Extremely Rare 1836 Judd-65 Gobrecht Dollar, PR62
No Stars on Obverse and Reverse
Only Three Examples Known

1836 P$1 Name on Base, Judd-65 Restrike, Pollock-68, R.8, PR62 NGC. Silver. Plain Edge. Die Alignment III (head of Liberty opposite the N in ONE after a coin turn). The Judd-65 is a mule that marries the Judd-60 obverse (with its plain edge collar) with the reverse from the Judd-84. As always, a patch of die rust is present in the field in front of Liberty's face. Die cracks are present on the reverse connecting the tops of UNITED and MERIC, and through the bottoms of LAR continuing into the field right of R. The die line above T is weak, and the die spur is present on the upper right curve of the D in UNITED.
It appears that at least three examples of this rare Gobrecht dollar exist. The roster we have been able to compile shows the following confirmed examples:

1. Jenks Collection (Woodward, 6/1883), lot 117; T. Harrison Garrett; Garrett II (Bowers and Ruddy, 3/1980), lot 700; Clemente Collection (Bowers and Merena, 5/1994), lot 1058; L.K. Rudolf Collection (Stack's, 5/2003), lot 2093, a PR64 that brought $184,000; Dr. Julius Korein; ANS.
2. Pre-Long Beach Auction (Goldberg's, 5/2004), lot 2359, stated to have been in a family collection since the 1920s. A PR65 that also brought $184,000.
3. Ralph J. Lathrop; 1952 ANA Sale (New Netherlands, 8/1952), lot 1286. The present coin.

Other appearances:

A. 1914 ANS Exhibition (H.O. Granberg); possibly (per the Burke & Clemente catalog) William Woodin; Waldo Newcomer; King Farouk; Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), lot 1715. Unplated.
B. W.W.C. Wilson to Virgil Brand in 1919 (Brand Journal Inventory Number 90912).
C. Olsen Collection (Mehl, 11/1944), lot 1764. Unplated.
D. Charles Jay Collection (Stack's, 10/1967), lot 173.
E. Mougey Collection (Elder, 9/1910), lot 969. Plated catalog unavailable.
F. Reed Hawn Collection (Stack's, 10/1993), lot 738.

The Jay coin is reported to weigh 411 grains, the Jenks example weighed 410.9 grains, and Reed Hawn's coin was reported to weigh 411.9 grains. These lighter (post-1836) weights are clustered in a tight range close to the 412.5-grain standard. These known weights coupled with the above-mentioned die cracks firmly place these pieces as post-1858 restrikes, and the die rust in front of Liberty's face suggests an even later striking period. This is, in fact, the latest striking period for silver Gobrecht dollars. The only later period is for the copper strikings, Judd-64, 87, and 107. It has been speculated that restrikes could have been struck as late as 1885, but that is clearly too late for this final die state for silver strikes, as an example of Judd-85 (the Korein coin) was sold by W. Elliot Woodward in 1883. The production date for this restrike appears to be even earlier as seen by Woodward's lot description of the Judd-65 in that sale:

"This is one of the rarest of all the pattern dollars. In all the collections I have ever bought and sold I believe that I never possessed another specimen and have never seen but one other; (emphasis ours) it is far rarer than the one of 1836 with Gobrecht in the field."

Clearly if Woodward sold an example in 1883 and had seen one prior, then these pieces must have been produced sometime before that year.
The fields of this piece are brightly mirrored, consistent with the production of proofs struck after 1858. The mirroring is remarkable when one considers the light hairlining and toning present. Each side displays golden-rose patina, and on the obverse a distinctive band of near-brilliance is seen in the right obverse field. The devices are sharply struck but lack complete definition with slight softness on Liberty's hair and extended foot noted but complete breast feathers are seen on the eagle. (#11249)

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