Q. David Bowers
B. Max Mehl's Sale of the P. Griffith Collection, February 29, 1916. This collection contained-many notable pieces, absolute rarities as well as "condition rarities." In keeping with practice of the time, grades were anything but consistent, and we have a VF 1845 next to a "Bright Unc." 1846. Today's readers can dream of such things as Uncirculated dollars of 1841, 1850, 1850-O, 1852, 1856, 1859-S, 1870-CC, and 1872-S, not to overlook an 1851 Proof described as "Perfect."
1840 Fine $2.50.
1841 Unc., bright mint lustre. $2.25.
1842 EF, nearly Unc. with semi-Proof surface. Unusually choice. $2.00.
1843 VG $2.00.
1844 Good $2.00.
1845 VF. Sharp, small nicks in field. $2.00.
1846 Bright Unc., slight abrasion on reverse field. $1.80.
1846-O Practically Unc. $1.50,
1847 Fine $1.80.
1848 Magnificent Br. Proof $36.00.
1849 Br. Proof; sharp. $40.00.
1850 Unc., with brilliant semi-Proof surface on obverse and bright mint lustre on reverse. $4.00:
1850-O Unc. $2.50.
1851 Perfect Br. Proof, sharp with partly wire edge. $120.00.
1852 Unc., with bright semi-Proof surface. Very light, hardly noticeable nicks in field. $95.00.
1853 EF, some mint lustre. $1.80.
1854 AU, frosty mint surface. $6.00.
1855 Br. Proof $15.00.
1856 Unc., mint lustre. $3.50.
1857 Perfect Br. Proof $6.25.
1858 Br. Proof $35.00.
1859 Br. Proof $3.00.
1859-O Practically Unc. with Proof surface. $ 1.25.
1859-O EF, nearly Unc. $1.25.
1859-S Unc., mint lustre, sharp and perfectly centered. $10.00.
1860 Br. Proof $2.80.
1860-O EF, some mint lustre. $1.50.
1861 Br. Proof $3.50.
1862 Sharp Br. Proof $2.00.
1863 Br. Proof $1.85.
1864 Br. Proof $3.00.
1865 Br. Proof $2.29
1866 With Motto. Br. Proof $2.80.
1867 Br. Proof $2.80.
1868 Br. Proof $2.80.
1870 Sharp Br. Proof $1.70.
1870-CC Unc., sharp. Semi-Proof surface. $12.00.
1870-CC AU, with semi-Proof surface. $11.25.
1870-CC AU, with bright mint surface. $9.50.
1871 Br. Proof $1.30.
1871-CC Fine $32.00.
1872 Br. Proof $1.70.
1872-CC Fine $8.00.
1872-S Unc., with semi-Proof surface. $12.
1873 Br. Proof $1.70.
1873-CC Nearly Fine $5.10.
In the August 1915 issue of The Numismatist, S. Hudson Chapman advertised the following early silver dollars.
1840 Fine $1.50.
1841 Fine $1.25.
1842 Fine $1.25.
1843 Fine $1.25.
1844 VF $1.50.
1845 Fine $1.50.
1846 Fine $1.20, Unc. $2.00.
1847 Fine $1.20, Unc, $2.00.
1848 Fine $1.50.
1849 VF $1.50.
1850 Proof $15.00.
1851 Proof $100.00.
1852 Unc. $85.00.
1853 VF $3.00.
1854 VF $5.00.
1855 Fine $4.00.
1856 Fine $3.00.
1857 EF, prooflike, lightly struck $3.50, Proof $20.00.
1858 Proof $40.00.
1859 Unc. $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.