Q. David Bowers
Even a casual perusal of the early dollars in collections auctioned during the nineteenth and early twentieth century will demonstrate that few cabinets contained coins of uniformly high quality, and that Uncirculated pieces were represented only occasionally. I mention this as sometimes there is the misconception that old-time collections were laden with nothing but sparkling Uncirculated and Proof gems.
The first sophisticated cataloguing of an important offering of early dollars was that in Milferd H. Bolender's descriptions of his own coins sold in his sale of February 23, 1952. New Netherlands Coin Company's American Numismatic Association Convention sale followed a few months later, in August, and featured detailed cataloguing by John J. Ford, Jr. The year 1952 represents the jumping-off spot for truly knowledgeable, authoritative cataloguing of early dollars and other early series, although many later sales by various firms were catalogued hastily.
The Coin Collectors' Manual, 1860, by George F. Jones, published by Edward Cogan in Philadelphia, gave auction price records for silver dollars and other coins. Among the silver dollars listed were items sold in Moses Thomas' sale of the A.C. Kline Collection, June 12, 1855; Edward Cogan's sale of the Joseph N.T. Levick Collection, December. 19, 1859; multiple New York sales of 1859;. and a Cogan sale of 1860. Cogan, who began his business as a coin dealer in 1856, was America's first full-time professional numismatist. He conducted 70 auction sales from 1858 until 1870, when his son George assumed management of the business.
The late 1850s and early 1860s were the cradle days of numismatics, and information concerning rarity and price was sparse. The 1860 Jones study, brief as it is, must have filled an important need at the time. The introduction to the manual is reprinted herewith:
PREFACE: The want of a concise coin manual, or guide book, has. long been felt by collectors, and those beginning to arrange collections of coins. It seems hardly necessary to mention a fact so well known, but it has not been generally appreciated until the present time. The various works on coins that have been published, are too elaborate, and consequently too costly, to come within general reach, and many do not contain the information most important to the student in numismatics, or the young collector; such, for instance, as the market value of coins. This is of daily use, to those who are endeavoring to improve their collections; and although it is at once conceded that the value is somewhat variable, and dependent on the condition of the coin, and perhaps other causes, still it is desirable to have this information at hand, and in a concise, intelligible form. Added to this, the years of coinage, a short description of each coin, the principal varieties of each date, and the actual sales, together with other relevant matter, must make this record a valuable reference and guide.
Believing this want exists, and that the veteran numismatist, as well as the young collector, will gladly welcome a book containing such information, the undersigned has been persuaded to publish the following, which he had compiled and transcribed only for his own private use. The only coins referred to, are those of our own country, and those relating to its history before we became a free and independent nation. The arrangement is made as simple as possible, and the condition of the coins sold, is such as described by the sellers, at various sales within five years past. All varieties of dates and dies are not given, but only those generally met with in cabinets, or daily private and public sales. If this book becomes an aid or guide to but a few, the object of its publication is attained, and the undersigned fully repaid.
GEORGE F.JONES, No. 1119 Girard Street: 1860.
The following early silver dollars were included:
A.C. Kline Collection (1855): 1795 Flowing Hair, Fine. $1.70.
1795 Flowing Hair, Fine. $1.70. 1796 VF. $1.50.
1797 VF. $1.63.
1798 Thirteen Stars-Small Eagle, scarce, VF. $1.05.
1798 Fifteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce, VF. $1.05.
1799 Six Stars Facing, scarce, VF. $1.05.
1800 Six Stars Facing, scarce, VF. $1.25
1801 Six Stars Facing, scarce, VF. $1.25.
1802 Six Stars Facing, scarce, VF. $1.05.
1803 Straight 3 [Large 3], VF. $1.05.
Joseph N.T. Levick Collection (Edward Cogan, December 1859):
1794 Very rare, Poor. $5.50.
1795 Flowing Hair, Fine. $1.25
1795 Flowing Hair, Fine. $1.25.
1795 Fillet Head [Draped Bust], Fine. $1.38. 1796 Fine. $1.25.
1797 [No grade given]. $1.38.
1798 Thirteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce, Fine. $1.87.
1798 Fifteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce, Fine. $2.00 .
1798 Reverse of
1799, Large Eagle, Fine. $1.10.
1799 Five Stars Facing, scarce, Fine. $2.25.
1799 Six Stars Facing, Fine. $1.15.
1800 VG. $1.25.
1801 Fine. $1.30.
1802 Fine. $1.30.
1803 Straight 3, Fine. $1.30.
New York Sales (1859):
1794 Very rare, Fair. $7.25.
1795 Flowing Hair, Fine. $1.15.
1795 Flowing Hair, VF. $2.40.
1795 Fillet Head, [no grade given] $1.20.
1796 VF. $1.63.
1797 [no grade given] $1.12.
1798 Thirteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce [no grade given] $1.50.
1798 Fifteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce [no grade given]
$1.50.
1798 Reverse of 1799, Large Eagle [no grade given] $1.25.
1799 Five Stars Facing, scarce, Good. $2.10.
1799 Five Stars Facing, scarce [no grade given] $1.12.
1799 Six Stars Facing, scarce [no grade given] $1.62.
1800 VF. $5.00.
1801 VF. $1.25.
1802 VF. $1. 75.
1803 Straight 3, Good. $1.70. 1803 Crooked 3, Good. $1.75.
Cogan Sale (1860):
1794 Very rare, Poor. $9.50.
1795 Flowing Hair, VF. $5.00.
1795 Flowing Hair, Fine. $1.05.
1795 Fillet Head, Fine. $1.10.
1796 VG. $1.30.
1797 [no grade given] $1.80.
1798 Thirteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce [no grade given] $2.00.
1798 Fifteen Stars, Small Eagle, scarce [no grade given] $2.00.
1798 Reverse of 1799, Large Eagle, Fine. $1.40.
1799 Five Stars Facing, scarce, VF. $2.87.
1799 Six Stars Facing. $1.20.
1800 Fine. $1.10.
1801 Good. $1.55.
1802 VF. $1.40.
1803 Straight 3 [Small 3], VF. $1.50.