Silver dollars are always talked about in great lengths in the numismatic hobby. However, when most people think or speak about silver dollars these days, they often refer to either the famed Morgan Silver Dollar or its popular follow up, the Peace dollar. It always takes a publication like Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest United States Coins to remind us how many silver dollars came before those two and the importance of the denomination in U.S. coinage history. That is certainly the case in this next blog entry that has us following along with the fourth edition of Whitman’s publication. As always, author Jeff Garrett will help guide us along.
#73 – 1836, 1838, and 1839 Gobrecht Silver Dollars
The third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, Christian Gobrecht, is a well-known figure in numismatic history. The silver dollars designed by him, also referred to as the Gobrecht dollars, are still some of the most sought after and beautiful coins ever struck. Although considered patterns for many years, the dollars dated 1836 and 1839 were circulated in large numbers. In addition, research from the Mint Archives also suggests that the two dates were intended for circulation, leaving 1838 as the only true pattern of the series.
Gobrecht dollars with the date of 1836 can be found with obverses depicting the artist’s name below the base or on the base (it was moved after Gobrecht was criticized for making his name so extrusive). The skies on the reverse can also be seen either with 26 stars or without and edges are either reeded or plain. There were 600 Gobrecht dollars struck in 1837 but they also featured the date of 1836. Thus, there is no such thing as an 1837-dated Gobrecht dollar. When it came to the 1838 and 1839 coins, stars were added to the obverses around the edge and Gobrecht’s name was removed.
The dollars designed by Gobrecht were the first silver dollar struck since 1804. The series was short lived, but their impact still remains.
The historic value of the 1836-dated Gobrecht dollar in a Choice Proof condition in 1960 was $1,750. Additionally, the 1838 and 1839 in the same condition were valued at $2,500. By this fourth edition (2015), the 1836 rose to $45,000 with the 1838 and 1839 dollars rising to $85,000.
