Q. David Bowers
Die Alignments
The die alignment of a given Gobrecht dollar falls into one of four categories:"
To test for die alignment I and III and hold the coin (obverse up) by the edges at 9:00 and 3:00 between the thumb and finger, rotate along this horizontal axis and notice the position of the eagle. If the eagle is belly up, test for die alignment and II by holding coin (obverse up) at' 12:00 and 6:00 edges between thumb and forefinger, rotate along this vertical axis, arid note the position of the eagle. These procedures will yield one of the four alignments below:
Alignment I: Eagle flies slightly upward ("onward and upward"), the two circular dots or pellets at one to each side of ONE DOLLAR, are level after rotation along the horizontal axis. Head-of Miss Liberty on obverse is opposite 0 of DOLLAR on reverse. This is also called coin-wise alignment or "coin turn" and is used on most of the United States coins of various denominations.
Alignment II: The reverse die of this is oriented 1800. differently than the preceding. This is also called medal alignment or "medal turn" and is used on many medals (but relatively few circulating U.S. coins). The eagle flies "onward and upward" to the left, and the two ornaments flanking ONE DOLLAR are level after rotating it along the vertical axis. Head of Miss Liberty opposite E of STATES on reverse.
Alignment III: The eagle flies horizontally, thus the two pellets on each side of ONE DOLLAR are not level (the one on the left is lower) after rotating it along the horizontal axis. The head of Miss Liberty is opposite the N of ONE on the reverse.
Alignment IV: Eagle flies horizontally as preceding, after rotation along vertical axis. Head of Miss Liberty opposite space between F of OF and first A in AMERICA on reverse.
Patterns and Restrikes
For an exposition of pattern and restrike Gobrecht dollars dated 1836-1839 the reader is referred to United States Pattern, Experimental and Trial Pieces, by Dr.J. Hewitt Judd, and, in due time, to the forthcoming book on pattern coins by Andrew W. Pollock III.
A synopsis of the Judd-listed 1836-dated coins is given herewith:
• Judd-58: Obverse: Liberty Seated. No stars in field. Inscription C. GOBRECHT F. in field between base and date. Reverse: Eagle flying onward and upward in field of 26 stars (13 small stars and 13 large stars). Silver. Plain edge.
Originals have alignment I and are from perfect dies. Allegedly, 18 were struck (this figure is from Edgar H. Adams, 1913). Weight: 416 grains. Breen- 5409; Julian-1. None seen in many years. Estimated 3 or 4 known (URS-3)
Restrikes have alignments III and IV (Julian 6 and 7). Later impressions have minute die cracks on the reverse through OLLA and NITED STATES O. Weight: 412.5 grains (apt to vary significantly in practice, however). Breen-5410. Estimated 25 to 30 known (URS-6).
• Judd-59: Restrike of above. Copper. Die alignment III. Probably 3 to 5 known (URS-3).
• Judd-60: Obverse as preceding, but with C. GOBRECHT F. on base instead of in field. Reverse as preceding, with eagle flying upward in starry field. Silver. Plain edge. The variety discussed above in detail; the issue made for circulation. Restrikes were also made. See detailed discussion under "1836 Gobrecht, Name on Base" section below.
• Judd-61: As Judd-60 but with reeded edge.
Restrike, probably made 1867-1869. Die alignment either III or IV (not verified). Breen-5415; Julian-14. Discovery announced in The Numismatist, May 1911, p. 179. Estimated 2 or 3 known (URS-2).
• Judd-62: As Judd-60, plain edge, but in copper. Restrike, probably made 1867-1869. Die alignment III or IV (not verified). Estimated 4 to 8 known (URS-3).
• Judd-63: Obverse: As Judd-58, Liberty Seated, C.GOBRECHT F. in field between base and date. Reverse: die of 1838 with eagle flying upward in plain field. Silver. Plain edge. Restrike. Die alignment III or IV (not verified). Breen-5411; Julian-9. Estimated 4 to 8 known (URS-3).
• Judd-64: As Judd-63, but in copper. Restrike. Die alignment III or IV (not verified). Estimated 4 to 6 known (URS-3).
• Judd-65: Obverse: As Judd-60, Liberty Seated, C.GOBRECHT F. on base. Reverse: Die of 1838- 1839 with eagle flying upward in plain field. Silver. Plain edge. Restrike. Die alignment III or IV (not verified). Breen-5416; Julian-15. Estimated 3 to 5 known (URS-3).
Charles Steigerwalt, in his house organ, The Coin Journal, September 1880, commented on the Gobrecht coinage of 1836 concluding with the following: "A few pieces were also struck without stars on the reverse. They are extremely rare; their existence being only recently discovered, and probably not more than two or three having been struck." The fact that they were "only recently discovered" is probably due to their having only recently been made (my supposition); however, this is not necessarily so, as, for example, it is believed that 1884-1885 trade dollars were made during the years indicated on the coins, but they were not generally known to numismatists until 1907-1908.
• Judd-66: As Judd-65, but in copper. Restrike. Die alignment III or IV (not verified). Estimated 1 or 2 known (URS-1).