Q. David Bowers
The October 1903 issue of The Numismatist included a listing of the Arnold Numismatic Co, Providence, Rhode Island, offering these silver dollars. The Arnold firm, a prolific advertiser during the era, seems to have dealt mainly with the public, rather than numismatists, although a nice stock of rare coins was maintained (such as those offered here). In later years, the company was a wholesale source for vast quantities of circulated large cents and other items which they had acquired from the public years earlier.
1840 EF $3.00.
1842 VF $2.00.
1843 VF $2.00.
1844 EF $3.00.
1845 EF $3.00.
1846 VF $2.00.
1847 VF $2.00.
1848 VF $2.00.
1849 VF $2.00.
1850 VF $2.00.
1853 VF $2.00.
1854 EF $9.00.
1855 EF $6.50.
1856 EF $3.50.
1859 Proof $2.00.
1860 Proof $2.00.
1861 Proof $2.00.
1861 Proof $2.00.
1862 Proof $2.00.
1863 Proof $2.00.
1864 Proof $2.00.
1865 Proof $2.00.
1866 Proof $2.00.
1867 Proof $2.00.
1868 Proof $2.00.
1869 Proof $2.00.
1870 Proof $2.00.
1871 Proof $2.00.
1872 Proof $2.00.
1873 Proof $2.00.
Charles Steigerwalt's fixed price list, April 1904. During this era, Steigerwalt achieved a measure of success with his fixed price offerings, perhaps reflecting his willingness to buy coins for inventory while most of his competitors acquired major properties primarily for auction. However, the Liberty Seated dollars in this particular list are unremarkable.
1840 Faintest touch of circulation, some Proof surface. $2.75.
1841 Unc. Brilliant mint bloom. $2.50.
1842 Barely touched, some light haymarks, Proof surface. $2.50.
1843 Faintest touch. Mint bloom. $2.25.
1844 Practically Unc. Mint bloom, slight Proof surface. $3.00.
1845 Nearly Unc. $2.50.
1846 AU $2.00.
1847 Unc. or practically so. $2.50.
1848 Barely touched, mint bloom. $3.
1849 Nearly Unc. $2.50.
1850 A few slight haymarks, but Unc. and with considerable Proof surface. $4.
1850-O Mint. EF $2.50.
1853 EF $2.75.
1854 Very close to Unc. $8.50.
1855 Slight circulation, trace of Proof surface. $5.50.
1856 Slight circulation. Mint bloom. $4.
1857 VF $3.50.
1859-S Fine $2.50.
1860 Br. Proof $2.50.
1860-O Mint. EF $1.50.
1863 Unc. $2.25.
1870-CC VF $5.
1872-S VF $6.50.
1873 Unc. $1.75.
S.H. and H. Chapman's sale of the Ralph Barker Collection, July 7-8, 1904. Although Barker had several rarities, in general they were low-end in quality. Then, as now, a collector could get the cheapest price or the highest quality, but not both in the same transaction. The 1852 in particular is among the least desirable specimens to cross, the block. The ironic thing is that at the turn of the century, a high-quality coin of a rare Liberty Seated dollar was apt to cost only a little more than a doggy one. Believe it or not, whoever bought the abraded Fine 1858 dollar for $31 could have bought a superb Proof elsewhere at the time for about $40 or so!
1840 VG $1.30.
1841 VF. Hair marked. Rev. Scratched above eagle. $1.60.
1841 Fine $1.50.
1842 EF. Mint lustre. $1.25.
1842 VG $1.05.
1843 VF. Slightly abraded in field. $1.25.
1844 Fine $1.20.
1845 VF $1.50.
1846 VF $1.60.
1847 VF. Slightly abraded infield. $1.35.
1848 VG $1.70:
1849 Fine.$1.90.
1850 VF. Field slightly abraded. $1.50.
1850 Fine. Hair marked. $2.00.
1851 Unc, Superb, perfect impression. Copper; silver plated. $9.50.
1852 Poor. Nicked in field on both obverse and reverse, probably used as a coin for a baby to cut his teeth on. $33.00.
1853 EF $2.05. 1854 VG $3.25.
1855 VF. Light abrasion in field. $2.70.
1857 EF. Hair marked. $2.25.
1857 VG $1.30.
1858 Fine. Field abraded and five nicks. Has been 'a Proof. $31.00.
1859 Br. Proof $2.70.
1859-O VF $1.20.
1860 Proof $1.55.
1860-O VF $1.20.
1861 Proof. Slightly hair marked. $1.85.
1862 Proof. Slightly hair ma,rked.$1.60.
1863 Proof. Hair marked; field rubbed, $1.60.
1864 Proof. Hair marked. $1.70.
1865 Br. Proof. Slight abrasion in field. $1.00.
1866 Br. Proof. Slight hair marks. $2.10.
1867 Br. Proof. Slight hair marks. $1.45.
1868 Br. Proof $1.60.
1869 Br. Proof $1.50.
1870 Br. Proof $1.50.
1871 Proof. Hair marked; slight scratches. $1.35.
1872 Br. Proof. Slight hair mark. $1.35.
1873 Proof. Hair marked. $1.50.