By Arno Safran  from The E-Gobrecht

During the mid to late 1830’s our coinage underwent a number of changes. The first of these began with modifications to the cent in 1835 and again in 1837. In 1836 silver dollar coinage was resumed. It portrayed a Liberty Seated figure with no stars on the obverse. The reverse depicted a soaring eagle in a sea of 26 stars. It was engraved by Christian Gobrecht.

In 1837 the Capped Bust dime and half-dime was replaced by the Liberty Seated no stars type and on the reverse the eagle was supplanted by a wreath. The diameter of the dime was reduced from 18.5 mm to 17.9 mm while the half dime remained the same. In 1838 the Liberty Seated (with 13 stars added) was placed on the quarter and in 1839 it was the half dollar’s turn.

The Gobrecht dollar also underwent further modifications in 1839. Finally, there were no less than five important modifications made to the Coronet type large cent in 1839. These have become popularRed Book varieties among cent enthusiasts.

The reader will observe that among the two sides of the basic 1839 year set shown and directly above there are two different types for the half dollar denomination; the outgoing Capped Bust-Reeded Edge and the new Liberty Seated types thereby continuing the annual parade of transitional date designtype pairings begun in 1837.
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By Len Augsburger from The E-Gobrecht January 2009 Volume 5 Issue 1

An engraving clearly derived from the Great Seal of the United States appears in “The Children in the Wind,” a book published byWarner and Hanna in Baltimore in 1806. The connection to Christian Gobrecht lies in the fact that Gobrecht supplied and signed other engravings in this volume.

This particular engraving is unsigned, but Gobrecht seems a likely candidate. Other engravings on the book are alternately signed “C. Gobrecht”, “C G,” or “Gobright,” suggesting that Gobrecht considered using an Anglicized spelling of his last name.

Still other engravings, as this one, are unsigned. Gobrecht executed other engravings for Warner and Hanna during this period and appears to have had an ongoing relationship with the firm prior to his move to Philadelphia, c. 1815.

The following Article appeared in the August The E-Gobrecht Newsletter, Volume 4, Issue 8

With an minimum opening bid of $500,000, Paul Bosco, a New York dealer with tables at the 2008 ANA Convention, offered the “1873S No Arrows Discovery Coin,” item number 300245146593 with a closing date of August 4, 2008.

He described the coin as such: “I suggest you use your computer’s imaging programs to enlarge the pictures. They are rather convincing. Mintage 5000, but it has always been believed that no specimens are known. The 1873S Dollar –mintage 700– has the same status. In 1873 the weight of silver fractional coins was increased and the silver dollar was suspended, as well as the half dime. In the case of halves, the increase was from 12.44 grams to 12.50. Arrows were placed next to the date, distinguishing coins with the same date (and mint mark) but different weight standard.

It seems that some of the No Arrows coins were melted, not released. The 1873CC Quarter is known in only a few examples. It is difficult to say, whether or not the all examples of very rare 1873 No Arrows coins were assay specimens. At least one quarter is well used. The phrasing in the Red Book implicitly acknowledges the possibility that at least some examples were released to circulation. The notion that all were melted down is not, as far as I know, supported by documentation, but by the circumstantial evidence, i.e. the nonexistence of any examples. Until now.

The 1933 $20 piece was not released and it IS documented that the considerable mintage was entirely melted. However, examples certainly do exist.

This discovery coin — I have no memory of where I got it — shows extensive fire damage, as if it survived the melting pot. However, it could just as easily have been saved by a mint employee, who subsequently — and some would say ironically– had a fire in his home. It is not possible to say if the coin is in fact Uncirculated with “environmental damage”. Also, the weight and specific gravity would notmeaningful, as corrosion and damage products would increase the weight and decrease the density. Of course, no die diagnostics are known for the date/mint/variety.

I will bring the coin to the ANA convention in Baltimore, where I have two tables. As I will be there, I may not be able to respond to questions. Free postage on this lot. I may even pay for your flight to New York to pick it up.”

[Editor’s comments: This coin is not authenticated and John Dannreuther (PCGS Director of Research) and I, Bill Bugert, attempted to see and scrutinize this discovery coin at Paul Bosco’s ANA table. Paul told us the coin was out with his photographer and he didn’t know when he would get it back. It received no eBay bids as of this newsletter’s publication.]