Q.David Bowers
On February 8, 1883, Woodward offered the previous coin:
Please find bill of coins retained from last invoice. Thank you this time and all others for the prompt return of those not wanted, which greatly facilitates my business.
I congratulate you sincerely on the good buys you got on the lot of American gold coins I telegraphed you about. My luck was not quite so good but I have nothing to say. I can get an 1815 half eagle but the owner is stiff at $250. It is the same one once put into an auction and bid in at $150, but if you want the piece I will get it for you at any time.
Woodward on February 24, 1883, discussed further gold offerings:
I avail myself of the opportunity to send you some American gold which I have just bought. Many of the pieces are common, though it is always hard to pick up a date that is wanted. If you need the pieces you will not object to the prices. Many of them you will observe are marked at a little more than a nominal advance. I have sets of gold Proofs from 1862, 1864, and 1865, each six pieces, par value each $41.50. They cost in gold when issued $43. [The United States Mint demanded payment in gold coin for gold Proofs. Currency was not acceptable, as it had been substantially devalued.] The number issued was very limited, probably not over half a dozen, especially in 1864 and 1865... I offer them to you at $48 a set, the offer being contingent upon their not being sold before I hear from you.
Enclosed was an invoice including such items as a 1798 eagle with four stars facing at $28, a Bechtler half eagle at $7, a Pikes Peak half eagle at $8, an 1831 quarter eagle at $8, an 1832 quarter eagle at $8, a Proof 1834 quarter eagle at $8, an 1854 $3 gold piece $3.30, an 1855 $3 gold piece at $3.10, 1856 and 1857 $3 gold pieces at $3.15 each, and $3 gold issues of 1858, and 1859,1861, and 1862 at $3.10, plus other pieces. Only a few items were retained by Garrett.
On February 28th additional gold pieces were sent. Included were many issues, among which Garrett kept an 1800 eagle at $18, an 1806 half eagle at $7, an 1807 half eagle at $7.50, an 1834 "Proof" half eagle at $10, a coin marked "1850 half eagle C for California, scarce" at $6.50 (apparently an 1859-C Charlotte, North Carolina piece!) and two gold Proof sets at $48 each. Woodward discussed new purchases on March 10, 1883:
I attended the Fowle sale all through and succeeded in getting a fair proportion of what you ordered. Prices ruled very high.
Most of the things that I missed on your bids were bought by a party on unlimited orders. What I did procure, though, I was able to make a large saving on, and I feel certain you will be pleased with the purchase.
Thursday night a man leaving the sale to take a train for Philadelphia grabbed up my goods instead of his own and carried them home. The mistake was discovered at once here and by him, and they will be back in Boston today as the porters at the auction room knew nothing of packing coins. I shall have your coins sent to me, and I will pack them carefully and forward them on Tuesday ...I bought from my old friend, Mr. Taylor, his rare and desirable pieces in the silver and copper series several years ago. The gold I bought recently, and you have had a view I think of every desirable piece. His collection did not contain the 1831 half eagle, but I have recently parted with one to whom I cannot say. I will try to find you one.
On March 17, 1883, Woodward answered Garrett's queries and offers further items: I agree with you that the coins sent are high priced, but unfortunately they are not my own and I get but a moderate commission for selling them. I am unable to abate anything for the price. I wish I could.
My remarks concerning price do not fairly apply to the whole lot, for I think that many are reasonable and some are very cheap. Have you the 1826 half eagle? I can answer the question myself. I think I remember I sold you one. It is a very rare piece and I expect to receive one today and thought I would offer it to you.
Do you collect Confederate notes? I have the rarest note of the series-$500 of the Montgomery issue, also the $100 note, same issue, both Extremely Fine. A collector has the refusal of them, but quite likely he will not take them.
On March 21, 1883, Woodward wrote:
I enclose the Confederate notes, the price of which is $50. I have never owned one of the $500 before. The one sold in December in the Maas Collection cost $45, I had a bid on it at $39 but bought it for $35. The one that I have is much finer than the one sold. Indeed, mine, as you will see, is nearly perfect. The other was fine, but by no means up to this. There was further correspondence, about the Confederate $500 note which Garrett had purchased.
Of course I am not sure but I believe you have got the best $500 [extant]. I have been trying for five or six years to get these two bills but could not succeed till a few days ago.
They were sent to a friend of mine just after the war in payment of a debt with a promise of redemption. My friend is dead and whether the redeemer lives or not I am not sure.
A Woodward letter of May 9, 1883, reflects on market conditions:
I have just returned from New York and Philadelphia and find your favor awaiting me, including the two packages of coins and the medals, for all of which I am much obliged.
The rare gold which you have bought of me lately you secured at just the right time. The rare pieces of the American gold series, those that are strictly rare, are now commanding almost any price.
May 25, 1883, Woodward commented on the 1815 half eagle:
When at my house we had some talk about an 1815 half eagle. I have now got an 1815 half eagle which will appear in my 58th sale on June 25th and 26th. The piece is Very Fine. It is also genuine, and as far as I am aware there is but one other collection that contains a specimen in this country. There is one in Sweden, and the gentleman who owned another is now dead, and I think he died possessed of the piece. I offered him $400 for it, but he declined any less price than $500, and whether he ever parted with it or not, I do not know. The four which I mentioned I think complete the list of all known genuine specimens.
On July 31, 1883, Woodward offered Garrett an outstanding group of American gold Proof coins:
I presently own and shall have in my possession 23 full Proof sets of American gold 1860-1883 inclusive, wanting only the 1861. All I believe are in perfect order, many of them in the papers in which they left the mint. The early sets, as you are aware, cost $43 in gold when a dollar in gold was worth $1.20-$2.85 [in paper money at the time]. I do not know what you or other collectors may have, but I have never seen or heard of such an extensive line of American Proof gold.