Q. David Bowers
The William Cutler Atwater Collection sold by B. Max Mehl, June 11, 1946, included a magnificent group of Liberty Seated silver dollars. In contrast to Mehl's cataloguing style of 20 to 35 years earlier, the Atwater descriptions are longer and more detailed. Of course, by 1946 the typical Liberty Seated dollar was worth a lot more than in 1915 or 1920, and it was economically feasible to spend more time and space on the listings.
1840 Unc, with semi-Proof surface, especially on obverse. $21.00.
1841 Br. semi-Proof, the obverse just about equal to a perfect Proof. Light scratches on upper reverse field. $24.25.
1842 Br. Unc., semi-Proof surface. Obverse about equal to a Proof. $18.50.
1843 Practically Unc, with mint lustre; just the slightest cabinet friction. $10.75.
1844 Br. Unc, with a semi-Proof surface; the field is very slightly rubbed and there is a light nick in reverse field where another coin had dropped on it. $13.50.
1845 Unc. with full mint lustre. Just the very slightest abrasion on upper reverse field. $20.00.
1846 Unc., frosty mint surface. $11.50.
1846-O Unc, with slight cabinet friction, but practically full mint lustre. $20.00.
1847 Unc., but shows slight cabinet friction and very slight abrasion in field to right of Liberty. $13.50.
1848 Br. Unc, with semi-Proof surface; almost equal to a Proof. A tiny mark on upper reverse where another coin has dropped on it. $22.50.
1849 Br. Unc, with Proof surface, especially on obverse. $21.00.
1850 Br. semi-Proof. The obverse is equal to a perfect Proof; just the very slightest, hardly noticeable, cabinet friction in field. The edge is sharp. $38.50.
1850-O Unc., frosty mint surface. Slight evidence of having been handled with other coins, shown on upper field on reverse. Bold impression. $18.50.
1851 Br. Proof $210.00.
1852 Unc, Slight abrasion in field and just the very slightest cabinet friction. $235.00.
1853 Nearly Unc, with frosty mint surface. $12.50.
1854 Br. Proof. Just the tiniest nick on obverse field directly to right of LIBERTY. Sharp. $72.50.
1855 Br. Proof $100.00.
1856 Perfect Br. Proof. Just a minute, hardly noticeable nick below eagle's right wing and an imperceptible nick on upper right reverse edge. $75.00.
1857 Br. Proof, but field slightly rubbed. $46.00.
1858 Perfect gem Proof with sharp edge, partly wire. $185.00.
1859 Br. Proof; just the tiniest and lightest nick on reverse field. $35.00.
1859-O Unc, with frosty full mint lustre. Minute nicks on obverse field from having been handled with other coins. $9.30.
1859-S Br. semi-Proof. A very light nick on lower right obverse edge and the field shows slight cabinet friction. A tiny nick to right of eagle. $26.25.
1860 Br. Proof $30.00.
1860-O Br. semi-Proof, nearly equal to a Proof; the field on reverse very slightly rubbed. $21.00.
1861 Perfect Br. Proof $31.00.
1862 Br. Proof, slightly iridescent surface. $25.00.
1863 Perfect Br. Proof $21.00.
1863 Just the very slightest, hardly noticeable cabinet friction in field on obverse. $157.50.
1864 Perfect Br. Proof $150.00.
1864 Perfect Br. Proof $20.00.
1865 Perfect Br. Proof Two short hairlines on right obverse field. hardly noticeable. $150.00.
1865 Perfect Br. Proof $22.75.
1866 With Motto. Perfect Br. Proof $26.00.
1867 Perfect Br. Proof $16.00.
1868 PerfectBr. Proof $16.00.
1869 Perfect Br. Proof $18.50.
1870 Br. Proof; reverse edge slightly iridescent. Sharp and perfect. $15.75.
1870-CC Practically Unc. with considerable mint lustre. $35.00.
1871 Proof $13.50.
1871-CC VF. Usual minute nicks on obverse field. $105.00.
1872 Perfect Br. Proof $18.75.
1872-CC Unc. with full mint lustre. $127.50.
1872-S Br. semi-Proof. Few minute, hardly noticeable nicks, on obverse. $75.00.
1873 Perfect Br. Proof $21.00.
1873-CC Practically Unc. with full mint lustre; the reverse is a semi-Proof. $127.50.
The Will W. Neil Collection sold by B. Max Mehl, June 17, 1947, has earned a place in the Liberty Seated Dollar Hall of Fame, for its completeness, which for regular issues (including 1870-S) is absolute. Neil, a Kansas druggist, collected many different denominations, but silver dollars were his favorite series.
1840 Liberty Seated. Milled edge. Unc. with frosty mint surface. Just the very slightest touch of cabinet friction. $21.00.
1841 AU, with considerable mint lustre. $16.25.
1842 VF. Very light hairlines on obverse. $6.75.
1843 Unc. with mint lustre, but slight evidence of having been handled with other coins. $10.50.
1844 Strictly VF. Light, hardly noticeable scratch on obverse and in field on reverse. $9.50.
1845 EF, with considerable frosty mint surface. $16.75.
1846 VF, strictly so; bold impression. $7.35.
1846-O AU with mint lustre; only slightest cabinet friction. $24.00.
1847 Fine, strictly so. $6.50.
1848 EF, nearly Unc.; iridescent surface. $12.00.
1849 Semi-Proof. Every appearance of a Proof; but it was not originally struck as such and has slight evidence of cabinet friction. $30.00.
1850 Semi-Proof with light nicks. Originally purchased as a Br. Proof $52.50.
1850-O VF $13.25.
1851 Perfect Br. Proof with wire edge, Sharp. $262.50.
1852 Unc. apparently struck as a Proof. Slightevidence of cabinet friction. $166.00.
1853 Semi-Proof, brilliant. Apparently was struck as a Proof. Square borders with partly wire edge. $30.00.
1854 Perfect Br. Proof with wire edge. A real gem. $84.50.
1855 Perfect Br. Proof $52.50.
1856 Perfect Br. Proof $65.00.
1857 Br. semi-Proof. Light short hairlines on obverse. $22.50.
1858 Perfect Br. Proof $175.00.
1859 Br. iridescent light purple Proof $31.00.
1859-O Br. Unc. with full mint lustre. $18.75.
1859-S Nearly Unc.; slight evidence of cabinet friction with considerable original mint lustre. $20.00.
1860 Br. Proof $27.50.
1860-O Nearly Unc. with mint lustre. $10.50.
1861 Perfect Br. Proof gem. $31.50.
1862 Br. Proof $22.00.
1863 Very scarce date. Br. Proof but light hairlines on obverse. $18.25.
1864 Br. Proof. Few minute hairlines not affecting the appearance or value of this scarce coin. $21.00.
1865 Perfect Br. Proof; bold impression. $26.00.
1866 Perfect Br. Proof $26.00.
1867 Br. Proof with wire edge. $24.25.
1868 Br. Proof; wire edge. $15.75.
1869 Br. Proof, but slight abrasion on obverse. $14.00.
1870 Br. Proof with wire edge. $17.25.
1870-CC Strictly VF. Nice bold impression. $22.25.
1870-S Strictly EF. What evidence of circulation the coin shows is only on the highest portions, more due to cabinet friction than to actual circulation. It has a bold impression, perfectly centered. $1,500.
1871 Perfect Br. Proof with wire edge. $21.00.
1871-CC VG, strictly so. Light scratch below eagle's head. $21.00.
1872 Sharp Br. Proof. Die hairlines on right obverse only visible when the coin is held at a certain angle. $19.50.
1872-CC Strictly Fine; tiny, hardly noticeable dent, on left obverse edge. $12.50.
1872-S EF, nearly Unc., with a V-shaped scratch on right obverse. $1.50.
1873 Br. Proof $23.00.
1873-CC EF with slight cabinet friction, very nearly Unc. $126.00.