6912

1838[PS$1] Name Omitted, Judd-84 Restrike, Pollock-93, R.5, PR63 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1838[PS$1] Name Omitted, Judd-84 Restrike, Pollock-93, R.5, PR63 PCGS.
<B>1838<PS$1> Name Omitted, Judd-84 Restrike, Pollock-93, R.5, PR63 PCGS.</B></I> Die Alignment III (head of Liberty opposite the E in ONE). As far as we know, there are no official mint records that indicate how many 1838 dollars (either originals and restrikes) were ultimately made; however, recent population studies based on the number of 1838 dollars that have been observed in auctions and at major coin shows (compared with similar observations of 1836 dollars), indicates that the total number of 1838s that were eventually struck is probably less than 250 specimens. This is a figure that is smaller than the reported 300 1839 dollars that are officially mentioned as being struck in 1839, and the 1,600 Gobrecht dollars that were made in 1836 and 1837. In addition, research conducted by Mike Carboneau and James Gray (and published in Volume 28 - Issue # 82 of the <I>Gobrecht Journal</B></I>) indicates that, contrary to statements made by Walter Breen, it appears that Judd-84 dollars do not exist in Die Alignment I (a coin configuration that Walter Breen would have defined as an original). Instead, it appears that all 1838 dollars made in 1838 were struck in Die Alignment IV from uncracked reverse dies. In fact, the 1838 dollar that was placed in the U.S. Mint Collection (begun in 1838), and now held in the Smithsonian Institution, is in Die Alignment IV and has no reverse die cracks. In any case, most 1838 dollars seen today are restrikes made in Die Alignment III. The present coin has very faint die cracks through the tops of MERI (in AMERICA), ITE (in UNITED), and AR (in DOLLAR). The coin is well brought up over the central devices on each side but is weakly struck on the peripheral stars, Liberty's foot, and some of the obverse and reverse denticles. The coin is for the most part uniformly toned a blue/gray color with deep, mirror-like fields. However, there is a small region on the reverse that shows a more intense toning area, probably from being placed in an album for several years. Some hairlines are present in the fields but are consistent with the coin's grade.<BR> The existence of microscopic reverse die cracks, and the Die Alignment III orientation, indicate that this coin is a restrike, probably made between one of two possible time periods: (1) 1857 to 1859 (during James Ross Snowden's tenure in office), or (2) from 1867 to 1869 (during Henry Linderman's time as U.S. Mint Director). Estimating times when these coins were struck is difficult since no official records were either taken or none have survived. Nevertheless, the existence of reverse die cracks clearly indicates that this coin was not made in 1838. Also, the fact that this coin exhibits some weakness of strike suggests that it was not officially made under Snowden's (or Linderman's) authority. The coins made under Snowden's request were explicitly made to be traded or sold to collectors at a premium; and therefore, are believed to have been well struck (and high grade) specimens. The weakness in strike on the present coin suggests it was hastily made or was struck from misaligned dies; and therefore, was manufactured outside normal Mint procedures for coins that were intended to be "officially" sold (or traded) to collectors in the late 1850s. At one time, Walter Breen suggested that some of the Gobrecht dollars (including some 1804 dollars) were clandestinely made by so-called "Midnight Minters;" that is, Mint personnel working for personal gain (i.e., without permission of the U.S. Mint Director). Of all of the 1838 dollars that we have examined, this specimen appears to be consistent with a coin made under the Midnight Minting theory proposed by Walter Breen. Certainly an interesting coin with a mysterious history. <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. 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