(NEW YORK—June 3, 2016) As a fitting complement to the spectacular results seen in their offering of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part IV, the Stack’s Bowers Galleries and Sotheby’s May 25, 2016, Rarities Auction exhibited strong activity, realizing over $1.8 million including buyer’s premium. (All prices include the buyer’s premium.)
The excitement began early in the sale with an offering of foreign gold coins regulated by goldsmiths Ephraim Brasher, John Burger and Joseph Richardson. A rare Brazilian 1728 Minas Gerais 12,800 reis countermarked by Brasher and Burger in lot 6 garnered $105,750, followed by a Choice AU Brazilian 1752 Rio 6400 reis stamped by Richardson in lot 9 that realized $88,125.
The demand for quality key date examples was high throughout the sale, evidenced by the MS-66 Full Head (PCGS) Standing Liberty quarter in lot 25 that brought $35,250 and the MS-64 (NGC) 1929 Indian half eagle in lot 97 that realized $42,300.
Coins from A Prominent East Coast Collection elicited considerable excitement, as that cabinet showcased fresh and premium gold rarities. Included was a comprehensive run of Matte Proof Indian quarter eagles, spotlighted by a beautiful 1912 example in lot 75 and a 1915 example in lot 78, both certified Proof-65 (PCGS) CAC and selling for $30,550 and $37,500, respectively. The highlight of that impressive assemblage was a 1907 Wire Rim Indian eagle certified MS-65 by PCGS that was presented in lot 111. An old friend of the firm’s, the coin was acquired from Stack’s at the 1955 Albany Show for $200; six decades later in the May 25 Rarities Auction it brought $56,400.
Proof Indian eagles proved to be a popular in the sale, as was demonstrated by the pristine 1911 offered in lot 113. Certified Proof-66 by PCGS, that coin exhibited the more coarse sand blast matte finish employed that year, and realized $64,625.
It wasn’t just the 20th century issues that saw noteworthy activity, as pieces from the 19th century garnered equally stellar results. Lot 63 was a Proof 1888 Liberty quarter eagle certified Proof-67 Cameo by NGC. Representing the finest example certified in the Cameo category at either PCGS or NGC, that piece went on to bring $39,950. A Choice AU 1873 Liberty eagle was offered in lot 109 and caused considerable excitement among high-end gold enthusiasts. From a mintage of just 800 pieces and an extant population less than 35, that important rarity brought $64,625.
A superlative 1920-S Saint-Gaudens double eagle certified AU-58+ by PCGS and awarded a green sticker by CAC was offered in lot 140 and sold for $44,650, eclipsing the presale high estimate. Also exceeding its presale estimate was the key date 1931-D Saint-Gaudens double eagle offered in lot 142. A survivor of the mass-meltings instituted by President Roosevelt just a few years after striking, that piece was certified MS-64 by NGC and went on to fetch $94,000, significantly surpassing the $85,000 presale projection.
Overall, the May 2015 Rarities Auction, held by Stack’s Bowers in conjunction with Sotheby’s was an exciting and successful event. All lot descriptions and images can be viewed online at www.StacksBowers.com or in the printed catalog. For more information call 949-253-0916 or email info@StacksBowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block —The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
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, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Professional Numismatists Guild New York Invitational, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April, August and December Hong Kong Auctions.
