1
153
bid online at
(800) 978-COIN (2646)
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Session Three - Monday, June 2, 2014 10:00 AM
Sea t ed Li be r t y Do l l a r s
R
ARE
P
ROOF
1840 L
IBERTY
S
EATED
D
OLLAR
918
1840
.
PCGS graded Proof 62 PQ.
CAC Approved
. Nice even purple and blue toning. Only 15 minted. This boldly defined Select Proof 62
exhibits dusky mirrored fields beneath well-developed toning, and sharp clear devices, which had the coin been brilliant and untoned may
qualify it for a Cameo designation. All stars sharply struck. Liberty's hair razor-detailed as well (some specimens in Proof show soft strike on
the hair). Liberty and the shield keen-edged as well, with a broad square rim. On the reverse, full feathers and talon details. Very rare.
Silver dollars dated 1840 have always been in strong demand by collectors as the first year of the design type. Most dollars of this era have
bold, broad rims, making them very attractive but, at the same time, susceptible to bruises.
According to the Bowers silver dollar encyclopedia, perhaps the odd mintage figure of 61,005 represents 61,000 business strikes plus five
Proof or presentation coins, but this is unknown. However, more than five Proofs were eventually struck. The number of Proof dollars struck
was nowhere recorded (nor were Proof mintages recorded for most other dates of the next two decades), but if one had to make an educated
guess based upon Census figures and earlier auction records, perhaps on the order of 20 to 40 coins. Slightly more of this date were struck
than of 1841 or 1842, both of which seem rarer today.
“Conventional wisdom, as published by Walter H. Breen, suggests that restrikes were made of certain Proof dollars bearing the 1840 dates,
and of other dollars in the 1840s, but I have seen no evidence of this in my own studies. For purposes of the present book, I take the stand
that all Proof dollars 1840-1850 are originals, struck in or about the dates indicated on the coins. I believe that a Proof reverse die was kept
on hand and used each year during this period, in the same manner that the large-berries half cent reverse die was used annually to coin half
cents during the same period. For a different view, see Walter H. Breen's Proof coin Encyclopedia.”
Proof Seated Liberty dollars of this date were issued in sets (containing all denominations from the half cent to the silver dollar) as well as,
apparently, individually.
Pop 2; 11 finer, 8 in 63, 2 in 64, 1 in 65
. (
PCGS # 6981
)
Estimated Value ........................................................................................................................................................... $18,000 - 19,000
M
INT
S
TATE
1843 L
IBERTY
S
EATED
D
OLLAR
919
1843
.
PCGS graded MS-63
. Lovely blue and golden ton-
ing. A few light marks on Liberty, the obverse with lovely
original smoky gray and russet toning, the reverse featuring
light to medium dappled gray patina. At the same time that
the luster blossoms, substantial detail reveals itself on the
highpoints of this early No Motto Seated Dollar where some
but not all stars show their radial lines, Liberty hair, drapery
and shield are well defined, and the eagle is displaying full
plumage, including the important neck feathers, wings, legs
and claws. These are sometime problematic areas, but not
the case here, everything is very sharp.
Pop 15; 5 finer in
64
. (
PCGS # 6929
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $6,500 - 7,000
