Q. David Bowers
Henry Chapman's sale of the Matthew Adams Stickney Collection, June 25-29, 1907. One of the great landmark sales in American numismatic history, the Stickney offering glowed with brilliant rarities. However, the Liberty Seated series contained many ordinary pieces-actually a potpourri of low. grades mixed with gems. Henry Chapman, who had severed his long term partnership with brother S. Hudson the year before, was particularly proud of this sale and catalogue, for it set the pace for his solo business.
As usual, descriptions are on the sparse side, but readers were informed that the 1841 dollar, otherwise a common date, was rare in Uncirculated grade.
1840 Br. Proof, very slight hair marks. Extremely rare in this state of preservation. $15.00.
1840 VF $2.10.
1841 Unc. Mint lustre. Three very small nicks over eagle on reverse. Rare in such beautiful preservation. $3.00.
1842 VF $1.60.
1843 VF $1.60.
1844 VF $2.25.
1845 VF $1.80.
1846 VF $1.20.
1846-O EF. Mint lustre. $1.75.
1847 Unc. Mint lustre. $2.20.
1849 VF $1.75.
1850 Br. Proof. Superb specimen. $15.00.
1850-O VF $2.00.
1851 Original. Unc. Very slightest chafing in field on obverse. Mint lustre. $47.00.
1852 Original. Fine $32.50.
1853 VG $1.25.
1854 EF $6.25.
1855 Poor. $2.00.
1856 EF $3.00.
1857 Semi-Proof surface. EF $3.50.
1858 Br. Proof, very slightly hair marked. Extremely rare. $33.00.
1859 Br. Proof $2.10.
1859-S Fine $2.20.
1860 Unc. Br. mint lustre. $2.00.
1860-O EF. Mint lustre. $1.30.
1861 VF $2.00.
1862 EF. Mint lustre. $1.25.
1863 VF $1.50.
1865 Unc. Mint lustre. $1.75.
1866 Br. Proof $1.60.
1867 Br. Proof $1.75.
1868 Br. Proof $1.75.
1869 Proof hair marked. $1.30.
1870 Br. Proof $1.60.
1870-CC Unc. $7.00.
1871 Br. Proof $1.50.
1872 Br. Proof $1.25.
1872-CC Poor. $1.60.
1872-S Unc. Br. mint lustre. $18.00.
1873 Br. Proof $1.75.
1873-CC VG. Light scratches. $6.50.
Lyman H. Low's sale of the Dudley R. Child Collection, February 25, 1908. This collection contains the standard rarities, Presumably, the 1851 and 1852 coins were lightly impaired Proofs, not Proofs worn down to the grades of what we now know as VF and EF.
1840 EF, some light nicks; Br. $1.55.
1841 VG $1.20.
1842 EF, Br.; probably Proof-struck. $2.60.
1843 EF, Br.; probably Proof-struck. $2.35.
1844 Fine $1.60.
1845 Fine $1.85.
1846 EF, a trifle less than Unc. $1.40.
1847 EF $1.20.
1848 VF $1.50.
1849 EF $1.30.
1850 EF, brilliant, trifling indications of circulation. $2.30.
1851 EF; exceedingly rare. $56.00.
1852 VF; exceedingly rare. $56.00.
1853 Fine $1.45.
1854 Fine, light nicks in field. $5.10. 1855 Fine; rare. $4.40.
1856 Fine $2.10.
1857 Proof; rare. $6.30.
1858 Proof; very rare. $31.50.
1859 Proof $1.80.
1860 Unc. $1.25.
1872 Proof $1.50.
1873 Unc. $1.20.
The Bristol, Church, and Bishop Collections sold by Thomas L. Elder, January 16, 1909. Selected highlights of Elder's 23rd public sale include these scarce dollars:
1850-O VF $1.50.
1851 Proof. Extremely rare. $77.00.
1852 Proof. Slightly rubbed. Very rare. $70.00.
Lyman H. Low's sale of the R.T. Rose Collection, September 9-10, 1909. This collection of Liberty Seated dollars can be termed typical for the era: most dates are in significantly worn grades.
1840 Fine $1.25.
1840 Nearly Fine $1.50.