The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-16
GOLD COINS RISING IN PRICE.
More Collectors I'm the Field Advances
shown at Recent Sales.

SHoNH ~ heC6nt bblCbs
There have been great advances in the
premiums paid by collectors for United
States gold coins OF certain ssuee This
is due to the increasing number OF collectors.
Only a few years ago barely half a dozen
collectors in this country made a speciality
OF gold cions; now there are many.
No series OF gold coins fetches higher
prices than the five dollar pieces. An
Illustration OF this is obtained by comparing
the prices at the sale Of the collection OF
Col. Cohen OF Baltimore in 1875, Of the COL
lection OF l.. s. Parmelee OF Boston in 1890,
of the Smith and Wilson collections In Phila-
delphia last year and this year and OF the
Stamm collection in this city in May Of this
year.
A fine specimen OF the 1915 five dollar
gold piece, OF which in 1875 only five were
known, brought at the Cohen sale just SIS.
In 1890 a piece in as good condition sold for
$235 at the Parmelee sale, while last year
al equally fine specimen fetched 81 $50 at
the Smith sale.
An 1919 half eagle. Of which but nine are
known, in uncirculated condition brought
80 in 1875. At the Parmelee sale s42 was
paid for a similar specimen. while at the
Smith sale last year the premium was ad-
vanced to $3.50. This year an uncirculated
specimen sold for $3.50 at the Wilson sale,
an increase Of 500 in twelve months.
Cohen's 1921 half eagle brought $40,
Parmelee's sold for $40, while at the Smith
sale the premium jumped to $500.
The highest priced Of all the gold coins,
the 1922 half eagle, sold for $500 at the Par
melee sale, whereas 50 les was paid for a
specimen last year by a Chicago numis-
matist. There are only three known epeci-
mems OF this variety.
An uncirculated 1924 half eagle in 1875
brought s.. Parmelee got $50 for his speci-
men and the one sold at the Smith sale In
1903 brought sl2O.
The half eagle OF 1927, proof surface,
sold for IS in 1875, $44 in 1890, $500 in 1909
and sS4o in the present year. An unoirou-
lated piece of 1928. with perfect date
brought Sl3. so in 1875, $40 in 1890, S24o last
| year and $3.50 in 1907.
The half eagle dated 1929, proof con-
dition, sold for Sl0,5O at Cohen's sale. $50
in 1890, s240 at the Smith sale and $3.50 this
year at the Wilson sale. OF this ooin and
that of 1928 there are only four specimens
Of each known.
An 1882 half eagle sold for 1910 at the
Cohen sale, S35 at the Parmelee sale $3.50
at the Smith sale, $3.50 at the Wilson sale,
and at the Stamm sale on May % the same
coin sold for $50.
The quarter eagles show a big advance
also. A proof specimen Of 1893. with stars
around the head Of Liberty. sold at the
Cohen sale for SIC. at the Parmelee sale
SOL so was paid for it, and at the recent
Stamm sale another specimen brought
S1l7.50.
The quarter eagle of 1897 In uncirculated
condition, brou ght $l4 at the Cohen sale.
The same coin at the 1890 sale brought SIS,
while S2lo was paid for a similar specimen
last year.
with motto. perhaps the scaroest OF the
denomination of later issue, brought $3.50
at the Smith sale, and last March this was
advanced to $3.50 at the Wilson sale.
The three dollar g~oldpieces are making
rapid advances in value, a proof specimen
ofis7e, only f~orty-fve OF which were ooinedI
bringing sls5 at the Stamm eale. whereas
at the Parmelee sale a proof set OF gold
OF the year. embracing the denominations
of $40. $40. SIS, So. S2.5 and 81. brought only
piece dated 1873, OF which twenty-five
pieces were coined, sold for 50 at the Par |
melee sale, while the same coin brought
$S7. SO at the Stamm sale.
The advance in the values OF the one
dollar gold pieces has kept pace with the
others. The rarest OF these. the 1851 issue,
struck at the Dahlonega Mint, Of which but
four specimens are known, brought $3.50
at the Wilson sale last March. A New
Yorker offered $500 for the specimen ten
minutes later and was informed that not
less than $500 would buy it.
All kinds OF gold coins are increasing in
proportion. and even the Bechtler pieces
struck in North Carolina nave made big
jumps in value. several times the face
value Of certain OF these coins now being
paid, whereas formerly they would not
bring even face value.
h small California gold dollars. halves
and quarters also, share in the boom, and
as much as 800 and 400 per cent. increase
is now being paid for these little pieces.
which a few years ago went begging at
face value.