Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1989

Publicly Sold Proof Coins and Sets, 1858-1889
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1860

Cent. [1000+, net 542+] Indian head, oak wreath and shield. Design standard through 1909. The limited number of proofs seen of this rare issue come from the first hub (1859-60) showing pointed truncation, though conceivably proofs may exist made later in the year (the plus mark above), some even from working dies sunk from the second hub (1861-64 no L): rounded end of truncation. The 1860 proof cent is rare though not quite in a class with 1859. Only a few dozen can be traced, and recent sales records of unimpeachable proofs are extremely few, mostly not recent enough to give a fair idea of valuations. Numerous deceptive first strikes are in collections, as with 1859 and some of the other copper-nickel issues. Authenticating purported proofs is a nightmarish task. Comparison with one known to be genuine, such as that in ANS, is the safest procedure. Obverse rim (outside beaded border) is wider on the real proofs than on the 1859's or for that matter the business strikes of this year; its outer and inner edges are sharp. Mere presence of a partial knife-rim or "wire edge" is not sufficient, as ordinary uncirculated pieces have been seen with this feature. Some 514 were sold with the sets, plus at least 28 individually = 542, the rest melted.

Trime. [1000, net 538+] The silver proofs of this year were struck March 8th. Rather heavy date, bases of 18 a little lighter than remaining numerals. Survivors represent only a small minority of the original mintage. Some 538 sold (514 in sets as with
other denominations), the rest melted.

Half Dime. [1000, net 535+] New design: modified Liberty seated figure, legend around it rather than stars. Rev.: Newlin's wreath of cereals enclosing value, this design the only survivor of the abortive 1859 pattern halfdollars. V-3; heavy numerals, placed a little below center of exergual space, but level; shield point well to left of 1, left base of 1 almost over r. edge, pendant about over center of 6. Rev.: right end of ribbon barely clear of wreath. Other varieties may exist. ANS, Eliasberg, Smithsonian, Bullowa, May 1952 and many others. Some 535 sold, the rest melted. Same comment as to trimes but apparently more exist of the half dime than of the trime. For comment on the "transitional" see Restrikes and Fantasy Pieces.

Dime. [1000, net 527+] Design identical to that on half dime. Thin rev. letters. Same comment. Some 527 sold, rest melted. Two obv. hubs:

Type I (1860-61): Almost none of third red stripe from right shows above LIBERTY scroll. The proof die from this hub has centered date, rather heavy, slanting minutely down; shield point well to left of 1, left base of lover left edges, pendant above left center of 6. Other dies may exist.

Type II (1860-91): Considerably more of third red stripe from right shows above scroll. This is rarer.

Quarter. [1000, net 542] New obv. hub: double hair ribbon, fingers more curved around pole, index finger longer; claws shorter. Possibly a little harder to find than the half dime or dime. Low date, shield point overr. edge of upright of 1, left base of 1 r. of center. Some 542 sold, rest melted.

Half Dollar. [1000, net 525] New rev. hub, showing much less of feather tip left of stem; tops of LF distant, whereas on the old hub (which was still in use for S mint coins) tops of LF almost touch. *Beistle I-A. High date, somewhat rounded contours on figures unlike those of 1859; some doubling on most stars. Rev. Traces of doubling on UNITED and HALF DOL.: are these constant? Possibly a little less often seen than the quarter. Some 525 sold of both varieties, rest melted.

1860 Half Dollar

*Low date, normal stars, shield point about over left edge of 8, left base of 1 about over left edge, same reverse. QSll/76:912, others. Which is scarcer?

Silver Dollar. [1330, net 527] Revs. from now on are different working dies from previous years; same hub. *B-1. Horizontal marks in stripes 5, 6, 7. Shield point midway tip and upright, left base of lover r. edge. The extra 330 minted over and above the 1000 for sets, all on March 8, appear to have anticipated extra demand for silver dollars by souvenir hunters not wishing to buy complete sets. This did not materialize. Some 527 sold, the rest melted.

Silver-minor proof sets. [1000, net 514] Minted March 8. Sales records are very incomplete, though R. W. Julian mentions a record of sales from March 1860 through March 1861, dated 1860: 514 sets (cent through dollar), plus 13 extra dollars, 11 extra halves, 18 extra quarters, over 13 extra dimes, over 21 extra half dimes, over 24 extra trimes, over 28 extra cents. Apparently not all the 1000 sets minted were sold as sets - only a few hundred as in later years. Hardly surprising, then, that many of the extant 1860 silver proofs are found only as individual coins - even aside from the common practice of breaking up sets. Extant surviving sets are mostly assembled, though that from Elder 7/5/30 in Phila. Estate may be original. Inasmuch as the dime and half dime represent new designs, a larger number of proofs could have been expected, though no evidence of extra coinage is extant. More likely, a larger number of individual dimes and half dimes went to the public from among the 1000 sets - resulting in a smaller number of sets available for sale, and probably a larger number of unsold cents, trimes, quarters and half dollars melted down in 1861 or 1862.

1860 Gold Dollar

Gold Dollar. [154] B-2, date low in field, far from DOLLAR. Between 20 and 30 survivors are thought to exist, four impounded: (1) SI, (2) ANS, (3) Eliasberg, (4) Phila. Estate ex 1941 ANA:599. This is the earliest date of gold dollar that shows up in proof as often as every year.

Quarter Eagle. [112] *Date slants down to r., 1 slightly nearer bust than border, 0 nearer border than 1 (as on one var. of nonproofs), left base of lover left edge of dentil; rev. central stripes thin, attenuated, especially third and fourth stripes in middle and lower regions. Much rarer than the gold dollar, probably many being melted; several survivors are impaired. (I)SI, ex Mint. (2) ANS. (3) Brand, Ira Reed, Gaskill, NN 48:299 to the book. (4) Newcomer, Boyd, WGC:128, "Memorable" :119. (5) Atwater: 1964, obv. field nick, possibly the coin reappearing in Amon Carter Sr. & Jr. (6) Braud-Lichtenfels 1:1038. (7) Golden 1:2282. (8) Pelletreau:319, cleaned. (9) S 5/68:745, Scanlon:2086, Breen II:74, nick before nose, rubbed spot behind head. The following records are thought to be duplications of some of the above: (10) Ullmer:346, $4,100: (11) "Westchester": 1360; (12) QS 9/73:1055; (13) Wolfson: 182-Jay:231; (14) Melish:1247. The ultimate source of a couple of these: Bell I. Illustrations forbid any more complete tracing of pedigrees. In all between 20 and 30 are thought to survive.

Publicly Sold Proof Coins and Sets, 1858-1889
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