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

VII. STEREOTYPEY RULES, 1890-1906

After the Act of Sept. 25, 1890, there were no more nickel 3¢, gold dollars or $3 pieces. Designs remained stagnant and stereotyped; this was recognized in 1891, and the Treasury sponsored a public competition to improve coin designs, only to witness Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber (by now in his heyday - St. Gaudens ironically said that he had been there since the foundation of the Mint and would probably remain there until its end!) arbitrarily tossing out every entry. Forced to redesign the coins himself, he merely reversed the Morgan head and made niggling modifications. Variations hereafter are minimal.

Cent. [2740] Usually grayish brown to red, mostly toned - or cleaned.

Five Cents. [2740] Not seen with the intractable dullness of 1888-9. The mint must have found another supplier of nickel blanks. Mostly brilliant orpale gold to blue.

Minor proof sets. [2740] Many survive from mint wrappers, others integrated into silver sets.

Dime. [590] Usually date slants down to right; too often cleaned. Always available for a price; unaccountably neglected by speculators.

Quarter. [590.] Shield point between 18, left base of lover space. Rev. Left stripes thin, no polish in 7th white stripe or bases of next three. Same comments.

Half Dollar. [590] Several minor varieties.

- Beistle I-A. High date slants down, shield point between 18, left base of lover left edge, foot not supported (lapped die). Rev. of 1889, extra outlines on most of legend.

- Not in B. Centered date, shield point almost over 8, left base of lover space. Rev. As preceding. Without or with clash mark below wing at r.

- Not in B. Same obv. Rev. Die of 1891, curves filling white stripes. LM 9/67: 266.
Little difference in rarity among these. Numerous deceptive early business strikes. Less speculator activity on this date than on 1881-88; why?

Silver Dollar. [590] Same remarks as to 1885, speculator activity having become quite intense on this date. VAM 1, closed 9, left base of lover 1. edge.

Silver proof sets. [590] Wayte Raymond had some original sets as late as 1954. Most have since been dispersed on behalf of collectors wanting the quarter, half or dollar. Garrett's brought $2,300.

Quarter Eagle. [93] *B-1. Date slants up, left base of 1 left of center, horizontal striae through MERIC. Garrett:515, $2,500; 1974 ANA: 839, $2,300, etc. The deceptive B-2 business strikes have date further r. and no striae at MERIC.

Half Eagle. [88] *B-1. Date to left, left base of 1 about over left edge; polish at eye. Rev. Only very slight incomplete polish in stripes. Rarer than mintage figure suggests, seldom seen; under great date collector pressure because few survive of the 4,240 business strikes. Garrett: 514 brought $3,700; earlier there were the Dunham coin, Geiss:1758 (same?); Melish:2221 to the book; Gaylord: 357; Merkin 9/67:440; and "Alto":267.

Eagle. [63] Date to r., slanting up; polish at ear) eye and TY; incomplete curls behind neck. Rev. Rather thin stripes. Slightly rarer than the half eagle, though not subject to quite so much date collector pressure as a few more business strikes survive. Garrett's brought $4,750; Ullmer: 501, $6,000; 1976 ANA:3118. Earlier, there were the 1923 Mehl, Ryder, Melish:2126 example, and the Eliasberg, "H. R. Lee", DiBello:1116 coin, and very few others.

Double Eagle. [55] Low date slants up, placed to r.; left base of lover space - almost over left edge; 1 not recut. Rev. Heavy ray below E incomplete; double punching on 3rd star is unusually obvious (traces are on most dates). Possibly as many as 15 survive; subject to intense date collector pressure. (1) SI. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg. (4) Amon Carter Sr. & Jr., possibly same as one of next few. (5) Dunham:2334. (6) Boyd, WGC:892, "Memorable":710? (7) Atwater: 1282. (8) Col. Green, Geiss:2015. (9) Dr. Green: 759. (10) Menjou 1:1829. (11) Baldenhofer:1572, Wolfson:950, PNG 10/65. (12) Gilhousen:945. (13) QS9/73:1304. (14) Ullmer:532, $9,500. (15) Garrett:512, $9,000. (16) 1976 ANA :3266. The above list is believed to include several duplications.

Gold proof sets. Not over 55, possibly under 50. Garrett's, dispersed, $19,950.

Complete proof sets. SI, ex Mint, ex Coiner May 24, $39.41 face; ANS, ex Mint, Brock, Morgan.

1891

Cent. [2350] Toning as in 1890, more often brown.

Five Cents. [2350] Usually brilliant to gray when not cleaned to death.

Minor proof sets. [2350] Same comment as to 1890. Dime. [600] Always available for a price; should be more popular, as final year of the design.

Quarter. [600] Ditto. low date, placed as in 1888.

Half Dollar. [600] Ditto. Two varieties.

- Date level, above center of exergual space.
- Date low, first 1 nearer border than last 1, shield point r. of left edge of 8; comes with both the 1890 reverses.

No rarity difference noted. Too often comes cleaned to death. The business strikes have date about central, slanting minutely down, left base of 1 r. of left edge; double clash marks below wings, different from the 1890 reverse.