SANTA ANA, CA. (October 31, 2017) — The Stack’s Bowers Galleries November 2017 Baltimore auction will be truly monumental, rivaling the most spectacular events of the past five years in quality and quantity of offerings. The sale will feature selections from the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation, the Alexander and Murray Hill Collections, and other important properties, as well as a fantastic selection of early American coinage presented in conjunction with the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4). With nearly 5,900 United States coin lots across eight sessions, there is guaranteed to be something for every bidder.
Session 1 on the evening of Wednesday, November 8th, offers a diverse selection of tokens and medals. Students of the Comitia Americana series will delight at numerous examples, highlighted by an original 1777 Horatio Gates medal in bronze certified MS-64 BN NGC (lot 7), as well as an extremely rare obverse cliché of the 1779 DeFleury at Stony Point medal in tin (lot 8). The famous Libertas Americana medal is represented by two original bronze examples: an MS-64 BN (NGC) CAC piece in lot 19 and a choice AU-55 (PCGS) example in lot 20. The remarkable offering of Washingtonia comprises 67 lots of desirable and rare medallic types. An outstanding MS-64 BN (PCGS) ca. 1777 Voltaire medal in bronze is presented in lot 70, representing what is thought to be the first Washington portrait medal. Lots 83 and 84 are old friends of the firm, the first having appeared in their sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part II. This impressive ca. 1797 Presidency Resigned medal in white metal has recently been attributed as Musante GW-64. The ca. 1800 Resumed Command medal in lot 84 was sold as part of the legendary Norweb Collection in November 2006, and is considered possibly unique by Washingtonia scholars. In lot 117, a lovely ca. 1864 Letter to Hamilton medal in copper is offered, certified MS-63 RB (NGC) and tracing its pedigree to the Chapman brothers’ sale of the Charles Bushnell Collection in June 1882 and Bowers and Ruddy’s sale of Part IV of the legendary Garrett Collection in March 1981. It has most recently been donated by Stanley DeForest Scott to benefit the endowment campaign for the Executive Director position at the American Numismatic Society, and it is under these terms that it appears in the November 2017 Baltimore event. An offering of 11 outstanding Washington Buttons brings the Washingtonia section to a close, and includes a handsome AU 1789 Eagle and Sun piece in lot 129 and the unique Darby Pattern in lot 136.
A delightful trio of 1876 Diplomatic medals is offered later in the session. A magnificent MS-66 BN (NGC) example in lot 156 was also donated by Stanley DeForest Scott to benefit the endowment campaign for the Executive Director position at the American Numismatic Society. The offering of J.A. Bolen medalettes in the sale is highlighted by the Tim Gabriele Collection, which includes over 50 of the most popular and scarce types. Iconic issues like the Pioneer Baseball Club medal and Libertas Americana store card are accompanied by rare mulings and off-metal strikings like the possibly unique Jefferson / 10 muling in tin offered in lot 264. Lot 271 spotlights a monumental discovery, debuting the unique HK-1000a Erie Canal Completion medal in silver with a previously unknown reverse. A varied and impressive selection of tokens and encased postage stamps closes out the session, including an interesting group of U.S.-related Panamanian exonumia from the Richard Stuart Collection.
The Rarities Night session will be held on Thursday, November 9th, and will showcase world-class rarities from all sections of the Guide Book. A pair of incomparable Washington Born Virginia types opens the sale, with lot 10001 offering a magnificent MS-66+ (PCGS) CAC example with the Legend Reverse that is likely the finest known of the Musante GW-33 variety. Pedigreed to Newcomer, Mehl, Green, Picker, Terranova and others, it is presently offered as part of the incredible Cardinal Collection. Lot 10002 is similarly well pedigreed, having passed through the hands of Newcomer, Mehl, and Brand. It represents the Eagle with Stars variety and is one of just three Musante GW-34 survivors known in any condition. Lot 10003, a Judd-1 1792 Silver Center cent graded MS-61 BN (PCGS) CAC is among the finest of only 14 known examples and represents a foundational element of the American monetary system. It has a provenance that extends back over a century to the Chapman brothers’ sale of the Charles Morris Collection in April 1905 and is offered as part of the Cardinal Collection, alongside numerous other treasures in the November event. Early copper collectors will delight in a handsome Choice AU 1793 Sheldon-3 Chain cent appearing in lot 10007 and a rare silver Restrike 1823 cent appearing in lot 10013. Making only its third auction appearance in the past 50 years is an incredible MS-64 (NGC) 1797 Draped Bust dime in lot 10032 that ranks among the finest known for the variety. A spectacular 1868 Liberty Seated quarter with a provenance to the Eugene H. Gardner collection is featured in lot 10051. Certified MS-66+ (PCGS) CAC, it is likely the finest known of the issue and delivers magnificent eye appeal and superlative technical quality. The Cardinal Collection also includes spectacular silver treasures, beginning with the finest known 1794 O-105 Flowing Hair half dollar graded AU-58+ by PCGS (lot 10057). The 1797 BB-72 Draped Bust silver dollar in lot 10075 is not only the finest known of the variety but is the only Mint State specimen known. Certified MS-64 (PCGS), it was earlier in the collections of Colonel E.H.R. Green and Eric Newman, and was the plate coin for the variety in Q. David Bowers’ 1993 reference on the series. Lot 10102 offers an incredible MS-65 (PCGS) 1895-O silver dollar that ranks among the finest survivors of this desirable mintage and is being offered at auction for the first time.
The incredible gold treasures in the Rarities Night session begin with an astounding type set from the Murray Hill Collection. Composed of private acquisitions and auction purchases from Stack’s and Stack’s Bowers Galleries, this cabinet showcases 17 exceptional examples of the rarest and most desirable gold issues of the U.S. Mint. The legendary No Stars Capped Bust Right quarter eagle is represented by an AU-53 (PCGS) example in lot 10114, while the MS-63 * (NGC) With Stars example in lot 10115 has ties to the legendary collection of John Whitney Walter. An incredible Mint State 1808 Capped Bust Left quarter eagle follows in lot 10116 and is among the finest of just 40 to 50 known. No gold type set would truly be complete without a four-dollar Stella, and a gorgeous Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS) example of the Flowing Hair type from this set is found in lot 10118. Gold coins from the Alexander Collection maintain a strong presence through the Rarities Night session, beginning with a run of Proof Liberty Head quarter eagles that includes outstanding Gem Cameo examples of the 1884 (lot 10141) and 1900 (lot 10149) issues. Half eagles from the Alexander Collection are equally astounding, spotlighted by an incredible AU-58 (PCGS) 1795 Capped Bust Right example in lot 10167. Perhaps most impressive from this cabinet is a full 1900 gold Proof set being offered individually in lots 10241 through 10244. Featuring a Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS) Liberty Head half eagle in lot 10242 and a Proof-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS) Liberty Head double eagle in lot 10244, this set is sure to draw considerable fanfare when it crosses the auction block.
The collaboration between Stack’s Bowers Galleries and the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4) continues with the offering of Early American Coins in Session 7 on the evening of Friday, November 10. A delightful selection of Massachusetts silver coinage includes a Noe-1 Large Planchet Pine Tree shilling in lot 4004 and a scarce 1652 Oak Tree shilling of the Noe-14, Spiny Tree variety in lot 4002. A Choice EF Lord Baltimore sixpence is offered in lot 4009, one of two examples of this scarce type appearing in the sale. The handsome selection of Wood’s Hibernia coinage in the sale is highlighted by a lovely 1722 Rocks at Right halfpenny in lot 4026. Considered a Rarity-7+ variety, this attractive, neatly holed specimen is a significant opportunity for enthusiasts of this interesting series! Another treat from the Cardinal Collection is found in lot 4035, a gorgeous MS-66 BN (PCGS) CAC Virginia halfpenny that is among the finest known of the type. A trio of memorable Rhode Island Ship medals includes two Mint State examples in brass and a rare pewter piece (one of just 10 known) from the Garrett Collection in lot 4045. Lot 4090 features a lovely 1787 Connecticut copper of the Miller 33.1-Z.19 variety certified MS-62 BN (PCGS). Considered Rarity-5, this piece exhibits significant pinkish luster. It is being offered in the November sale as part of the LVJ Philadelphia Collection, alongside numerous other noteworthy early American coins. A highlight of the evening’s session is the offering of 61 exceptional duplicates from the Syd Martin Collection of New Jersey coppers. This assemblage includes an impressive array of Condition Census specimens, pedigreed examples, and handsome rarities that should draw considerable attention from New Jersey copper enthusiasts. This selection is highlighted by a gorgeous 1787 Maris 48-g certified AU-55+ (PCGS) in lot 4171, and the Norweb 1787 Maris 61-P certified VF-30 (PCGS) in lot 4187. Also offered in the New Jersey copper section is a 1787 Maris 56-n overstruck on a unique 1787 Vlack 25-87C Machin’s Mills halfpenny in lot 4181 that will appeal to NJ copper collectors and Machin’s Mills collectors alike. The strong representation of Washingtonia in the sale continues in Session 7, beginning with lot 4231. A unique lettered edge Washington Born Virginia copper is presented in lot 4240. Struck from the Musante GW-33 dies, the lettered edge variant is known only in silver, making the offered piece in copper the discovery specimen of the type. Lot 4251 presents a truly exceptional Washington Funeral Urn medal in white metal. Struck from the Fuld 4-D dies and falling under the Musante GW-70E attribution, this piece is certified AU-55 (NGC) and showcases superior preservation. Attractive and rare Fugio coppers include a Rarity-5 Newman 1-L in lot 4259 and a Rarity-6 Newman 12-KK in lot 4269. The Early American Coins session concludes with an interesting and scarce offering of dies and struck pieces by C. Wyllys Betts. The hand-engraved dies and hand-struck pieces have intrigued numismatists since the mid 19th century, and are seldom offered in any quantity approaching the present offering.
With exceptional selections from the Cardinal Collection, the Alexander and Murray Hill Collections, and other important properties, the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November 2017 Baltimore Auction is guaranteed to be a historic event. The auction is currently available for viewing and bidding online at www.StacksBowers.com. Lot viewing will be available before the sale by appointment at the firm’s Santa Ana and New York offices, with additional lot viewing at the auction venue in Baltimore. For more information, or to secure your copies of the catalogs produced for this event, contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries today at 949-253-0916 or email info@StacksBowers.com.
