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CSNS Signature US Coin Sale 1254 26-28 Apr 2017
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1884 T$1 Trade Dollar, Judd-1732, Pollock-1943, R.8, PR60 PCGS. Judd Plate Coin (9th and 10th editions). The standard Trade dollar design of 1884, struck in copper with a reeded edge and later silver plated. In addition to the 10 known proof 1884 Trade dollars struck in silver, two examples are known in copper, and both have been silver plated. Both examples were initially presented to A.M. Smith (1841-1915), the 19th century numismatic scholar and author who penned a history of the Philadelphia Mint, and an illustrated encyclopedia of world gold and silver coins. The Smith collection included a unique 1884 proof set (quarter through double eagle) struck in copper. Smith's widow consigned his collection to M.H. Bolender who dispersed the coins in the mid-1930s.
Lot 245 in Bolender's sale of October 1935 was described as:
"1884 Trade Dollar. Regular dies, but struck in copper. Not in Adams-Woodin. Uncirculated. Excessively rare."
Lots 25 to 34 in Bolender's February 1936 sale consisted of the 1884 copper proof set, offered as individual lots. The Trade dollar was lot 25. Bolender noted that A.M. Smith received the coins from the superintendent of the Mint in 1884.
Neither coin was described as silver-plated at the time, so that work was accomplished more recently. It is uncertain which Bolender offering is connected to each of the following, the pedigrees adopted from USPatterns.com.
1. Silver-plated at an unknown date between 1936 and 1954. Anderson Dupont Sale (Stack's, 11/1954), lot 2652, offered as "The Excessively Rare 1884 Trade Dollar;" Emmons Collection; Stack's (9/1969), lot 813, offered as an 1884 Trade dollar in silver; Delp Collection; Stack's (11/1972), lot 761, again offered as a silver 1884 Trade dollar; donated in 1979 to the Smithsonian Institute.
2. Silver-plated at an unknown date between 1936 and 1975. ANA Sale (Superior, 8/1975), lot 1218, offered as an 1884 Trade dollar in silver; Bowers and Ruddy (Rare Coin Review, Number 25-29), offered as "copper but lightly silvered;" Great '80 Sale (Robert L. Hughes, 7/1980), lot 155, offered as "copper and gilted to look silver;" Dr. E.J. Linkner; American Numismatic Rarities (1/2004), lot 98, offered as "silver plated copper." The present specimen.
There has been some confusion regarding the pedigree of the two known examples. The PCGS holder notes that this piece is "Ex. Anderson DuPont," which is incorrect. Lustrous light gray surfaces exhibit delicate gold toning that gathers near the periphery on each side. Faint hairlines are evident, with a small area of roughness beneath the wheat sheaf, right of the date. Slightly soft on Liberty's head, with all other details sharp. An outstanding example that cannot be duplicated as the only other known piece is permanently housed in the Smithsonian Institution.
HID02901242017
1884 T$1 Trade Dollar, Judd-1732, Pollock-1943, R.8, PR60 PCGS. Judd Plate Coin (9th and 10th editions). The standard Trade dollar design of 1884, struck in copper with a reeded edge and later silver plated. In addition to the 10 known proof 1884 Trade dollars struck in silver, two examples are known in copper, and both have been silver plated. Both examples were initially presented to A.M. Smith (1841-1915), the 19th century numismatic scholar and author who penned a history of the Philadelphia Mint, and an illustrated encyclopedia of world gold and silver coins. The Smith collection included a unique 1884 proof set (quarter through double eagle) struck in copper. Smith's widow consigned his collection to M.H. Bolender who dispersed the coins in the mid-1930s.
Lot 245 in Bolender's sale of October 1935 was described as:
"1884 Trade Dollar. Regular dies, but struck in copper. Not in Adams-Woodin. Uncirculated. Excessively rare."
Lots 25 to 34 in Bolender's February 1936 sale consisted of the 1884 copper proof set, offered as individual lots. The Trade dollar was lot 25. Bolender noted that A.M. Smith received the coins from the superintendent of the Mint in 1884.
Neither coin was described as silver-plated at the time, so that work was accomplished more recently. It is uncertain which Bolender offering is connected to each of the following, the pedigrees adopted from USPatterns.com.
1. Silver-plated at an unknown date between 1936 and 1954. Anderson Dupont Sale (Stack's, 11/1954), lot 2652, offered as "The Excessively Rare 1884 Trade Dollar;" Emmons Collection; Stack's (9/1969), lot 813, offered as an 1884 Trade dollar in silver; Delp Collection; Stack's (11/1972), lot 761, again offered as a silver 1884 Trade dollar; donated in 1979 to the Smithsonian Institute.
2. Silver-plated at an unknown date between 1936 and 1975. ANA Sale (Superior, 8/1975), lot 1218, offered as an 1884 Trade dollar in silver; Bowers and Ruddy (Rare Coin Review, Number 25-29), offered as "copper but lightly silvered;" Great '80 Sale (Robert L. Hughes, 7/1980), lot 155, offered as "copper and gilted to look silver;" Dr. E.J. Linkner; American Numismatic Rarities (1/2004), lot 98, offered as "silver plated copper." The present specimen.
There has been some confusion regarding the pedigree of the two known examples. The PCGS holder notes that this piece is "Ex. Anderson DuPont," which is incorrect. Lustrous light gray surfaces exhibit delicate gold toning that gathers near the periphery on each side. Faint hairlines are evident, with a small area of roughness beneath the wheat sheaf, right of the date. Slightly soft on Liberty's head, with all other details sharp. An outstanding example that cannot be duplicated as the only other known piece is permanently housed in the Smithsonian Institution.
HID02901242017