Matador Rare Coins in New York City has discovered a virtually complete date set of 19th-century US $1 gold coins assembled by famed Philadelphia dealer Henry Chapman.
The collection, which was hidden for more than a century in a Philadelphia bank vault and safe deposit boxes, includes 51 Liberty Head and Indian Princess Head dollars from 1849 to 1889 and eight U.S. commemorative gold dollars from the early 1900s.
A Philadelphia family has held and stored The Henry Chapman Collection of $1 Gold for centuries. Luis Martinez, creator and president of Matador Rare Coins, said the current owners thought their relatives' coins were worth $50,000, but they are now insured for $2 million. He is helping the set's mysterious proprietors.
Martinez said Chapman personally assembled this collection for a banking family in 1899, and the coins had been in the family for generations. The set comprises gold dollars from the Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco Mints and several famous coins.
After receiving the coins, I carefully examined each one. In their original envelopes from Henry Chapman's Philadelphia business, several coins were attractive. I was astonished as I examined each coin. I realized then that this collection may be a national treasure, said Martinez.
The enclosed insert label shows the Chapman pedigree on all PCGS-certified coins.
“PCGS is proud to have united these coins with their impressive pedigree at the September 2023 Long Beach Expo,” stated PCGS president Stephanie Sabin
This historic collection includes Henry Chapman's cabinets and rare and graded items. Keeping coins and their history is a privilege.”
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