Throughout the 1860s and 1870s numismatics and coin collecting grew into a popular hobby for many people of means, and Washington pieces ascended to be one of the most popular areas in the American numismatic community. Tokens, medals, and other pieces bearing the portrait of Washington, some made in England and France and America, were avidly sought. A Description of the Medals of Washington, by James Ross Snowden, director of the mint, was published in 1861 and described the Mint Collection. In 1885 the monumental work, The Medallic Portraits of Washington, by W. S. Baker, was published in Philadelphia. In 1985, this volume was completely updated and revised by Russell Rulau and Dr. George Fuld.

From the mid-19th century to the present, Washington pieces have formed an important specialty in American Numismatics. Indeed, no major reference book is complete without mention of them, and no collection can be called comprehensive without containing examples of Washington coins and medals.

Thenicely detailed example shown here is going to be offered for sale by Heritage as par of their Long Beach Auction next month. It has smooth chestnut-brown surfaces that are free of porosity or corrosion. However, several scratches and scrapes occur on each side, including a number of rim imperfections. At the same time, it is more desirable than the Garrett-Roper coin that is well worn, or the Robison example that is holed and plugged. The finest known is the Norweb coin (Stack’s, 11/2006), that sold for $253,000.

The prior provenance is unknown, but it is from an old-time numismatic holding and has been off the market for decades, and is a new specimen to the current numismatic generation. Despite its obvious imperfections, the present specimen of the Hancock Washington pattern is extremely important and highly desirable.
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Kern-Carter 1880 Coiled Hair Stella leads July 31-Aug.2 event with $546,250

An 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, Judd-1660, Pollock-1860, Low R.7, PR62 NGC – a gorgeous example of the timeless design of George Morgan – realized $546,250 at Heritage Auction Galleries’ July 31-Aug.2 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, leading the almost $25 million event. All prices include 15% Buyer’s Premium.

“We’re certainly pleased with the outcome of this auction,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. “Our three day event was a blockbuster. It brought in more than the top grossing movie of the weekend, which earned a little more than $22 million total. If you factor in that we did it with almost 4,000 bidders, and sold more than 90% of all lots, the figure is even more impressive.”

In past auctions Heritage has only been able to account for eight different examples of the 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, but the firm has recently established that the Dallas Bank Collection example makes a ninth distinct survivor. It was believed for many years that just 10 pieces were struck, but it is more likely that 20 pieces were originally coined, which all goes to show that, like the 1879 Coiled Hair and 1880 Flowing Hair coins, the 1880 Coiled Hair is a major rarity from an extremely small mintage.

“The more than half million dollar price tag attests not only to the rarity of this great coin,” said Rohan. “It also speaks to the undiminished popularity and lasting beauty of Morgan’s artistry.”
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(1855-57) Kellogg & Humbert 43-Ounce Gold Ingot. Recovered From the S.S. Central America. 97 mm x 42 mm x 17 mm. CAGB-534. From the obverse or top and reading downward in vertical orientation, NO (number abbreviation in typical style) 701 followed by the rectangular, bordered incuse imprint of KELLOGG / & / HUMBERT / ASSAYERS. Below are 43.39 OZ / .911 FINE / $817.12. After a medallic turn, the serial number 701 is repeated on the back.

Q. David Bowers, in Appendix IV of the enormous A California Gold Rush History, enumerates all of the ingots recovered from the S.S. Central America, both by assayer and serial number as marked on the ingots, and by assayer and weight. The assayers represented include:

–Blake & Co. Opened in 1855, based in Sacramento, California. Only 34 ingots from this company were recovered. The company’s ingots have beveled edges and may have seen limited circulation in California.

–Harris, Marchand & Co. Operated two offices, one in Sacramento (founded 1855) and a second in Marysville, California (opened in 1856). All of their bars have a circular coin-shaped counterstamp on the front. One unique bar is known from the Marysville office. Total bars recovered: 37.

–Henry Hentsch. Hentsch, a native of Switzerland with many business connections, opened his assay office in February 1856 next door to his bank. The Guide Book speculates that many of his ingots were likely exported to Europe. Ingots recovered: 33.

–Justh & Hunter. Opened San Francisco assay office in 1855 and Marysville office in 1856, remaining in business through 1858. Ingots recovered: 86 (60 in the 4,000 series ascribed to San Francisco; 26 in the 9,000 series attributed to Marysville).

–Kellogg & Humbert The most well-known names in the coinage of California gold coins–and ingots, after the S.S. Central America recovery. That they escaped the scandals exposed by James King of William for underweight coinage gave their products currency and credibility, and as expected, their ingots constituted the majority found aboard the ship. Ingots recovered: 346, ranging in gross weight from less than 6 ounces to 934 ounces. (more…)