Most casual collectors and serious numismatists, myself included, marvel at the pristine quality of the annual proof sets which are produced at the US Mint today. With stringent precision and almost hospital like conditions, coins are virtually perfect when they leave the dies. Then sealed with utmost care into their respective holder, long lasting perfection is fundamentally assured for generations to come. If the visual thrill for modern proof sets excites the average collector imagine the delight when the accomplished numismatist is able to examine pristine original proof sets coined in the 19th century! Well that opportunity has presented itself!
Ross Baldwin President of National Coin Broker has three such glorious impeccably preserved proof sets available. “I can hardly believe it myself” said Ross Baldwin, sets like these just don’t appear with any frequency and when they do come to market there is always heated demand for them. In most instances there can only be several hundred or fewer complete sets available which the astute collector could hope to acquire. With competition raging for the finest registry sets known the enthusiasm on the playing field is elevated when complete sets of coins from any given mid-19th century date come to market. That is precisely the case here; there are three separate offerings of magnificent complete minor proof sets which have been kept together since their production, in some instances over a century and a half ago.
National Coin Broker is proud and excited to offer for your consideration the historic Civil War year 1861 minor set including seven glorious pieces.
For the collector, for the investor, for the true numismatist, opportunities such as this are few and far between, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this offering. Below is a detailed listing of each coin and its current population as well as its current market value on an individual basis. There is definitely pride in ownership with any of the following proof installments.
Please don’t hesitate to call me Ross C Baldwin to discuss the acquisition of one or more of these desirable sets at 1-800-707-7923 or 305-785-5646 or e-mail me at [email protected] At National Coin Broker we are passionate about what we do and about the inventory that we maintain. Now here are the details on this superb set up for your consideration.
Magnificent Civil War 1861 7-Piece Proof Set
1861 Seven Piece Proof Set NGC. In 1861, President Lincoln appointed James Pollock director of the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Prior to this appointment, Pollock was chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Washington Peace Convention, which unfortunately failed to prevent the Civil War. He served as mint director from 1861 to 1866 and then was reappointed by President Ulysses S Grant in 1869. From 1873 to 1879, he then served as superintendent of the Mint when that agency became part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Amazingly these coins were produced at the Philadelphia facility at the very beginning of the the Civil War for in January of that year the South seceded from the union. In February the South created a new government naming Jefferson Davis as the provisional president of the Confederacy. In April the conflicts first shots were fired with the attack on Fort Sumter and in July the infamous first battle of” Bull Run” in Virginia took place. Although the adoption of the motto “ In God We Trust “did not appear on US coinage until 1864 then on the Two Cent Piece, there was significant religious sentiment from public and private sectors addressed to James Pollock to incorporate a religious theme on a US coin. It was also in 1861 that the initial impetus for the motto apparently emanated from a November 1861 letter from Reverend M.R. Watkinson, from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase urging the recognition of the Deity on United States coins.As for production, all 1861 copper and minor proof silver issues from cents to half dollars saw the same 1,000-piece mintage as in 1860. However, Silver Dollar proof production declined from 1,330 pieces in 1860 to 1,000 coins in 1861. Walter Breen wrote in his 1977 proof Encyclopedia that all 1,000 silver-minor proof sets were struck April 15. He also contends that: “Probably only three to four hundred in all sold as sets, others as individual coins, the remainder (at least 600 sets, per R.W. Julian) were melted in 1862.”
1861 Indian Cent NGC PR65 Most of the original 1,000-piece 1861 Indian proof cent mintage was apparently unsold and may have been melted or simply released into circulation. Indeed, Richard Snow, in his 2009 Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents, says: “This is the key date in the Proof series, partly due to low mintage, but also because of poor quality of the dies and poor striking quality.” Moreover, it is in high demand because of the relatively low
business strike mintage (10.1 million, the lowest of the Type Two Copper-nickel Indian Head series). This Gem specimen reveals no visible issues resulting from worn dies. The design elements exhibit a sharp strike, including crispness on all four diamonds and most of the reverse wreath. The feather tips, however, are also quite bold. Golden-tan surfaces are devoid of marks or flecks. Total NGC population is a mere 74 only 20 reside in this grade, only 20 in this grade, only 7 graded 1 point higher numerically. Per NGC Price guide,$7,440 (7/11)
1861 Three Cent Silver NGC PR66 Per Walter Breen (1977) writing of the 1861 proof trime or “fish scales” says that: … “Survivors are only a minority of the original mintage (1,000 pieces). Fewer of the 1861 are known than of 1862 and later years despite the mintage.” This glorious Gem example is superbly impressed, including fullness on the radials and outlines of the prominent star. Blushes of gunmetal-blue, lavender, yellow-gold, and powder-blue cover the obverse, while the
same color palette settles on the reverse border, leaving the center brilliant and color free. Impeccably conserved and radiating great eye appeal. NGC total Census (7/11): 93 only 9 grade PF66 with only 4 finer. Per NGC price guide $3,120
1861 Liberty Seated Half Dime NGC PR64 a superb Civil War year half dime. Multicolored blue, gold, orange, and bluish-gray take on slightly deeper hues on the reverse of this near-Gem. A well-directed strike leaves strong definition on the devices that are accentuated on the obverse. Reverse reflectivity is slightly
subdued by the depth of the gorgeous toning. There are no contact marks worthy of note which would preclude a higher numeric grading. Total NGC population as of 7/11, 113. Only 36 reside as PR 64specimens. NGC price guide $840.
1861 Liberty Seated Dime NGC PR64 Walter Breen infers two varieties of 1861 proof dimes exist. The example in this set lacks a rust pit on the I of UNITED but displays this feature on the right upright of the “M” in DIME. Soft cobalt-blue and lavender patina envelops the obverse of this near-Gem, while the same colors
are joined by purple and deep blues on the reverse center. The design elements show excellent detail. The obverse displays more field-motif contrast. Minute obverse marks deny Gem status. Current NGC census declares only 87 examples have been graded making this the scarcest variety 4 (legend on obverse) of the entire series! Only 37 have been graded as 64 and only 20 have been graded numerically advanced. Per NGC price guide (7/11) a seemingly undervalued $1,000.
1861 Liberty Seated Quarter NGC PR65Noted Seated Liberty Quarter expert Larry Briggs discourses in his Encyclopedia of Liberty Seated Quarters that 600 or more of the proof quarters struck in 1861 met their demise through meltings. Again, this is a truly scarce and perhaps undervalued issue. Russet, lilac, and
golden-tan flow over the delicately colored cobalt-blue obverse while deeper sky-blue and orange-gold domicile on the reverse of this attractive Gem. Sharply struck design motifs and well cared for surfaces round out the coin’s pleasing eye appeal. Total NGC Census: is 91, only 14 reside in PF65 holders and a meager 10 have achieved a loftier designation. Per NGC price guide, valuation is $6,990
1861 Liberty Seated Half Dollar NGC PR64 This beautifully designed half-dollar created by Christian Gobrecht is a sight to behold; Bright aqua-blue lavishes the margins of both sides and outlines Liberty’s portrait and the stars. Champagne-silver dominates the central areas on both obverse and reverse along with
lavender accents, and an exacting strike imparts strong definition to the design elements. Nearly worthy of Gem designation. Only 89 examples grace the NGC census. A slight 22 grade PF 64. NGC price guide states $3,560
1861 Liberty Seated Dollar NGC PR65 David Bowers, in his 1993 Silver Dollars treatise, says of the 1,000 proof dollars minted in 1861: “… It is believed that
only about 350 were ever sold.” He goes on to write: “Today, 1861 Proof dollars are very elusive. Not only was the distribution low … but those sold seemed to have had an unusually high attrition rate.” This glorious gem example is certainly one of the elite a superb striking and coloration accentuate delicate sky-blue, golden-brown, lavender, and grayish-tan visit the obverse of this gorgeous Gem, while soft silver-gray dominates the reverse. A sharp strike uniformly graces the design elements, and impeccable preservation characterizes both sides. These attributes combine to generate magnificent eye appeal. Only 83 examples populate the NGC census, nine graded as this example and only nine graded higher. NGC price guide reveals a $16,880 valuation.
(Total set valuation $39,830)
SOLD!!!Call 800-707-7923 for Availability and Price SOLD!!!
