1839 Gobrecht Silver Dollar. Name Removed. Judd-104 Restrike, Pollock-116. Rarity-3. Silver. Reeded Edge. Die Alignment III. Proof-64 (PCGS). CAC. Korein 25. 412.0 grains. Libertys head is opposite the letter N in ONE. This is a beautiful Choice Proof Gobrecht dollar, a restrike of the second rarest date in one of the rarest and most challenging series in all of U.S. numismatics. Universally brilliant in finish, both sides readily reveal mirrored reflectivity through an overlay of vivid apricot-gray toning that deepens a bit at the borders, where it is joined by subtle wisps of iridescent powder blue and champagne-pink. Fully struck with razor sharp detail throughout the design, this is a lovely specimen that would serve as a highlight in even the finest numismatic cabinet. DTS Early State Restrike.<p>The strong mirrors in the fields, granularity within the eagles beak and, most importantly, DTS die state attribution mark this Judd-104 specimen as a restrike. The original 1839 Gobrecht dollars, coined in the last week of that year, "are in Alignment IV, have weak mirrors, more [semi-prooflike] than fully [prooflike], and typically come with a weakly struck foot," according to <em>gobrechtdollars.com</em>, a website built by John W. Dannreuther, Saul Teichman, and Craig Sholley. Restrikes, by contrast, show "a strong mirror from polishing" and are better struck, "generally with a fully struck foot," as seen here. Restrikes are "also rather easily distinguished from Originals by the very granular (rusty) letters and eagle," according to their study of the issue. This particular specimen is a somewhat later Early State Restrike with polishing having removed the rust on the obverse at the back of Libertys left hand and along the outside of the forearm. It was struck after the early restrikes of Judd-84, the rare 1838 Gobrecht dollar that was originally produced as a pattern.<p>Two major varieties of silver 1839 Gobrecht dollars with the starless reverse were produced: reeded edge Judd-104, offered here, and plain edge Judd-105. Judd-107 was struck from the same dies in copper, while Judd-108 (silver) and Judd-109 (copper) are mules struck during the Linderman era from Starry Reverse B (a.k.a. "The Cracked Reverse"). Judd-107 and Judd-109 are both unique, and Judd-108 is extremely rare, with just three specimens known. Though specimens of Judd-104 are somewhat more numerous, the 1839 as a date is the second rarest in the Gobrecht dollar series after 1838. Only 75 to 100 examples of the 1839 Judd-104 are believed extant (per the <em>uspatterns.com</em> website), a total that includes about a dozen Die Alignment III restrikes, as here, and additional restrikes in Die Alignment IV. PCGS# 11446. NGC ID: BLY5. From the Julius Korein Collection, sold to benefit the American Numismatic Society.
