Welcome to the Stack’s Bowers Galleries catalog for our August Rarities Night Session, to be held August 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This session is where we feature the rarest of the rare and the finest of the fine, including significant cabinets and important individual items.
In this catalog we lead off with one of the most significant cabinets to be offered in modern times: The ESM Collection of United States Large Cents. Like our previous offerings from this consignor, these large cents comprise some of the most iconic issues and rarest types, often in Condition Census grades and with pedigrees to some of the most important collectors of the past. We need mention only a few pieces to spotlight the quality of this presentation. One is the Parmelee specimen of the 1793 Strawberry Leaf cent, the finest known of this extremely rare variety. Beyond that there are three lovely AU Chain cents, the famous 1795 Sheldon-79 Reeded Edge cent, a pair of Jefferson Head cents, and much, much more. It is an offering that will long be remembered by early American copper enthusiasts.
We are also pleased to present further offerings from collections that we have featured in the past. Among them are rare gold coins from the Dr. James A. Ferrendelli Collection, further gold $10 eagles from the Anthony J. Taraszka Collection, and additional gold coins from the Fairmont Collection. The Iron Eagle Collection comprises an impressive group of rare and high-end Capped Bust silver coins that rank among the finest known.
To list all the individual highlights would almost require mention of every coin in the catalog. However, there are a few that stand out, including among silver coins a Superb Gem 1820 JR-2 Capped Bust dime, an 1883-S Morgan dollar in MS-67+ PL (CAC), and a Superb Gem 1934-S Peace silver dollar. Gold rarities abound, highlighted by an MS-62 1796 With Stars quarter eagle, a 1797 $10 eagle also graded MS-62, and a Gem Panama-Pacific Round $50. An especially nice group of private and territorial gold items includes an 1849 Oregon Exchange Company $5 in MS-62, a Choice Mint State Humbert $50, and two Harris, Marchand & Company gold ingots recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Central America.
The Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night auctions are a tradition that extends back many years and along the way we have included just about every coin listed in the Guide Book. With our superb imaging technology you can see the details clearly—both in the printed catalog and on our website StacksBowers.com. As always, opportunity is the key word. As to price, history shows that taken in the long term, today’s record price is likely to be tomorrow’s bargain. As I write these words I harken back to our sale of the Garrett Collection for the Johns Hopkins University, in four sales, 1979 to 1981. Writing in his Coin World column, veteran dealer Abe Kosoff said that the remarkable prices for many of the Garrett coins did not reflect reality. Today in August 2020, most Garrett coins seem incredibly cheap. The past is no guarantee of the future, but I believe it correct to say that nearly all of the coins, tokens, medals, and paper money in our sales of a generation ago would be bargains now.
I invite you to be a part of the August 2020 Rarities Night session, along with our other offerings of United States coins and currency, ancient coins, and world coins and paper money. Bidding with Stack’s Bowers Galleries is easy, fun and exciting. After registering, you can bid in real time as the auction is taking place, using our award-winning website or our convenient mobile apps. Of course, we also accept advance bids on the website and by mail or fax. If you are interested in bidding over the telephone during the sale or need assistance setting up your account, contact our auction services department at 800-458-4646.
Once again, I welcome you to the Rarities Night session of our August 2020 Auction in Las Vegas. All of us at Stack’s Bowers Galleries wish you continued numismatic enjoyment and the best of bidding success.
Sincerely,
Q, David Bowers
Co-founder, Stack’s Bowers Galleries
