Q. David Bowers
6. Parmelee Specimen, Proof-63(?)
•Adam Eckfeldt/Mint. (1834-1835 to circa 1845-1849)
• Unknown lady (c. 1845-1849), who allegedly bought it from the Mint for face value during the administration of James Knox Polk, 1845-1849. Sold to the following in 1868. (circa 1845-1849 to 1868)
•E. Harrison Sanford. (1868-1874)
• Edward Cogan's sale of the Sanford Collection, November 27, 1874, Lot 99, $700.00. "This dollar I guarantee is original and a remarkably fine impression, and is known to be one of, if not the most rare piece in the American series, not more than four or five being known to collectors in the United States." (1874)
• Lorin G. Parmelee, Boston bean baker. At one time, Parmelee owned what was generally acknowledged to be the most complete collection of United States coins in private hands. (1874-1890)
• New York Coin & Stamp Company's sale of the Parmelee Collection, June 25-27, 1890, Lot 817, $570.00. "Stars nearly all with rounded centers, otherwise a sharp perfect impression of this most famous coin." (1890)
•Byron Reed, willed to the following. (1890-1891)
• Omaha City Library, Omaha, Nebraska. While there it and other coins were the object of burglary attempts; in 1966 it was removed to a bank vault for safety. Transferred in the 1980s to the following for display: Western Heritage Museum, Omaha. (1891 to date)
412 grains (reported). Brilliant Proof, flat stars. Edge lettering crushed. Proof-63(?)
7. Mickley Specimen, Proof-50
•Adam Eckfeldt/Mint. (1834-?)
• Henry C. Young (a teller for the Bank of Pennsylvania, c.1850, supposedly retrieved from a deposit at face value). (1850 to later in the decade)
• Joseph J. Mickley. (before 1859-1867)
• W. Elliott Woodward's sale of the Mickley Collection, October 28, 1867, Lot 1696, $750.00. "It has been in circulation, but it is still in the finest condition, retaining its brilliancy of surface, and being entirely uninjured." (1867)
•William A. Lilliendahl. Sold to the following. (1867-1868)
• Edward Cogan. Sold to the following "at an advance on $750.00" (per information quoted by B. Max Mehl in his 1941 Dunham sale catalogue). (1868)
• William Sumner Appleton. Given in 1905 to the following. (1868-1905)
•Massachusetts Historical Society. (1905-1970)
• Stack's sale of coins from the Massachusetts Historical Society Collection, October 23-24, 1970, Lot 625, $77,500.00. "Very nearly Uncirculated, nice steel tone, slight friction on the high points." Sold to the following. (1970)
•Chicago private collection. (1970-1974)
•Stack's (as agent for the following; sale at $150,000.00. took place in January 1974).2
• Reed Hawn. (1974 to date)
416.4 grains. Edge lettering crushed. Called "AU" (Proof-50).
8. Cohen Specimen, VF
•Adam Eckfeldt/Mint. (1834-5-?)
•Unknown intermediaries. (?)
• Purchased "over the counter" at the exchange office of Edward Cohen, Richmond, VA. Apparently, the coin remained with Edward Cohen for a long period of time, and this fact was known by the following owner, who was Edward's uncle. (c. 1865)
• Col. Mendes 1. Cohen, Baltimore, Maryland. Cohen had one of the finest collections of American coins at the time. (1865-1875)
• Edward Cogan's sale of the Cohen Collection, October 15, 1875, Lot 535, $325.00. Bought by the following. (1875)
•Henry S. Adams, Boston, Massachusetts. (1875-1876)
• Edward Cogan's sale of the Adams Collection, November 1, 1876, Lot 356, $500.00. "This exceedingly rare dollar was purchased by Mr. Adams at the sale of Colonel Cohen's collection, in October last. The impression is not so fine as of two that had been sold some years previous, but warranted original. Extremely rare." (1876)
• Lorin G. Parmelee, Boston bean baker, and the owner of the most complete collection of United States coins. Sold to the following for $600.00 in 1878. (1876-1878)
• H.G. Sampson, dealer; intermediary in the transaction. Sold to the following for $625.00 in 1878. (1878)
• Major William Boerum Wetmore, New York City, New York. (1878-1906)
• Chapman brothers' sale of the Wetmore Collection, June 27, 1906, Lot 208, $720.00. (1906)
• Chapman brothers (bought for inventory). Sold in July 1906 to the following.
• James L. Manning, Albany, New York. (1906-1921)
• B. Max Mehl's sale of the Maiming Collection, May 17, 1921, Lot 778, $2,500 + 5% '" $2,625.00. Bought by the following. (1921)
•Elmer S. Sears. Sold to the following. (1921-1922)
•B. Max Mehl, who sold it to the following for $3,200.00. (1922)
• Lammot du Pont. About three years after du Pont purchased it, Mehl offered $5,000.00 to reacquire the coin; the offer was declined. (1922-1952)
• Willis du Pont. Included in the armed robbery of the du Pont coins October 1967. Recovered in Apri11993.
410.21 grains. Very Fine with many nicks and scratches. Edge lettering crushed. Of all Class I dollars, this coin has the greatest evidence of wear.