Q. David Bowers
Charles Steigerwalt's fixed price list, October 1890. "Catalogue of an $8,000 Collection." Lancaster (Pennsylvania) dealer Steigerwalt was a proponent of fixed priced catalogues, and during this era he issued more than anyone else did. His critics said that his auction catalogues were also, in actuality, fixed price lists, inasmuch as many were simply offerings of his own inventory at high reserve prices. Unquestioned is the fact that from the 1870s through the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, he handled many important rarities and collections.
1794 Unc. Sharp bold impression. When shown at the Parmelee sale it was pronounced by all to be much superior to the Parmelee specimen which sold for $225.(For Steigerwalt to show his coin at a sale conducted by a competitor (New York Stamp & Coin Co.) seems to have been a breach of numismatic etiquette.) $200.00.
1794 Fine. An usually even impression: stars, head and date well struck, as is also the reverse. $85.00.
1795 Flowing Hair. Unc., Brilliant mint lustre. Beautiful specimen. $25.00.
1795 Flowing Hair. A beautiful specimen. Barely touched. Mint lustre. $15.00.
1795 Fillet Head. Unc., Proof surface. $75.00.
1795 Fillet Head. Shows scarcely a trace of circulation. Sharp and with considerable mint lustre. $30.00.
1795 Fillet Head. Almost equal to last. $20.00.
1796 Large Date. Quite Fine. $5.00.
1796 Small Date. VF.$7.50.
1797 Seven Stars Facing, VF. $7.50.
1797 Six Stars Facing. Unc., Brilliant mint lustre. $35.00.
1798 Fifteen Stars. Small Eagle. Fine. $10.00.
1798 Thirteen Stars. Small Eagle. VF. $7.50.
1799 Five Stars Facing. Fine. $5.00.
1799/8 But little worn. $3.00.
1800 Barely circulated. Considerable lustre. $3.50. 1801 VF, considerable lustre. $7.50.
1802/1 Barely touched on most prominent parts. Mint lustre. $10.00.
1803 Could be called Unc, Sharp, handsome, with semi-proof surface. A beauty. $15.00.
Charles Steigerwalt's fixed price list, April 1892, offered these early dollars. Leading off was a specimen of the highly prized 1794.
1794 VG specimen of this rare date, $65.00.
1795 Flowing Hair. Fine and bold. $2.50; Very Fair. $1.50.
1795 Fillet Head. VF. $3.50.
1796 Large Date. Fine. $3.50.
1796 Small Date. Large letters on reverse. VG. $3.00.
1796 Small Date. Small letters on reverse, Quite fine. $4.50.
1797 Seven Stars Facing. VG. $3.00.
1797 Six Stars Facing. Quite Fine. $4.00.
1798 Fifteen Stars. Small Eagle. VG and bold, $7.50.
1798 Thirteen Stars. Small Eagle. Quite Fine and bold. $6.00.
1799 Five Stars Facing. Fine. $4.00; Good $3.00.
1799 Six Stars Facing. Quite Fine. $2.00.
1800 EF. But little circulated. $3.50.
1801 VF and bold. Some mint bloom on reverse. $5.00.
1802/1 EF. $4.00.
1803 EF, but little circulated. $4.00.
Scott's Catalogue of Gold and Silver Coins, 1893, remained in use for many years thereafter and was considered to be a standard guide to coin values, although very little research or effort went into the book.
John Walter Scott, better known as J.W. Scott, was a pioneer in the American stamp business, held the first stamp auction in the United States, and published many reference books. Today, stamps are still catalogued by Scott attributions, which are periodically updated. However, in the coin business as well, Scott was a formidable presence in the nineteenth century. The Scott Stamp & Coin Co. conducted many numismatic sales. After he sold out to the Calman brothers, Scott formed a new and unrelated firm, J.W. Scott Co., Ltd., dealers in coins and stamps, an action which precipitated litigation with the Calmans.
In nineteenth-century numismatics, the Scott name is remembered more for its mass advertising and promotions-including displays at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition-than for anything else, although the firm's restriking in 1879 of 500 Confederate States of America half dollars is worthy of note, as are many of its auction catalogue descriptions (early descriptions by David Proskey, later ones by Lyman H. Low, both of whom were very knowledgeable).
As noted, Scott's 1893 catalogue of coin prices was a poor job, with virtually no market research involved. The following prices were given for early silver dollars:
1794 dollar (unpriced, indicating great rarity).
1795 With two leaves below each wing, Fair $2.50, Good $3.50.
1795 With three leaves below each wing, Fair $2.50, Good $3.50.
1795 Draped Bust, Fair $2.75, Good $3.75.
1796 Small Date, Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1796 Large Date, Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1797 16 Stars (6 facing) Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1797 16 Stars (7 facing), Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1798 15 Stars (7 facing), Fair $6.50, Good $10.00.
1798 13 Stars (6 facing), Fair $5.00, Good $8.50.
1798 Without knob to 9, Fair $2.25, Good $3.00.
1798 Knob to 9, Fair $2.25, Good $3.50.
1799/8, Fair $2.25, Good $3.00.
1799 13 Stars (5 facing), Fair $4.00; Good $6.50.
1799 13 Stars (6 facing), Fair $2.00, Good $2.75.
1800 Fair $2.75, Good $3.50.
1801 Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1802/1, Fair $2.75, Good $3.50.
1802 Fair $2.85, Good $3.75.
1803 Small 3, Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1803 Large 3, Fair $3.00, Good $4.00.
1804 "The dies for this coin are known to have existed, and from them it is believed about 20 impressions have been taken, but we do not think that any were struck in the year the coins are dated, hence we class them as restrikes. The dies were destroyed in 1869."