Based in Huntington, New York, James Alton Bechand manages a printing company and also offers client-driven independent marketing solutions. With a strong interest in art and old prints, James Alton Bechand has an extensive background in coin collecting.
One of the highlights of the recent Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction in California was a Proof-55 (PCGS) graded Berg-Garrett 1804 dollar that garnered a sale price of $1.44 million. Part of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, the coin is one of 15 known examples of a coin that should never have been produced.
In 1804, the US Mint produced its last silver dollar until minting of the coin began again in 1836. During the 1800s, coin-making dies were often used until they wore out. As a result, these coins had an 1803 imprint despite being minted a year later.
Thirty years afterward, the Department of State requested the minting of a pair of US silver dollar coin sets for presentation to the Sultan of Muscat and King of Siam on trade missions. Because the last official silver dollar had been produced in 1804, the US Mint, without realizing that there were no coins minted bearing the imprint “1804,” created new dies that had this marking. With eight of these coins minted in 1834 as proofs, they became sought-after rarities a decade later: No other 1804 silver dollars were ever created.
One of the highlights of the recent Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction in California was a Proof-55 (PCGS) graded Berg-Garrett 1804 dollar that garnered a sale price of $1.44 million. Part of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, the coin is one of 15 known examples of a coin that should never have been produced.
In 1804, the US Mint produced its last silver dollar until minting of the coin began again in 1836. During the 1800s, coin-making dies were often used until they wore out. As a result, these coins had an 1803 imprint despite being minted a year later.
Thirty years afterward, the Department of State requested the minting of a pair of US silver dollar coin sets for presentation to the Sultan of Muscat and King of Siam on trade missions. Because the last official silver dollar had been produced in 1804, the US Mint, without realizing that there were no coins minted bearing the imprint “1804,” created new dies that had this marking. With eight of these coins minted in 1834 as proofs, they became sought-after rarities a decade later: No other 1804 silver dollars were ever created.
