Coins & Currency: Highlights of Skinner February Auction

Feb 17, 2019 | Announcements, Auctions

Marlborough, MA – January 28, 2019 – Coins and currency are seen not only as a utilitarian tool for commerce but also as miniature works of art. These small sculptures and engravings historically feature gods and goddesses, rulers, and allegorical figures, rendered in an artistic manner. The Skinner February auction, online from February 13-22, of coins and currency highlights some of the most desirable and beautiful of these designs.

Among these is a selection of ancient coins, primarily Greek and Roman in origin, that exhibit strong strikes and fantastic surfaces. Highlights include a toned nomos from Metapontum (Lot 2004, Estimate: $800-1,200), depicting Demeter, an ear of barley, and two amphorae. Another Lucanian nomos from the city of Herakleia (Lot 2005, Estimate: $600-800) features the head of Athena wearing a Corinthian helmet decorated with a scylla, the reverse of Herakles with a lion pelt and club. Both of these coins show very little evidence of circulation and wear to the high relief, making these exceptional examples of their types.

Lastly is an undated year 3 Judaean sela from the Bar Kokhba Revolt (Lot 2012, Estimate: $4,000-6,000) with the Temple of Jerusalem on the obverse and a lulav and etrog on the reverse. These coins are highly collectible and prized for both their symbolism and rarity as a three-year issue.

Fast forward many centuries across the pond to the American 1804 draped bust large cent (Lot 2023, Estimate: $6,000-8,000), offered in a PCGS VF25 holder. With a small mintage of only 96,500 and survival estimates of less than 500, this is one of the keys of series. And although graded a Very Fine, a majority of certified examples are Fine and lower in condition.

Paper money highlights include four proposed 1880s Colombian Banco de la Republica banknotes (Lots 2176, 2177, 2178, 2179), produced by the Homer Lee Bank Note Company. These notes, the 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos, each exhibit intricately engraved vignettes and three with portraits of George Washington.

Three local colonial issues from Massachusetts also inhabit the sale: an August 18, 1775 “Sword in Hand” 5 shillings (Lot 2158, Estimate: $200-300), a December 7, 1775 “Sword in Hand” contemporary counterfeit 42 shillings (Lot 2159, Estimate: $200-300), and an October 16, 1778 “Codfish” 9 pence (Lot 2160, Estimate: $100-200), all engraved by Paul Revere.

Auction and Preview Information

This auction will be held online only. It offers an excellent opportunity to bid at leisure and to acquire

items of numismatic interest and importance from a leading auction house of impeccable reputation.

Auction open for bidding February 13 – February 22. Previews at Skinner’s Marlborough Gallery, 274 Cedar Hill Street, February 19, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; February 20, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; February 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free and open to the public, specialists will be on hand to answer questions.

About Skinner

Skinner attracts top consignments and commands record-breaking prices in the international auction marketplace. With renowned expertise and extraordinary service, Skinner is the place for buyers, sellers and the passionately curious. Skinner appraisers are familiar faces on PBS’s 16-time Emmy Award-nominated ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. Visit us in Boston, Marlborough, New York or Miami, or online at www.skinnerinc.com.

A Fresh and GEM Quality 1795 Eagle will Highlight Legend’s 31st Regency Auction

Feb 7, 2019 | Announcements, Auctions

The stunning coin is an historic trophy of American numismatics

(Lincroft, NJ—February 5, 2019) — Legend Rare Coin Auctions is honored to have been consigned and is proud to offer one of the FINEST 1795 $10 gold pieces that survives. This marvel of American numismatics is graded MS64+ by PCGS and is endorsed by CAC. The coin that is fresh to the market, was delivered to Legend Rare Coin Auctions at the recent Long Beach Expo and will be offered in the March 21, 2019 Regency Auction 31.

“We are honored to offer this incredible coin!” exclaimed Julie Abrams, president of Legend Auctions. “Any 1795 ten is a highlight, but coupled that with its extremely high grade, and virtually GEM technical and aesthetic appeal, this coin is in a class all its own! It is a very historically important issue, one of the first gold coins struck by the infant U.S. mint. Any time a Mint State example is offered, it is an opportunity that is of the utmost importance.”

Legend Auctions founder, and president of its sister-firm, Legend Numismatics, Laura Sperber, continued, “We have handled many of the greatest U.S. coins of all time, and this GEM 1795 eagle, ranks among the best early gold coins I have ever hand the pleasure of handling! When we saw this coin, our hearts were pounding! We regard this stunning coin as a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the absolute finest known examples—we believe it is either 3rd or 4th finest known.”

The April 12, 1792 act of Congress that established the United States Mint, called for three denominations to be struck in gold, with the $10 Eagle as the largest denomination. The act required mint officials to post a surety bond before precious metal coinage could commence. Thus, only copper half cents and cents were struck in 1793; silver half dollars and dollars were struck in 1794; it was not until 1795 when the first $5 and $10 gold coins were coined.

The $10 gold piece, or Eagle was designed by Robert Scot, and featured a bust of Liberty facing right, wearing a Phrygian cap (a symbol of freed slaves in ancient Roman times). The reverse has a small eagle holding a palm branch in his talons and a circular olive wreath is held in his beak. Only 5,083 examples were reported to have been struck, although early mint records show the number of each coin struck in the calendar year. Since die steel was hard to come by, dies were used until they could not be used any more, making it possible some additional 1795 Eagles were struck later on. In all, five die pairs were employed, four with the 13 Leaves reverse, and one with the rare 9 Leaves reverse. Today, approximately 500 are known in all grades per PCGS CoinFacts and the Bass-Dannreuther reference estimates 430 to 582 survive.

The presently offered MS64+ is very high end for the grade with a rich, original “skin” and wonderful toning. A bold strike shows full crisp definition on both sides, including the highest points in the central areas of Robert Scot’s classic design. A bold, radiant luster has a wonderfully thick frost that adds to the coin’s stunning visual allure. The fields are very clean and are free of any distracting marks or lines; there are no distracting adjustment marks from the minting process seen anywhere.

There is just one other coin graded MS64+ at PCGS (the other coin is impounded in the Simpson Collection) and only three coins are graded finer, including the Garrett-Pogue MS66+ and the Eliasberg MS65. No MS64 has sold in auction since July 2008. The 1795 Eagle has always been prized for its impressive look, as well as its place in the annals of U.S. numismatics, dating back to the mid-1800s when American collecting began to become a popular hobby. While the majority of known examples are circulated, clustered in the XF and AU range, precious few do have original surfaces (they have been cleaned, polished, scratched, tooled, or have some other conditional issues). There are a small number of lower Mint State coins graded, however, anything finer than MS62 is a major rarity. Today, high grade coins carry high six-figure to seven-figure prices.

The coin will carry an estimate of $800,000-$1,000,000. The most recent example was the MS66+ Garrett-Pogue coin, which realized $2,585,000 in September 2015. The Eliasberg coin was graded by NGC when it last sold in auction over five years ago (it has since crossed over to PCGS and has a current asking price of $1,750,000).

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 the 2nd highest APR in 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.

Bonhams to Offer an Important Collection of Clark Gruber & Co. Territorial Gold

Jan 11, 2019 | Announcements, Auctions

1860 Clark Gruber & Co. $20. Genuine, Tooled, Repaired & Cleaned PCGS.
(estimate: $90,000-110,000)

A decade or so after the California Gold Rush began in the late 1840s, gold was discovered on the South Platte River, near the future city of Denver. Clark, Gruber & Co., a reputable bank and brokerage firm in the state, established a coinage facility and remained in operation through 1862. It was elbowed out of the coining business in April 1863 when it was turned first into a federal assay office, then 43 years later, into the Denver branch of the United States Mint in 1906.

Highlights of this important collection include: a Gem Brilliant Uncirculated 1931-D $20 (MS65 PCGS) (est. $80,000-100,000) which is accompanied by a series of other dates and mints of the popular Saint-Gaudens $20 series; an 1879-CC $20; a rare 1864 $5; 1796 Small Eagle Silver Dollar; 1879 to 1883 Proof Trade Dollar set; many modern world gold proof sets and coins; many Chinese Proof Panda coins; U.S. modern gold and silver commemorative sets and Proof and Uncirculated American Gold Eagles. Large size U.S. currency includes: 1882 $50 Date Back NBN of New Brighton, PA; 1882 $100 NBN Louisville National Banking Co.; and a 1902 $100 NBN Date Back FNB of Lancaster, OH.

Additional highlights from the sale include:

Legend Rare Coin Auctions to Ring in 2019 with Beverly Hills Regency Auction

Jan 8, 2019 | Announcements, Auctions

Regency Auction 30 to feature important Buffalo Nickel, Barber Half Dollar, Type, and Morgan Dollar collections.

(Lincroft, NJ- January 2, 2019)—After a year of strong growth, Legend Rare Coin Auctions begins 2019 with its most valuable January Regency Auction ever. Due to the PCGS Members Show schedule, the 30th Regency Auction is also the firm’s first “stand alone” auction. The auction will take place on Sunday, January 27 at the Beverly Hills Marriott hotel (the former Crowne Plaza, site of many numismatic auctions over the years).

“Everyone is accustomed to Regency Auctions being associated with the PCGS Members’ Only shows,” explains Julie Abrams, president of Legend Rare Coin Auctions. “This year, the first PCGS is not scheduled until March and because of all the fantastic consignments we had received, we decided to conduct a standalone auction in January. Our Regency Auction will be one of the auctions that takes place in Southern California just prior to the Long Beach expo, a tradition that goes back generations.”

All told, 491 lots from important holdings including the following collections:

• The Maybach Collection-a fresh to the market collection of Buffalo nickels, all graded MS65 by PCGS, and put together mostly 15-20 years ago by a dedicated specialist collector;
• The Formula 1 Collection-a partial set of some of the FINEST Barber half dollars known to collectors, all graded by PCGS. Featuring pedigrees like Norweb, Eliasberg, Price, Duckor, Akers, and Shireman, these coins will attract strong bidding;
• The Star City CAC Morgan Dollar Collection—a top-10 PCGS Registry Set of Morgan Dollars, with every coin being verified by CAC. Each coin was hand selected for a high end luster, smooth cheek, and bold strike.
• The Sand Hill and Symphony Collections—two collections of assorted type coins and gold that play off each other quite nicely. Clearly selected for strong eye appeal and quality, these coins will delight all collectors.

“It was such a privilege cataloging these great collections for the Regency Auction,” stated Greg Cohen, Senior Numismatist. “Throughout the process, I feel like I have gotten to know the collectors personally—you learn a lot about them by looking at what they have chosen to place into their collections. After having cataloged the vast majority of the coins in the auction, I can say that each coin in these collections was carefully selected for eye appeal and quality.”

Further highlights of the sale include:

Lot 1: Marvelous GEM 1831 Restrike half cent, PCGS PR66 BN CAC
Lot 80: GEM 5C 1926-S from the Maybach Collection
Lot 172: The Eliasberg-Stellar FINEST KNOWN 1896-O Barber Half from the Formula 1 Collection
Lot 233: 50C 1956 PCGS MS66+ FBL CAC—the twin to the record breaking 1958 in our last auction.
Lot 318: KEY PCGS AU55 CAC $1 1893-S from the Star City Collection
Lot 385: One of the FINEST $20 1854 Kellogg, graded PCGS MS62+ CAC from the S.S. Central America
Lot 411: GEM DCAM 1878 $3 PCGS PR65 DCAM CAC—GORGEOUS!
Lot 454: The AMAZING, FINEST KNOWN PCGS MS67 CAC $20 1909-D, ex Eliasberg-Duckor-A&A.
Lot 483: Amazing transitional 1865 “With Motto” 50C, J-427. PCGS PR66 CAC

“This numismatic offering is a great way to start out the year!” exclaimed Laura Sperber, the founder of LRCA. “This sale has more than double the pre-sale estimated value of any January Regency Auction we have conducted in the past. It shows how strong our auctions have become! We have worked very hard to grow our auctions into the premier boutique numismatic auction house in the United States. The amazing quality and diversity of the coins included in the sale further proves that.”

The auction will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2019. Presale lot viewing will be held on Friday, January 25 and Saturday January 26, as well as Sunday the 27th. As a special for anyone who views lots, PCGS will be set up Friday and Saturday to accept submissions for grading. Coins submitted at lot viewing will be among the first coins returned at Long Beach. You may also request to view lots at Legend’s offices, by appointment, by calling 732-935-1168.

Holabird Western Americana Collections (Dec. 5-9 in Reno, Nev.)

Nov 26, 2018 | Announcements, Auctions

HOLABIRD WESTERN AMERICANA COLLECTIONS’ FIVE-DAY ‘TO DIE FOR’ SALE, DECEMBER 5th thru 9th, WILL FEATURE 3,500 LOTS IN AN ARRAY OF CATEGORIES

The auction will be held online and in Holabird’s gallery, at 3555 Airway Dr. (Ste. 308) in Reno.

RENO, Nev. – Holabird Western Americana Collections has planned a sale “to die for” that spans five days – from December 5th thru the 9th – featuring a massive offering of token dies (hence the name) from the Northwest Territorial Mint Liquidation, plus other items in a wide array of collecting categories, a staggering 3,500 lots in all, at 8 am Pacific time all five days.

The auction will be held online and in Holabird’s gallery located at 3555 Airway Drive (Suite 308) in Reno. For those unable to attend the sale in person, online bidding will be facilitated by iCollector.com and Invaluable.com. “This is the second sale in what promises to be an exciting fall and winter season for us,” said Fred Holabird of Holabird Western Americana Collections.

In addition to the token dies, the auction will also feature more of the Ken Prag American stock certificate collection, with categories such as railroads, mining and imprinted revenue stamps; a Texas token collection; the Joe Elcano Nevada History Collection; the Ben-Tchahvtchavadze Collection (Native Americana, rugs, weavings and art); and the Daniel Manassillian Collection.

Day 1, on Wednesday, December 5th, will be packed with minerals, vintage and antique bottles, tokens from Alabama to Oregon, and a wide selection of numismatics, to include banks, books, catalogs, coins, counterfeit directories, currency, medals, scales and “so-called” dollars – a total of 582 lots for the day. In the mix will also be 67 lots of tantalizing bargains and dealer specials.

An expected top lot on Day 1 is a circa 1873-1881 Phil Caduc Napa Soda Botte (Sacramento, Calif.) mineral water bottle, seven inches tall (est. $1,000-$1,200). The blob top bottle has a very deep teal green color, an extremely rare color variant and one of fewer than five known in good condition. The bottle, one of four Phil Caducs in the sale, is clean, shiny and in like-new shape.

Other star lots of Day 1 will include a collection of turquoise specimens from the Pilot Mountain Turquoise Mine in western Nevada, in a vast array of colors and quality, plus some spiderweb stones (est. $400-$1,000); and a Columbia Club (Pioneer, Nevada) token (“Good for 12 ½ cents in Trade”), round in shape and 21 mm across, in almost uncirculated condition (est. $300-$500).

Day 2, Thursday, December 6th, will contain 663 lots of tokens (from Texas on) and dies. One lot worthy of mention is the group of about 49 5-point star dies hubs from the Northwest Territorial Mint Historical Token Die Collection, circa 1903-1950. The group should sell for $500-$1,000.

Day 3, on Friday, December 7th, will be a collector’s field day, bursting with 654 lots of general Americana, militaria, political items, postal history items, Wells Fargo & Express memorabilia, cowboy collectibles, firearms, weaponry, saloon, gaming and lots pertaining to Alaska mining.

The general Americana is a virtual entire category unto itself, with autographs, badges, checks, circus memorabilia, firemen collectibles, music items, navigation material, automobilia, outlaw and lawman memorabilia, silverware and flatware, World’s Fair & Expos collectibles and more.

The headliner of Day 3, in terms of high pre-sale estimate, is a completely restored 1929 DeSoto Model K Roadster “Espanol” with double side mounts and trunk (est. $25,000-$30,000). The car, shown at the National DeSoto Club convention in Reno in 2011, has been garaged and covered for the past 31 years and features Chrysler disc brakes, which later became an industry standard.

Also sold on Day 3 will be a unique shaving mug from one of the West’s most famous sheriffs – Seth Bullock of Deadwood, S.D. – porcelain, with the body showing Bullock’s worn gilt name (est. $2,000-$5,000); and an archive pertaining to Bill Pettite, the Reno judge, writer, historian and boxing aficionado, comprising five notebooks and over 1,000 pieces (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Other Day 3 offerings will include a spectacular Seven Troughs (Nev.) hotel brass key tag for room 16, with a postage return insignia on the bottom and superb patina (est. $1,200-$2,500); and a hand-colored 1746 map of the Americas, written entirely in Latin and rendered by August Gottlieb Boehemius, with ‘Quivera’ written about where Comstock is today (est. $1,000-$2,500).

Day 4, on Saturday, December 8th, will be jam-packed with 746 lots of mining material, to include artifacts, books, explosives, spoons and geographic sort from Arizona on. One of the top lots is a stock certificate #949, from The Gold Mining Company (Muni Mountain District, Ariz.), dated 1895 for 75 shares, signed by the company president and secretary (est. $4,000-$7,000).

Also sold on Day 4 will be an original three-page handwritten letter from a California Gold Rush miner, Benjamin P. Dunning, datelined Panama, to his mother in Maine, dated Dec. 21, 1851, in which he tells of his travels and travails (est. $1,000-$1,500); and a choice old wood ore car from a mine in Utah, 3 feet long by 2 feet wide, showing character and eye appeal (est. $800-$1,700).

Day 5, on Sunday, December 9th, will feature 752 lots of textiles, Native Americana, jewelry and watches, entertainment industry items, furnishings, sculptures, art, railroadiana (to include passes and other items) and imprinted revenue stamps. A Pacific Rail Road (Sacramento, Calif.) bond #446 for $500, issued in 1863, with redemption coupons attached, should realize $500-$1,500.

Top lots of the day figure to be a Frederic Remington bronze titled Coming Through the Rye, one of Remington’s all-time classic sculptures, 20 inches tall, #22 of 100 (est. $4,000-$6,000); and an early 20th century half-round early casting from a wood original of what may be an aftcastle for a clipper ship, the Lady Liberty, correlating to the California Gold Rush (est. $3,000-$5,000).

In addition to in-person and online bidding, telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

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 is always seeking quality bottle, advertising, Americana and coin consignments 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 e-mail him at fredholabird@gmail.com. To learn more about Holabird Western Americana’s Dec. 5th-9th auction, visit www.fhwac.com.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions is making a HUGE announcement about its auction schedule and program starting in 2019

Oct 20, 2018 | Announcements, Auctions

Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auctions have experienced very strong growth in 2018, with two sales containing enough material to justify two-day auction events. The boutique concept LRCA has created clearly found a niche that was long overlooked. The market for hand-selected, high-quality U.S. coins was much stronger than even we suspected. It is with great pride in that growth and demand for the Legend brand auctions that the firm is announcing that starting in 2019, there will be six Regency Auctions, including the first time that a Regency Auction will be a “stand-alone” event (being held in January), that will not be in conjunction with a PCGS Members Show, all others for 2019 will be held in conjunction with PCGS’ Shows.

To accommodate the additional Regency Auction, LRCA is also announcing that the December 2018 Premier Session will be the firm’s final monthly internet only auction. While these sales have been very successful, due to the overwhelming demand for Regency Auctions from both consignors and buyers, the firm is redirecting its efforts into the Regency Auctions to ensure that they become the best U.S. numismatic auction events of the entire year. However, to give the monthly Premier Sessions the farewell they deserve, LRCA is pleased to announce that the December Premier Session will be the biggest and best yet—the firm is billing it as mini-Regency Auction.

“From its outset, LRCA was designed to be different, and offer a different level of quality,” explained the firm’s president, Julie Abrams, “and we mean not just the quality of the coins being sold, but the quality of the customer service and the experience for both buyers and sellers. To that end, we thought the monthly Premier Sessions provided a great opportunity for collectors of coins in the $1,000-$10,000 range. While we are sad to see them go, we are very excited for what the future holds for our Regency Auctions.”

The remaining 2018 monthly Premier Sessions will continue on as scheduled, with a very impressive offering being planned for December’s final session. Lot viewing will take place at the December PCGS Member’s Show, December 12-14.

The first 2019 Regency Auction will be held on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at the Beverly Hills Marriot, and will begin at 4:30 PST. This will be a stand alone sale, held just prior to the always popular Long Beach Expo. More details about collections already consigned will be announced in the coming weeks. Due to the holiday season, consignments must be in house no later than Wednesday, November 28.

Regency Auctions will be conducted as the Official Auction for the PCGS Member’s Show throughout the rest of the year. Specific dates and locations to be announced shortly.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions is a boutique 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 Konstatine Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars, the #1 PCGS Set of Red Book varieties, 1807-1836. The firm has the 2nd highest APR in 2016 with the sale of Bob Simpson’s duplicate 1879 $20 “Quintuple Stella” which realized $1,880,000.