Q. David Bowers
Bangs, Merwin & Co. sale of the John W. Kline Collection, June 8-9, 1876. Offered were several early dollars. The description "Fine for date," sometimes expressed as "Fine for coin," was common in this era and reflected the option of grading a coin slightly more loosely if it was considered rare; other-wise, if the 1801 dollar had been of a commoner date such as 1799, it might have been graded VC. Similarly, such terms as "VF for coin, EF for coin," etc., were often employed.
With regard to the copy (fake) of the 1804 silver dollar, at the time it was considered proper to include electrotypes (forgeries made by electro-depositation of metal into molds impressed from genuine coins) of various rare coins as fillers. Indeed, such august institutions as the British Museum and the American Numismatic Society would oblige collectors by making electrotype copies of specimens in their collections; this practice continued until well into the twentieth century.
The New York auction firm of Bangs, Merwin & Co., also known as Bangs & Co. at one time, sold household goods, art, and many other items at auction; coins were only a small part of their business.' Additional Kline material was sold by the Chapman brothers in 1893 (coins) and 1896 (coins).
1795 VC. $1.50. 1796 Fair. $1.50.
1798 Very Fair. $1.25. 1799 VC. $1.25.
1800 VC. $1.25.
1801 Fine for date; scarce. $1.75.
1802 Fine; slightly scratched; scarce. $1.50. 1803 Quite Unc.; scarce. $1.25.
1804 Fine copy. $0.50.
A.S. Jenks Collection catalogued by Edward D. Cogan, sold by Bangs & Co., April 12-13, 1877, offered a nice run of authentic dollars 1794-1803 plus a phony 1804. Jenks, a prominent nineteenth-century collector, is not to be confused with William J. Jenks or John Story Jenks, whose collection was auctioned nearly a half century later.
1794 Fine impression. Head Fine, stars on the left flattened, those on the right much better; Liberty and date very distinct. $60.00.
1795 Flowing Hair. Unusually fine impression, barely circulated. $11.00.
1795 Flowing Hair. Head somewhat rubbed, but Fine. $6.25.
1795 Flowing Hair. About same condition (Fine). $5.50.
1795 Flowing Hair. Much more circulated. $2.50.
1795 Fillet Head. Fine bold Unc. specimen. (The word "fine" here is used adjectivally, as "nice" or "selected." The same applies to the word "good" in connection with the second 1801 dollar in the sale) $8.00.
1795 Fillet Head. Head a good deal rubbed. $2.25.
1796 Large Date. VF. Barely circulated. $3.00.
1797 Six Stars Facing. Head rubbed. $3.50.
1798 Large Eagle. Barely circulated. $4.00.
1798 Large Eagle. Barely circulated. $3.25.
1798 Barely circulated. $2.50.
1798 Fair. $4.00.
1799 VF. Barely circulated. $4.00.
1799 VF. $3.13. 1799 Fine. $2.50. 1800 VF. $3.55.
1800 Nearly VF. $2.75.
1801 Fine Bold impression. Little circulated. $6.50. 1801 A good impression, but weaker struck. $3.00. 1802 Very little circulated. $4.50.
1802/1 A beautiful impression, but barely circulated. $10.00.
1802 Another. About as fine in condition. $5.50.
1803 Very strong impression. In VG condition for date. $4.50.
1804 Electrotype copy of this dollar. VG. $4.50.
The Ferguson Haines Collection sold by Bangs & Co., May 28-29, 1877, offered a modest selection of early dollars. Haines catalogued the sale himself. 1795 Flowing Hair. VF. $1.70.
1795 Fillet Head. VF. $2.
1796 Unusually Fine. $2.03.
17977 Stars Facing. EF. $3.75.
1798 Wide Date. But little circulated. $1.30. 1798 Fair. $1.05.
1798 VG. $1.40.
1798 Good. $1.25.
1799 Nearly Unc. $1.50. 1799 Fair. $1.10.
1799 Fine. $1.20.
1799 Equally Fine, but slightly nicked. $1.20. 1800 VF. $1.10.
1800 Good. $1.30.
1800 Fine. $1.35.
1800 Slightly scratched. $1.30.
S.K. Harzfeld's Sale of December 7, 1878 included the following early silver dollars. In Philadelphia, Harzfeld conducted an active but brief numismatic trade in the late 1870s and early 1880s. He knew too much about the nearby Mint, and was one of the most outspoken numismatists on the subject of the corruption of officials within the walls of that establishment. The inequitable distribution of patterns, the 1879-1880 $4 gold stellas being examples, came under his purview, and to silence his criticisms, the Mint made some minor concessions and policy changes.
1795 Flowing Hair, date close. Wreath has two leaves under each wing of eagle. 16 berries. Good. $1.75. [Buyer: Ferguson Haines]
1795 Flowing Hair, date wide. Three leaves under each wing. 13 berries. Very Fine, but somewhat rubbed on hair. $1.87. [Buyer: Haines]
1795 Flowing Hair, wide date. Two leaves under wings. 19 berries. Fine. $2.75. [Buyer:J.W. Scott]
1795 Fillet Head, large date. 7 berries on wreath. Fine impression, but letters J.H. scratched on field of obverse. $2.10. [Buyer: Haines]
1795 Fillet Head, small date, 6 berries. Very Good. $1.85. [Buyer: Haines]
1796 Large Date, small letters on rev. Barely circulated. $3.25. [Buyer:Haines]
1796 Small Date, large letters on rev. Fine. $2.37. [Buyer:Haines]
1797 Six Stars Facing. Uncirculated impression, but L.B.D.
1820 neatly engraved on field of obverse. Beautiful and rare. $3.50. [Buyer: S.K. Harzfeld]
1797 Seven Stars, close date. Very Good impression. $2.30. [Buyer:J.W. Scott]
1798 Small Planchet, pointed 9, close date. $1.50.
1798 Large Planchet, pointed 9, wide date. Very good. $1.50. [Buyer:J.W. Haseltine]
1798 Large Planchet, blunt 9. Fine. $1.50. [Buyer: Edward Cogan]
1799/8 Barely circulated. 15 stars on reverse, the rays of two just emerging from clouds. $2.50. [Buyer: Charles Durand]
1799 over 1798. 13 stars on reverse. Very Good. $1.80. [Buyer: Charles Durand]
1799 VF, sharp impression. $1.85. [Buyer:J.W. Scott]
1799 Crack on reverse, dividing the piece in two equal parts. Good. $1.15. [Buyer: Haines]
1800 Barely circulated, wide date. $3.25. [Buyer: Edward Cogan]
1800 Close date. Barely circulated, tarnished, little nick in field. $1.75. [Buyer: S.K. Harzfeld]
1801 VG, scarce. $2.90. [Buyer: Brown] 1802/1. VG. $3.10. [Buyer: Brown]
1802 VF' tarnished. $3.75. [Buyer: Edward Cogan]
1803 Uncirculated impression, hair slightly rubbed. $3.25. [Buyer: Brown]
1804 Beautiful electrotype. Silver-plated. $3.75. [Buyer: J.W. Scott]