Q. David Bowers
The Dr. Christian A. Allenburger Collection, sold by B. Max Mehl, March 23, 1948. Offered were many high-grade Uberty Seated dollars, including a number of early Proofs said to have been taken directly from original sets (see Mehl's commentary under the 1867 dollar listing).
1840 Brilliant Proof gem. Sharp and perfect. A similar specimen in my sale of the Roe Collection, when this coin catalogued at $100.00, brought $145.00. The coin now catalogues at $100.00 and should bring a correspondingly higher price. I doubt very much if as many as six specimens exist in Proof. Not in the great Atwater Collection. $162.50.
1840 Nearly Uncirculated with semi-proof surface. Catalogues $20.00. $21.60P
1841 Uncirculated with frosty mint surface. Just the very slightest evidence of cabinet friction. Very scarce and in much demand, especially in choice condition. Catalogues at $15.00 but retails for more. $17.25.
1842 VF. Scarce. $9.45.
1843 Proof. The obverse is brilliant with just a tiny pinpoint spot to left of Liberty. The reverse shows slight cabinet friction in field. Very rare in Proof. Record up to $150.00. $127.50.
1843 Uncirculated, frosty mint surface. Very scarce. Catalogues $12.50 but retails for much more. $13.75.
1844 Although Dr. Allenburger purchased this dollar as a Proof, I can only catalogue it as a semi-Proof and I doubt very much if the coin was actually struck as a Proof. It is, however, a handsome coin with brilliant semi-Proof surface. It is a very scarce date dollar in any condition. Catalogues $17.50 in Uncirculated but this specimen is certainly worth more. $20.00.
1845 Proof, but the field on obverse at right of Liberty shows evidence of having been handled with other coins. Slight evidence of cabinet friction on reverse. Not the slightest evidence of wear on the highest portions. Brilliant. Rare and valuable. Record over $150.00 for a brilliant Proof. $147.50.
1846 Perfect date. Uncirculated with mint lustre. Very light tiny nick on right reverse. Catalogues $12.50 in Uncirculated. $15.00.
1846-O First year of issue. Nearly Uncirculated. Very scarce. $26.00.
1847 Uncirculated. The reverse shows slight evidence of cabinet friction. Scarce so choice. Catalogues $12.50. While not as a rare date, these early dollars in choice condition are indeed rare. $15.75.
1848 EF, nearly Uncirculated with considerable mint lustre. Very scarce and in demand. Catalogues $17.50 in Uncirculated. $18.50.
1849 Brilliant light iridescent Proof. Just the very slightest and lightest hairlines on obverse, which are only visible if the coin is held at a certain angle. Very rare in Proof condition. Catalogues at only $75.00, but has an auction record of $152.50. $86.50.
1849 AU with semi-Proof surface. The field shows slight cabinet friction. Very scarce and in much demand. A similar specimen in my Neil sale brought $30.00. $28.50.
1850 Perfect sharp brilliant Proof, partly wire edge. Just as perfect as the moment it dropped from the dies. Extremely rare so choice. Record $150.00. $125.00.
1850-O Practically Uncirculated with mint lustre. Catalogues $17.50 in Uncirculated. $18.00.
1851 Perfect brilliant Proof. Very rare and in much demand. Purchased from S.H. Chapman many years ago where he stated that "no finer specimen than this exists." Record $275.00. A specimen in my Neil Sale brought $262.50. $270.00.
1852 Perfect brilliant Proof. Very rare; far more so than the 1851. Such great collections of silver coins as the Atwater and Neil only had Uncirculated specimens.(QDB note: This is a somewhat illogical comment. Uncirculated 1852 dollars are far rarer than Proofs.) Some little while back I sold a specimen for $275.00. $270.00.
1853 Strictly Fine. Light dent on lower left obverse. Scarce date. $12.25.
1854 Brilliant Proof gem. Sharp and perfect. Raised borders. Very rare in Proof. In my Atwater sale, when this coin catalogued at $60.00, it brought $72.50. It now catalogues at $100.00 and should bring a correspondingly higher price. $115.00.
1854 EF, nearly Uncirculated. Very scarce date. Catalogues $35.00 in Uncirculated. $22.50.
1855 Perfect brilliant Proof gem. Just as perfect and beautiful as the moment it dropped from the die. Record $115.00, made three years ago when this coin catalogued for only $50.00. It now catalogues for $150.00 and should bring a correspondingly higher price. $110.00.
1855 EF, nearly Uncirculated, but lightly nicked on obverse and reverse. Very scarce date. Catalogues at $30.00 in Uncirculated. $22.50.
1856 Brilliant Proof. Very rare in Proof. Catalogues $75.00 and has an auction record for that amount. $75.00.
1857 Perfect brilliant Proof. Record of $50.00 when this coin catalogued for only $40.00. These beautiful Proof coins in this great collection were all purchased in complete Proof sets, just as they came from the mint. They have been in Dr. Allenburger's collection for an average of at least 30 years. $65.00.
1857 Uncirculated with semi-Proof surface; the reverse shows slight cabinet friction. Catalogues $30.00. $28.00.
1858 Perfect brilliant Proof gem. Only about 80 specimens said to have been coined. Catalogues $175.00 and has a much higher auction record. This specimen is as perfect and beautiful as possible to obtain. $182.50.
1859 Perfect brilliant Proof. Scarce. Catalogues $35.00 and readily retails for that amount. It brought $35.00 when this coin catalogued for only $30.00. $35.00.
1859 Duplicate as last. Perfect brilliant Proof $35.00.
1859-O Uncirculated with full mint lustre. Just the slightest evidence of cabinet friction. Scarce so choice. Catalogues $10.00. Record in my last sale, $13.25. $11.15.
1859-S Fine, strictly so. Catalogues $12.50. $12.50.
1860 Perfect brilliant Proof gem. These early dollars in perfect Proof condition are far more rare than is generally recognized. Catalogues $30.00 and certainly worth it. $30.00.
1860-O Brilliant Proof. Very light hairlines and tiny pin-point nick on reverse, hardly noticeable. Proofs were not supposed to have been struck at the branch mints, but I do not know of any other description to give this beautiful coin. Record over $10.00 for an Uncirculated specimen. This one worth much more. $19.25.
1861 Perfect brilliant Proof. Very scarce date. Catalogues $35.00. $32.50.
1861 Uncirculated, full mint lustre. Few tiny nicks on reverse. Catalogues $17.50. $16.25.
1862 Perfect brilliant Proof. Very scarce. Catalogues $25.00. $18.00.
1863 Brilliant Proof. Very scarce. Steadily advancing in value. Catalogues now at $25.00, which is just about double its catalogue price of just three or four years ago. As these Proof coins were struck on order only, we can readily understand the very small number minted, as there were so few collectors in that period. $25.00.
1864 Perfect brilliant Proof. Infinitesimal, hardly noticeable, pinpoint nick on lower left obverse field, not affecting the appearance or value of the coin. Mentioned here only for the sake of accuracy. Catalogues $25.00. Usually retails for more. $22.00.
1865 Without Motto. Last year of this type. Perfect brilliant Proof. Catalogues $25.00 but has a higher auction record. $21.00.
1865 Duplicate as last. Perfect brilliant Proof gem. $18.00. 1865 U.S, silver dollar. The excessively rare variety with motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, on scroll above eagle. Brilliant Proof. Excessively rare. Only about eight specimens minted in all. In point of actual rarity, it is as rare, if not more so, than the 1804 dollar. A similar specimen in my sale of the great Atwater Collection sold for $150.00. $182.50.
1866 With Motto. Perfect brilliant Proof. The Liberty Seated struck in sandblast so it makes the coin a most beautiful specimen. Last record in my sales $26.00. $22.00.
1866 Another just as last and just as perfect a Proof. $20.00;
1867 Perfect brilliant Proof gem. Dr. Allenburger purchased all these beautiful Proof coins from the Chapmans many years ago. They were all purchased in complete sets and haven't changed hands since the date of issue, probably more than two or three times. Very scarce. Last record in my sales, $24.25. It hasn't been so many years ago when these Proof dollars were selling for about $2.50 each. Their rise in value is mainly due to the tremendous number of collectors, as well as the realization of the real scarcity of these beautiful coins. I cannot resist the temptation to state here that the ownership of these beautiful Proofs is not only a gratifying source of possession, but certainly a good investment as well. $20.00.
1867 Duplicate. Another absolutely perfect brilliant Proof gem. $21.40.
1868 Perfect brilliant Proof with wire edge. Sharp. A gem coin. As perfect as the day it was minted. Record $16.00. $17.75.
1869 Perfect brilliant Proof. Wire edge. A gem. This coin brought $8.50 in the Atwater sale at a time when it catalogued for only $10.00. $18.90.
1870 Perfect brilliant Proof. Latest record over $17.00. $19.50.
1870-CC About Fine. Scarce. Catalogues $15.00 in VF $10.00.
1871 Perfect brilliant Proof gem. Wire edge. A similar specimen in my sale of the Neil Collection, last June, brought $21.00. I do not pretend or claim to be a prophet, but I will be badly fooled if these earlier brilliant Proof dollars don't reach, at least, the $25.00 mark, on an average, in the very near future. $13.50.
1871-CC Near Uncirculated with mint lustre. I doubt very much if this coin was ever in circulation. It does show slight evidence of having been handled with other coins. Very rare in any condition. Catalogues $75.00 in VF and $150.00 in Uncirculated. A specimen in Uncirculated condition in my sale of the Roe Collection, when this coin catalogued at $75.00 in Uncirculated, brought $132.50. $60.00.
1872 Perfect brilliant Proof. Record near $20.00. $21.00.
1872-S Nearly Uncirculated with mint lustre, but has two light scratches on right obverse. Catalogues up to $75.00 in Uncirculated. $26.00.
1873 Last year of the Liberty Seated type. Perfect brilliant Proof; wire edge. A gem coin in much demand. It catalogues for only $15.00 but a specimen in my sale of the Neil Collection brought $23.00 and I had 30 bids for it. This is at least a $25.00 or $30.00 coin. $27.50.
1873-CC Practically Uncirculated with mint lustre. A tiny dent on lower edge, hardly noticeable and not affecting the appearance or value of this rarity. The coin shows only the very slightest, if any, evidence of circulation. A similar specimen, but not quite so choice, in my sale of the Neil Collection, brought $126.00. Catalogues $150.00 in Uncirculated. $61.00.