Q. David Bowers
Lyman H. Low's sale of the H.G. Brown Collec-tion, Part I, October 11, 1904. The Brown cabinet of Liberty Seated dollars was below par for the era, but the prices realized indicate a strong demand even for Impaired rarities, especially for the 1852.
1840 VG $2.05.
1841VF $1.70.
1842 VF $1.60.
1843 EF, Br., prooflike. $1.80.
1844 Fine $1.75.
1845 VF, a few light nicks. $2.30.
1847 VG $1.60.
1848 EF $2.40.
1849 VF, a few light nicks. $1.30.
1850 About Fine, light nicks in obverse field. $2.00
1851 Proof, slightly hay marked; four immaterial nicks at extreme left edge on obverse. $54.00. "
1852 VF, probably Proof-struck; light scratch in obverse field. $52.00.
1853 VF; $3.10.
1853 VG $2.20.
1854 Fair. $5.75.
1855 VG, some light nicks and scratches. $4.35:
1856 Good $3.10.
1857 EF, brilliant; probably Proof-struck. $4.10.
1858 VF, a few trifling nicks; very rare. $35.50.
1859-O About Fine $1.50.
1861 VF $2.25.
1862 VF $2.40.
1862 Another Fine $2.40
1863, Proof, lightly impaired. $1.70.
1865 Good, $1.40.
1866 Good $1.30.
1867 VG $1.25.
1868 Proof, a little less than perfect. $2.15.
1869 Proof, condition as last. $2.05.
1870-CC Good $1.75.
1872 Proof, haymarked. $1.20.
1872 EF; obverses black from exposure. $1.25,.
1873 Proof, lightly hay marked: $1.40.
1873 Proof, somewhat tarnished but not in darkest hues, $1.00.
The Waldo C. Moore Collection sold by Ben G. Green, May 13, 1905. Waldo C. Moore of Lewisburg, Ohio, was, like Farran Zerbe, a man who found just about any numismatic item to be interesting. A prolific contributor to The Numismatist arid at one time president of the ANA, Moore collected in many fields, especially broken bank notes. Liberty Seated dollars were definitely not his forte, but in spite of this he gathered a representative collection of many different varieties, most of which were in lower grades.
1840 VG. Scarce. $1.50.
1841 VG. Scarce. $1.15.
1842 VG. Scarce. $1.15.
1843 VF $1.20.
1844 EF. Scarce. $1.50.
1845 VG. Scarce. $1.30.
1846 Slight edge dents. Fine $1.20.
1846-O Fine $1.20.
1847 Nicked on obverse. VG $1.17.
1848 VF. Scarce. $1.40.
1849 VF $1.35.
1850 Fine. Rare. $1.40.
1850-O EF $2.20.
1852 Proof. Obv. shows slight hair marks, rev. not brilliant. Sharp impression. Very rare. $47.
1853 Fine $1.25.
1854 Fine. Very rare. $4.75.
1855 Fine. Rare. $3.25.
1856 VF. Scarce. $2.25.
1857 VF. Scarce. $1.50.
1858 Proof (cleaned). Slight edge nick .. Extremely rare. $33.
1859 Good $2.10.
1859-O VF $1.20.
1859-S VG. Scarce. $2.10.
1860 Proof $2.50.
1860-O VF $1.25.
1862 VF. Scarce. $1.55.
1863 Proof (cleaned). Scarce. $1.15.
1864 VF. Scarce. $1.30.
1865 VF. Scarce. $2.10.
1866 VG. Scarce. $1.20.
1867 About Good $1.20.
1868 Fine $1.15.
1869 Fine $1.30.
1870 Fine $1.15.
1870-CC VF. Scarce. $2.55.
1871 Fine $1.15.
1872 Fine $1.15.
1872-CC VG. Rare. $3.25.
1872-S VG. Scarce. $2.75.
1873 Fine $1.25.
In the June 1905 issue of The Numismatist, the Arnold Numismatic Co. offered these Liberty Seated dollars. It is highly improbable that the 1840-1849 pieces were true Proofs; it has been my experience in handling old-time collections, that probably not one in 10 coins of the pre-1850 era called "Proofs" by old-time dealers were actually Proofs. Also note the amazingly slight difference between the price of Fine and Proof for the years 1865-1869. This was reflective of the interest at the time of acquiring a specimen of a given date, with the grade being of secondary importance.
1840 Unc. $1.75, Proof $2.25.
1841 Unc. $1.75, Proof $2.25.
1842 Unc. $1.75, Proof $2.25.
1846 Unc. $1.75, Proof $2.25.
1847 Unc. $1.75, Proof $2.25.
1849 Unc. $1.75, Proof $2.25.
1845 Semi-Proof $3.25.
1848 Semi-Proof $3.25.
1853 Unc. $2.50, Semi-Proof $3.25.
1856 VF $2.50, Unc, $3.50.
1857 Semi-Proof $2.15.
1862 Unc. $1.75
1865 Fine $1.50, Proof $2.00.
1867 Fine $1.50, Proof $2.00.
1869 Fine $1.50, Proof $2.00.
1870 Unc. $1.50, Proof $1.75.
1871 Unc. $1.50, Proof $1.75.
1872 Unc. $1.50, Proof $1.75.
1873 Unc. $1.50, Proof $1.75.