Q. David Bowers
The Judd reference lists these varieties of 1839 Gobrecht dollars:
Judd-104: Obverse: Liberty Seated. Thirteen stars around upper border. No Gobrecht signature or inscription. Reverse: Eagle plain field. Silver. Reeded edge. All 1839 Gobrecht silver dollars have an authorized weight of 412;5 grains. 300 pieces made for circulation; additional coins restruck. Various die alignments. See "1839 Gobrecht" section below.
Judd-105: As Judd 104, but with plain edge, Silver. Restrike; Die alignment III and may exist with IV; respectively Julian 28 and 29, Breen-5423. Estimated 10 to 20 known (URS-5).
Notes concerning a specimen of J-105 in Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc.'s Somerset Sale, May 1992: Weight: 411.9 grains. Die alignment III. Later state of the dies used to coin J-104; now very highly polished and with die finish lines no longer visible. Obverse: With repunching on 5th. star; par" ticularly noticeable on the left side, where an undertype point appears slightly to the right of the regular point; repunching on 8th star, below the rightmost star point a "ghost" point in the form of a triangle is seen in the field, barely touching the star. This specimen is somewhat lightly struck on the 9th through 13th stars. Reverse: With hairline die break through tops of MERI, break, then turning downward slightly and in" tersecting the left side of the letter C about 1/3 down from its top; this break begins in the field below the denticles at the upper right of the first A in AMERICA and goes downward to touch the left side of the letter M, continuing through the tops of MERI, to the C (extending slightly farther than the break on J-104 earlier described): Along the denticles begin" ning above the right of the last S in STATES, and continuing for much 'of the space between Sand 0 (of OF), is a tiny raised die irregularity running parallel to the denticles, A tiny die break, microscopically visible; connects the tops of NITED; from the upper right of the curve of D extends a tiny but bold thorn into the field. In the lower opening of the first S in STATES there is a slight roughness in the Proof field. Another microscopic area of roughness in the die is seen at the upper right of the first T in STATES. On this particular specimen there is a tiny' dimple, applied outside of the Mint, in the field above the I of UNITED, perhaps a privy mark of Stephen K. Nagy (speculation on my part).
Judd-106: As Judd-104, but in copper. Reeded edge. Restrike. Die alignment III (not verified). Listed as "unverified" in Don Taxay's Comprehensive Catalogue. Andrew W. Pollock III has located no records of auction appearances.
Judd-107: As Judd-104, but in copper. Plain edge. Restrike. Die alignment III (not verified). Exceed" ingly rare. Estimated 2 to 4 known (URS-2).
Judd.108: Obverse: As Judd-104. Reverse with eagle flying onward and upward in field of 26 stars (13 small stars and 13 large ones). Silver. Plain edge. Restrike. Die alignment III. Breen-5424; Julian-31. This variety not known to collectors until 1912 (see The Numismatist, May 1911, p. 185 and April 12, 1912, p. 112). Estimated 2 to 4 known (URS-2).
Judd-108a. As Judd-108, but with reeded edge. Not listed in Judd. Julian-32. Not verified by Drew W. Pollock III.
Judd-109: As Judd-108, but in copper. Plain edge'. Die alignment III (not verified). Thought to be unique (URS-1).
Issues Made for Circulation
From a purist's viewpoint, there are two Gobrecht dollars of commanding importance, two issues specifically released, into circulation at, the time of issue; original striking of J-60 of 1836 (also struck in 1837; is "original," too) and J-104 of 1839. However, much of life is a compromise, and superb Proof originals of these are exceedingly rare. This is especially true of J-104. A feasible alternative is to acquire lower-range Proofs or lightly circulated specimens of either or both.
An, Early Collector
Chicago numismatist Virgil M. Brand noted in his records that he purchased the following Gobrecht silver dollars, information which today gives an interesting view of market prices at the time.. This information was furnished to the author by David Enders Tripp, who commented: "I know that he had many more 1836 Cobrechts, probably another 15 to 20, pieces."
1836 Gobrecht: $6. From S.C. Stevens, Chicago; 1889. "Name on base, smooth edge." ,
1836 GobrechtrAcquired in 1892. No other information.
1836 Gobrecht: Acquired in 1893. No other information.
1836 Gobrecht: Price not mentioned. Froin E. Michael sale, March 18, 1916.
1838 Gobrecht: $85. From Charles Steigerwalt, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1893. . .
1838 Gobrecht (J-84): $167.50. From Thomas Elder's Peter Gschwend Sale, June 15, 1909. (Sold by Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc., Brand Sale, 1984)
1838 Gobrecht: $250. From Henry Chapman, Philadelphia, June 28, 1917. "Plain edge."
1838 Gobtecht: $250. From Henry Chapman's Jackman Sale. June 28,1918.