Q. David Bowers
The Will W. Neil Collection sold by B. Max Mehl, June 17, 1947, was replete with examples of the three different dates of Gobrecht dollars,
1836 Plain edge. Br. Proof, $320.00.
1836 Second type. Beautiful Br. Proof. Wire edge. $155.00.
1838 Milled edge. Br. Proof. $265.00.
1839 Same type as 1838. Milled edge. Iridescent Proof.
Just very slightest touch of cabinet friction. $130.00.
The Dr. Christian A. Allenburger Collection, sold by B. Max Mehl, March 23, 1948. Offered were several important Gobrecht dollars.
1836. Liberty Seated, date below. Name of artist; C. GOBRECHT, incused or stamped in on base. Reverse, flying eagle amid 26 stars; Legend and value, Plain edge. Br.Proof. One of our most beautiful dollars, if not the most beautiful design. In much demand, especially in this beautiful condition. A similar specimen in my sale of the Neil Collection brought $155.00. $145.00.
1836 The. extremely rare variety with C. GOBRECHT between base and date. Perfect Br. Proof. Plain edge, otherwise same type as last. Only 18 specimens minted. Extremely rare and valuable. A similar specimen in my Atwater Sale brought $355.00. Catalogues $350.00. $325.00.
1838 Liberty Seated as on the 1836 dollar, but with 13 stars, Reverse, flying eagle in plain field, no stars. Legend and value. Milled edge. Magnificent Br, Proof. Not the slightest touch of cabinet friction. Just as perfect as the day it-was minted. One of our rarest silver dollars. Catalogues $500.00. Very limited number minted, probably not more than 20. $290.00.
1839 The exceedingly rare variety with obverse as the 1838, Liberty Seated, without name of the engraver; date and 13 stars. Reverse, flying eagle in plain field. Value and legend. Plain edge. According to Adams-Woodin, only three specimens are known. Not in the Atwater or any of the other great collections offered. Perfect brilliant Gem Proof. Just as perfect as the day it was .minted, The ordinary variety of this rare date dollar catalogues at $250.00. This variety is worth at least 10 times as much, but of course, it will not command such a price as yet, but it should bring well into the three-figure mark. $305.00.
The Adolphe Menjou Collection sold by Numismatic Gallery, June 15-17, 1950, offered some unusually nice Gobrecht dollars:
1836 C. GOBRECHT on base. Plain edge, two small file marks. All were minted as Proofs but this one is dull. $90.00. 1836 C. GOBRECHT below base; plain edge. Br. Proof. $425.00.
1838 Br. Proof with milled edge and no stars on reverse. $575.00.
1839 Br. Proof with milled edge and no stars on reverse. $400.00.
1839 Br. Proof with plain edge. $330.00.
M.H. Bolender's 183rd Sale, February 23, 1952, offered his personal reference set of Gobrecht dollars:
1836 C. GOB RECHT on base, date below. Reverse, flying eagle in a field of 26 stars. Plain edge. Proof; a few minute scratches visible under a glass. A beautiful shining example and well struck. Rare and in much demand. $125.00.
1838 Reverse, flying eagle in plain field. Milled edge. Probably has been burnished sometime to remove faint hairlines, a few fine ones still appear under a glass. Brill. Proof, a glittering coin. Excessively rare. $355.00.
1839 Same type as last. Milled edge. Beautiful sharp Br.
Proof. A gem and very rare. $250.00.
The 1952 ANA Convention Sale, August 16-21, 1952, New Netherlands Coin Co., included these Gobrecht dollars:
1836 Liberty Seated right, in plain field. C. GOBRECHT F. on base, date below. Cleaned Proof with one or two minute defects. $287.50.
1836 Liberty Seated. Sharp, lightly toned Proof. Few minute planchet defects on reverse rim. $140.00.
1838 Brilliant, bright Proof with slight iridescent toning.
A magnificent and sharply struck example of an excessively rare coin. $675.00.
1838 An unusually bold and mainly Br. Proof. Certainly, a most beautiful and desirable example of the so-called "commonest" Gobrecht dollar bearing this date. $355.00.
Stack's sale of the Davis-Graves Collection, Part I, April 8-10, 1954, included one each of the three Gobrecht dollar dates:
1836 Plain edge. Proof but not in full brilliance. $165.00. 1838 Perfect Br. Proof, milled edge. $400.00.
1839 Br. Proof. $300.00.
Stack's sale of the Anderson-Dupont Collection, November 11-13, 1954, included these Gobrecht dollars of outstanding quality:
1836 Liberty Seated. GOBRECHT on base. Deeply toned, highly attractive. Wear on knees, head, breast. Properly cleaned. Br. Proof. $300.00.
1836 Liberty Seated. GOBRECHT below base. Beautifully toned Proof. $575.00.
1838 Magnificent Br. Proof. $525.00. 1839 Gem Proof. $500.00.
Stack's sale of the Samuel W. Wolfson Collection, May 3-4,1963, included a date set of Gobrecht dollars plus an additional 1838:
1836 Name on base. Plain edge. Reverse, eagle in field of stars. A lovely blue toned Proof. A very popular type coin. $950.00.
1838 Reverse, eagle in plain field. Reeded edge. Br. Proof, light iridescent toning. Excessively rare. $2,200.00.
1838 Plain edge. No name on base. Reverse, eagle in plain field. Br. Proof. $2,250.00.
1839 Reeded edge. Reverse, eagle in plain field. Br. Proof, deep iridescent toning. $1,225.00.
Lester Merkin's sale of the Ostheimer Collection, September 18-19,1968. Offered were seven varieties of Gobrecht dollars.
1836 Gobrecht below base. Starred reverse. Judd-58, Adams-Woodin 46. Br. Proof; minute chip in field midway between wrist and knee. Traces of old cleaning. $2,800.00.
1836 Gobrecht below base, starless reverse. Judd-63, AW-48.Plain edge. Br. Proof, granular flan. Minute chips and pores prior to striking; evidence of old cleaning. Granular area in reverse field, as made. Restrike, no originals made of this die combination. $2,400.00.
1836 Gobrecht on base, starred reverse. J-60, AW-42.
Lightly toned Choice Proof, mostly sunset colors. Several minute rim nicks. Minute pin scratch below eagle's neck. $1,300.00.
1838 Regular starless reverse, reeded edge. J-84, A W-65. Iridescently toned gem Proof. Borders rounded as on originals, evidently an early impression. $2,200.00.
1838 Starred Reverse, plain edge. J-88, AW-61. Iridescently toned Proof, high knife-rim or "wire edge" around obverse, small rim nick below 0 of DOLLAR. Evidence of very old cleaning. Restrike, but no originals made of this die combination. $2,200.00.
1839 Regular type, starless reverse, reeded edge. J-104, A W-84. Brilliant Proof, delicate toning. Faint signs of old cleaning; minute signs of contact with other coins, not worth detailed description. $1,700.00.
1839 Plain edge. J-105, AW-83. Sunset toned Gem Proof, many adjustment marks at rounded rims; lint mark at border below 0 of ONE. $2,100.00.
Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Austin Collection, May 31 and June 1, 1974, included these:
1836 Gobrecht. Impaired Proof. $2,300.00.
1836 Gobrecht. EF or better. Skillfully plugged near top of obverse. $1,100.00.
1839 Gobrecht. Reeded edge. Proof, with rubbing in fields. $3,250.00.