Q. David Bowers
Lyman H. Low's sale of the R.T. Rose Collection, September 9-10, 1909, offered a selection of ho-hum quality early dollars.
1795 Head type. Slight cross scratch on head. Otherwise nearly Fine. $2.70.
1795 Head type. Fine; slight file marks in planchet. $3.25.
1795 As last. VG. $2.70.
1795 Bust type. VG. $2.65.
1795 Bust type. Fine. $3.20.
1796 Small Date. VG. $3.25.
1797 Six Stars Facing. Good. $3.00.
1797 Six Stars Facing. VG. $3.05.
1797 Seven Stars Facing. Good. $3.10.
1798 Large Eagle reverse. Nearly Fine. $2.50.
1798 Small Eagle reverse. Fine. $4.70.
1798 Large Eagle reverse. Fine; planchet file marks. $2.10.
1799 Five Stars Facing. VG. $3.35.
1799 Six Stars Facing. Good. $2.15.
1799/8 Six stars facing. Nearly Fine. $2.75.
1800 VG. $2.70.
1800 Nick on neck, otherwise about Fine. $2.90.
1801 Very Fair. Cross scratch on obverse. $2.30.
1802/1 Good. $2.50.
1802 Perfect Date. VG. $2.80.
1802 Perfect Date. Very Fair, scratches on obverse. $2.70.
1803 Small 3. VG. $3.00.
1803 Large 3. VG. $2.85.
1803 Large 3. About Fine. $3.20.
Ben G. Green's sale of the F.J. Loer Collection, 53rd sale, May 13, 1910, included a modest offering of early silver dollars.
1795 Flowing Hair. 2 leaves under each wing. VG. $3.70.
1795 Flowing Hair. 3 leaves under each wing. About Good. $2.40.
1795 Fillet Head. Eagle on clouds. Fine. $3.95.
1796 Large Date. Rev. die broken. Good. $3.50.
1796 Small Date. Good. $3.10.
1797 6 Stars Facing. VG. $3.45.
17977 Stars facing. Fine. $4.10.
1798 15 Stars. Rev. Small eagle on clouds. Obverse Good, reverse Very Fair. $3.20.
1798 Heraldic Eagle. Knobless 9. VG. File marks on reverse. $2,90.
1798 As last. die broken through 9 of date. Nearly Good. $2.20. .
1798 Knob to 9. VG. $3.75.
1799/8 VG. $2.55.
1799 5 Stars Facing. Slight edge dents. Fine. $3.35.
1799 6 Stars Facing. Trifling edge defects. VG. $2.50.
1800 Initials and date scratched on obverse, short scratches on reverse. VG. $1.75.
1800 AMERICAI. Last I made by break in die. Fine. $4.10.
1800 Die breaks around first 0 of date resembles sprig. VG. Odd. $2,30.
1801 VG. $2.60.
1802/1 VG. $3.25.
1802 Perfect Date. Fine. $3.10.
1803 Large 3. Fine. $3.10.
1803 Smaller 3. Good. $2.90.
Sale at Kennedy's Auction Rooms, New York City, February 10, 1911.
1795 Naked Bust. Two leaves under wings. VF. $5.50.
1795 Three leaves under wings. Fine. $3.50.
1795 Draped Bust. Smaller eagle. Fine. $4.25.
1797 Six stars to right. Fine. $4.50.
1798 13 Stars. Shows few original file marks on planchet across neck; otherwise VF. Scarce date. $4.25.
1799 Strong, evenly struck impression. VF. $3.00.
1802 VF. $3.25.
1802/1 Top of 1 high above the 2, but rest of figure nearly obliterated. Fine. Scarce. $3.00.
1802/1, but top of figure 1 lower. Rest of figure clearly marked. Different die from foregoing. Fine. Scarce. $2.75.
1802 Perfect Date. VF. $3.50.
1803 VF. Scarce. $3.25.
B. Max Mehl's sale of the P.H. Griffith Collection, March 20, 1912, featured unusually detailed descriptions for the era, undoubtedly made necessary by the fact that all bidders participated by mail, and no one attended the sale in person to inspect the lots.
Mehl, in business since 1903, was just beginning to hit his stride in the major league of dealers, and by 1912 he had handled several important collections. He would go on to become the most famous rare coin dealer of all time. For a period of years, he had his own nationwide radio program as part of an ongoing effort to sell the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia, which suggested that a great fortune awaited anyone fortunate enough to find a 1913 Liberty Head nickel, 1804 dollar, or other rarity in pocket change. Of course, few such coins were ever found, but Mehl made a fortune selling his books.
Mehl conducted business on two fronts: with the public and his premium catalogues, and in a more serious vein with established numismatists. In the latter category, he published Mehl's Numismatic Monthly, which for a number of years after 1908 was, arguably, America's most interesting numismatic periodical, and an illustrious series of auction.(actually, mail bid) catalogues featuring the Ten Eyck, Dunham, Roe, Neil, Olsen, Atwater, and other notable collections.
1794 Fine for coin. Left part of coin weakly struck, but every letter, star and figure is plain. A very light immaterial dent on obverse edge and a pin-point nick in field before liberty head. Much better than usually found. $122.00.
1795 Head of '94. Very light scratches in field before head. Fine, with strong impression. Rare variety, seldom found so choice. $3.50.
1795 Variety with two leaves under wings. Last curl between points of star. Good. Scarce. $3.80.
1795 So-called Large Head variety, last curl in field between stars. The point of bust between first and second star. Reverse two leaves below wing. A small dent on either side. Well centered and VF. $3.50.
1795 New type with Liberty facing right. 15 stars. EF, near Unc., with beautiful semi-proof surface. $5.40.
1796 Small Date. Rev. Large letters in legend. Light, long dent on obverse field. Reverse, two small cracks on edge due to break in die. VG. $3.50.
1796 Large Date. Rev. Small letters in legend. Variety with small die break between I C in AMERICA. EF, bold impression, with some mint lustre. $7.35.
1797 10x6 stars. VF. $8.90.
1797 9x7 stars. Rev. Light scratches, otherwise Good to VG. $2.75.
1798 Small Eagle variety. 13 Stars. Most skillfully plugged at top and letters reengraved. EF, some mint lustre. $2.35.
1798 Small Eagle, but with 15 Stars, and small letters in legend on reverse. VG. $4.40.
1798 Heraldic eagle. Even date, large 8, very near but does not touch bust, knobless 9. About Unc., original mint lustre. $3.50.