Is This Ebay Gold Dollar Legit?

That's Doug Winters Book btw. The confusion as I understand it comes from a very old (even for that time) roller device for planchet preparation, which was hand cranked. It was used for early Half Dime planchets. New Orleans Mjnt did indeed have a screw press and it was very strong. It was used to make the four original CSA half dollars when they discovered the shield reverse was high relief and did not strike well in the regular coining press.

Thanks for the follow-up, ambro. That makes sense that the old "roller device" you described may be a possible explanation for why Bowers was confused/got his info wrong.

And, thanks, Dave, for the seconding of Mr. Winters' information...

Looks like yet ANOTHER book I'll have to get...

SPEAKING of books, I see that Bowers' "Gold Dollars" book has a first and a second edition. I can get a copy of the first edition REALLY cheap; would I be correct in presuming that the main reason for the second edition was just to bring the values of the coins more up-to-date?

Thanks! I apologize for posting misleading information.

Steve

"A Reference to Federal Gold Coinage" Vol 1. Paul Taglione is a really difficult to find book but very cerebral and an intense exploration of GDs by date mm. By all means get Bowers second edition as the condition census, auction records and "prices" are updated. Gold dollar references are limited and most out of date. A subscription to PCGS online Coinfacts is a big help.

I can see my situation heading in that direction, yes... ;)

ambro -- OK, I'll get the second edition of Bowers' book. I'll also look into PCGS online Coinfacts...I think Coinfacts used to be separate from PCGS, but now the Coinfacts website refers you to PCGS, if I recall correctly...

Well, I may have just had a "successful" purchase...

I'll post back, with picture and details, once I get the coin...

Steve

ambro -- wow! That's a terrific coin! And, I'm not familiar with a "Vermont Immune Columbia..."

Do you have a pic of THAT?

Steve

During this period, my ancestors in Vermont (my family goes back three centuries in Vermont) were an independent Republic, having fought their way free from New York and New Hampshire. Vermont was to become the 14th State in 1791.

The Republic commissioned coinage, produced by Reuben Harmon of Rupert and (for a couple of years) a mint at Machin's Mills, Newburgh, NY (where this coin originated).

I exaggerated slightly in my last post - there are thirty-some known of this variety, called Ryder-1, although since so many are in museum collections, few private collectors will ever get to own one. As such, it's an extremely important coin, and I'd be surprised if ambro51 doesn't consider it one of the highlights of his collection.