Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to present a Proof-65 (NGC) example of the 1921 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan dollar as lot 3074 in the Rarities Night Session of the November 2024 Showcase Auction. While not struck using typical Proof dies, these special strike coins bear common die preparation marks prevalent in the fields, particularly on the obverse of the coin and were made from highly polished dies. The so-called “Zerbe Proof” only occasionally finds its way to auction, although, surprisingly, our November Rarities Night session also offers a second example in lot 3075, graded Proof-64 by PCGS, and bearing stickers from CAC and CMQ.
Farran Zerbe was a self-made legend and enigma of numismatics whose interest in coinage was sparked when a newspaper customer paid him with a silver French 50 centime that his local bank refused to deposit. In 1899, after stints in journalism and running a corner store in his hometown of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, he turned his attention full-time to coins and began publishing the pamphlet “Nut Shell Facts on Coins, Stamps and Paper Money.”
In 1902, he published “Slugs and Stellas” the first of over 100 articles he would write for the Numismatist. In 1904, he claimed vice-presidency of the American Numismatic Association at the tender age of 33, ascending to the full presidency three years later. He purchased the Numismatist from the heirs of its founder, George M. Heath, M.D., in 1908. During his lifetime, Zerbe accumulated an impressive collection of coins which he exhibited often and lent to banks to use in their lobbies as a form of branded advertising.
Zerbe is perhaps best known for his involvement with the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (World’s Fair) in St. Louis and the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. For the St. Louis event, he secured the position of Chief Numismatist for the Fair, responsible for commerce surrounding the entire mintage of 250,000 of Louisiana Purchase commemorative gold dollars. Only 35,000 were sold and the remaining 220,000 were returned for melting. His efforts met with similar results for the Panama-Pacific coin series in San Francisco with much of the original mintage also returned to the mint.
At the ANA convention in 1920, Zerbe wrote a paper calling for the issue of a commemorative silver dollar to celebrate America’s desire for peace which ultimately led to the issue of what we today call the Peace dollar. The San Francisco Mint was meant to issue mintmarked Peace dollars in 1921, but that promise was not met. As recompense (or at his request—the story is muddled), some 200 special strike 1921 Morgans were made, and the coins found their way to Zerbe. No traditional Proof Morgan dollars were authorized in 1921.
To view the entire November 2024 Showcase Auction visit StacksBowers.com. To consign to an upcoming Showcase or Collectors Choice Online Auction, all 800-458-4646 or email [email protected].
