|
Sale 16
Lot 914
1796 $2.50 Capped Bust. No stars on obverse. PCGS graded AU-55. A stellar example of this first year and type of issue, struck during the Winter months of 1796. We note decent luster in the fields, and there are some trivial adjustment marks on the obverse rim, mostly on the right side, but a few are present in her hair. Unusually well struck for the issue, with a full E on LIBERTY, which is often weak as that letter is located just behind the eagle's broad and deeply engraved tail. A similar situation occurred on 1805 quarters, where the similar design produced a notoriously weak E or R on LIBERTY. This one is sharply struck, as stated, with excellent details on Liberty's curls, and the reverse is totally sharp and without a sign of weakness. Identifiable by a small pit in the right obverse field, midway between Liberty's neck and the rim and a thin scratch from the back of Liberty's head to the rim left of the L. Toned a rich light gold color on both sides. Philadelphia Mint records indicated a grand total of 963 of these were produced before the stars were added to the obverse. Naturally, few survive in top grades, and this one is certainly a memorable offering. PCGS has graded 21 this high, with 27 a notch higher in AU-58, then the numbers fall off the map, with just 3 graded as MS-61, 1 in MS-62 and a sole MS-65 sitting atop the grading mountain all by itself. A crowning achievement for a collector to obtain, and worthy of the finest collection in the land.
Estimated Value $50,000-UP.
|
|
Lot 1005
1795 $10 Capped Bust. 13 leaves below eagle. PCGS graded MS-61. This is a lovely example of this first year of issue. The obverse shows rich orange gold luster throughout, and the surfaces reflect only faint signs of handling. There are some central adjustment marks hidden in Liberty's hair and across her cheek. On the reverse we note minor handling ticks in the fields, and the strike is sharp on the eagle save for his eye, which is slightly weak. An impressive example for the type or date collector who demands mint state quality for their collection. Rarely encountered this nice, and worth a strong bid. PCGS has graded 13 this high, with 40 graded higher in various mint state grades of the 13 leaf variety. In PCGS holder #3629553.
Estimated Value $30,000-UP.
|
|
Lot 1141
1915-S Panama-Pacific Gold $50 Octagonal. PCGS graded MS-64. Glowing luster and boldly struck. The surfaces are nearly of gem quality, and this is about as nice as these large coins are ever found. In fact, PCGS has graded only 150 this high, with 12 higher, all MS-65 above, and that's out of the original mintage of 645 coins. Apparently the octagonal coins were more popular than the round format $50s, and if a buyer could only afford one coin, then the octagonal was favored as reflected in the higher mintage. On the octagonal coins, the devices were smaller such as Minera's head and helmet, and the owl as well, but eight small dolphins were added into the corners of the coin, which no doubt attracted a number of buyers, as there were no dolphins on the round version. Always in great demand and about as nice as a collector could hope to find for the grade.
Estimated Value $32,500 - 37,500.
|
|
Lot 689
1893-CC Morgan Dollar. PCGS graded Proof 63 Branch Mint. This is the famous Amon Carter Branch Mint Proof, which is designated as such on the PCGS insert. Gorgeous deep blue and burgundy red toning along the lower right obverse with iridescent sea green and yellow toning around the balance of the periphery of the obverse, the reverse similar with deep blue to gold at the edge, blazing white for the balance. Superbly struck on a perfect planchet, and with deeply frosted and cameo devices. One tiny complex lint mark is noted below the OD of GOD above the eagle's beak. Close examination will note minor hairlines and these apparently kept this from a higher technical grade. Needless to say, this coin is simply stunning with its colorful toning, and would be so were it a Philadelphia Mint proof, but when one considers that this is a Branch Mint Proof, from the final year of operation from the Carson City Mint, the importance of this coin can simply not be overstated.
The reported mintage is just a dozen pieces, 9 of which have been graded by PCGS. This one sits with a small group of 5 that have been graded the same, with 3 higher and one below according to a recent PCGS Population Report.
Amon Carter was a famous collector who sold his extensive collection through Stack's in 1984. Most of his coins had been held in Wayte Raymond holders, or something similar for many years, and thus possessed wonderful multicolored toning around the rims. Such spectacular toning is seldom available, and when these coins come up for sale, they always bring a premium for the date depending on the vibrancy, organization and eye appeal of the toning. An exceptional opportunity.
Estimated Value $40,000-UP.
From Stack's Amon Carter Sale, January 18, 1984, lot 365.
|
|
Lot 1023
1867 $10 Liberty. PCGS graded Proof 64. Here is a genuine rare early proof gold coin. The devices are piled high with mint frost, and the mirror fields are well preserved for the grade, and we wonder why this one was not designated a cameo proof. We note a few faint hairlines, expected and always seen on early proof gold such as this. Remarkably, 50 were coined back in 1867 for collectors, but where are they today? PCGS for all its years of grading has seen 2 of these, just 2. This coin at the top as PR-64, and another way below as PR-55 (being mishandled or spent!). NGC has seen a total of 4 pieces, 2 as PF-64, one as PF-65 and one more at the top as PF-66. Obviously, there aren't 50 out there awaiting to come out of the woodwork! This particular one can be identified by a thin line below TE of TEN, and a tiny short lint mark off to the right from the top berry on the branch.
A foremost rarity in proof, and a rare production date as well, 1867 eagles are just a rare bird any way you cook them. An opportunity for the advanced numismatist.
Breen enumerated those known as follows:
1). Mint, Smithsonian
2). Brock, Morgan, ANS
3). Boyd, WGC, J.F. Bell, "Memorable":566
4). Atwater:1445, Possibly same as next
5). Ullmer:491, $15,000 Possibly same as 3) or 4)
6). Clapp, Eliasberg:727, $17,600, RARCOA session of Auction '85:457: $17,600 Superior's 1/86:3208, $18,150
7). N.M. Kaufman:879, $7,500, tiny rim nick obverse
8). Garrett 3/76:417, $10,000, Essex Numismatic Properties, Trompeter collection.
Estimated Value $30,000-UP.
|
|
Lot 1093
1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, flat rim. NGC graded MS-66. One of the finest graded by NGC of this extremely popular and beautiful coin, we note their current online population report shows just 33 graded as such, with a scant 3 graded higher (one in each grade of mint state above up to MS-69). Superb surfaces as expected, and a beautiful coin to behold. No signs of breaks in the luster, and close examination will locate just a few tiny ticks from gentle handling. Obviously this one was set aside on the day of issue, and lovingly preserved by all who've had the pleasure to own it.
Estimated Value $32,000 - 36,000.
|
|
Lot 2
c.1616 Sommer Islands (Bermuda) Shilling, small sail. PCGS graded EF-40. One of the classic rarities of the colonial series, only a few were known before the advent of metal detectors located several more in the Bermuda Islands. These were struck at the authorization of the Governor Daniel Tucker who was in office for just two years, 1616 to 1618. It is not known who made them, but they were struck using the ancient hammer method. The planchets were thin and seldom round, and silvered lightly to simulate value. Curiously the silvering caused the coins to rapidly corrode, and hence virtually none are known with smooth surfaces or much more than a trace of the original silvering. In particular we note this example is dark brown in color, with a fairly sharp strike. More or less round and well preserved, there are the usual areas of corrosion, but less so than on many others of this issue.
The Sommer Islands were named for Sir George Sommers (or Summers or Somers, all spellings recur) who ended up in the Bermuda Islands during a hurricane which forced his ship the Sea Adventure to seek shelter for repairs in 1609. Sommers left the Islands after the ships were repaired and returned to England, leaving a few sturdy men behind to claim the Islands for England. Those left behind were memorialized in Shakespeare's The Tempest with its allusion to the Islands. Meanwhile, Sommers returned to the Bermuda Islands the next year to bring provisions back to England, however Sommers died while in Bermuda. Thus the Islands were renamed from the Bermuda Islands (also Hogge Islands for the wild pigs on the Island which arrived via a shipwreck in 1532) to the Sommers Islands. In time, the name reverted back to the Bermuda Islands.
The coins depict the wild hog or boar, so many of which were found on the Island, and the reverse likely shows Sommer's flagship. Despite the numbers found in recent years, PCGS has graded a scant 3 so far, one in grades of VG-VF, and two as EF-40, with none higher! Most of those which have been located in the sands of Bermuda are in far worse shape than seen here, and many are corroded nearly beyond recognition. For many years only 2 were known (Crosby) and it wasn't until more recent times that a few dozen have been unearthed. If you demand a relatively attractive example of this rare coin, then bid accordingly as these rarities only turn up when major collections cross the block.
Estimated Value $35,000-UP.
From the Paul Arthur Norris Collection.
|
|
Lot 1094
1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, flat rim. PCGS graded MS-65. A stunning gem of this most popular first year of issue type coin. Only 11,250 were struck in all. Breen believes that about 3,000 of the flat rim coins were produced first in November 1907, then a new collar was prepared for the coining press, and the new collar produced the knife rim coins, and 8,250 of those were struck in December. The epic battles of how this coin came about have been enumerated here many times, and suffice to say, this Augustus Saint Gaudens design represents what is arguably the high water mark of all numismatic designs and production, and the tide rapidly left the bay as soon as the ever jealous Chief Engraver Charles Barber got his hand involved. Late in 1907 the relief of the design was drastically reduced, and Barber's mediocrity won out with the help of the Philadelphia Mint bureaucrats.
Despite Barber's best efforts, the immense talent of mankind shone for a brief couple of months, and Augustus Saint Gaudens's rendition of the embodiment of Liberty lives on in the high relief and ultra high relief coins. Further, the Saint Gaudens flying eagle is far more majestic than any seen since the time of the Greeks, and combined with the full frontal walking Liberty on the obverse make for a stunning coin. Struck between seven and nine times to bring up the finest points of the design elements, these medallic works of art are the quintessential American gold coin design and remain unsurpassed nearly a century after they were coined. In an old green insert PCGS holder number 4821005.
Estimated Value $22,500 - 25,000.
|
|
Lot 1056
1860-O $20 Liberty. PCGS graded AU-58. Neither PCGS or NGC has graded a coin of this date in Mint State, and this is about as close to that grade as you can get. One of the finer points of this coin is that the fields are prooflike, so it was likely an early strike off the dies. The devices are all very sharp as well, with no signs of weakness even on the upper curls of Liberty. Only 6,600 were struck, and doubtless very few were saved. As the Civil War exploded into the forefront of the news, many were likely melted to pay for needed munitions and other war materials in the cash poor South. Somehow, this coin survived at the top of the heap, with just a trace of wear and a light scattering of ticks from handling. Liberty's cheek is clean, and there are no disturbing digs or problems signs of contact, also unusual for this large, New Orleans Mint issue. PCGS has graded only 4 this high, and NGC has graded 12 as such, and again, neither service has graded any higher. In PCGS holder #50021137.
Estimated Value $25,000-UP.
|
|
Lot 1088
1907 $20 St. Gaudens. High relief, Roman numerals, wire rim. PCGS graded MS-65. A magnificent gem example of the High Relief design, the surfaces boast mint fresh luster throughout, and show only the faintest signs of handling. Struck up to near perfection, which normally required seven to nine blows from the dies to produce the deep, medallic like devices seen here. Locating one of these in gem grades is usually quite a trick, there are about 300 graded as such by PCGS, and a few in even higher grades, but collectors understandably have a hard time parting with these. Housed in an old green insert PCGS holder number 5313301, and a mate to the flat rim coin in this same auction.
Estimated Value $22,500 - 25,000.
|
|
|
