Q. David Bowers
B. Max Mehl's sale of the William Forrester Dunham Collection, June 3, 1941. The Dunham Collection contained a fine array of Liberty Seated dollars, nearly complete, but with the last several Carson City issues notably absent. Mehl expresses a bullish outlook on the coin market (d. 1858, 1859 listings). In keeping with the usual Mehl catalogue containing expanded descriptions, there are some numismatic-grammatical curiosities. For example, how can an Uncirculated 1845 dollar with friction in the field be "better than Unc."?
1840 Practically Unc., with frosty mint surface. Scarce date and quite rare so choice. $6.25.
1841 Just a shade from Unc.; frosty mint surface. $4.50.
1842 Brilliant semi-Proof. Not a rare date, but very scarce in this choice condition. $7.35.
1843 Brilliant semi-Proof; nearly equal to a brilliant Proof. A pinpoint dot on left obverse, and die break to right of Liberty. Br. Unc., with Proof surface; just almost equal to a brilliant Proof. $3.65.
1844 Unc., with semi-Proof surface, but field slightly rubbed from having been in contact with other coins. Very scarce date. $5.25.
1845 Br. Unc., with bright surface. Just the very slightest friction in obverse field, hardly noticeable. Listed at $7.50 in Unc. condition, and this is better than Unc, $6.50.
1846 Bright Unc., but small spot on left wing; sharp, with straight edges as on the Proof. $3.40.
1846-O Nearly Unc.; sharp. Scarce so choice. $4.00.
1847 EF, with bright lustre; just a shade from Unc, $3.75.
1848 Sharp Unc, with full frosty mint surface. Slightest light marks from having been handled with other coins. But a beautiful specimen and certainly worth its full listed price of $7.50. $10.50.
1849 VF, with some original frosty mint lustre. $2.90.
1850 Unc., slight cabinet friction and slightly rubbed in field. Scarce date; especially so choice. $7.00.
1850-O Practically Unc.; unusually bold impression. $3.85.
1851 Magnificent brilliant Proof; with high wire edge, especially on obverse. As perfect a specimen of this rare date as exists. Very rare and valuable. Record over $125.00.$98.00. 1852 Perfect brilliant Proof, with wire edge, rather high on obverse. Extremely rare and just as valuable as the 1851. $91.00.
1853 Beautiful perfect Unc, specimen with full mint lustre. This coin is listed at $7.50, but in this remarkable condition, is worth at least double. $13.50.
1854 EF;just a shade or two from Unc. Very scarce date, especially so choice. $10.00.
1855 Just a shade from Unc, Rare date. $8.20.
1856 EF, with some lustre. Scarce. $5.10.
1857 EF,just a shade or two from Unc. $6.20.
1858 Perfect brilliant Proof. A pinpoint, hardly noticeable nick in field just to left of the fourth star on right. Sharp edge. Here is one coin which has just about more than doubled in value in the past two or three years. It is in great demand and seldom in stock. Now only available when large collections come on the market. Easily retails from $65.00 to $75.00. $75.00.
1859 Perfect brilliant Proof. Very scarce in Proof. Listed at $8.00. In fact all the brilliant Proof dollars from this date to 1867 are listed at not less than $6.00, and I look for a very good advance in the very near future. $7.25.
1859-O Br. Unc.; field slightly chafed, but with full brilliant lustre. $2.40.
1859-S EF, with considerable lustre. Very light scratch on reverse. $3.75.
1860 Perfect brilliant Proof. Listed at $8.50. $9.25.
1860-O Brilliant semi-Proof. Equal to a perfect brilliant Proof. Not a rare date, but certainly scarce so choice. $4.20.
1861 Perfect brilliant Proof. Very scarce date. $7.65. 1862 Perfect brilliant Proof; partly wire edge. $6.35.
1863 Perfect brilliant Proof. An imperceptible pinpoint nick on upper obverse edge. $6.00.
1864 Perfect brilliant Proof; partly wire edge. Very scarce. Listed at $7.50. $6.20.
1865 Perfect brilliant Proof. Just as scarce as last. $6.40.
1866 First year with motto. Perfect brilliant Proof $7.00.
1867 Perfect brilliant Proof, with sharp wire edge. $5.65.
1868 Br. Proof $4.25.
1869 Perfect brilliant Proof, with sharp wire edge. $5.25.
1870 Perfect brilliant Proof; wire edge. $4.35.
1870-CC Fine to VF. Scarce. $2.85.
1871 Perfect brilliant Proof; with complete, sharp wire edge. A gem. $4.65.
1872 Perfect brilliant Proof. Just as choice as last. $5.75.
1872-S Practically Unc, with mint lustre. Rare. Listed at $25.00. $7.75.
1873 Br. Proof, but somehow was weakly struck. Seems to have been struck from an imperfect die. Scarce. $3.60.
The "World's Greatest Collection" (F.C.C. Boyd Collection) sold by Numismatic Gallery, May 11-12, 1945, included the following Liberty Seated silver dollars. Boyd had a rare (for the time) eye for quality, and today his cabinet is still remembered as one of the finest ever offered. In addition to an almost unbelievable run-of early Proofs, the set contained the rare 1870-S. For the Philadelphia Mint coins he endeavored to acquire Uncirculated coins in addition to the Proofs, but his expectations exceeded reality (no one in numismatic history has ever assembled a complete Mint State set).
1840 Br. Proof $115.00.
1841 Br. Proof $150.00.
1841 Unc. Br. $32.50.
1842 Br. Proof $130.00.
1843 Br. Proof. Faint hairline. $150.00.
1844 Br. Proof $140.00.
1845 Br. Proof $150.00.
1845 About EF $11.00.
1846 Br. Proof $195.00.
1846 Proof $85.00.
1846 VF $20.00.
1846-O VF $17.50.
1847 Br. Proof $145.00.
1848 Br. Proof $135.00.
1849 Br. Proof $140.00.
1849 Unc. $15.00.
1850 Br. Proof $150.00.
1851 Br. Proof $210.00.
1851 Unc. $150.00.
1852 Br. Proof $180.00.
1853 Br. Proof $220.00.
1853 Unc. $20.00.
1854 Br. Proof $75.00.
1855 Br. Proof $115.00.
1855 Unc. $22.50. 1856 Br. Proof $70.00.
1856 Unc. $17.50.
1857 Br. Proof. Light hairlines. $37.50.
1857 Unc. $15.00.
1858 Br. Proof, turning steel blue. $180.00.
1859 Br. Proof, turning steel blue. $35.00.
1859 Unc. $15.00.
1859-O Proof $135.
1859-O VF $8.00.
1859-S VF $17.50.
1859-S VF $16.00.
1860 Unc. $25.00.
1860-O Unc. $11.00.
1860-O VF $7.00.
1860-O VF $7.00.
1861 Proof. Tarnished and has hairlines. $25.00.
1861 Unc. $20.00.
1862 Br. Proof. Turning purple. $20.00.
1862 Unc, but has been badly handled. Obverse has numerous nicks. $13.50.
1863 Br. Proof $19.00.
1863 Unc. $22.50.
1864 Br. Proof $18.50.
1864 Br. Unc. $20.00.
1865 Br. Proof $20.00.
1865 VF $1l.00.
1866 With Motto. Br. Proof $20.00.
1866 VF $9.00.
1867 Beautiful Sr. Proof. Turning purple, $16.00.
1867 VF $7.00.
1868 Beautiful steel-blue Proof $16.00.
1868 AD $9.00.
1869 Br. Proof $14.00.
1869 Unc. with Prooflustre. $12.00.
1870 Proof $15.00.
1870 AD $11.00.
1870-CC Br. prooflike. $55.00.
1870-CC AD $32.50.
1870-S VF. Only six specimens exist. $1,650.
1871 Beautiful steel-blue Proof $12.00.
1871 Unc. $1l.00.
1871-CC Much prooflike lustre; some wear on high spots. $120.00.
1871-CC VG $22.50.
1872 Br. Proof $12.50.
1872 Unc. $9.00.
1872-CC Unc., lustrous. $110.00.
1872-CC Fine to VF $17.50.
1872-S VF $22.50.
1873 Beautiful steel-blue Proof $17.50.
1873 Seated type (no grade given) $10.00.
1873-CC Unc., lustrous. Slight cabinet friction. $110.00.