RAPSUS HIGHLIGHTS NOTABLE ENGRAVED U.S. SILVER DOLLARS

Two notable Seated Liberty silver dollars also bear special engraving. One Gobrecht dollar of 1836 is engraved, "A. Jackson to J.W. McGrath." President Andrew Jackson took an interest in the Gobrecht dollar and its minting; McGrath was a federal judge. Perhaps the President had other dollars engraved and presented to people who were important to him.

Another 1836 Gobrecht dollar, not engraved, was purported to be President Jackson’s personal specimen. The coin, graded from Proof-63 to EF-45 over the years, has been offered at auction, along with a handwritten letter documenting its famous ownership. This coin was offered at a Bowers and Merena auction in 2002 and an American Numismatic Rarities sale the following year, and went unsold on both occasions.

A Carson City dollar of 1870, the first year of production for that mint, was engraved "H.F. Rice to C.C. Warner." Rice was the second superintendent of the Carson City Mint, and Warner was the postmaster of the Virginia City post office. This coin was displayed by Rusty Goe, president of the Carson City Coin Collectors of America, at a meeting of the club on Aug. 21, 2009. Also displayed were two blank planchets, given by Abe Curry, the first Carson City Mint superintendent, to local entrepreneurs, and a specially engraved dollar mounted in a bracelet, given by Curry to friends. Perhaps other Carson City silver dollars were engraved by the superintendent, or another bigwig, and presented to dignitaries.

To read the complete article, see: Engraved 'D' Dollars Mark Historical Event (www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=9029)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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