Q. David Bowers
Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Austin Collection, May 31 and June 1, 1974. This sale is memorable for the quality of the coins offered. Among Liberty Seated dollars are to be found numerous major business strike rarities. Certainly, such items as the 1844, 1845 (especially), 1848, 1849, two 1850s, 1851 original, 1859-S, and 1872-CC-and the list could be expanded-would be centerpieces in any collection. Original catalogue descriptions of these and other coins tended to be expansive and to devote space to rarity, availability, etc. As mentioned in Style Notes in the front of this book, most catalogue descriptions published after about 1960 have been edited and condensed to reflect the date, variety, and grade; otherwise, listings such as the Austin, Fairfield, Carter, et al. collections would occupy many pages in the present text.
1840 Br. Proof. Cleaned long ago. First year of Liberty design. $2,300.00.
1841 Br. Unc., prooflike. $800.00. 1841 Unc. $600.00.
1842 Choice Br. Unc., prooflike. $550.00.
1842 Br. Unc., some bagmarks. $400.00.
1843 Br. Unc., prooflike. Some usual bagmarks. $450.00.
1844 Proof $1,409.00.
1844 Unc. Some usual light bagmarks. $675.00.
1845 Br. Unc. $725.00.
1846 Choice BU. $675.00.
1846-O BU, minor hairlines. $925.00.
1847 Choice Unc. $525.00.
1848 BU, prooflike. Normal handling marks and a minor edge dent. $625.00.
1849 BU, prooflike. $650.00. 1849 Choice Br. Unc., $800.00.
1850 Unc. Usual light bagmarks visible with glass. $675.00.
1850 Br. Unc. $850.00.
1851 Original silver dollar. Prooflike gem Br. Unc. Date high in field and close to base of Liberty. $11,000.00.
1852 Gem Br. Proof $5,250.00.
1853 Choice Br. Unc. $775.00.
1854 Choice Br. Proof $3,100.00.
1856 Choice Br. Proof $1,650.00.
1857 Choice Br. Unc., prooflike. $700.00.
1858 Beautiful Proof, brilliant surfaces with light iridescent toning. $2,500.00.
1859 Choice Br. Unc. $625.00.
1859-O Choice Br. Unc. Some minor surface marks, but far above average. $700.
1859-S BU, prooflike. $1,100.00.
1860 Gem prooflike Unc. An unusual coin; lacks certain characteristics of an 1860 Proof-not all of the stars are fully struck up and there are almost no subliminal traces of mint lustre. $925.00.
1860 Choice BD. $600.00.
1860-O BD. Bagmarks in fields. $600.00.
1861 Choice BD. $700.00.
1862 Choice BD. $800.00.
1862 BU, rubbing and bagmarks. $325.00.
1863 BU. $575.00.
1864 Proof, mishandled. $375.00.
1864 Proof. Spent a few years in circulation. $210.00.
1864 Proof. Some hairlines and a few marks. $550.00.
1865 BU. Last year without motto. Flawless surfaces but slightly weak strike. $450.00.
1866 Impaired Proof $350.00.
1867 Unc. $675.00.
1868 AU $225.00.
1869 Choice Br. Unc. $750.00.
1870 Proof. Minor hairlines. $750.00.
1870 Impaired Proof. Minor handling marks. $375.00.
1870-CC BU, some rubbing, prooflike surfaces. $900.00.
1871 Gem Unc. $700.00.
1871 Choice Unc. $650.00.
1871 Br. Proof, with handling marks in field. $400.00.
1872 BU, prooflike obverse with handling marks. Reverse fully frosty. $150.00.
1872 Fine $100.00.
1872-CC Gem BD. Finest known specimen. $6,000.00.
1872-CC BU, some usual bagmarks, tiny lintmark. $2,000.00.
1872-CC EF-AU $600.00.
1872-S BD. $900.00.
1873 Gem Unc. $730.00.
Superior Stamp & Coin Company's ANA Convention Sale, August 19-23, 1975, offered a wide variety of Liberty Seated dollars, including some rare Mint State issues. Particularly notable are two original 1851s (plus a restrike). The presentation of four different specimens of the rare 1852 is likewise memorable, as is an 1873-CC of remarkable grade. Further, this is one of the relatively few sales in numismatic history to include a specimen of the rare 1870-S silver dollar.
1840 MS-60. Choice, but has very light obverse bagmarks, heavier on the reverse above the eagle. $1,000.00.
1840 AU-55, with iridescent toning, A few reverse edge nicks. $400.00.
1841 MS-60 to 65. Iridescently toned, sharply struck with the surfaces prooflike. A few minute rim handling marks on both sides. $1,200.00.
1841 AU-50. Toned with some prooflike surfaces. Minor bag and handling marks. $250.00.
1842 MS-60. Three unusual rim breaks on the obverse. $550.00.
1843 AU-55, with rainbow toning and lovely surfaces. Some light bagmarks and quite attractive. $470.00.
1844 MS-60. Light toning with some minor bagmarks. $825.00.
1845 MS-60. Prooflike surfaces and some minor hairlines. $560.00.
1846 MS-60. Reverse die crack through legend. Choice with light toning. $610.00.
1846 AU-55, iridescent blue toning, and with fully prooflike surfaces. Bag marked and has some reverse handling marks above the eagle. Well struck and more attractive than our description might indicate. $310.00.
1846 AU-50. Brilliant with too many bagmarks on both sides to warrant a higher grade. Some light marks on the rims on both sides. $235.00.
1846-O AU-50. Dull toning and tarnished. $510.00.
1847 MS-60, but there arc some light handling marks on the surfaces. $400.00.
1848 MS-60, but cleaned and now starting to tone down.
Some light streaks in the planchet as made. Partial reflective surfaces. $500.00.
1849 AU-55. Lightly toned, well bagmarked, but with full prooflike surfaces. Several light rim nicks on the reverse. $240.00.
1860 AU-55 and iridescent. A drill mark in the horizontal stripes of shield on the reverse. $450.00.
1850 AU-50, light toning and full prooflike surfaces; but hairlined and bagmarked or abraded as usual. $340.00.
1850 EF-45, light golden toning, bagmarked, but with prooflike surfaces. $270.00.
1850 EF45. Brilliant with considerable prooflike surfaces on both sides. Numerous light handling marks in the fields. $270.00.
1850-O MS-60 to 65. Beautiful iridescent toning, well struck and choice. $2,400.00.
1851 Original. MS-60. Boldly struck everywhere except on the very top edge of the left wing; partly prooflike; struck from repolished dies with nearly complete knife-rim on both sides. Traces of old cleaning; few very light signs of contact with other coins. $4,100.00.