Q. David Bowers
The May 1976 issue of The Numismatist contained an advertisement from Joel D. Coen, Inc., New York City, offering Morgan dollars as follows.
1878 8 TF. Choice Unc. $30.00.
18787/8 TF. Choice Unc. $45.00.
1878-CC Choice Unc. $35.00.
1878-S Choice Unc. $25.00.
1879 Choice Unc. $19.00.
1879-CC Choice Unc. $825.00.
1879-O Choice Unc. $18.00.
1879-S Choice Unc. $24.00.
1880 Choice Unc. $16.00.
1880-CC Choice Unc. $80.00.
1880-O Choice Unc. $35.00.
1880-S Choice Unc. $12.00.
1881 Choice Unc. $15.00.
1881-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1881-S Choice Unc. $11.00.
1882 Choice Unc. $13.00.
1882-CC Choice Unc.$30.00.
1882-O Choice Unc., $11.00.
1882-S Choice Unto $11.00.
1883 Choice Unc. $13.00.
1883-CC Choice Unc. $30.00.
1883-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1883-S Choice Unc. $375.00.
1884 Choice Unc. $12.00.
1884-CC Choice Unc.$30.00.
1884-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1885 Choice Unc. $11.00 .:
1885-CC Gem Unc. $125.00.
1885-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1885-S Choice Unc. $50.00.
1886 Choice Unc, $11.00.
1886-O Choice Unc. $175.00.
1886-8 Choice Unc. $150.00.
1887 Choice Unc. $11.00.
1887-O Choice Unc. $20.00.
1887-S Choice Unc. $44.00.
1888 Choice Unc. $11.00.
1888-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1888-S Choice Unc. $145.00.
1889 Choice Unc. $11.00.
1889-O Choice Unc. $42.00.
1889-S Choice Unc. $85.00.
1890 Choice Unc. $12.00.
1890-CC Choice Unc. $80.00.
1890-O Choice Unc. $35.00.
1890-S Choice Unc. $30.00.
1891 Choice Unc. $31.00.
1891-CC Choice Unc. $60.00.
1891-O Choice Unc. $45.00.
1891-S Choice Unc. $33.00.
1892 Choice Unc. $85.00.
1892-CC Choice Unc. $250.00.
1892-O Choice Unc. $135.00.
1893 Choice Unc. $220.00.
1893-CC Choice Unc, $900.00
1893-O Choice Unc. $1,000.00.
1894 Choice Unc, $700.00.
1894-O Choice Unc. $450.00.
1894-S Choice Unc. $275.00.
1895-O Choice Unc. $2,200.00.
1895-S Choice Unc. $2,000.00.
1896 Choice Unc, $12.00.
1896-O Choice Unc, $275.00.
1896-S Choice Unc. $550.00.
1897 Choice Unc. $16.00.
1897-O Choice Unc. $300.00.
1897-S Choice Unc. $65.00.
1898 Choice Unc. $13.00.
1898-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1898-S Choice Unc. $175.00.
1899 Choice Unc. $50.00.
1899-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1900 Choice Unc. $11.00.
1900-O Choice Unc, $11.00.
1901 Choice Unc. $1,250.00.
1901-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1901-S Choice Unc. $145.00.
1902 Choice Unc. $31.00.
1902-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1902-S Choice Unc. $275.00.
1903 Choice Unc. $18.00.
1903-O Choice Unc. $65.00.
1904 Choice Unc. $60.00.
1904-O Choice Unc. $11.00.
1904-S Choice Unc. $575.00.
1921 Choice Unc, $11.00.
1921-D Choice Unc. $43.00.
1921-S Choice Unc. $38.00.
The June 1976 issue of The Numismatist carried an advertisement by the Joel Rettew Rare Coin Galleries, Inc., Santa Ana, California, with this message:
REDFIELD DOLLARS: Each coin in this ad is from the estate of LaVere Redfield. All coins are in holders stating this fact. We have many of these dates available by the roll (20 coins). The astute dollar specialist should take advantage of this opportunity to purchase these rare dollars of the highest quality in seldom-encountered quantities. As always, all of these coins are personally graded by Joel Rettew.
Coins were offered in Choice BU grade, Gem BU grade, and also by the roll of mixed Choice and Gem coins, as listed below. The coins, primarily San Francisco Mint issues, had been acquired by Reno, Nevada recluse, LaVere Redfield, an active investor in silver dollars for the preceding 20 years. After his death, his coins, amounting to between 400,000 and 500,000 pieces, were sold en bloc in an auction conducted by the probate court, to A-Mark, a California dealership under the direction of Steve Markoff.
Joel Rettew told me that one of the most successful sales ideas he ever had was implemented in the early 1970s, when he advertised small groups of Uncirculated silver dollars for sale in The Los Angeles Times. He sent albums with each order, and included a printed list of other silver dollar dates for sale. Numerous of his buyers took advantage of the opportunity to add to their initial group, and in the process many new collectors were created.
1878-S Gem BU $16.50, roll $295.00.
1886-S Choice BU $135.00, Gem BV $145.00, roll $2,750.00.
1887-S Choice BU $49.50, Gem BU $54.50, roll $995.00.
1888-S Choice BU $149.50, Gem BU $159.50, roll $2,850.00.
1889-S Choice BU $82.50, Gem BU $89.50, roll $1,750.00.
1890-S Choice BU $32.50, Gem BU $35.00, roll $645.00.
1891-CC Choice BU $65.00, Gem BU $72.50, roll $1,350.00.
1891-S Choice BU $37.50, Gem BU $42.50, roll $785.00.
1892 Choice BU $82.50, Gem BU $89.50, roll $1,650.00.
1893-CC Gem BU $995.00.
1896 Gem BU $12.50, roll $195.00.
1896-S Choice BU $595.00, Gem BU $695.00.
1897 Gem BU $16.50, roll $275.00.
1897-S Choice BU $47.50, Gem BU $52.50, roll $950.00.
1898 Gem BU $14.50, roll $225.00.
1898-S Choice BU $145.00, Gem BU $155.00, roll $2,950.00.
1899-S Choice BU $225.00, Gem BU $235.00, roll $4,500.00.
1902-S Choice BU $275.00, Gem BU $295.00, roll $5,750.00.