Q.David Bowers
Medal of the Columbian Order. Obverse: A scene com-memorating the discovery of America. Columbus holding a staff from which floats the Spanish flag, standing on a sea coast, shaking hands with an Indian, who is smoking the calumet, a ship in background. WHERE LIBERTY DWELLS THERE IS MY COUNTRY. OCT 12 AD 1492. Reverse: A rattlesnake coiled in the grass, etc. Silver. Perfect. Unique. This unique medal was sold in the sale of October 18-22, [18]64 for $80, and purchased by Mr. Bushnell at the sale of March 20-25, [18]65, for $49. It is the only one known. $30.
Garrett declined to purchase the Columbus medal but did elect to acquire from the invoice such varied items as a West Point Military Academy medal at $2, a medal honoring Adam Eckfeldt (chief coiner of the United States Mint) at $1, a medal honoring James R. Snowden (director of the United States Mint) at $2, a Proof silver medal honoring Joseph J. Mickley (one of America's most prominent numismatists during the early 19th century) at $3, a Sir Walter Scott medal at $2, a medal of Charles Green (the aeronaut) at $1, and a "medal of the Seventh Regiment of New York, very rare $1."
The same invoice submitted on approval number of large cents and other American coins. In the former category were such items as a cent described:
1793 Wreath. Uncirculated. Even, sharp impression, with even milling. Original bright red color on obverse. Reverse steel color. An exquisite and beautiful specimen of the first year of the United States cent.
It is very seldom that so perfect and sharp a cent of this date is obtainable, and in all our experience we have only seen one to surpass it, and that one we sold for $200. This is an extraordinary and magnificent piece. Price $75.
The same invoice offered, to the present day remains a numismatic enigma, since it is not known where and how it was struck:
1795 "Jefferson" head. About as good as usual. We lately paid $30 for one in the same condition at a sale. Extremely rare. $15.
The Jefferson head cent, which differs in design details from contemporary cents, is believed by some to have been a pattern made outside the Philadelphia Mint as a proposal for contract coinage.
Numismatic information was often shared in the Chapmans' letters.. This description, also part of the preceding invoice, describes the striking of a particular cent: 1809 Uncirculated. Light olive, and for this date a splendid specimen, finer than Mr. Bushnell's which sold for $40. All cents of 1809 are weakly struck and thus are very easily worn. A most difficult date to get so fine and of much rarity. $30..
Toward the end of the same invoice was a rare half cent: 1847 half cent. Restrike, but we are not sure if any originals exist, [Originals do exist of the 1847 half cent and have larger berries on the reverse wreath.] the only difference would be that the berries on the reverse are slightly larger than on the originals of other 40s. $10.
On December 13, 1882, The Chapman brothers sent a nine-page approval invoice offering 172 pieces, mostly in the American series. Included were such items as a pair of pieces priced at $60 and described as:
George Washington. Season medals. Two in silver of the most difficult designs to obtain. Extremely rare. The price $60. We purchased the pair at a sale by Scott [Capt. J. W. Scott, a prominent stamp and coin dealer] some few months since for $25.50 each, or $51. Expenses added equals about $5, at $60 they are very cheap.
On the same invoice this pair of coins was offered at $30.
1878 patterns for the Bland dollar. [At that time the new design for the silver dollar was referred to as the "Bland dollar" after the legislator who first proposed the coinage.] One Morgan design. One Barber design. Extremely rare and brilliant Proof.
T. Harrison Garrett mayor may not have been able to decipher the Chapman Brothers cost code which, at the time, was the word GERMANICUS, used by substituting each letter in order for the digits 1 through 9, plus 0. In addition, the letters H and X also represented 0. Other letters were sometimes added to the cost code to confuse, but had no value. Under this system, the code EGHA for the preceding pair of dollars which Chapman sold for $30, indicates that the cost to the Chapmans was $21.05.
Grading was not carefully delineated at the time, so a typical invoice from Chapman or any other dealer would list only basic grades such as Good, Fine, Very Fine, Extremely Fine, Uncirculated, and Proof. Such modern day refinements as Almost Uncirculated (AU) and varying degrees of Uncirculated and Proof were not used.
From this same December 13, 1882 invoice, a run of half dollars, each described as Uncirculated, was offered at the following individual prices: 1808/7 $2, 1809 $1.50,1811 $1,1812 $2,1813 $1.25, 1814 $1.75,1815 "Very rare" $12.00, 1819 $1, 1820 "rare" $2, 1822 $1.25, 1824 "beautiful" $1.50, 1825 "Brilliant Proof surface on obverse" $2.00, 1826 "Brilliant Proof surface on obverse" $1.25, 1827 $1, 1831 75c, 1847 $1.25, and an 1851 "Brilliant surface 0 Mint. Rare." $2.50.
Among the half dimes also offered on this invoice were:
1795 Uncirculated strong, sharp, even impression-in condition as it fell from the die. Very rare. $9, 1795 Extremely Fine (cost us $5) $5.25 ... 1800 Very Fine $2.20, 1829 Proof 75c, 1832 Uncirculated 25c, 1837 Liberty seated. Straight and curved dates. Uncirculated, Mint lustre. 2 at 50c each, $1, ... 1844 Uncirculated. Scarce. $1 and 1845 [ditto] 35c.
Garrett considered the invoice very carefully, compared the offering with specimens in his own collection, and selected numerous pieces for purchase.
During this period, T. Harrison Garrett upgraded his coins on many different occasions.
On January 18, 1883, this policy of improving coins is mentioned in a letter from Chapman:
We also have many fine gold coins and foreign silver, also medals, cents and half cents. Our stock is very fine-would you send us a list of the dates you wish to improve ...
The same letter offered several important coins for sale: 1783 Chalmers, Annapolis threepence. From the Ely sale at $14.50. Extremely Fine $15.25,1790 Standish Barry threepence, Uncirculated. Perfect. $35.75, 1792 Washington half dollar in copper. Uncirculated, and one of, if not the finest known. Finer than Mr. Bushnell's coin which was dented on edge. Extremely rare $65, 1792 Pattern cent. Silver center. Uncirculated and probably the finest known. From Mr. Massamore's sale where we purchased it at $76, much less than we would have given for it. Finer than Mr. Bushnell's, which Mr. Parmelee [referring to Lorin G. Parmelee, one of America's most active numismatists at the time]; purchased for $120. Excessively rare. Only five known, one of which is very poor. $120.