Q. David Bowers
Lyman H. Low's sale of the R.T. Rose Collection, September 9-10, 1909, offered mostly Proofs, most of which brought lower prices than they would have sold for on the market 20 years earlier. The term "hay-marked" is equivalent to today's "hairlined." Such impairments came from the popular practiceof cleaning Proofs at regular intervals to keep them brilliant. As an unfortunate example, I mention that the silver coins in the Mint Collection were cleaned with polish (much to the dismay of Farran Zerbe, who alerted readers of The Numismatist to this desecration).
1873 Proof, light scratches on obverse. A distinguishing feature of this piece is a well-defined line (in the die) through the outer skirt of Liberty, extending from cotton bale to water. $2.00.
1873 Fine. 1874-S VG. $1.25 (the pair).
1874 Proof. $1.25.
1875 Proof, not quite perfect. $0.80.
1875 Proof. $1.10.
1876 Proof. $1.25.
1876-S, 1877-S, VG. $1.00 (the pair).
1877 Proof. Haymarked and original brilliancy lacking. $1.00.
1878 Proof. Slight tarnish. $1.30.
1878 Proof. $1.00.
1879 Proof. $0.90.
1879 Proof. $1.15.
1880 Proof. $1.15.
1880 Proof. $0.90.
1881 Proof. $1.25.
1881 Proof. $1.25.
1882 Proof. $1.15.
1882 Proof. $1.15.
1883 Proof. $1.30.
1883 Proof. $1.15.
Ben G. Green's sale of the F.J. Loer Collection, May 13,1910, included these trade dollars, of which the 1878 was proclaimed to be the rarest of the Proofs. At the time, the 1878 was puffed by some dealers, and prices tended to be slightly higher for this date.
1873 VF. $0.90.
1874 Proof. $1.10.
1874-S Abraded. VF. $1.45.
1875 Proof. $1.10.
1875-CC Fine. $0.95.
1875-S EF. $1.15.
1876 Proof. Scarce. $1.10.
1876-CC Good. $0.95.
1876-S VG. $0.80.
1877 Proof. $1.50.
1877-CC Nick on edge of reverse. Fine. $1.45.
1877-S EF. $0.75.
1878 Proof. Rarest of all the trade dollars. 900 coined. $1.50.
1878-S Unc., semiproof. $0.85.
1879 Proof, not in full brilliance. Rare. $1.20.
1880 Proof, a little short of brilliant. Rare. $1.20.
1881 Proof. Rare. $1.20.
1882 Proof. Rare. $1.20.
1883 Proof. Rare. $1.30.
B. Max Mehl's sale of the P .H. Griffith Collection, March 20, 1912. An interest in mintmarks is evident in this sale, and a well-worn 1873-CC brought a very healthy $3.40, actually a remarkable price for the era. The 1874-CC turned in a great performance, too, as did the scratched 1877-CC. The 1878-CC must have caused some excitement when it crossed the block. This sale, more than any other quoted to this point here, marks a departure from the ignore-the-mintmarks philosophy of the past, and a new awareness of rarity. Kudos to B. Max Mehl, who was just beginning to feel his oats as a rare coin auctioneer (actually, his "auctions" were mail bid sales).
1873 Proof. $1.50.
1873-CC VG. $3.40.
1873-S Slight nicks on edge. Fine to VF. $1.60.
1874 Br. Proof. $1.60.
1874-CC VG, near Fine. $2.70.
1874-S Large S. EF. $1.00.
1875 Proof. $1.75.
1875-CC Fine to VF. $1.00.
1876 Proof. $1.60.
1876-CC Fine. $1.85.
1877 Proof. $1.60.
1877-CC A small scratch between second and third stars on left. EF. $5.25.
1878 Proof. $2.35.
1878-CC VG, near Fine. $8.40.
1879 Proof. $1.60.
1880 Proof. $1.55.
1881 Proof. $1.45.
1882 Proof. $1.65.
1883 Proof. $1.65.
Henry Chapman's sale of the George H. Earle Collection, June 25-29, 1912. Earle, a wealthy collector and coin trader, assembled a set of trade dollars that included Proofs. However, it seems that he added Proofs to his set only if worn coins were not available. He collected mainly by dates, and his desire for 1873 to 1877 issues was primarilyfilled by buying worn mintmarked coins, most of which were of rag-tag quality. Considering that Earle had many rarities in other series, one must assume that trade dollars were not given much attention in his cabinet.
1874 Unc, Slightly chafed. Mint lustre. $0.90.
1874 VF. Chafed. $0.65.
1875-S VF. Chafed. $0.70.
1876 VF. $0.65.
1876-S VF. $0.65.
1877-S EF. $0.70.
1877 Duplicate [but S mintmark not mentioned]. EF. Chafed. $0.70.
1878 Br. Proof. Hairtnarked. $1.40.
1878-S Unc, Minute nicks. $1.10.
1878-S EF. $0.65.
1879 Br. Proof. $1.45.
1879 Br. Proofs. ,(Total: 2 pieces) $1.15 (each).
1880 Br. Proof. $1.40.
1880 Br. Proofs; (Total: 2 pieces) $1.00 (each).
1881 Br. Proof. $1.30.
1882 Br. Proof. $1.60.
1883 Br. Proof. $1.7.0.
B. Max Mehl's sale of the H.O. Granberg Collection, July 14, 1913,. There were several "Granberg Collections," this one being sold in 1913. Granberg, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a coin trader, wheeler-dealer, and hoarder extraordinaire, and trade dollars were among his favorite series. Here, for the first time in an auction sale, is the joint appearance of the two formidable rarities in the series: the 1884 and 1885. However, the listing is mintmarkless.
1873 VC. $0.65.
1874 Fine. $0.65.
1875 Proof. $1.00.
1876 Proof. $1.00.
1877 Hr. Proof. $1.25.
1878 Proof. $2.40.
1879 Proof. $1.25.
1880 Proof, tarnished. $1.10.
1881 Proof. $1.10.
1882 Proof. $2.00.
1883 Proof, tarnished. $2.00.
1884 Perfect Br. Proof. $765.0.0.
1885 Magnificent Br. Proof. Only five specimens reported to have been coined. $1,140.00.
B. Max Mehl's sale of the Charles H. Conover Collection, May 6, 1914, included a complete run of 1873-1883 Proofs. The highest price was achieved by the 1878.
1873 Proof. $1.25.
1874 Br. Proof. $1.25.
1875 Br. Proof. $1.25.
1876 Br. Proof, partly wire edge. $1.25.
1877 Br. Proof. $1.30.
1878 Br. Proof. $1.80.
1879 Br. Proof. $1.25.
1880Br. Proof. $1.25.
1881Br, Proof. $1.60.
1882 Br. Proof $1.50.
1883 Proof. $1.50.