Q. David Bowers
B. Max Mehl's sale of the Dr. Charles W. Green Collection, April 16, 1949. During the 1940s, Mehl seemed to have a monopoly on the offering of notable collections, of which the Green cabinet was one of the foremost. The Liberty Seated dollar section of the collection was far from complete and lacked a number of common as well as rare dates. However, the specimens it included were mostly in higher grades.
1843 Good to VG; light nicks. $4.00.
1844 Br. Unc. with obverse nearly equal to a Proof. $18.25.
1850-O Strictly VF $8.40.
1855 Perfect br. Proof $96.00.
1857 Originally purchased as a Proof, but I think it is only an Unc. coin with Proof surface. Light nick on reverse. Stars not struck up. $26.00.
1858 Br. Proof. A tiny die nick at eagle's beak. $140.15.
1859 Perfect br. Proof $41.00.
1859-O Nearly Unc. with mint lustre. Just the very slightest touch of cabinet friction. $10.50.
1860 Perfect br. Proof $29.25.
1860-O Unc. with semi-Proof surface, but shows evidence of having been handled. $12.50.
1861 Perfect br. Proof $41.00.
1862 Perfect br. Proof $23.75.
1863 Br. Proof $21.00.
1864 Perfect br. Proof; sharp wire edge. $26.00.
1865 Perfect br. Proof $70.00.
1865 Br. Proof $18.65.
1867 Perfect br. Proof with wire edge. $18.50.
1868 Perfect br. Proof $15.00. 1869 Perfect br. Proof $15.60.
1870-CC Has seen considerable wear. Can be classed as Good, though the obverse is fairly worn; considerable nicks on edges. $3.00.
1871 Perfect br. Proof $14.00. 1872 Br. Proof $16.50.
1872-S Strictly VF. Only slightest touch of circulation. $18.25.
The Adolphe Menjou Collection sold by Numismatic Gallery, June 15-17, 1950. Here is a complete collection of Liberty Seated dollar dates and mintmarks, including the famous 1870-S.
1840 VF $8.50.
1841 About VF $7.50.
1842 EF $6.50.
1842 EF, with interesting rim die breaks. $6.50.
1843 VF $5.20.
1844 VF $10.25.
1845 VF $8.00.
1846 So-called
1846 over 44. Superb br. Proof with sharp wire edge. $220.00.
1846 VF $6.50.
1846-O VF $12.00.
1847 Fine $4.50.
1848 VF $12.25.
1849 VF $6.75.
1850 About EF, prooflike surface; hairlines. $10.00.
1850-O EF $15.00.
1851 Unc.; purchased as a Proof.' $237.50.
1852 Br. Proof $255.00.
1853 Fine $7.00.
1854 About EF $22.00.
1855 EF, edge dent. $13.00.
1856 VF, plus. $12.50.
1857 VF $11.50.
1858 Superb br. Proof $207.50.
1859 Br. Proof $32.50.
1859-O Unc. $15.10.
1859-S Good $6.25.
1860 EF $7.25.
1860-O Unc. $15.00.
1861 Beautiful br. Proof $41.00.
1862 Br. Proof $28.00.
1863 Br. Proof $26.00.
1864 Br. Proof $25.00.
1865 Superb purple Proof $33.50.
1866 A purple-blue gem Proof $23.00.
1867 Superb steel-blue Proof with a tiny nick. $14.00.
1868 Br. Proof $18.50.
1871 About EF $23.00.
1870 Acquired as a Proof, but Unc. $17.50.
1870-CC Unc. $8.00.
1870-S VF $1,675.00.
1871 About EF $6.50.
1871-CC Someone started to put a hole in reverse; fortunately quit before finishing the job. Otherwise it is Fine-VF $38.50.
1872 Br. Proof $14.00.
1872-CC Fine $27.00.
1872-S VF $20.00.
1873 AU $8.00.
1873-CC About EF $97.50.
B. Max Mehl's Golden Jubilee Sale, Jerome David Kern Collection, May 23, 1950. Mehl, who began in the coin business in 1903, celebrated his 50th anniversary a few years ahead of time in 1950. Mehl was a showman par excellence and a well-liked fellow, and few if any pointed out the chronological discrepancy. Prospective bidders may have had to wear sunglasses to examine such a dazzling array of Proofs! Today, the single gem Proof 1840 would bring multiples of what the entire collection sold for in 1950!
1840 Perfect br. Proof $151.00.
1841 Br. Proof $160.00.
1842 Perfect br. Proof $160.00.
1843 Perfect br. Proof $142.50.
1844 Perfect br. Proof, partly wire edge. $142.50.
1845 Recut 84 in date. Unlisted variety. Perfect br. Proof gem. $142.50.
1846 Recut date or over 1844. Perfect br. Proof Gem. $210.00.
1846 Perfect Date. Proof. Raised borders and partly wire edge. Slight cabinet friction, small dull spot on right obverse. $105.00.
1847 Perfect br. Proof $140.00.
1848 Perfect br. Proof, wire edge. $175.00.
1849 Perfect br. Proof $175.00.
1850 Perfect br. Proof, wire edge. $140.00.
1851 Perfect br. Proof gem. Partly wire edge. $235.00.
1852 Perfect br. Proof $265.00.
1853 Perfect br. Proof $235.00.
1854 Perfect br. Proof. Sharp with wire edge. $115.00.
1855 Perfect br. Proof gem. $105.00.
1856 Perfect br. Proof. Hairline on obverse right field. Sharply struck. $72.50.
1857 Br. Proof. Hairline on right reverse. $75.00.
1858 Perfect br. Proof $210.00.
1859 Perfect br. Proof $36.00.
1860 Perfect br. Proof $27.50.
1861 Perfect br. Proof $42.00.
1862 Perfect br. Proof $23.50.
1863 Perfect br. Proof. Sharp, with partly wire edge. $26.00.
1865 Perfect br. Proof gem. $27.50.
1865 Perfect br. Proof gem. $34.00.
1866 With Motto (no grade listed; probably Proof). $27.50
1867 Perfect br. Proof $26.00.
1868 Perfect br. Proof gem. $21.00.
1859 Perfect br, Proof gem. $21.00.
1870 Perfect br. Proof, wire edge. $21.00.
1871 Perfect br. Proof, rather high wire edge. $23.00.
1872 Perfect br. Proof, wire edge. $20.50.
1873 Perfect br. Proof gem, wire edge. $31.00.