Spink
Auction 22888 24 Sep 2022
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(g) NGC PF64-PF66 | United States of America, An Original "Full Proof Set" of 1888 (13), Twenty-Dollars to Gold Dollar (6), Morgan Dollar to Dime (4), Nickel, Three Cent Nickel and Cent, Philadelphia Mint, of the highest rarity as a complete original set, conceivably the last remaining intact set in private hands and matched only by the 'mint fresh' sets held by the American Numismatic Society and Smithsonian Museum, this set accompanied by contemporary custom fitted case of issue embossed in gold Gothic script "John Robert Fletcher", latterly incorporated in a Spink and Son custom case to house the NGC 'Fletcher holders
Gold:
i.) 'Liberty Head', Double-Eagle, Proof $20, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge milled, 33.42g, 7h, an outstanding Proof with excellent contrasts between rich cameo portrait definition and glass-like fields, with additional 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of early die preparation, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of 105 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64+ CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-001)
ii.) 'Liberty Head', Eagle, Proof $10, 1888, by Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 16.74g, 6h, a tiny contact mark behind neck, and a small circular imperfection below arrow caused by striking through a piece of errant coil, otherwise a wondrous cameo gem with 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of the original die preparation, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of 75 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64+ CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-002)
iii.) 'Liberty Head', Half-Eagle, Proof $5, 1888, by Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 8.36g, 6h, a small spot of tone in O of OF and subtlest traces of friction aft and stern of neck line, otherwise a sumptuous proof with additional 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of the original die preparation, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of 95 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-003)
iv.) 'Indian Princess Head', Three-Dollar Piece, Proof $3, 1888, Low A and S in STATES, by James Barton-Longacre, edge milled, 5.00g, 6h, the usual frosted die cud on neck and flawing by N of UNITED, and M and C of AMERICA, and a small rim planchet flaw at 6 o'clock, otherwise a delightful cameo gem with 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of the original die preparation, as struck and amongst the finest known of the reported mintage of 291 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-004)
v.) 'Liberty Head', Quarter-Eagle, Proof $2.50, 1888, by Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 4.17g, 6h, a hint of cabinet friction, otherwise a strikingly brilliant cameo gem exhibiting the usual spots of die cud frosting before and behind trail of hair on neck, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of just 97 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-005)
vi.) 'Indian Princess Head', Gold Dollar, Proof G$1, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge milled, 1.67g, 6h, a highly superficial scuff before head in otherwise brilliant fields, a gorgeous proof with subtle cameo portrait definition, practically as struck, a reported mintage of 1,079 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-006)
Silver:
vii.) 'Morgan' Dollar, Proof $1, 1888, by Charles E. Barber after George Morgan, edge milled, 26.73g, 6h, speckled tone in otherwise brilliant fields attractively framed by peripheral light colourful iridescence, struck through a small piece of errant coil by IC of AMERICA, otherwise a handsome gem proof, much as struck, from a reported mintage of 833 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-007)
viii.) 'Seated' Half-Dollar, Proof 50C, 1888, by Thomas Sully and Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 12.56g, 6h, struck with softer dies, nevertheless a wondrous specimen with brilliance muted only by an errant fingermark, otherwise a choice gem proof flared by a frame of iridescent blue-red haloing, as struck, from a reported mintage of 800 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-008)
ix.) 'Seated' Quarter-Dollar, Proof 25C, 1888, by Thomas Sully and Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 6.24g, 6h, a joyous proof with light purple-blue toning, occasionally dappled but undoubtedly accentuating the frosted device definition, as struck, from a reported mintage of 800 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF66 (Cert. #6295588-009)
x.) 'Seated' Dime, Proof 10C, 1888, by Thomas Sully and Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 2.51g, 6h, dappled toning in otherwise brilliant fields, softly struck on high points but much as struck, from a reported mintage of 800 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-010)
Base Metal:
xi.) V-Nickel, Proof 5C, 1888, 'Liberty', by Charles E. Barber, edge plain, 4.89g, 7h, flashy lustrous fields with light speckling, otherwise much as issued from a reported mintage of 4,582 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-011)
xii.) Three Cent Nickel, Proof 3C, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge plain, 1.91g, 6h, heavier speckling otherwise brilliant, much as struck from a reported mintage of 4,582 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64 (Cert. #6295588-012)
xiii.) Indian Head Cent, Proof 1C, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge plain, 3.04g, 6h, handsomely brilliant with a hint of speckling by date, otherwise flares of reddish brown, much as struck, from a reported mintage of 4,582 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 RB (Cert. #6295588-013).
Estimate: $300000 - $500000
Gold:
i.) 'Liberty Head', Double-Eagle, Proof $20, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge milled, 33.42g, 7h, an outstanding Proof with excellent contrasts between rich cameo portrait definition and glass-like fields, with additional 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of early die preparation, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of 105 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64+ CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-001)
ii.) 'Liberty Head', Eagle, Proof $10, 1888, by Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 16.74g, 6h, a tiny contact mark behind neck, and a small circular imperfection below arrow caused by striking through a piece of errant coil, otherwise a wondrous cameo gem with 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of the original die preparation, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of 75 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64+ CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-002)
iii.) 'Liberty Head', Half-Eagle, Proof $5, 1888, by Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 8.36g, 6h, a small spot of tone in O of OF and subtlest traces of friction aft and stern of neck line, otherwise a sumptuous proof with additional 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of the original die preparation, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of 95 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-003)
iv.) 'Indian Princess Head', Three-Dollar Piece, Proof $3, 1888, Low A and S in STATES, by James Barton-Longacre, edge milled, 5.00g, 6h, the usual frosted die cud on neck and flawing by N of UNITED, and M and C of AMERICA, and a small rim planchet flaw at 6 o'clock, otherwise a delightful cameo gem with 'halo-frosting' around the stars and date indicative of the original die preparation, as struck and amongst the finest known of the reported mintage of 291 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-004)
v.) 'Liberty Head', Quarter-Eagle, Proof $2.50, 1888, by Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 4.17g, 6h, a hint of cabinet friction, otherwise a strikingly brilliant cameo gem exhibiting the usual spots of die cud frosting before and behind trail of hair on neck, as struck and unquestionably amongst the finest known of the believed twenty survivors from a reported mintage of just 97 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-005)
vi.) 'Indian Princess Head', Gold Dollar, Proof G$1, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge milled, 1.67g, 6h, a highly superficial scuff before head in otherwise brilliant fields, a gorgeous proof with subtle cameo portrait definition, practically as struck, a reported mintage of 1,079 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64 CAMEO (Cert. #6295588-006)
Silver:
vii.) 'Morgan' Dollar, Proof $1, 1888, by Charles E. Barber after George Morgan, edge milled, 26.73g, 6h, speckled tone in otherwise brilliant fields attractively framed by peripheral light colourful iridescence, struck through a small piece of errant coil by IC of AMERICA, otherwise a handsome gem proof, much as struck, from a reported mintage of 833 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-007)
viii.) 'Seated' Half-Dollar, Proof 50C, 1888, by Thomas Sully and Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 12.56g, 6h, struck with softer dies, nevertheless a wondrous specimen with brilliance muted only by an errant fingermark, otherwise a choice gem proof flared by a frame of iridescent blue-red haloing, as struck, from a reported mintage of 800 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-008)
ix.) 'Seated' Quarter-Dollar, Proof 25C, 1888, by Thomas Sully and Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 6.24g, 6h, a joyous proof with light purple-blue toning, occasionally dappled but undoubtedly accentuating the frosted device definition, as struck, from a reported mintage of 800 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF66 (Cert. #6295588-009)
x.) 'Seated' Dime, Proof 10C, 1888, by Thomas Sully and Christian Gobrecht, edge milled, 2.51g, 6h, dappled toning in otherwise brilliant fields, softly struck on high points but much as struck, from a reported mintage of 800 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-010)
Base Metal:
xi.) V-Nickel, Proof 5C, 1888, 'Liberty', by Charles E. Barber, edge plain, 4.89g, 7h, flashy lustrous fields with light speckling, otherwise much as issued from a reported mintage of 4,582 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 (Cert. #6295588-011)
xii.) Three Cent Nickel, Proof 3C, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge plain, 1.91g, 6h, heavier speckling otherwise brilliant, much as struck from a reported mintage of 4,582 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF64 (Cert. #6295588-012)
xiii.) Indian Head Cent, Proof 1C, 1888, by James Barton-Longacre, edge plain, 3.04g, 6h, handsomely brilliant with a hint of speckling by date, otherwise flares of reddish brown, much as struck, from a reported mintage of 4,582 pieces, in NGC 'Fletcher' custom holder, strictly graded PF65 RB (Cert. #6295588-013).
Estimate: $300000 - $500000