The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-24
RAREST or OUR GOLD COINS.
o,ii fHRfE ISgg HtLF Ei0LES
~ M rom ron Ots

9c, tstBtt tsafs tag sNWthrT NfWUaht
a0=Iaat tisliaf Nutdm,e NlWa NJ
~ eden ppld 80 ,WU0 iWr latA taaie
amer Itiat Priced Nsid Pteeea
WHOM q Liza WA paid Tho o,pcf day tof
geo I,t,f srld rieta ~ is2l that cu,n
It place ~ tho fafer, n American
.,... ,ulpsins the iOl dollar, Witch fnf
r,ug ,o,fa had that distinction Tho prize
w..r.rl coin dealers and collectors, foT
tr,.srird Nv mnfr than o. ,dI tho creates,
rw ru,yiuisly raid fof a specimen ~
the lrptmtnaiion and year.
curious phass ~ tho history ~ this
coil urrr Ia that oven thuac well informed
snu., crins did not know ~ tho rarity ~
,tn is.1 half eagle until about twenty years
nrn II IL n matter NJ record that ths last
orrrr n tho coin bought it from u Newforh
de,..r IN old cuina Tor N Yet NJ that time
pr, three specimens were known ~
y. mo knows why thcrc are 30 few LETT,
fnr ,uc uint records show that II 100 half
cayIr- vere struck In is22, One ~ the "
other specimens Ia In the coin cabinet ct
the Philadelphia Mint, while the private
collection Of Virgil NJ. Brand contains the
third.
Inc nNI eARIe " lHe WOSN p'Ih'ai wv"
with the collectors Of all tho American
series Of gold coins, and 1t leads all the
res, IN the number Of varieties. Some $50
varieties Of this denomination have been
issued. OF other gold coins there have
been i-s,led III varieties OF the eagle, 1872 OF
the double eagle, ~seventy-nine Of the gold
dollars, ~sixty-five Of the quarter eagles
and lorty-seven Of the three dollar piece.
The design OF the rare 1922 five dollar
gold piece was not different from the other
dates Of the period. The design on the OBJ
verse has the head of Liberty, OF about the
SAINT character as that used on all the all
YER coins up to the time OF the change OF
general design in 1895. A cap surmounts
the head, on the band Of which is the word
liberty" while around the border are thir-
teen stars.
The first time this coin was offered at
public sale was in 1890, when the specimen
owned by Lorn G. Parmelee Of Roston
brought 5000. .
The half eagle is the oldest OF the gold
coins, having first been issued in 1795, the
second year of operation Of the United States
Mint. From that date it was issued steadily
until 1901, in which year none was issued.
Their coinage was resumed in 1902 and
continued until 1915, during which year
and 1917 none was struck. In 1918 their
coinage again began, and they have been
issued regularly each year ever since.
A great many varieties and dates Of the
half eagle are held in high esteem besides
the 1922 issue. There were two varieties
Of the 1875 half eagle. Recently these
varieties in superb condition brought
$3.50 each.
Three varieties were produced in the
year 1907. Two varieties Of this date sold
not long ago for $500, but they looked as II
they had come direct from the coinage
press, which account for the very high
premium. Those in ordinary condition are
worth a great deal less.
In 1915 only 835 coins OF the five dollar
value were coined, and up to the present
time this piece has been regarded as the
rarest Of the gold coins. The King Of
Sweden, who owns one Of the worlds great
est coin collections, made the record for
this coin some years ago when he paid
%, 900 for a specimen to complete his series
OF American issues. At a recent sale 81 ,05o
was paid for a specimen OF the same date,
which makes the 1904 dollar now rank third
In point Of rarity.
Only five Of the 635 coins originally issued
are now known. The value of this coin
also was not appreciated until recent years
for it was not very long ago that a good
speoimen could be bought for $50.
A remarkable coin in the five dollar series
il that Of 1919. The mint records show that
81, ?7s were struck, and yet a single one
brought $3.50. The scarcity Of this coin
presents another problem hard to solve.
The 1921 half eagle has brought $500,
which is still another source Of wonder
ment, for a8,641 were issued. Another
rarity is that OF 1925, which brought 500,
yet 1909 were coined originally.