Walter Breen
- *B-1. Date about centrally placed, first 1 midway bust and border, second 1 much nearer border (date slopes down). The die used on GOD OUR TRUST patterns. I have seen at least two from this obverse. The coin in the Smithsonian has not been checked for die variety.
Total population possibly about the same as for the half eagle or even less.
Double Eagle. [66] Date about central, from the silver dollar logotype. (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg. (4) Atwater: 1253. (5) WGC: 864, reappearing as "Memorable": 686. One of the last two is presumably Wolfson: 875.
Gold proof sets. [60+] All the gold proofs were delivered April 5; note that this was ten days before the silver and minor proofs were made. Some of these remained unsold along with, probably, the majority of the extra gold proofs of the three lowest denominations, and the unsold coins were sent to the Melter & Refiner in January 1862. Cf. M. A. Brown: 98 (Chapman, 4/97), ex Cleneay, ex Col. Cohen (1875).
Complete proof sets. [60+?] Very few survive. (1) Smithsonian, from Mint Cabinet collection, obtained from Coiner, Sept. 24, 1861 at $43.52 specie (=face + 8¢ proofing charge). (2) Mint to R. C. W. Brock to J. Pierpont Morgan to ANS, 1908. Parmelee's wasbroken up, the $20 going to Woodin, the smaller gold and silver-minor sets to the auctioneers for unnamed customers. It is unlikely that as many as six sets could be assembled today even given unlimited funds.
Total population possibly about the same as for the half eagle or even less.
Double Eagle. [66] Date about central, from the silver dollar logotype. (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg. (4) Atwater: 1253. (5) WGC: 864, reappearing as "Memorable": 686. One of the last two is presumably Wolfson: 875.
Gold proof sets. [60+] All the gold proofs were delivered April 5; note that this was ten days before the silver and minor proofs were made. Some of these remained unsold along with, probably, the majority of the extra gold proofs of the three lowest denominations, and the unsold coins were sent to the Melter & Refiner in January 1862. Cf. M. A. Brown: 98 (Chapman, 4/97), ex Cleneay, ex Col. Cohen (1875).
Complete proof sets. [60+?] Very few survive. (1) Smithsonian, from Mint Cabinet collection, obtained from Coiner, Sept. 24, 1861 at $43.52 specie (=face + 8¢ proofing charge). (2) Mint to R. C. W. Brock to J. Pierpont Morgan to ANS, 1908. Parmelee's wasbroken up, the $20 going to Woodin, the smaller gold and silver-minor sets to the auctioneers for unnamed customers. It is unlikely that as many as six sets could be assembled today even given unlimited funds.
Cent. [550+] Rather light numerals with thin serifs; left base of 1 r. of left edge; rev. spine down from r. pendant of T. Other dies may exist. Same comment as to 1861. More of these survive than of 1860-61, despite the smaller mintages. A hoard is known.
Trime. [550-] Numerals lightly logotyped into die, away from star point, which aims minutely left of 6, microscopic scattered vertical striae below ES. Rev.:
Knobs in upper recesses attenuated. A fairly good number of these survives, though probably not a majority. For the reason for the minus sign, see Silver-Minor Sets, below.
Half Dime. [550-] Amazingly, at least four die varieties. V-2. Date slightly above center of space, shield point minutely left of tip of I, skirt pendant about over knob, small die defect on breast below hair (not always plain); both ends of ribbon clear of wreath. Valentine, ANS, and some others.
- V-3. Date minutely above center, shield point well to left of 1, skirt pendant minutely r. of center above 6, left base of 1 slightly r. of left edge, die defect partly fills upper half of final S in STATES.
Rev.: Right end of ribbon clear. Eliasberg, WGC: 266, Landau and others. Garrett set(?).
- V-4. Date slants so far upward as almost to constitute a blundered die, beginning well below center of space, ending well above center; shield point about over tip of 1, skirt pendant slightly beyond knob of 6. Rev.: Both ends of ribbon touch wreath. This obv. was later reused on uncirculated coins, though these are rare as the die suffered extreme clashing and was promptly discarded. Bullowa, May 1952, and only one other known to date.
-Not in V. Date about centered, shield point and skirt pendant as in V-I, rev. die same as V-2. One formerly in the writer's collection. Compare also the clashed dies coin in NN 51: 561.
Total population probably more than half the original mintage. Why at least four obverse dies were used is unknown, particularly if all these were made on the one day and no restrikes were made.
Dime. [550-] Light date. Many, including that in Lester Merkin auction, April 1966. Many of the survivors have been cleaned. Possibly slightly rarer than the half dime.
- Heavy date. Shield point far to left of I, pendant over inner left curve of 6. "Gilhousen": 394; Garrett set.
Quarter. [550-] Date very slightly above center.
Shield point over left edge of upright, left base of 1 slightly r. of left edge. Same comment as to the dime. Garrett set.
Half Dollar. [550-] Beistle I-A (rarer): Date below center of exergual space; spine from upper left serif of F.
B. 2-A: date above center, shield point minutely left of 8, left base of lover left edge. Hirt: 1224, Garrett set, others. Same comment as to the dime.