Q. David Bowers
M.H. Bolender's 183rd Sale, February 23, 1952. This is Bolender's own reference collection, primarily consisting of items bought from his own auctions since the 1930s, but with outside purchases as well.
1840 EF $17.50.
1841 Unc., almost full Proof surface, especially on obverse, slight golden tint, some faint scratches in field. $19.50.
1842 practically Unc., with almost full Proof surface on obverse. $17.50.
1843 VF $7.00.
1844 EF. Some lustre. $16.75.
1845 EF, lustre. Toned iridescent color. $14.50.
1846 practically Unc., nicely toned piece. $12.75.
1846-O EF, lustre. $19.25.
1847 Unc., with considerable golden mint lustre. $15.50.
1848 Unc., mint lustre. Rare date, the rarest in the '40s. $21.00.
1849 Unc., slight scratches in field show on upper reverse, visible with a glass. Nice lustre. $16.25.
1850 practically Unc., with some Proof surface. $32.00.
1850-O Nearly Unc, $19.00.
1851 Proof; very slight evidence of handling. $245.00.
1852 Br. Proof. Tiny nick in field near 12th star. $335.00.
1853 Unc. $24.00.
1854 Br. Perfect Proof $110.00.
1855 Br. Perfect Proof $101.00.
1856 Unc., toned golden color. $28.00.
1857 Proof. Just slight evidences of handling with other coins, minute marks in field. Rare. $56.00.
1858 Br. Proof-Only about 80 specimens coined. $176.00.
1859 Br. Proof $33.00.
1859-O Variety with mintmark O distant from stem of olive branch. Br. Unc., full mint lustre. $14.00.
1859-O Variety with O mintmark close to branch. Brill. Unc., mint lustre. $12.50.
1859-S EF, toned piece, with some lustre, nearly Unc, Rare. $24.00.
1860 Br. Proof $26.00.
1860 New Orleans Mint. Unc., mint lustre. $11.00.
1861 Br. Proof. Has become quite rare. $40.00.
1862 Br. Proof $26.00.
1863 Br. Proof $26.00.
1864 Br. Proof $26.00.
1865 Br. Proof $26.00.
1866 Br. Proof $26.25.
1867 Br. Proof $27.50.
1868 Br. Proof $20.00.
1869 Br. Proof $24.00.
1870 Br. Proof $17.00.
1870-CC Unc., with considerable Proof surface. The finest
known. $67.50.
1871 Br. Proof $22.25
1871-CC Unc, Nicely toned piece with lustre. $280.00.
1872 Br. Proof $17.25.
1872-CC Semi-Proof. Just faint marks in field, as evidence of handling with other coins. One of best. $165.00.
1872-S Sharp Unc., nicely toned. $52.00.
1873 Br. Proof $26.00.
The 1952 ANA Convention Sale, August 16-21, 1952, New Netherlands Coin Co. John Jay Ford,Jr., the cataloguer, would use a paragraph where his competitors felt that just one or two words were sufficient. However, Ford's words were telling, and his auction catalogues still make informative and interesting reading today.
1840 About EF. Usual insignificant defects. $12.00.
1840 Almost VF $8.50.
1841 AD. A bright, lustrous coin with only the slightest indications of contact with other coins. $12.00.
1841 VF or better. Traces of lustre. $11.00.
1841 Fine to VF. Several signs of minor mishandling including an obverse edge nick. $6.50.
1841 Restrike. Proof, almost fully brilliant and lightly toned. $210.00. .
1842 EF or better. Well struck and brilliant with considerable mint lustre. Definitely above average, but with a minute obverse edge nick. $10.00.
1842 EF. Nicely toned with a slight nick in the reverse field. $10.00.
1842 VF. Usual minor defects. $6.25.
1842 VF. Slight nick in right obverse field. $6.00.
1842 Strictly Fine $5.00.
1843 Strictly EF. This coin is choice and well struck and shows the usual minor defects. Also, there are two imperfections upon the reverse. One is on the rim and the other upon the head of the eagle. Both appear to be planchet flaws, so commonly found upon these coins. $9.50.
1843. AU. Two serious obverse defects, one near the milling and another on the rim. Both appear to be the result of faulty manufacture. Usual signs of bag handling. $7.75.
1843 VF or better. Lightly toned. $7.50.
1844 About EF. Mostly bright and desirable. $11.50. 1844 About EF. Pleasingly toned. $14.
1844 Almost VF. Slight edge bruise on obverse. $8.00. 1845 VF. The reverse has three edge nicks at the lower edge. $10.50.
1845 Fine to VF. Odd defect on obverse rim which appears to be a planchet flaw. $8.50.
1846 EF or better. This coin has indications of a wire edge and considerable Proof like surfaces. It was undoubtedly struck as a Proof. $12.50.
1846 VF or better. Slightest signs of handling. $9.00.
1846 Strictly Fine. One or two minor edge defects. $5.25.
1846-O Fine to VF. Three or four of the usual minute handling defects. $10.50.
1846-O Fine. Old and light scratch above eagle's head on reverse. $7.00.
1847 EF. Bright and choice with a few infinitesimal imperfections. $12.00.
1847 VF to EF. Usual unimportant defects. Nicely toned. $7.50.
1847 Almost VF. Has light abrasion marks almost always found. $5.50.
1848 About VF. This piece shows numerous signs of contact with other coins. $10.00.
1848 VF. Usual defects including a very small scratch in reverse field. $11.00.
1848 Good to VG. Minor defects. $6.00.
1849 Almost Unc. Lustrous and above average, in spite of a very few unimportant defects. $14.00.
1849 Impaired Proof. Slight rubbing together with other indications of careless handling. Appears to have been cleaned. Considerable mirrorlike surface remains. $21.00.
1849 Strictly EF with some claims to Une. The bright, lustrous surface is somewhat marred by a few small nicks and handling defects. $7.75.
1849 About EF. Has usual unimportant defects and is nicely toned. $7.75.
1850 Unc. with considerable Proof surface. An attractive, iridescently toned coin which shows only the slightest indications of handling. $36.00.
1850 Impaired Proof. Mostly brilliant, plagued with several minute defects including an obverse edge nick and a slight reverse edge bruise. This piece has also been cleaned. $22.00.
1850 EF or better with some Proof surface. Lightly toned with a few infinitesimal defects. $35.00.