Holabird Western Americana Collections Will Host a Huge, 5-Day ‘SPOOKTACULAR’ Sale, Live in Reno, Nevada and Online, Oct. 29-Nov. 2

Oct 21, 2020 | Announcements, Auctions

Start times all five days are 8 am Pacific time. More than 3,600 lots in a wide array of collecting categories are set to cross the auction block, with online bidding available on several platforms.

RENO, Nev. – Original artwork for what is widely regarded as the very first psychedelic rock poster – created in 1965 for the grand opening of the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada and advertising the acid-rock group The Charlatans for a series of dates that never happened – is an expected star lot in Holabird Western Americana Collections’ big, five-day Spooktacular Sale planned for Oct. 29-Nov. 2, online and live in the gallery located at 3555 Airway Drive in Reno.

Start times all five days are 8 am Pacific time. More than 3,600 lots in a wide array of collecting categories are set to cross the auction block. “We continue to get in marvelous collections of Americana from all over the country, and this auction features many amazing one-of-a-kind rarities and several long-awaited collections, like the ones for Ken Prag, Salvatore Falcone and John Reynolds,” said Fred Holabird, the president of Holabird Western Americana Collections.

The Charlatans concert poster will be offered on Day 1, October 29th, and has a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$15,000. In 1965, when Red Dog Saloon owners Mark Unobsky and Chandler Laughlin made plans to open for business, they decided against a jukebox for music and instead wanted to enlist a house band. A friend suggested The Charlatans, a fledgling acid-rock group in San Francisco that had never even played a gig – just practiced. Oh, and dropped a lot of acid.

To advertise the event, one of The Charlatans, George Hunter, suggested a poster, only not the usual kind that featured publicity photos of the act. This one would be hand-drawn, in the style of an old circus poster, with the faces and names of the band members and the dates – June 1-15. Hunter himself did the artwork. Except The Charlatans were too stoned to keep the dates, so the shows had to be pushed ahead, to June 21st. As a result, another poster was created. The one in the auction, for the June 1-15 dates, is the original (“The Seed”), and is a psychedelic rock rarity.

Along with that rare poster, Day 1 will be filled with 679 lots of art, Native Americana, textiles, foreign and general collectibles, collector spoons, jewelry, scales, advertising items and signs, furnishings and 3-D items, music, theater, sports, tobacciana, saloon, cowboy, comic books, books and magazines, antiquarian books, bottle, marbles and gaming – a collector’s paradise.

Co-headlining Day 1 will be a classic 1960s 25-cent slot machine from the famous Nevada Club Casino, a classic slot for those who collect Tahoe items (est. $550-$650). The machine features the classic Jennings Indian Head in brass. Also offered will be a complete set (#1-169) of Classic Illustrated Comics (1941-1969). These comic books took classic stories from history and literature and made them more attractive to children and teenagers (est. $3,000-$6,000).

Other Day 1 superstar lots will include a banded Lutz marble, very attractive and in a rare 1 ½ inch size, with a clear glass base (est. $700-$800). Along with the two Lutz bands there are also four light blue outer strands. The surface is original. Also, a turquoise cluster bracelet by the well-known Navajo silversmith Ella Peter, boasting beautiful dark blue turquoise stones and flanked on both sides by nice silver work, signed by the artist, should command $550-$650.

Day 2, Friday, October 30th, will be just as packed as Day 1, with 762 lots of firefighting memorabilia, fraternal organizations items, badges (which will also be offered on Day 5), numismatics, bullion, ingots, coins and currency, dies and hobbs, ephemera and exonumia, medals, so-called dollars (named because they are shaped like silver dollar coins) and tokens.

Day 2 might just see the top lot of the entire auction: a large silver ingot from the U.S. Assay Office in San Francisco, the product of five pours in the 1940s. The ingot came to Holabird in an old Farmers Merchants Bank (Lodi, Calif.) cloth bank bag, held by the same family since its original purchase. Weighing 1016.70 troy ounces, the ingot should bring $24,000-$35,000.

Also offered on Day 2 will be a Moore and Sweet token, good for 50 cents in merchandise at Fort Quitman, which operated on the border of Texas and Mexico in northwest Texas from 1858 to 1877. Struck in 1871, the token has an estimate of $800-$1,600. A British gold sovereign coin from 1890, during the rule of Queen Victoria, weighing .2354 ounces, should reach $500-$700.

A Washington, D.C. Metro Airport Fire Department gold-plated brass badge from the 2001 presidential inauguration, showing the presidential seal, the American and Virginia flags, a passenger jet and a fire truck, is estimated to sell for $200-$250. Also, a group of ten Fire Department Convention ribbons, all from Northeastern states and circa 1808-1911 (example: “Neptune Vet. Firemen’s Assn., Newburyport, Mass.”) is expected to garner $300-$400.

Day 3, October 31st, will feature 685 ‘spooktacular’ collectibles in a wide variety of categories: transportation, stocks and bonds, minerals and mining, tools, firearms, political memorabilia, World’s Fair collectibles and militaria. Firearms sales subject to state and federal regulations.

Day 3 highlights will include a rare and early stock certificate for Gould & Curry (Virginia City, Nev.), one of the key producers on the Comstock, datelined San Francisco Jan. 13, 1865 and one of possibly only a dozen known (est. $800-$1,200); and a great gold specimen from the North Bonanza mine, located in the Flowery District down Six Mile Canyon in Virginia City, Nevada, near the Lady Bryan (est. $1,000-$2,000). The visible gold specimen weighs in at 2.59 ounces.

Day 4, November 1st, will contain 712 lots of general Americana (geographically sorted, from Arizona to Wyoming), maps, photographs, philatelic, Wells Fargo and bargains and specials.

Day 4 top lots will include an original broadside for the opening of the Hoover Dam in Boulder City, Nevada, printed circa 1935 and measuring 22 inches by 32 inches, reading, “Las Vegas, Nevada / Gateway to the Great Boulder Dam” (est. $1,000-$2,000); and a blue and white enameled metal sign for the Valley Express Company, measuring 24 inches by 16 inches, with some corrosion and wear on the back but the front in very good condition (est. $500-$1,000).

Day 5, November 2nd, will feature Part 2 of bargains and dealer specials, art, Native Americana, firearms and weaponry, badges, foreign collectibles, textiles, furnishings and 3-D collectibles, general Americana ephemera and collectibles, Hollywood and theater, music, cowboy / saloon / tobacco, bottles, gaming, jewelry, general Americana (geographically sorted), political, sports, postcards, Wells Fargo, World’s Fairs, military, mining, stocks and bonds and transportation.

Offered on Day 5 will be a nice quartet of four 1800s bourbon and whiskey bottles, including a rare J. Moore Brown Old Bourbon, a Roanoke Rye brown, a blob top brown and a clear Old Quaker Club Whiskey with a rare embossed picture, all being sold as one lot (est. $350-$1,000).

Online bidding will be facilitated by iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, AuctionMobility.com and Auctionzip.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. For those planning to attend live, Holabird’s gallery is located at 3555 Airway Drive in Reno. All state and CDC regulations regarding COVID-19 (masks, social distancing, etc.) will be enforced.

Color catalogs are available by calling 1-844-492-2766, or 775-851-1859. Also, anyone owning a collection that might fit into an upcoming Holabird Western Americana Collections auction is encouraged to get in touch. The firm travels extensively throughout the U.S., to see and pick up collections. The company has agents all over America and will travel to inspect most collections.
Holabird Western Americana Collections is always in the hunt for new and major collections to bring to market. It prides itself as being a major source for selling Americana at the best prices obtainable, having sold more than any other similar company in the past decade alone. The firm will have its entire sales database online soon, at no cost – nearly 200,00 lots sold since 2014.
To consign a single piece or a collection, you may call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or, you can send an e-mail to fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, visit www.holabirdamericana.com. Updates are posted often.

Holabird Western Americana Collections (Post-Sale, Aug. 27-31)

Sep 23, 2020 | Auctions, News

AN 1861 MILITARY AMPUTATION KIT, A PAIR OF 1910-1920 RAILROAD SIGNAL LAMPS AND A CHOICE CRYSTALLINE GOLD SPECIMEN BRING HIGH DOLLARS AT HOLABIRD’S GREAT AMERICAN POW-WOW AUCTION HELD AUGUST 27th thru 31st

The sale was packed with Native and general Americana, sports collectibles, toys, stamps and coins, tokens, stocks and bonds, firearms and weaponry, minerals, mining, bargains, specials.

RENO, Nev. – A Civil War-era military amputation kit sold for $5,000, a pair of circa 1910-1920 railroad signal lamps brought $5,375 and a choice, attractive crystalline gold specimen weighing 5.45 troy ounces hit $5,625 at a Great American Pow-Wow Auction held August 27th-August 31st by Holabird Western Americana Collections, online and live in the Reno gallery.

Native and general Americana took center stage at the huge, five-day auction, which Holabird Western Americana Collections president and owner Fred Holabird said contained “the best material we’ve offered in a hot August auction in many years.” He added, “The variety was outstanding, as was the quality of goods offered. There was truly something for everybody.”

The military amputation kit was made around 1861 by G. Tiemann & Co. (N.Y.), which had been making surgical instruments since 1826. The kit contained an oval label adhered to the center of the protective felt cover of the saw department (with the address of 63 Chatham St., New York City), dating the piece prior to 1861. Most of the tools were punched “Tiemann”.

One of the two railroad signal lamps was the four-color Adlake lamp, a prize for any collector, 15 inches tall and 8 inches in diameter. The other was marked “SP & Co.” (for Southern Pacific Railway) and was without a globe. The crystalline gold specimen contained lead and silver sulfides. The specimen had one cut edge, exposing a very high percentage of native gold.

Native American offerings included turquoise and silver jewelry, baskets, Kachinas, and rugs. Also up for bid was a fine California token collection, American and foreign counters and tokens from the Benjamin Fauver collection, rare old whiskey bottles and scarce Nevada documents.

Also offered was a major pinback collection, baseball and boxing collectibles, gold specimens, American and foreign medals, Victorian furniture, Western art, original Buffalo Bill/Pawnee Bill posters, large ore cars and incline cars from a Nevada City mine, and dynamite and candle boxes.

The list continued with an American souvenir plate collection, music collectibles, toys and toy trains, postcard collections, directories, maps, a railroad pass collection, antique firearms, badges, mining and railroad stocks, coins, token dies, a rock-shop section and mining artifacts.

Day 1, on Thursday, August 27th, kicked off with 93 lots of art, followed by 231 lots of Native Americana, 269 lots of general Americana (Part 1), eight lots of sports items and 46 lots of toys.

A significant lot was an Indian cuff silver bracelet with a prominent Kingman turquoise stone, measuring 4 inches by 2 ¼ inches. The sterling cuff was 6 inches. The bracelet brought $2,250. Also sold on Day 1 was a beautiful, American-made 1970s Fender jazz bass guitar, the Cadillac of Fender bass guitars, serial #282180, with a sunburst finish and a rosewood fret board ($3,375).

Day 2, on Friday, August 28th, began with 87 philatelic (stamps) and postal history lots, followed by Part 2 of general Americana and 24 lots of firearms and weaponry. The railroad signal lamps and military amputation kit were the Day 2 star lots, but also sold was a Van Bergen Gold Dust whiskey bottle from 1880 in an ultra-rare aqua color, in very near perfect condition ($2,500).

Day 3, on Saturday, August 29th, contained 125 lots of stocks and bonds; nearly 300 lots of numismatics; and 217 lots of tokens, a fan favorite. Day 3 top achievers included a group of 20 rolls of 90 percent silver Washington quarters, with a face value of $200 ($4,375); and a very rare Masonic trade token (“D.K. Nichols / Masonic / Cal.”) that fetched $3,250. Masonic was a tiny mining camp in California that was discovered in the 1860s and died out not long afterward.

Day 4, on Sunday, August 30th, commenced with 42 lots of minerals, then progressed into mining collectibles (277 lots) and closed with 290 lots of bargains and dealer specials (Part 1).

Day 5, on Monday, August 31st, was a continuation of more bargains and dealer specials. Top lots included an Indian Head penny hoard of more than 1,500 Indian Head cents from 1880-1908, mostly in almost good to very good condition ($1,563); and a nice group of Western postcards showcasing the women cowboys of the American rodeo, mostly circa 1920s ($625).

Online bidding was facilitated by iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, AuctionMobility.com and Auctionzip.com. Telephone and absentee bids were also accepted.

Anyone owning a collection that might fit into an upcoming Holabird Western Americana Collections auction is encouraged to get in touch. The firm travels extensively, to see and pick up collections. Last year it visited Boston, Florida, Seattle and New York, among other destinations.

Holabird Western Americana Collections is seeking quality Americana and coin consignments, bottles, advertising and other collections for future auctions. To consign a single piece or a collection, you may call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or, you can send an e-mail to fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more, please visit www.holabirdamericana.com.

Fresh, High-End Coins Star in Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 40

Aug 29, 2020 | Auctions, News

(Lincroft, NJ—August 29, 2020)—Legend Rare Coin Auctions just concluded an immensely successful Regency Auction, the firm’s 40th, in Las Vegas. The official auction of the PCGS Members Only Show, LRCA’s hand-curated, boutique-style offered a wide array of popular coins in many different series. The sale was highlighted by fresh, collector oriented coins that yet again proved the depth and breadth of the coin market. A wave of bidders came in during the last 24 hours of prebidding or live during the sale; participating online, leaving absentee bids, or phone bidding. While the sale did not have any six-figure rarities, there were a number of mid-five figure coins that found new homes. Starting strong was lot 4, the fabulous 1837 N-16 cent from the Naftzger Collection, graded PCGS MS65+ RD CAC, which sold for a record $42,300. (Note: this and all prices reported here include the 17.5% buyer’s premium). A few lots later, lot 11, the finest known 1861 Proof Indian Head cent in PCGS PR66+ CAM CAC, smashed the previous auction record for a Cameo 1861 cent when it sold for $55,813 (the prior record was $15,000 for a PR65 CAM). Near the end of the sale, lot 358, a superb MS66+ CAC 1915-S $20 realized $52,875, also smashing a recent record for the issue (in January 2020, another example sold for $36,000).

“Bidding activity was very strong, fierce in fact for many coins during the sale,” said Matthew Bell, C.E.O. of Legend Rare Coin Auctions. “Live participation was incredibly strong, continuing the trend we have seen throughout the year, as buyers continue to bid live instead of prebidding.”

“With limited coin shows and other opportunities for collectors and dealers to buy great, world-class quality coins, auctions have almost exclusive attention, free of those other venues,” explained LRCA founder, Laura Sperber. “As we continue with these trends of no major, national conventions, to get top dollar and exposure, you have to put your coins in auction, and no one has proved this more than we have in the last six months!”

Among the highlight prices realized of Regency Auction 40 are:

  • Lot 4. 1C 1837 N-16. Medium Letters. PCGS MS65+ RD CAC, realized $42,300
  • Lot 11. 1C 1861 PCGS PR66+ CAM CAC, realized $55,813
  • Lot 18. 1C 1922 No D. Strong Reverse. PCGS MS64 BN CAC, realized $47,000
  • Lot 29. 1C 1950 PCGS MS67+ RD CAC, realized $10,575
  • Lot 123. 25C 1927-S PCGS MS65, realized $12,338
  • Lot 150. 50C 1920-S PCGS MS66, realized $38,775
  • Lot 218. 50C 1963 NGC MS66 FBL, realized $15,275
  • Lot 319. $2.50 1892 PCGS PR66 DCAM, realized $27,025
  • Lot 321 $2.50 1911-D PCGS MS65 CAC, realized $64,625
  • Lot 347. $20 1865 NGC MS64 CAC, ex S.S. Republic, realized $21,150
  • Lot 358. $20 1915-S PCGS MS66+ CAC, realized $52,875
  • Lot 366. $10 1860 Clark Gruber. PCGS XF40, realized $21,738

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 41 is up next and will be one of the greatest auctions of the decade with the sale of the Bruce Morelan Collection, featuring the world’s most expensive coin, the Specimen 1794 silver dollar, along with the Dexter-Dunham-Pogue 1804 silver dollar, and an impressive offering of 18th-century type coins, including two gorgeous near-Gem caliber 1795 $5 and $10 gold pieces. Selling alongside these American numismatic treasures is Part 2 of the Roadrunner Toned Dollar Collection, which features a superb 1895 Proof only dollar in PR67+ CAM CAC and an 1896 MS68 CAC. A collection of $10 Indians anchors an impressive array of gold coins. The consignment deadline has passed, and cataloging is in full swing.

LRCA is now accepting consignments for Regency Auction 42, being held on December 3rd. To consign to this important auction event, contact a consignment specialist today. Call the office at 732-935-1168 or email info@legendauctions.com.

Auction Records Smashed at Legend’s Regency Auction 39

Jul 29, 2020 | Auctions, News

First auction held in conjunction with a coin show since the Covid-19 pandemic began smashes many world record prices and was a phenomenal success!

(Lincroft, NJ—July 17, 2020). The Regency Auction 39, which took place on the evening of July 16, 2020, as the official auction of the PCGS Members Only Show in Las Vegas marked the first live auction to be held at a trade show. Since February, as coronavirus related shutdowns forced all major trade shows to be canceled, the related auctions have mostly been transformed into internet only affairs. As the first auction held in conjunction with a coin show since the mid-winter ANA, the auction was a triumphant return to in person lot viewing and bidding for Legend Rare Coin Auctions, and when the final lot closed, proved to be the firm’s biggest sale of 2020 so far.

From the moment the sale went live for pre-bidding, registrations were strong. As the first week of pre-bidding ended, registrations were on track to be a record-breaker. By the time the final lot closed on Thursday, July 16, the auction had set records for customer interaction across the board. Registrations, bids, views, and live bidders all dramatically eclipsed the previous records for a Regency Auction and contributed to the amazing results realized in the sale. Indeed, the intense live auction bidding activity led the auction to take longer than usual to close. While the sale ended well into the wee hours of Friday morning east coast time, the action did not wane.

Beginning with the BigMo Civil War Collection, internet and phone bidding was fierce, and continued to be strong through the Incline and Roadrunner Collections, with many lots seeing fierce bidding wars breaking out between multiple eager bidders. The results throughout the sale were strong, with at least 20 auction record prices set during the auction. Bidding was strongest on fresh to the market, high end collector coins.

“Considering the current Covid-19 pandemic, we weren’t sure what the in-person attendance would be for this auction,” said Matthew Bell, CEO of LRCA. “Since it was the first major auction and trade show to be open to the public since the pandemic started, we knew that there would be many people who were weighing whether or not to attend. We were pleased with the turnout, as several returning and new customers came to the auction to place bids and watch the action. The real stars of this auction, however, were the phone and internet bidders.”

“Based on the sheer numbers of phone bidders we had for the BigMo Collection, we knew that the bidding would be intense for that high powered set, but the online bidders really came through and made the results for the entire collection incredible,” added Julie Abrams, President of LRCA. “This momentum carried through the entire sale, as the Incline Jefferson Nickel and Roadrunner Toned Dollar Collections saw many lots with multiple bidders duking it out, leading to very strong results. Overall, the auction set a record for every metric we track in terms of customer interaction, and in most cases flew past our previous records.”

Laura Sperber, founder of LRCA added, “Considering the state of the market, I am just shocked and really thrilled with the extremely strong results overall. Over 20 coins shattered auction records, an accomplishment that we are extremely proud of! As fresh, high end quality coins always inspire intense action from bidders. Really, our results from this auction speak for themselves, just look at these world record prices realized:”

  • Lot 25. 10C 1862-S PCGS MS65 CAC, realized $58,750
  • Lot 29. 50C 1862-S PCGS MS66 CAC, realized $47,000
  • Lot 31. $1 1862 PCGS PR66+ CAC, realized $76,375
  • Lot 40. H10C 1863-S PCGS MS67+ CAC, realized $23500
  • Lot 44. 25C 1863 PCGS MS66 CAC, realized $15,862.50
  • Lot 51. $1 1863 PCGS PR67+ CAM CAC, realized $129,250
  • Lot 63. 10C 1864 PCGS PR67+ DCAM CAC, realized $19,975
  • Lot 70. $1 1864 PCGS PR66 CAM CAC, realized $49,937.50
  • Lot 81. H10C 1865-S PCGS MS66+ CAC, realized $30,550
  • Lot 83. 10C 1865-S PCGS MS65+ CAC, realized $55,812.50
  • Lot 85. 25C 1865 PCGS PR67+ DCAM CAC, realized $64,625
  • Lot 88. 50C 1865 PCGS PR67+ DCAM CAC, realized $117,500
  • Lot 215. 5C 1954-S PCGS MS67 FS, realized $35,250
  • Lot 269. 25C 1889 PCGS PR67+ CAM CAC, realized $19,387.50
  • Lot 277. 25C 1892 PCGS PR68+ CAM CAC, realized $28,200
  • Lot 411. $1 1896 PCGS MS66+ CAC, realized $18,212.50
  • Lot 443. $1 1886 PCGS MS66+ CAC, realized $7,343.75
  • Lot 460. $1 1903-O PCGS MS67+ CAC, realized $31,725
  • Lot 461. $1 1904-O PCGS MS67+ CAC, realized $39,950
  • Lot 536. $1 1871 J-1129 PCGS PR65 RB CAC, realized $42,300

“We have seen lots of increased demand for tangible assets as the uncertainty in the overall economy,” concluded Matthew Bell. “With a dearth of coin shows, collectors and professional numismatists are increasingly turning to auctions to buy their coins. The number of first time registrants and winning bidders are proof enough of this fact. As the states continue to limit gatherings, rare coin buyers are increasingly moving online to bid. We think the auction market will only get stronger the longer these Covid-19 shut downs last.”

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 40 is going to take place on Thursday, August 27, 2020 in conjunction with the PCGS Members Only Show. Consignments are now being accepted for Regency Auction 41 in October and Regency Auction 42. Both of these auctions already have important collections already consigned, contact a consignment specialist today to include your coins. Email info@legendauctions.com or call the office 732-935-1168.

Never Before Offered S.S. Central America Treasure In Goldberg’s September 2020 Auction

Jul 24, 2020 | Announcements, Auctions

(Los Angeles, CA) July 21, 2020 – Historic sunken treasure from the California Gold Rush recovered from the fabled S.S. Central America which sank in 1857 will be offered to the public for the first time in an auction to be conducted in September in Los Angeles, California and online by Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers (www.GoldbergCoins.com).

“One of the important highlights is a major numismatic discovery from the legendary ship: an extremely rare 1856 San Francisco Mint Liberty Seated No Motto quarter-dollar with a large S mint mark punched over a small s. It was discovered in a canvas bag in the purser’s sealed iron box in the ship’s safe on the seabed more than 7,000 feet below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface,” said Dwight Manley, Managing Partner of the California Gold Marketing Group (CGMG).

This elusive variety 1856 large S over small s mint mark quarter dollar, graded PCGS XF45, is one of the sunken treasure items from the fabled S.S. Central America in the Goldberg’s September 2020 auction. (Images courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service.)

The 1856-S/s silver quarter now is graded PCGS XF45.

CGMG owns that coin and the other S.S. Central America treasure now being offered for the first time in the Goldberg’s September 13 and 14, 2020 auction.

“With a total mintage of only 286,000, ‘normal’ 1856-S quarter-dollars are scarce even in low, circulated grades, and extremely scarce in Mint State grade. The auction will include a recovered treasure 1856-S quarter graded PCGS MS63 CAC,” explained Larry Goldberg, auction house co-owner with his cousin Ira Goldberg.

Recovered from the S.S. Central America and among the finest known of its kind, this scarce 1854-O Liberty Seated Arrows at Date silver quarter-dollar Huge Mint Mark variety, graded PCGS AU55 CAC, is in the Goldberg’s September 2020 auction. (Photo credit: Lyle Engleson/Goldberg Auctions.)

“Another major highlight is an 1856-S Liberty Seated silver dime graded PCGS MS65 CAC and tied for the finest known,” said Manley. “Only 70,000 dimes — just $7,000 face value — were minted in San Francisco in 1856 and a just handful are known today in uncirculated condition. This one’s a miracle survival coin, still pristine with full luster. It was displayed at the American Numismatic Association 2019 Chicago World’s Fair of Money.”

Also recovered from the ship and in the Goldberg’s September auction is a scarce 1854-O Liberty Seated Arrows at Date silver quarter-dollar Huge Mint Mark variety. It is graded PCGS AU55 CAC and among the finest known of its kind.

A rare 1856-S Liberty Seated dime recovered from the legendary S.S. Central America, graded PCGS MS65 CAC and tied for finest known, will be offered for the first time in the September 2020 auction by Ira and Larry Goldberg. (Photo credit: Professional Coin Grading Service.)

All the PCGS-certified treasure coins in the auction are housed in special encapsulation holders that include a pinch of miner’s gold dust also retrieved during the last recovery mission to the ship in 2014.

The Goldberg’s September 2020 auction will include one of the hand-numbered and signed grand format, 5½ by 9 inches PCGS holders housing five-ounces of California Gold Rush sunken treasure gold dust recovered from the fabled SS Central America. (Photo credit: Lyle Engleson/Goldberg Auctions.)

“This gold dust was originally discovered by 49ers during the heydays of the California Gold Rush and untouched in the miners’ gold field packets for more than 160 years,” explained Manley. “When it was recovered from the S.S. Central America the gold dust was still sealed in the miners’ original pokes, the satchels and pouches made of buckskin, canvas or leather.”

The sale also will include five ounces of recovered gold dust now housed in one of the 88 hand-numbered elegant, large-format holders specially prepared by PCGS. The insert label on the 5½ by 9 inches holder is personally signed by the esteemed Q. David Bowers, author of two books about the Gold Rush and the SS Central America, and by Bob Evans, the chief scientist on the Ship of Gold sunken treasure recovery missions.

For additional information about the auction, visit Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers online at www.GoldbergCoins.com or call 310-551-2646. The email address is info@GoldbergCoins.com.

PCGS Banknote Grades Ultra-Rare $1,000 Grand Watermelon Note

Jul 9, 2020 | Auctions, News

The 1890 $1,000 Grand Watermelon was the first banknote to cross the million-dollar threshold at auction

anta Ana, California, July 9, 2020) – The finest-known example of the ultra-rare 1890 $1,000 “Grand Watermelon” Treasury Note, which in 2005 became the first banknote to bring $1 million at auction, has been certified and graded by PCGS Banknote (www.PCGS.com/banknote). Issued in $100 as well as $1,000 denominations and originally redeemable in gold or silver coin, they were dubbed “Watermelon” notes because of the color and design of the large zeroes on the reverse of the note.

The $1,000 note, commonly referred to as a “Grand Watermelon,” is extremely rare and given the large face value of this 1890-vintage note – $1,000, roughly equivalent to $29,000 today – it was scarcely seen outside of interbank commerce. This rarity, cataloged by banknote experts Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg as Fr.379a, saw a tiny printing of only 16,000 and just two are known today and available in private hands. The piece PCGS Banknote recently graded is featured on the cover of 100 Greatest American Currency Notes by Q. David Bowers and David M. Sundman (Whitman Publishing, 2005).

“I am very excited to have this iconic and historic note certified and encapsulated by PCGS Banknote,” says Stack’s Bowers Galleries Director of Currency Peter A. Treglia. “I believe it continues to solidify its importance to the numismatic community.”

“Year after year, PCGS-graded coins top the list for highest auction prices realized,” says PCGS President Brett Charville. “When we relaunched our banknote grading service, we knew we would attract the best of the best. Not only does this piece represent one of the most important rarities in our hobby, but to have it come through our grading room just six months after resuming our banknote grading services domestically also highlights the trust and confidence the industry has in PCGS and underscores that our holders offer the maximum in value, security, and liquidity.”

About Professional Coin Grading Service

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is the premier third-party coin and banknote grading company that was launched in 1986. Over nearly 35 years, PCGS has examined and certified some 44 million U.S. and world coins, banknotes, medals, and tokens with a combined value of more than $38.8 billion. For more information about PCGS products and services, including how to submit your coins for authentication and grading, please visit www.PCGS.com or call PCGS Customer Service at (800) 447-8848.   

World’s Most Valuable US Coin to be Sold at Auction this October

Jun 17, 2020 | Announcements, Auctions

The First Silver Dollar Struck Headline’s the Bruce Morelan Collection of Early Dollars

The world’s most valuable US coin, a 1794 Dollar that last sold for $10,000,000, is set to appear in an auction again later this year. Legend Rare Coin Auctions, Inc. has announced the sale of the Bruce Morelan Collection, a collection of coins from the early period of US history, valued in total at over $20,000,000. The collection will be sold as the anchor collection of an auction taking place in conjunction with the PCGS Members’ Only Show in Las Vegas, this October.

The collection includes the finest set of Early Mint State Dollars ever assembled, including two incredibly rare seven figure coins, the 1794 $1 SP66, and 1804 $1 PR65. These coins are among the most famous coins in the world, as well as two of the rarest, making it incredible that they can both be included in the same collection.

The collection being offered includes an example of every date and type of dollar struck at the Philadelphia mint from 1794 through 1804. The 1794 $1 included in the collection is the first dollar ever struck in the United States and has been featured in museums around the world due to its historical importance. The final coin in the collection, the 1804 $1, is an exceptionally rare coin, of which only eight were ever minted. The example being sold is the third finest known to survive, and is known as the Dexter Specimen because of a small “D” a previous owner carved on the reverse. It has an estimated value of $4,000,000.

The Bruce Morelan Collection was assembled by Bruce Morelan, a businessman and one of the preeminent coin collectors of this generation, over the course of many years. He was aided in his search by Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics, and together they assembled this collection by focusing only on only the highest quality coins for each date. When asked about the process of building this collection, Laura Sperber had this to say. “This is the finest collection of Mint State Dollars ever assembled. Bruce never settled for second best, even if a coin was only a fraction better that is what he wanted. This could not have been clearer than when we bought the 1794 Dollar. Unquestionably the coin is one of a kind, both due to its incredible qualities, and the fact that it is the very first dollar ever struck by the US Mint. Having tried to buy it earlier, Bruce was determined not to miss this opportunity a second time. When it came up to auction, he made a ‘blow out’ bid to scare off other bidders and ensure the coin was his. Because of this, it is the first and only coin to sell for ten million dollars.”

Now that he is selling his collection, and the 1794 Dollar with it, Bruce had this to say, “The 1794 Dollar has been a lifelong dream coin and I’m truly blessed to have owned it. I can only hope the new owner has as much joy, pride and satisfaction as I did having it in my collection. Now that the set is complete and nothing else can be added, I’ve decided it’s time for other collectors to enjoy these magnificent coins.”

It is not just these two dollars that make this an exceptional set, however; all of the coins in the Bruce Morelan collection are of the highest quality and eye appeal. Each has been part of some of the greatest coin collections ever assembled, and after this sale the name Bruce Morelan will be added to that list.

Laura Sperber added, “There likely will never be another set in our lifetime like this!”

The Bruce Morelan Collection of Early U.S. Silver Dollars is made up of the following coins:

  • 1794 PCGS SP 66
  • 1795 Flowing Hair PCGS MS64+
  • 1795 Draped Bust PCGS MS66
  • 1796 PCGS MS65
  • 1797 PCGS MS64
  • 1798 Small Eagle PCGS MS63
  • 1798 Large Eagle PCGS MS65
  • 1799/8 PCGS MS64
  • 1799 PCGS MS66
  • 1800 PCGS MS65+
  • 1801 PCGS MS65
  • 1802/1 PCGS MS64
  • 1802 PCGS MS65
  • 1803 PCGS MS65
  • 1804 PCGS PR65

To find out more information about the collection, please contact Legend Rare Coins auctions at info@legendauctions.com, or at 732-935-1168.

Holabird Western Americana Collections’ Massive 7-Day Summer 2020 Extravaganza Auction Will Be Held Across Two Separate Weekends

Jun 12, 2020 | Announcements, Auctions

The live and online auction is packed with numismatics, mining, railroadiana, Native Americana and more and stars the John Reynolds, Bart Landinger, Ben Fauver and Ken Prag collections

RENO, Nev. – A Summer 2020 Extravaganza Auction so massive it is being spread over two separate weekends, two weeks apart, is planned for June 25-28 and July 10-12 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, live and online, with start times each day of 8am Pacific time. The sale features a number of important collections of Americana – over 4,800 lots in all.

The auction is packed with numismatics, mining, railroadiana, Native Americana and more. Online bidding will be facilitated by iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, AuctionMobility.com and Auctionzip.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. For those planning to attend live, Holabird’s gallery is located at 3555 Airway Drive in Reno.

The auction features several important collections, offered in part now and in upcoming sales. An example is the John Reynolds collection, parts of which were offered in two prior sales. On Days 1 and 4, items from Reynolds’s 50+-year Californiana collection will come up for bid, as will a variety of vintage historical baseball and boxing cards, all graded, circa 1920 thru 1950.

Also on Day 4, the Bart Landinger collection of Arizona material, mostly trade tokens but to also include California and western tokens and scrip, will be sold. Mr. Landinger garnered many great rarities in his many travels, looking at collections over the years. He was a friendly face at Western token shows. Tragically, he recently passed away. His collection is a celebration of life.
Benjamin Fauver literally wrote the book on tokens, and he especially favored gaming counters (which resembled American gold coins and have morphed into the gaming chips we know today). He also collected foreign counters (Jetsons and the like) that were made for years, mainly in Western Europe. Parts of the Fauver American Counter Collection will be offered on Days 1 and 4 and will feature more than 10,000 pinback buttons.

The auction will feature maps not generally seen, from a massive Western map collection; gold and minerals, to include gold specimens from two Western collections; part of a Sam Clemens (Mark Twain) library that will highlight a massive Western history library spread across the sale; an Idaho real photo postcard collection; and a group of early signed Norman Rockwell prints.

Day 1, on Thursday, June 25th, will contain California ephemera (a continuation of the John Reynolds collection), parts of the Idaho real photo postcard collection, Western maps (also in other places in the catalog), historical and vintage pinbacks from the Fauver collection, a vintage doll collection, an American Directory collection and the Sam Clemens (Mark Twain) collection.

Day 1 lots will feature a rare Frontier Gasoline (“Rarin’-to-Go”) enamel cowboy sign, six feet in diameter, circa 1958-59 (est. $6,000-$12,000); a first edition, second state of Sketches New and Old (1875), illustrated throughout by Samuel Clemens, or “Mark Twain” (est. $1,000-$2,000); and an 1885 edition copy of Twain’s classic, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (est. $700-$900).

Other Day 1 lots will include an 1876 photo of the Wild West town of Deadwood (S.D.), framed under glass (est. $800-$1,200); an SOAS Photo Cine Optics “Make Your Own Headline” print press (N.Y., 1970s, est. $600-$1,500); a collection of about 59 Brinn’s dolls, all in original boxes (est. $600-$1,500; and a circa 1911 National Cash Register, candy store model (est. $500-$800).

Day 2, on Friday, June 26, will feature a railroad badges and passes collection, a continuation of the Ken Prag railroad stocks and bonds collection, stagecoach passes (includes Sonora to Bodie), railroad and steamer passes, cap badges, and mining stocks and bonds from various collections.

Top lots from Day 2 will include a stock certificate for the Eureka Quartz Mining Company (Georgetown, Calif.), for five shares, issued to a William Jenkins of Baltimore and dated July 24, 1853, signed by officers in the company (est. $800-$2,000); and a 1917 Liberty Loan bond for $50, in very fine condition, showing Lady Liberty and Thomas Jefferson (est. $1,000-$1,500).

Day 3, on Saturday, June 27, will showcase minerals and native gold nuggets and rarities, mining artifacts from an old collection, mine maps, Native Americana (to include rugs, art, jewelry and references such as a Chinook Directory, cowboy collectibles, the previously mentioned Norman Rockwell early signed prints, and bottles and saloon items from various Western collections.

Gold specimens will undoubtedly dominate the list of Day 3 top lots. Offered will be a large native crystalline gold in quartz specimen with lead and silver sulfides, mined in the 1950s and in need of professional curation, weighing 12.32 troy oz. (est. $10,000-$14,000); and a native gold in quartz specimen also mined in the 1950s in the US, 3.48 troy oz. (est. $3,000-$5,000).

Other Day 3 star lots include a beautiful Northern Plains fringed beaded peace pipe (Chanupa) bag from the early 1900s, with the beading all intact and the hide well worn (est. $1,500-$3,000); and an exquisite Toadlena Two Grey Hills (New Mexico) weaving, 42 inches by 36 inches, in excellent condition, with the four corners hooked, as is the center diamond (est. $1,500-$3,000).

Day 4, on Sunday, June 28, will be bursting with coin hoards, cents to nickels with rare dates from the Indian Trading Post in Russellville, Arkansas; so-called dollars; gaming counters, the start of the massive Benjamin Fauver collection; Exposition collectibles; medals; currency and scrip; and sports items, to include the large baseball and boxing collection of John Reynolds.

Day 4 will also be bursting with tokens from the Bart Landinger Arizona collection and the California and Western token and scrip collection. One noteworthy token is from the Miner’s Saloon in the mining town of Bisbee, Arizona (1880s, est. $600-$1,000). The Miner’s Saloon was quite popular and Bisbee was once the largest city between New Orleans and San Francisco.

Days 5 thru 7 are still being cataloged, but it can be reported that Day 5 (July 10) will feature general Americana collectibles and a postcard collection from California and the West; Day 6 (July 11) will contain a wide variety of mining stocks; and Day 7 (July 12) will include political buttons from the Fauver collection; sports (baseball, boxing, Olympics), firearms collectibles (no guns will be sold); art in all categories here; historical maps; and a historical reference library.

Color catalogs are available by calling 1-844-492-2766, or 775-851-1859. Also, anyone owning a collection that might fit into an upcoming Holabird Western Americana Collections auction is encouraged to get in touch. The firm travels extensively throughout the U.S., to see and pick up collections. Last year it visited Boston, Florida, Seattle and New York, among other destinations.
Holabird Western Americana Collections is always in the hunt for quality Americana and coin consignments, bottles, advertising and other collections for future auctions. To consign a single piece or a collection, you may call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or, you can send an e-mail to fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections and the online-only Summer 2020 Extravaganza Auction, visit www.fhwac.com.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 38 Shows Even in Lock Down, Rare Coin Market is Robust Collector coins shine draw record phone and internet bidding activity on webcast auction

May 21, 2020 | Auctions, News

Legend Auction(Lincroft, NJ—5/18/2020)—An auction that was supposed to take place at Harrah’s in New Orleans, as part of the PCGS Members Only Show, was forced to become a webcast event held at Legend’s central New Jersey offices due to the ongoing Coronavirus global pandemic of 2020. Despite this change, results for quality coins, especially those with PCGS and CAC approval, remained strong, showing continued resilience in the coin market. From the start of the sale, which began with the Blue Hill Collection of New Orleans Silver Dollars and Double Eagles, activity was strong. Even before the sale opened for live bidding on the evening of Thursday, May 14, there was a record number of registrants for a sale of this size, (it was a smaller sale featuring just over 300 lots). Those that registered were intent on winning the coins they desired. The New Orleans silver dollars, had such strength that it seems the dollar market might be recovering from the downturn in prices over the last six months, only time will tell. From the first lot, bidding was quite active. Though the 54-O and 56-O did not make their reserves, the other coins saw active bidding, including the 79-O in particular, brought a very strong bid from a very happy collector (it realized $82,250).Walking Liberty half dollars have again proven to be one of the strongest series right now, with high grade examples and esoteric varieties seeing a large number of bidders vying to add coins to their sets. The top price realized for the sale, a wonderful 1909-O half eagle, PCGS MS63 CAC realized a very strong $114,563. Note: all prices reported include the 17.5% buyers premium.

“Interest in this sale started strong and remained that way throughout the close of the sale, as registrations and activity were high throughout the entire presale bidding and live bidding process,” said Matthew Bell, CEO of Legend Auctions. “We actually noticed a marked increase in people planning to follow the sale live, as we fielded seemingly non-stop phone calls throughout this past week from customers eagerly anticipating the live auction Thursday night.”

“The sale started off extremely strong,” echoed Laura Sperber, Founder of LRCA. “The Blue Hill silver dollars were already realizing strong prices after pre-bidding, and many saw those prices increase further during the live auction. We could not be happier with those results, and hope that they foreshadow renewed strength in the dollar market overall. Congratulations to the Blue Hill collector and all the new owners on an amazing night!”
Other highlights of the Blue Hill Collection include:

  • Lot 2. $1 1850-O PCGS MS63 CAC, realized $30,550
  • Lot 40. $20 1855-O PCGS XF45+ CAC, realized $42,300
  • Lot 43. $20 1858-O PCGS AU55 Ex Eliasberg, realized $29,375
  • Lot 47 $20 1879-O PCGS AU53 CAC, realized $82,250

The other anchor collection offered in Regency Auction 38 was the Ogden Avenue Ladies Collection of Proof Liberty Nickels, which ranked #3 on the PCGS Set Registry. The high grade and carefully selected pieces saw very active bidding. The third major collection of Proof Liberty nickels LRCA has sold in the last 12 months, the market warmly welcomed the coins, and they brought generally healthy prices across the board.

Highlights of the Ogden Avenue Ladies Collection, include:

  • Lot 70. 5C 1883 With Cents. PCGS PR67+ CAM CAC, realized $9,988
  • Lot 88. 5C 1901 PCGS PR67+ CAM CAC, realized $4,700
  • Lot 93. 5C 1906 PCGS PR67 CAM CAC, realized $4,348
  • Lot 99. 5C 1912 PCGS PR67 CAM CAC, realized $8,519

Other highlights include:

  • Lot 51. 1C 1865 Fancy 5. PCGS MS66+ RD CAC, realized $17,038
  • Lot 109. 5C 1918/7-D PCGS MS64+ CAC, realized $99,875
  • Lot 113. 5C 1925-D PCGS MS66+ CAC, realized $34,075
  • Lot 136. 20C 1875-CC PCGS MS65+ CAC, realized $21,738
  • Lot 169. 50C 1859-S PCGS MS65 CAC, realized $8,813
  • Lot 178. 50C 1918-S PCGS MS65 CAC, realized $30,550
  • Lot 185. 50C 1929-D PCGS MS67 CAC, realized $64,625
  • Lot 222. $1 1871-CC PCGS XF45, realized $17,038
  • Lot 240. $1 1881-S PCGS MS65 CAC, realized $6,756
  • Lot 251. $1 1887 PCGS MS65 DMPL CAC, realized $2,468
  • Lot 286. $5 1909-O PCGS MS63 CAC, realized $114,563

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ next auction is being held on Thursday, July 16, 2020, in a sale slated to be held in Las Vegas as the official auction of the PCGS Members Only Show. Featuring the BigMo Civil War Collection, the Incline Collection of Jefferson Nickels, and the Roadrunner Collection of Toned Dollars, part 1, Regency Auction 39 is open for consignments until June 1. For more information about consigning, call 732-935-1168 or email info@legendauctions.com.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions is a boutique numismatic auction company specializing in the finest and rarest U.S. coins. Founded in 2012 by Laura Sperber, the owner and president of Legend Numismatics, the premier rare coin retail firm. LRCA was, from the outset designed to be a different kind of rare coin auction firm. LRCA’s staff of numismatic auction industry veterans includes Julie Abrams, president; Greg Cohen, senior numismatist; and Jessica Berkman, consignment coordinator. The firm’s Regency Auctions serve as the official auction for the PCGS Members’ Shows, held six times per year. Since its founding, LRCA has sold many important collections, resulting in world-record prices, including the Coronet Collection of Morgan Dollars (#1 all time PCGS set); the David Hall—Bob Simpson Collection of Liberty Head Eagles; the Sunnywood-Simpson Collection of Morgan Dollars; the Phil Flannagan Collection of Territorial Gold, Toned Dollars, and 1795 coins; duplicates from the Gerald Forsythe Collections of Buffalo Nickels and Mercury Dimes; the Bob Simpson Collection of Standard Silver Patterns; the Northern Lights Collection of Monster Toned Morgan Dollars; the Crow River Collections of Indian Head $10s and Peace Dollars; the P.F.M Collection (former #6 PCGS Set of Morgan Dollars with varieties); the Oak Crest Collection of Carson City $5 gold; the Konstantine Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars, the #1 PCGS Set of Red Book varieties, 1807-1836. The firm’s impressive record also includes setting over 120 world record prices in 2019. The firm also had the second highest realizing auction lot of 2016 with the sale of Bob Simpson’s duplicate 1879 $20 “Quintuple Stella” which realized $1,880,000. To consign to an upcoming auction, visit www.legendauctions.com and contact a consignment specialist today.

Holabird Western Americana Collections’ Four-Day Big Tent Auction Will Be Online-Only, April 16-19, With Nearly 3,100 Lots In 30 Categories

Apr 4, 2020 | Announcements, Auctions

The categories include philatelic and numismatic (stamps, coins), mining, Americana, railroad.

Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace

Circa 1970s Navajo turquoise squash blossom necklace with a beautiful selection of stones surrounded by fine silver work (est. $1,200-$1,800).

RENO, Nev. – A huge, four-day, online-only Big Tent Auction packed with nearly 3,100 lots of philatelic and numismatic (stamps and coins), mining, Americana, railroad collectibles and more will be held Thursday thru Sunday, April 16-19, by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, starting at 8 am Pacific time each day. There will be no live in-gallery bidding for this sale.

Online bidding will be facilitated by iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, AuctionMobility.com and Auctionzip.com. On Day 3 only, people will also be able to bid at www.StampAuctionNetwork.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. The number to call for phone bidders is 775-851-1859. For details, please visit www.fhwac.com.

“Our Reno facility is currently closed and will not be open to in-person attendees, but the vast majority of the bidding action takes place online and over the phone anyway, so we’re expecting a huge online turnout for this auction,” said company president Fred Holabird. “Meantime, we’re observing WHO recommendations and sanitizing the offices and gallery up to four times a day.”

The auction features items in around 30 collecting categories. It will be led by Part 2 of the John Reynolds collection of California tokens, medals and shell cards, as well as his fabulous aviation mail (and California) postal history collection of more than 10,000 covers, plus his Pioneer post card collection and an important collection of circus and slide show photography and ephemera.

“We only split out some of the circus and slide show collection, such as the tokens, medals and scrip, into individual lots,” Mr. Holabird said. “The bulk of the collection is so good, and of such excellent quality, that we felt it needed to stay together as a whole.” Thousands of photographs (CDV, cabinet card, photo post cards) collected since the early 1960s, will be offered as one lot.

That collection, with a pre-sale estimate of $60,000-$85,000, is an expected highlight of Day 1, which overall will have 754 lots of Native Americana, general America, art and books. Also up for bid will be an original gouache on paper portrait of a woman by Cuban artist Amelia Pelaez (1896-1968), signed and with an image area of 16 inches by 11¾ inches (est. $10,000-$20,000).

Other Day 1 highlights will include a large-scale oil on canvas depiction of a Civil War scene by Michael Thomas O’Loughlin (Idaho, 1951-2017), titled The Dyin’ Cry of the Blue II, in a 69 inch by 44 inch frame (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a circa 1970s Navajo turquoise squash blossom necklace with a beautiful selection of stones surrounded by fine silver work (est. $1,200-$1,800).

Day 2 will be busy, with 753 lots of mining equipment, minerals, mining artifacts and ephemera, stocks and bonds in multiple categories (to include mining and railroad), sports, militaria and firearms and weaponry. One noteworthy lot is the gold and quartz specimen, a native gold in quartz matrix with 0.75 percent gold content and weighing 5.03 troy ounces (est. $7,000-$9,000).

Day 2 will also see a continuation of the Ken Prag stocks and bonds collection, as well as the complete and intact Geff Pollock collection of Utah mining stock certificates – more than 2,000 pieces in all, being offered as a single lot (est. $70,000-$90,000. The thirty-year collection is highlighted by an 1864 Jordan Mining Co. stock certificate, signed by General Patrick Connor.

It’s important to note that all stock certificates in this auction are being sold as antiques and have no securities trading value whatsoever. Likewise, all law enforcement badges are being offered as historical collectibles only and are not meant to convey authority in any way whatsoever. In fact, nothing in the catalog is being sold as a usable product – just as an antique or a collectible.

Day 3, on Saturday, April 18, will consist of 764 lots of philatelic and postal history collectibles, to include ephemera, first day and commemorative, first flight, airships, philatelic covers and postcards. Lot 3275 is a major collection of covers from the USS Macon zeppelin (1932-1935). There are 500 covers in the collection; none are believed to be duplicates (est. $5,000-$15,000).

Day 4 will also top the 750-lot mark, with categories that include tokens, numismatics, cowboy and Western, and bargains and dealer specials in multiple categories. Coin lovers will be drawn to lot 4280, a Lincoln cent horde featuring 27 Whitman #1 albums of early Lincoln cents (1909-1940). Many key dates are included and the conditions tend to vary greatly (est. $2,000-$5,000).

An expected top lot of Day 4 is the rare and complete set of ten framed six-inch medallions for the 21 Club Restaurant in New York City created by Metallic Art Company in 1971 (est. $5,000-$10,000). Each silver-plated copper medallion represents a work by the famous Western sculptor Frederic Remington. The set is mounted on a leather background and housed in a wooden frame.

Color catalogs are available by calling 1-844-492-2766, or 775-851-1859. Also, anyone owning a collection that might fit into an upcoming Holabird Western Americana Collections auction is encouraged to get in touch. The firm travels extensively throughout the U.S., to see and pick up collections. Last year it visited Boston, Florida, Seattle and New York, among other destinations.

Holabird Western Americana Collections is always in the hunt for quality Americana and coin consignments, bottles, advertising and other collections for future auctions. To consign a single piece or a collection, you may call Fred Holabird at 775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766; or, you can send an e-mail to fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections and the online-only April 16th-19th Big Tent Auction, please visit www.fhwac.com.

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