Eric Newman collection.

Older collectors may remember that throughout the 1930's B. Max Mehl used to have large advertisements in the Sunday comics pages, offering to pay $50 apiece for 1913 Liberty head nickels, though Mehl obviously knew none would be forthcoming; the campaign - which in the Neil catalogue he admitted had cost him over $1,000,000 -was actually promotion of his "Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia" ( over 30 editions), and its main result was proliferation of alterations from 1903, 1910 and 1912. It is unknown if the proofs preceded or followed the uncs.; we must leave the subject wrapped in the same mystery as before.