United States 1889 gold dollar
This specimen was lot 1033 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 2,500 CHF (about US$3,810 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"USA, 1 Dollar 1889, Philadelphia. Indian head type. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. (Rare in this condition. NGC MS67+. CAC approved.)"
The introduction of the gold dollar in 1849 filled a desperate need as silver dollars were hoarded, being overvalued, and paper dollars issued by the aptly named "broken banks" were not trustworthy. Numismatists divide the gold dollar issues into three types: type I (1849-54), 13 mm diameter, type II (1854-56), 15 mm diameter, and type III (1856-89), 15 mm diameter with a revised headdress. The three cent nickel was also abolished in 1889.
Recorded mintage: 30,729 including 1,779 proofs.
Specification: 1.672 g, 0.900 fine gold, .048 troy oz AGW, 15.0 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM 86, Fr-35.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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