The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 7, February 18, 2007, Article 3

BOOKLET: RELATIVE RARITY OF U.S. SILVER DOLLARS

W. David Perkins writes: "A few years back I acquired the correspondence
and notes of the Ostheimers, specialist collectors of the early silver 
dollars 1798-1803.  There were a few miscellaneous items that were
included, one that I was not familiar with being featured here.  I
happened to pull it out and read it again while looking for another item.

"The booklet (pamphlet sized, 17 pages, 8 ½ by 11) is titled Relative
Rarity of United States Silver Dollars by Clarence J. Hurlbut, 1961,
Bethesda, Maryland.  The price as listed on the cover was $1.50.  The
cover is a crème color.

"Is anyone familiar with Hurlbut or his collection?

"Hurlbut states, "The writer of this booklet has been an amateur
collector of United States Silver Dollars for several years.  As
each additional coin was placed in the collection an effort was made
to determine the rarity of that particular coin with respect to other
silver dollars.  It then became evident that it would be desirable to
ascertain those years in which the several Mints manufactured coins of
this denomination."  Hurlbut used as a source for his booklet a
publication of the U.S. Mint, "Domestic Coin Manufactured by Mints
of the United States."

"The booklet covered silver dollars 1794 to 1935.  Fitting for today's
audiences, here is his "Top 10," ranked by number of pieces struck per
mint records:

" 1839 (300 Pieces)
 1805 (321)
 1873-S (700)
 1878-P Proof (900)
 1881-P Proof (960)
 1883-P Proof (979)
 1836-P Proof (1,000)
 1882-P Proof (1,097)
 1852 (1,100)
 1851 (1300)

"Here's how my specialty, the early silver dollars 1794-1805 were
listed (1795 was not ranked for some reason it was included with 1794):

" 57. 1794 and 1795
 44. 1796
 17. 1797
 66. 1798
 74. 1799
 60. 1800
 37. 1801
 32. 1802
 43. 1803

"The 1884 and 1885 Trade Dollars were not included, nor was the
1870-S."

"Also - does anyone have a copy of the May 1966 issue of The Numismatist?
I need a copy of the Shepard article on a new 1798 Dollar Variety (which
turned out not to be) for an article in the John Reich Journal.  I have
a copy, but can't find it (too many moves!)."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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