GFRC Online Auctions

 

Presents the The Fourth Auction Event of 2024

1861-O Liberty Seated Half Dollars and Scott Restrikes - A Complete Die Variety Set

 

Bidding Opens Saturday July 20 at 9:00 PM ET

Auction Sale Closes July 27 at 9:00 PM ET



 

GFRC Online Auctions - PDF Catalog Archives

 

Greetings and welcome to GFRC No Buyer's Fee Auction Sales portal. Our online auction application takes a simplified approach for conducting noteworthy auctions without buyer's fees. The one commission rate approach for integrated auction and price list sales leads to a carefree and fun buying and selling event.

GFRC continues its 2024 auction schedule with a summer auction event featuring a complete set of New Orleans Mint issues during the turbulence initial months of 1861. During the January through April time frame, the New Orleans Mint saw its administrative control shifting from the Union, to the State of Louisiana, and finally the Confederate States of America. Based on extensive analysis by Randy Wiley, he concluded that 330,000 1861 dates Liberty Seated halves were struck during January while the mint remained under control of the United States of America. Come February of that year, the State of Louisiana withdrew from the Union with the New Orleans Mint striking 1,240,000 pieces through March. The final tranche of 1861 dated halves (962,633) were struck during April as the mint control shifted to the Confederate States prior to being closed.

Adding to the importance of this auction offering are three J.W.Scott Restrikes for consideration. The story of the Scott Restrike CSA half dollars is best shared via a September 1923 letter to M.L. Beistle from David Proskey, an employee of the J.W. Scott and Co.

Your favor received requesting a statement of the history of the Confederate State's Restrike Half Dollar. J. W. Scott bought the die of the reverse of the Confederate half dollar, together with the Proof specimen of the only known Confederate half dollar, at that time, from E.B. Mason, Jr. of Philadelphia. The United States Government had seized the obverse as its property, and could have seized both sides, as at the close of the war in 1865 the U.S. government became the heir of the Confederacy. Scott decided to strike impressions from his die, and he sent out circulars offering silver restrikes at $2 each, agreeing to have only 500 pieces struck. Preparing for this issue, Scott purchased 500 United States half dollars of New Orleans mintage with the reverse drilled off. Then for fear that the die would break, steel collar was affixed, and 500 impressions in white metal were struck in order to be able to supply something should the die go to pieces, but the die held intact even after the silver pieces were struck. Each of the latter obverses (Liberty Seated) was placed on a blank of soft brass and then struck on a screw press. This helped to keep the obverse from flattening. The writer supervised the process so that the workers kept no specimens for souvenirs. The die was then softened and cut across, so that no more could be struck from the perfect die. The die now reposes in the collection of the Louisiana Historical Society, the gift of Mr. J. Sanford Sakus. A couple of brass impressions exist showing the ridge across. These are now in the collection of Mr. Elliott Smith, New York City. When all were struck, Scott sent out circulars with the coins to the subscribers offering to pay 50 cents each over the subscription price for return of any of the pieces, stating as a reason "oversubscription" which was untrue. It was doubtful if over 250 were sold, as Scott had a plentiful supply of them for over 30 years thereafter. He gradually raised the price to $15 each. The original Proof half dollar was several times placed in various auction sales, but was always "bought in." Finally, the writer sold it to Mr. J. Sanford Saltus for $3000, who presented it to the American Numismatic Society."

GFRC Online Auctions is pleased to recognize one of our client for a noteworthy collection achievement in the Liberty Seated coinage realm. The time commitment to assembled a complete set of premium 1861-O Wiley die varieties was considerable and reflects his passion for Civil War history. This offering includes seventeen 1861-O halves that have been meticulously purchased and reholdered with die variety designations on the PCGS labels. Eight of the lots are CAC approved. The collection includes two Union W-1 lots and a Mint State W-2, the latter being very rare at the certified grade level. As we move into the Louisiana issues, the very scarce W-6 is graded PCGS AU53 and certain to draw bidding attention. Please note that the challenging CSA W-10 is represented by a PCGS AU53 specimen with CAC approval while the equally challenging W-14 (Bisecting Obv Crack/Speared Olive Bud) is graded PCGS AU55.

The specialized auction contains two J.W.Scott restrike on 1861 dated planchets with the NGC holdered example being either a W-13 or W-14 as the bisecting obverse die crack through the date is bold under 10x. The final specimen is a gem Scott medal strike with the Confederate obverse on white metal. This lot is certified PCGS MS64 with CAC approved.

I am well aware of the many collectors, in our community, who are pursuing complete 1861-O die variety sets. The release of this collection is best serviced by a focused auction allowing everyone an equal chance at the many difficult die pairings.

One of the GFRC auction platform hallmarks in the construction of the auction catalog on a real time basis. Collectors have inquisitive minds and wish to secure the latest auction information for set building decisions. The 1861-O Liberty Seated Half Dollars and Scott Restrikes - A Complete Die Variety Set catalog will be constructed with images, GFRC quality ratings, and basic descriptions being first displayed. Next will come the reserve prices after consignor approvals. Afterwards, descriptions are added The final step is the assemblage of the PDF catalog for those who wish to stock their numismatic libraries with ongoing documentation of GFRC events.

Hopefully, inspecting the forthcoming images (when assembled and published) will be as much fun as bidding in the auction given the continuing GFRC photography improvements and the significance of this Civil War historical event. Please remember that GFRC is always here to help collectors with their divestment needs.

 

GFRC Online Auctions Proudly Presents

1861-O Liberty Seated Half Dollars and Scott Restrikes - A Complete Die Variety Set

 

1861 CSA Scott Restrike PCGS MS64 CAC

  1861 CSA Restrike NGC MS61 - W-13 Host Coin                                        1861 CSA Restrike PCGS AU55              

        

                   1861-O W-2 PCGS MS62 50C                                       1861-O CSA Obverse W-11 LDS PCGS MS60 50C 

        

     1861-O W-1 USA PCGS AU50 50C           1861-O W-1 USA PCGS EF40 CAC 50C            1861-O W-3 LA PCGS EF45 CAC 50C

                

1861-O W-4 LA PCGS VF35 CAC 50C           1861-O W-5 LA PCGS AU58 CAC 50C                1861-O W-6 LA PCGS AU53 50C    

                

      1861-O W-7 LA PCGS AU58 50C                   1861-O W-8 LA PCGS MS62 50C                  1861-O W-9 CSA PCGS MS61 50C    

                

     1861-O W-10 CSA PCGS AU53 CAC 50C     1861-O W-11 CSA Obv PCGS EF40 CAC 50C      1861-O W-13 CSA PCGS AU58 CSA 50C    

                

          1861-O W-14 CSA PCGS AU55 50C          1861-O W-15 CSA PCGS UNC Details 50C       1861-O W-15 CSA PCGS VF35 CAC 50C      

                

 

 

About GFRC

GFRC has rapidly grown as a leading retailer of quality Early Silver Type, U.S. Gold, and now expanding into early 20th Century denominations. Our business model is consignment centric supporting more than 150 consignors who actively conduct collection duplicate divestments. Selling CAC approved coins is our primary mission and specialty.

Founded during early 2014, GFRC has been in continuous operation since that time. Our website previously garnered some of the highest Alexa.com industry rankings due to a dedicated numismatic community that constantly visits the many online applications. The Daily Blog is the go to link for daily new purchases and auction information. Unlike other smaller dealers, we offer a complete Sales and Auction Archive for complete transparency. The GFRC Open Set Registry provides collectors with a friendly venue for posting their collections. The GFRC Gallery showcases the past and present offerings of our top consignors.

GFRC is a well known fixture on the national coin show circuit. We exhibit at Whitman Baltimore, Winter and Summer FUN, Central States, and the Summer ANA World's Fair of Money. You will find GFRC at smaller regional shows consistent with our summer New England presence and winter snowbird status in Florida.

 

The Unique GFRC Integrated Service Approach

With the introduction of the GFRC's Online Auction service, clients have multiple sale approaches for their consigned coins.

- Regular Fixed Priced List Sales

- Online Auction Sales (Minimum consignment lot size and/or value requirement)

- A lot not selling at its Online Auction reserve price will automatically post to the price list at the reserve price.

- GFRC will not return consigned lots that do not meet reserves at Online Auctions due to the standard four month minimum consignment length requirement as part of GFRC regular policy. Requests for earlier returns of auction lots will be subject to 5% handling fee.

 

Online Auction Sale Terms & Conditions

GFRC auction sale Terms and Conditions are available by clicking here or the Terms & Conditions banner located at the top of this page. Your GFRC auction experience will be improved if carefully reading through all Terms & Conditions. Most potential questions, concerning the GFRC automated bidding application, will be answered if bidders take the time to read all facets of the Terms & Conditions.

 

The Bidding Process Using the GFRC's Online Auction Application

Online Auctions and the bidding process will be conducted through an automated bidding application specially developed for the GFRC portal. Auctions will be posted and conducted via auction table presentation and located at seateddimevarieties.com/auction. Bidders WILL NOT be assigned a bidder number for each auction in order to simplify the application's operation. Instead, bidders will supply their contact information during each bid placement. Each bid will be assigned a unique number for tracking purposes. Bidders will receive an email from auctions@seateddimevarieties.com that confirms their bid and documents the bid number. The bid number is important when checking on high bid status.

 

GFRC Online Auctions - The Online Auction Table

Following is a screen capture of the Online auction table. The format looks similar to a regular GFRC For Sale page price list table.

Please look carefully as there are three different auction statuses illustrated. The first example is an 1913-S Buffalo nickel that is queued for an upcoming auction that opens on October 12. The TPG number is available with a link back to the TPG website for checking certification. Reserves and high bids will be listed in the second to right column. The rightmost column communicates the lot's status and allows bidding.

On the second line, the 1917-D Standing Liberty quarter is currently available for bidding as an active auction. Bidding is accomplished by clicking on the shopping bag icon.

The final line in the table illustrates an 1825 Capped Bust half dollar that was part of a prior auction that is now closed. That lot did not meet the reserve.

 

GFRC Online Auctions - Three Auction Statuses Example

 

GFRC Online Auctions - Using the Bidding Screen

Clicking the shopping bag icon for a lot that is part of an active Online Auction brings about a lot bidding screen. The bidding screen is unique to that lot and presents a full description and TPG serial number. Lots are identified by TPG serial numbers or with GFRC inventory number for raw coins.

The next illustration showcases the auction lot's information including full description, reserve price, current high bid and bid number. There are three panels for entering information towards placing a bid. Bidding requires three pieces of information each time a bid is placed. .

- Name

- Email Address

- Max Bid

Once these three pieces of information are entered, please hit the Enter Bid button.

GFRC Online Auctions - Bidding Screen Example

 

Bidders will accurately enter the required information and select the Enter Bid button. A bid will be first checked for being valid. If not valid, an error message will be issued on the bidding screen. If the bid is valid, the bid will be acknowledged on a separate screen along with an email sent to the inputted email address indicating such.

 

GFRC Online Auctions - Email Bid Notification

All GFRC auction emails will be issued from "auctions@seateddimevarieties.com". The email captures the submitted name and acknowledges the maximum bid. Each bid is assigned a unique bid number. Please note that there are no bidder numbers assigned to clients. Again, each bid is assigned its unique tracking number. A link is provide to allow prompt return to the lot bidding screen which allows bidders to check if their unique bid number is the high bid.

Following is an illustration of typical Bid Notification email. Please note that the lot number is the full TPG serial number as extracted via bar code.

GFRC Online Auctions - Email Bid Notification