Q. David Bowers
The Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Garrett Collection, March 26-27, 1980, offered a selection of trade dollars, most of which had re-mained in the cabinet since the nineteenth century. Offered at the peak of the investment market that began in the mid-1970s, and containing coins of unusually fine quality, the Garrett Collection realized record prices.
1873 Choice Proof. Just the merest whisper of light striking on the eagle's left (to observer's right) knee. Toned a multitude of iridescent hues on obverse and reverse, primarily light brown, gold, blue and magenta. $20,000.00.
1873-S Br. Unc., MS-60. Full original mint frost just beginning to tone light mottled gray andgold. With a minimum of bagmarks, which is very unusual for this large and heavy issue. $8,000.00.
1874 Proof. Removed from the choice category only by the faintest friction. Some light areas of striking, as made on the eagle's left (to observer's right) foot and on the corresponding part of the obverse. Beautifully toned a light iridescent gold, magenta, and blue. $13,000.00.
1876 Proof. A far above average example of this centennial year coin, but with some light lines visible. The obverse is toned a multitude of colors ranging from light gold, magenta, and brown through gunmetal-blue and gold. The reverse is primarily lilac at the center and blue at the border. $13,000.00.
1877 Choice Proof. Separated from perfection by just a few trivial marks. The present example is toned on the obverse a mottled smoky brown mingled with hues of gold and magenta. The reverse is primarily lilac at the center blending to iridescent blue at the border. Breathtakingly beautiful. $15,000.00.
1878-CC AU-50, primarily toned light gray with hints of iridescence around the obverse. $5,500.00.
1878-S Choice Br. Unc., MS-67. The nicest 1878-S trade dollar we have ever seen. Virtually bereft of surface marks; full brilliance and lustre. $40,000.00.
The John M. Willem Collection sold by Henry Christensen, Inc., September 5, 1980. The following listing comprises the reference collection of "the father of the trade dollar." By this time, the business of the late Henry Christensen was conducted by his son William.
1873 Brilliant Proof, with a partial wire edge. 865 Proofs struck in this year. $2,500.00.
1873 Fully prooflike Unc.-65: Many would call this a Proof. Mr. Willem regarded it as one of the finest business strike trade dollars known of any date or mint. $1,650.00.
1873 The reverse variety with broken serifs on the E of STATES and the F of OF. Nice EF. $300.00.
1873 VG with many Oriental chopmarks, $425.00.
1873 AU, the reverse has been planed off and engraved as an elaborate pocket piece. Ex Abner Kreisberg, January 1964. Obviously, unique. $250.00.
1873-CC Prooflike AU-Unc. with many light hairlines and a relatively flat head. Very scarce without chopmarks, The lowest mintage legal tender trade dollar, second lowest mintage of any business strike. $250.00.
1873-CC VF-EF with two Oriental chop marks. Scarce. $135.00.
1873-S Unc.-60 with a few light bagmarks. Very scarce without chopmarks, $275.00.
1873-S Choice AU-Unc. with one chopmark on the eagle.
The only "circulation" this piece saw was from bank to bank. $160.00.
1874 A nice Proof with light toning. Rev. shows the diagnostic peripheral die crack. Some hairlines. 700 Proofs struck. $750.00.
1874 Unc.-60, fully Prooflike, but an early flat strikebefore
the dies were properly adjusted. $250.00.
1874 Unc.-65. $500.00.
1874 EF-AU with two neat incuse chopmarks. $125.00.
1874 Toned EF with two chopmarks, one a rare mark in relief. $110.00.
1874-CC Nice frosty Unc. Micro CC mintmark. $800.00.
1874-CC Nice AU-Unc. with hairlines. Large CC mintmark. $375.00.
1874-CC VF-EF with two chopmarks, one a rare mark in relief. $145.00.
1874-CC About VF with several incuse chopmarks. $110.00.
1874-S Unc.-63, head a bit flat, but a nice coin. Micro S mintmark. Scarce in this condition. $700.00.
1874-S Micro S mintmark. Nice EF/ AU, one small obverse chopmark, $200.00.
1874-S Large S mintmark. EF-AU with one obverse chopmark. This is the Willem plate coin. $100.00.
1875 Type I reverse with berry in claw. A lovely Proof with bronze toning around the edges. 700 Proofs of both types struck. The Type I is very rare. $5,000.00.
1875 Type II reverse without berry in claw. A splendid Proof. $4,500.00. '
1875 Type II reverse without berry in claw. A nice Proof, but on the reverse there is a small graffiti W above the denomination. Bearing this initial, this was Mr. Willem's lucky piece. $1,500.00.
1875 Type I reverse. Brilliant AU Unc. with a few field flaws. Type I is rare in any condition for this ,coin. It took Mr. Willem many years to find this piece. $900.00.
1875 Type II reverse. Nice Frosty Unc. A rare date in rare condition. $8,200.00.
1875 Type II reverse. The variety with a reverse peripheral die crack. Choice frosty Unc. with a tiny and inoffensive edge ding. Rare. $7,350.00.
1875 Type II reverse. Nice EF with a single obverse chopmark. Scarce. $235.00:
Note: On the 1875 branch mint issues, the Type I reverse is more common than the Type II-the opposite of Philadelphia. This indicates that the new dies reached Carson City and San Francisco late in the year.
1875-CC Type I reverse. Large CC mintmark. Unc. with some bagmarks. $725.00.
1875-CC Type II reverse. Large CC mintmark. Unc., heads a bit flat. Rare. $750.00.
1875-CC Type I reverse. Large CC mintmark. VF with two chopmarks, one in relief. $110.00.
1875-CC Type II reverse. Large CC mintmark. EF with four reverse chopmarks. Rare. $225.00.
1875-S/CC Type I reverse, as all of this over-initial variety appear to be. Frosty AU-Unc. with some obverse bagmarks. One of the finest known specimens and still one of the nicest. $900.00.
1875-S/CC Type I reverse. VF-EF with one obverse chopmark. This over-initial variety is very rare with chopmarks. $350.00.
1875-S Type I reverse. Unc., hair a trifle flat. $600.00.
1875-S Type I reverse. Brilliant EF-AU with a single chopmark on each side. Rather prooflike. $35.00.
1875-S Type II reverse-Rare. Nice EF with two chops, one in relief. $165.00.
1875-S A charming error piece where the coin was struck, rotated 900 then struck again, giving the impression of stars all around the obverse. Type I reverse. VF, several chopmarks. Ex Tom McAfee, 1969 at (250.00). $420.00.
Note: For 1876, the Type I reverses of all mints are rare. 1876 Type I reverse. A lightly toned Proof with a few hairlines in the field. This reverse die has the broken topped E's and F's. Very rare. 1,150 Proofs of both types struck, but most were Type II. $5,000.00.