Q. David Bowers
1838 Gobrecht: From Mehl sale of the Henry O. Granberg Collection, July 16, 1919. Acquired with the following. This, the following, and an 1839 from the Granberg Collection cost a total of $565.
1838 Gobrecht: From Mehl sale of the Henry O. Granberg Collection, July 16, 1919. Acquired with the preceding.
1839 Gobrecht: Acquired in 1893. No other information. 1839 Gobrecht: $250. From Henry Chapman, Philadelphia, June 28,1917. "Plain edge."
1839 Gobrecht: From B. Max Mehl's sale of the Henry O. Granberg Collection, July 16, 1919. Cost $565 with two 1838 Gobrecht dollars described earlier. (This specimen went to Armin Brand, then Jane Brand Allen, and was sold by Auctions by Bowers and Merena, Inc., Brand Sale, 1983, for $21,000 + 10%).
In addition, Brand bought en bloc the following Gobrecht dollars from Wayte Raymond in the 1920s, who obtained them from W.W.c. Wilson, the Canadian collector who earlier purchased The Numismatist from Farran Zerbe and presented it to the American Numismatic Association. The price paid was $5,000 for a group consisting of the following:
1836: Adams-Woodin-42 (Judd-60), AW-44 J-65), AW-46 J-58), AW-48 J-63).
1838: AW-61 J-88), AW-64 J-85), AW-65 J-84)
1839: AW-83 J-105), AW-84 J-104), AW-86 J-108)
Unfortunately for numismatists seeking to establish pedigree chains, little record exists of the dispersal of Virgil Brand's coins after his death in 1926. The collection was divided between his two brothers, Armin and Horace, and for the most part was sold in private transactions in the 1930s involving B.G. Johnson, Henry Chapman, B. Max Mehl, and others. Some parts of the Brand estate remained intact through the 1980s, but only two Gobrecht dollars were among those not previously sold.
Auction Prices
The following representative auction results from a long span of years include Gobrecht dollars. Most early and many later listings are numismatic ally incomplete by today's standards and do not include information about die alignment, weight, or even the edge (plain or reeded). Most of the 1836s were probably Judd-60 issues, and most 1839s were probably Judd-104s.
Although other Gobrecht dollars-such as the 1836 with name below base and all dated 1838-are patterns and outside of the scope of the present text, the listings are included for price reference. Besides, such coins are listed in the Guide Book.
The Coin and Stamp Journal, April 1876, printed the following price history as part of an article titled "Rare American Coins":
DOLLAR 1836.
The coinage of this piece is given in the Mint report at one thousand. The type is entirely different from any other year, and strictly speaking, the piece is a pattern.
One in Mr. Mickley's collection, sold in 1867, brought $57.50. Described: "Flying eagle silver dollar, 1836, with 'Gobrecht' on field; a splendid Proof, and one of the rarest of all the pattern pieces. " Another in the same collection sold for $15.00. Described: "Flying eagle dollar, 1836; splendid Proof; decidedly the finest specimen I have ever met with."
Parmelee's sale, June 20th, 1873, $5.00 [conducted by W.H. Strobridge]. Described: "Flying eagle; tarnished Proof; rare."
Prof. [J.M.] MacAllister's sale, Sept., 1873 [conducted by W.H. Strobridge], the piece sold for $5.75. Described: "Flying eagle pattern dollar; Very Fine; rare."
At a sale in New York, Dec. 17, 1874, the price was $7.75. Described: "Gobrecht dollar; name on the base of the figure of Liberty."
[Col. James H.] Taylor Collection, Nov. 16th, 1875 [conducted by W.H. Strobridge]; price received, $8.25. Described: "Pattern dollar by Gobrecht; fine Proof impression; slightly scratched.
Jewett sale, Jan. 26, 1876 $7.75. [conducted by Edward Cogan]. Described: "1836, flying eagle dollar; very fair condition."
DOLLAR 1838.
The 1838 dollar in [Joseph J.] Mickley's collection [conducted by W. Elliot Woodward in October 1867] brought $45.00. Described: "Flying eagle dollar, 1838; original, brilliant Proof; extremely rare."
[Mortimer Livingston] MacKensie's sale, June 1869, $45.00 [conducted by Edward Cogan]. Described: "Beautiful Proof dollar; scarce, and greatly in demand."
[William A.] Fewsmith's sale; $40.00 [conducted by Ebenezer Locke Mason, October 1870]. Described 1838: "Flying eagle silver dollar, sharp and brilliant Proof; extremely rare,"
[Emil] Cauffman's sale, May 1871; $39.00 [conducted by Edward Cogan]. Described: "1838; brilliant Proof dollar, has seldom, if ever been surpassed in regard to condition; a most desirable specimen."
Jewett's sale, January 1876 [conducted by Edward Cogan]. Described: "1838, flying eagle dollar, beautiful Proof; $34.00."
The dollars of 1838, 1839 and 1858, are also classed as patterns. The coinage of the first was but 18 pieces, of the second 300, the number of the last named has never been given.
1839 DOLLAR.
Brought at the Mickley sale, $35.00 [conducted by W. Elliot Woodward in October 1867]. Described "Flying eagle dollar, 1839; brilliant Proof; original and exceedingly rare."
[William A.] Fewsmith's sale, $28.00 [conducted by Ebenezer Locke Mason, October 1870]. Described: "Flying eagle silver dollar, sharp and brilliant Proof; extremely rare;" another at the same sale; "Very Good," $7.00.
[Emil] Cauffman's sale; $23.00 [conducted by Edward Cogan]. Described: "1839; Proof dollar, but has been injured somewhat by circulation; fair impression.".
Jewett's sale; $16.25 [conducted by Edward Cogan, January 1876]. Described: "1839; flying eagle dollar, nicked and rubbed; Fair."