Liberty Seated E-Gobrecht Collectors Club 2021 Volume 17, Issue 1 January 2021 (Whole #192) Stepping back in time to a bygone era of the Liberty Seated coin design period, both far and wide, and a little before & after... “Great Conjunction” Table of Contents & Details Inside “Pristine Snow” Page 2 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 Inside this E-Gobrecht Issue... President’s Message E-Gobrecht’s Page 3 by Len Augsburger 17th Year Editor’s Viewpoint: View From The Rim 2014-2021 4 & Member Application Form About the Cover & Images 4 Regional News: Small Shows Rule 5-6 by Dennis Fortier Welcome to the 2021 Regional Coin Show Events & Major Auction Calendar 7 following new LSCC Press Release Announcement from GFRC Online Auctions 8 Members this month: This Year’s Double Dime Planet 9-10 by John Frost Stephen Huson Auction News: Major Auction Results from December 2020 Charles Lendman 11 by Craig Eberhart John Shofner The Curious Collector: The 1982 New Orleans Hoard 12-13 by Len Augsburger Reminder: Quarter of the Month: The 1852 Liberty Seater Quarter Membership Renewals 14-15 by Greg Johnson are past due this month. January’s Double Dime - 1875-S BF-16 16-17 by John Frost There are currently L.S. Basics 101: Issue VIII - Mintmark Sizes and Placement 18-21 by Dennis Fortier 1001 active & invited Subscribers to E-Gobrecht Word Search Puzzle No. 2 by Dennis Fortier 22 E-Gobrecht LSCC Member Advertisers 3, 5, 18 LSCC & Publication Information 23 Please keep your subscription e-mail address current as you could be dropped from the month- ly issue if your email is twice rejected in a two-month period as non-active or non-existant. The E-Gobrecht is an award winning informal electronic publication of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC). The LSCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the attributions of the Liberty Seated U.S. Coin series. The LSCC provides the information contained in this “electronic” e-mail newsletter from various sources “free of charge” as a general service to the membership and other subscribers with a numismatic interest. You do not have to be a LSCC member to benefit from this newsletter; subscription to the E-Gobrecht is available on a complimentary basis to anyone. All disclaimers are in effect as the completeness and/or accuracy of the information contained herein cannot be completely verified. Contact information for this publication can be found on the last page. Page 3 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 President’s Message And a few words to start off the new year… Welcome to the January issue of the E-Gobrecht, our monthly roundup of happenings in the Liberty Seated world. If you are not a member of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, please consider joining at: http://www.lsccweb.org/Membership.shtml Our award-winning print publication, The Gobrecht Journal, is published 3 times annually and remains our publication of record. Our most significant feature articles with new research are published there, and, for only $25 a year, this full-color journal will be delivered to your mailbox. As always, a big thanks to E-Gobrecht editor Paul Kluth for putting together this monthly issue, which we hope you all enjoy. …Len Augsburger Page 4 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 Editor’s ‘View From the Rim Tiptoeing into 2021 Quietly and softly we are tiptoeing into the new year of 2021… cautiously and overtly not to bring along anything so depressing as contained in 2020. We all need a fresh start and hope for a better year, not to mention of course a better outlook for our numismatic gatherings and hobby. A good start for LSCC and E-Gobrecht is that the publication eclipsed the 1000 mark for current and active Subscribers! We now stand at 1001 due in part to new Club members, updated e-mail addresses from membership renewals and other folks who have joined the subscriber ranks around the country from local clubs. What should you be watching out for in 2021(?) … volatile gold and silver precious metal prices, the surge in alternative Bitcoin currency values, the stock market, the overall economy, and hopefully a smooth transition in the Executive Branch of government... PK About the Cover Images: * “Great Conjunction” high-powered view in a pristine night sky. * An Proof 1852 Liberty Seated Quarter in pristine condition and color. * Pristine snow-covered landscape on a lake deep in a Wisconsin forest. Page 5 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 Regional News by Dennis Fortier, LSCC #2016 Small Shows Rule ***FUN and Long Beach Cancelled*** Fall Baltimore, Winter Fun, Long Beach, Spring ANA... these large shows were or are cancelled. Spring Balti- more will most likely be cancelled as well. The Houston Money Show, January 22-23, is still on at this point, but Houston attracts hundreds of people, not thousands like FUN or Baltimore. Smaller shows look to be the venues that are surviving the pandemic right now. John Frost will be hosting the Club table at Houston. There probably will be an educational component, but details will have to be worked out at the last minute. Some smaller shows like Knoxville TN, Feb 5-6, and Spartanburg SC, Feb 19-21, are finding little resistance in the Covid 19 world. The Regional Team is doing everything possible to support Club activities around the country. Members may find it necessary for the time being to drive a bit further to attend a show. (Note: This report must be amended. It has just been learned that the Governor of Tennessee has limited gatherings to only ten people for the time being. This policy will be revisited on January 19th. Please check the Club website to see if the Knoxville show has been cancelled or is still on?) It is anticipated that once the vaccine is distributed, the show schedule will see some kind of return to normalcy; we hope! Until then, we can use the time to get our holdings in proper order, update our Excel spread sheets, study our coins, and of course - enjoy them. (Continued on next page) Quality Collector Coins Check out Website www.BrianGreerRareCoins.com We have a large inventory for all denominations of Liberty Seated coinage. Brian Greer –LSCC #716 (515) 331-3534 9 AM—6 PM, CST, weekdays Page 6 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 Regional News cont. Spending time chatting about coins with the hobby friends we’ve made over the years helps with coin withdrawal. Perhaps writing a few lines about a purchase you made, or a special coin you have, for inclusion in one of the Club publications will help ease that coin deprivation. If you have a small show in your area that the Regional Team normally does not have a Club table at, setting up a display of Liberty Seated coinage with club outreach material can be a pleasant way to spend the day at a show. Also, you get in during dealer set up so you get first pickings on any coins that happen to catch your eye. Just contact Dennis Fortier, [email protected], or the Regional Director in your part of the country for materials to promote the club. As of November 9th, 2020, Club membership stands at 657. This is very encour- aging as the Regional Program has spent the bulk of 2020 in hibernation due to the pandemic. Reminder about Club dues; it is Dues Renewal season. The Club Secretary (who is a volunteer) has done a great deal of work already. Chasing after forgetful members is an onerous task. Please be considerate and return your dues if you have not yet done so. Continue to have a happy and safe begin- ning to the new year! (END) LSCC Member Application Form on page 4 or at: http://www.lsccweb.org/LSCC_Membership.pdf Page 7 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 LSCC Upcoming 2020 Regional Events Schedule * Details Mostly Finalized *CANCELLED: FUN 2021, January 7-9 Orlando FL, Orange County Convention Center Houston Money Show, January 22-23 * (Please check with show website for any late developments) Conroe TX, Lone Star Convention Center Club exhibit table hosted by John Frost and Dick Osburn Club Regional Meeting with Educational Program to be announced Knoxville Coin Show, February 5-6 Knoxville TN, Rothchild Conference Center Club exhibit table hosted by Dennis Fortier and John Frost Educational Programs to be announced *CANCELLED: Long Beach Coin & Currency Expo, February 4-6, Long Beach CA, Long Beach Convention Center Note: Monthly Updates provided as they become available. (END) Upcoming Major Coin/Currency Auctions for Liberty Seated Collectors January 3, 2021 - “The Donald G. Partrick Collection of Merchant Counterstamps” (many on Liberty Seated coinage with 409 overall items), U.S. Coins Special Monthly Auction by Heritage Auctions. (https://coins.ha.com/) (Please refer to website for full details) January 15-16, 2021 - “The January 2021 Auction” featuring exceptional rarities by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in Newport Beach, CA. (https://www.stacksbowers.com/) (Please refer to website for complete details) January 20-24, 2021 - The ever popular “FUN U.S. Coins Signature Auction to be held in Dallas, TX instead of Orlando, FL by Heritage Auctions. (https://coins.ha.com/) (Please refer to website for full details) January 23-30, 2021 - “Cumberland County’s Superb Liberty Seated Half Dollar Collection Sale” by GFRC Online Auctions. (Please see page 8 for further details) January 31-February 1, 2021 - “The Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2021 Auction (Pre-Long Beach) by Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctions in Long Beach, CA. (https://www.goldbergcoins.com) (Please refer to website for complete details) February 9, 2021 - “The Steve Studer Collection Part 2” (containing many Liberty Seated denominations), U.S. Coins Special Monthly Auction by Heritage Auctions. (https://coins.ha.com/) (Please refer to website for full details) March 11-12, 2021 - “Official Auction of the 2021 ANA National Money Show” by Kagins Inc. in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. (https://www.kagins.com/auctions) (Please refer to website for complete details) Page 8 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 GFRC Online Auctions Announces Cumberland County’s Superb Liberty Seated Half Dollar Collection Sale GFRC Online Auctions, a new online auction service managed by Gerry Fortin Rare Coins, is pleased to announce the forthcoming sale of a superbly completed Liberty Seated Half Dollar Collection. The consignors, a husband and wife collecting team, are well known on the GFRC website and branded as the Cumberland County Collection. Auction Sale Schedule Starts January 23rd 9:00 PM ET Closes January 30th 9:00 PM ET This Liberty Seated Half Dollar Collection sale includes all dates and mintmarks plus major die varieties and finally, both Scott Restrikes. Grades are cluster at the AU grade level and bring a noteworthy acquisition and upgrading opportunity for Liberty Seated half dollar collectors. Following are important highlights: Impressive 139 Lots! Many Lots CAC Approved! Key Date 1878-S PCGS VG08 Opportunity Scott CSA Restrike PCGS AU58 CAC 1861 Union W-02 PCGS MS62 1871-CC PCGS AU50 CAC 1846 6/Horizontal 6 PCGS AU53 CAC Rare 1847/6 PCGS EF45 Rare 1875-S Micro S PCGS EF45 The Cumberland County’s Superb Liberty Seated Half Dollar Collection Sale catalog will be available at the GFRC Online Auctions website on January 16th. Please bookmark the following link to gain access to this wonderful forthcoming Auction: https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/Auctionguide.html For additional information, please contact Gerry Fortin at (207) 329-9957 [email protected] Page 9 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 This year’s Double Dime Planet by John Frost, LSCC #2005 As I was writing the Double Dime column this All summer and fall, Jupiter and Saturn had month, there was another double news event, this been slowly getting closer, and on December 21st, time in the sky. Most people heard about the Great they had their closest approach. The separation Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. between the two would be thinner than a double dime (20-cent piece) held edge-wise at arm’s length. This event occurs because Jupiter orbits the In fact, if one were to look through a telescope, Sun every 12 years, and Saturn every 30 years. both planets would be visible in the same field of As a result, Jupiter “laps” Saturn every 20 years, view, even using a high-magnification eyepiece. and when this happens, they appear close together I took photos of the closing planets, one in the sky. What made the 2020 event so impres- month beforehand (November 19), and then again sive was that the two planets would appear very December 18th (3 days before closest approach), close together, the closest visible to human eyes seen below. Jupiter is the brighter of the two plan- since March 4, 1226 (in the 13th Century)! ets. Saturn was actually 500 million miles beyond Jupiter. They were only close in line-of-sight. Both Images are Same Scale Moon, Jupiter and Saturn, 2020 November 19 Jupiter just below Saturn, December 18 On December 21st, it was overcast. However On the next page is a snapshot through the on December 22, it cleared just in time to see the eyepiece showing Jupiter and his four bright planets in the southwest after sunset. I called my moons, and just a hint of a cloud band across the neighbors and knocked on a few doors so they globe, plus Saturn and his rings. could also look at the planets through the tele- scope. We were not disappointed. (Continued on next page) Page 10 E-Gobrecht #192 - January 2021 This year’s Double Dime Planet cont. Again, here is the image through the eyepiece I’ve seen each of these planets through tele- showing Jupiter and his four bright moons, and just scopes hundreds of times through the years, but a hint of a cloud band across the globe, plus Saturn never did I see both of them at the same time! and his rings. While the next Great Conjunction in 2040 will The equipment used was a 6-inch f/8 Newto- have the planets separated by two moon diameters; nian reflecting telescope, with a 14mm eyepiece – in 2080, they will even be a tad closer than they yielding an effective magnification of 87x. were this year. (END)