IRVINE, Calif. (March 28, 2013) — Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducted the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo, an incredibly successful sale that realized $11,922,392. Offering U.S. coins, paper money, medals and tokens, the sale featured a number of significant collections. Colonial coins paved the way, with Part III of the Legendary Ted L. Craige Collection leading off Session One of this impressive sale. Other notable collections featured included the Janet Nakushian Collection of Silver Dollars, the Dr. Hans and Birgit Neuberg Collection, the Bob and Sarah Ross Portfolio, Shell Cards from the Stephen L. Tanenbaum Estate, Part II, an Important Collection of Rhode Island Obsolete Proof Notes, and an Advanced Collection of Fancy Serial Number Notes, just to name a few.
Part III of the Ted L. Craige Collection presented more than 400 lots of colonial issues and provided a number of significant results. The session began with a wonderful example of the landmark Libertas Americana medal in silver graded MS-62 by PCGS that sold for $99,875, and was immediately followed by the Choice AU Lord Baltimore groat, a beautiful, ex: Boyd coin that saw hefty bidding and finally reached a substantial $70,500. One of the most significant pieces from the Ted L. Craige Collection was the extraordinary New Yorke in America token, a very rare early token which, when seen at all, is generally seen in poor condition. This example, however, is wonderfully sharp with superb eye appeal and, graded EF-40 by PCGS, sold for a very strong $94,000.
On the evening of March 14, Stack’s Bowers Galleries held The Rarities Night Session, which contained 200 lots of top notch rarities. Notable realizations here included the beautiful 1792 half disme offered as lot 2025. Graded MS-64 by PCGS, this example of the historic issue sold for $470,000 when it crossed the block. Gold issues boasted their fair share of rarities as well, with the 1892 quarter eagle in Proof-68 Deep Cameo (PCGS) that sold for $111,625, the 1907 Wire Rim Indian eagle graded MS-66 by NGC and verified by CAC that went for $111,625, and the 1912 double eagle in Proof-66 (PCGS) CAC that topped out at $117,500.
Session Six featured U.S. currency, and boasted the largest banknote sale that Stack’s Bowers Galleries has held in Baltimore. After more than eight hours and 835 lots, the session clocked in at just over $2 million. Obsolete currency saw active bidding, exemplified by lot 5183, an exceedingly rare Bank of North America $1000 color proof that brought $29,375. Federal issues included a modest offering of Large Size notes followed by a spectacular section of Small Size notes, anchored by the Thomas Vandenbosch Collection.
Highlights of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2013 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo include:
- Lot 1, "1781" (1782) Libertas Americana Medal. Silver. Betts-615. MS-62 (PCGS). From the Ted L. Craige Collection. Realized $99,875
- Lot 2, Undated (1659) Lord Baltimore Fourpence, or Groat. Hodder 1-A. Large Bust. AU-53 (PCGS). From the Ted L. Craige Collection. Realized $70,500
- Lot 196, Undated (Circa 1670) New Yorke in America Token. W-1705. Brass. EF-40 (PCGS). From the Ted L. Craige Collection. Realized $94,000
- Lot 202, 1783 John Chalmers Threepence. W-1760. AU-58 (PCGS). From the Ted L. Craige Collection. Realized $60,513
- Lot 204, 1783 John Chalmers Shilling. W-1785. Short Worm. AU-50 (PCGS). From the Ted L. Craige Collection. Realized $49,938
- Lot 308, 1785 Immune Columbia Piece. W-1985. 13 Stars. Silver. Reeded Edge. EF Details (PCGS). From the Ted L. Craige Collection. Realized $64,625
- Lot 1354, 1897 Barber Quarter. MS-66 (NGC). CAC–Gold Label. OH. Realized $16,450
- Lot 2025, 1792 Half Disme. MS-64 (PCGS). Realized $470,000
- Lot 2144, 1892 Liberty Quarter Eagle. Proof-68 Deep Cameo (PCGS). Realized $111,625
- Lot 2173, 1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle. Taraszka-5, BD-5. 13 Leaves. AU-58 (PCGS). Secure Holder. Realized $94,000
- Lot 2181, 1907 Indian Eagle. Periods. Wire Rim. MS-66 (NGC). CAC. Realized $111,625
- Lot 2199, 1912 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Proof-66 (PCGS). CAC. Realized $117,500
- Lot 3063, 1860-O Liberty Seated Silver Dollar. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC. OGH. Realized $10,575
- Lot 3065, 1864 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar. Proof-64 (PCGS). CAC. Realized $11,163
- Lot 3080, 1873 Liberty Seated Silver Dollar. Proof-64 (PCGS). OGH. Realized $13,043
- Lot 3093, 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. VAM-3. Top 100 Variety. Capped Die. MS-63 (NGC). OH. From the Janet Nakushian Collection. Realized $12,925
- Lot 3187, 1892-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC. OGH. Realized $11,163
- Lot 3320, 1952-S Carver/Washington Commemorative. MS-67 (PCGS). Secure Holder. Realized $11,163
- Lot 4266, 1880 Liberty Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). CAC. Realized $12,925
- Lot 4324, 1907-D Liberty Double Eagle. MS-65 (PCGS). CAC. OGH–First Generation. Realized $18,800
- Lot 5183, Obsolete Notes. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bank of North America. ND (18xx). $1000. Uncirculated. Proof. Realized $29,375
- Lot 5348, Obsolete Notes. Richmond, Virginia. Virginia Treasury Note. Act of June 8, 1861. $100. PCGS Choice About New 58. Realized $21,250
- Lot 5413, Large Size. Fr. 268. 1896 $5 Silver Certificates. PCGS Superb Gem New 67 PPQ. Realized $49,938
- Lot 5505, Small Size. Fr. 1700. 1933 $10 Silver Certificates. PCGS Very Choice New 64 PPQ. From the Thomas Vandenbosch Collection. Realized $25,850
For a complete list of prices realized in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2013 Baltimore Sale, visit stacksbowers.com or call at 800.458.4646.Stack’s Bowers Galleries is currently accepting consignments for the June 2013 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is also the Official Auctioneer of the August 2013 World’s Fair of Money that will take place in Chicago, and is currently accepting consignments for that event as well.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a division of Fortune 500 Company Spectrum Group International Inc., combines the extraordinary histories of Stack’s, the oldest rare coin auction and retail company in America, with Bowers and Merena Auctions, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers of rare coins and paper money. The two companies unite to share a combined legacy that spans more than 100 years, and includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable collections to ever cross an auction block — the John J. Ford, Jr. and Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collections, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, and The Norweb Collection — to name just a few. Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin: the1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, New Hampshire and Hong Kong. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including the 2013 ANA World’s Fair of Money and the ANA/PNG Pre-Show, the 2013 ANA National Money Show, and the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo, three times yearly.