IRVINE, Calif. (November 4, 2014) — Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to present the private collection of United States coins assembled over the past four decades by Stephen Winthrop at its February 2015 Americana Showcase and Rarities Night Auction.
Stephen Winthrop, a descendant of one of New England’s most famous families, grew up in New York City and started collecting coins when he was eight years old. His first focus was to assemble a type collection of United States gold coins from the mid-19th century, then a complete set of silver and gold classic United States commemorative coins by type. In his 20s and 30s, he expanded his collection to include gold and silver United States type coinage from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries dating back to the early Mint issues. Stephen hand selected each coin for his collection based on quality and eye appeal. Most of these coins were encapsulated by PCGS and NGC during those companies’ formative years and are being offered in their original holders. The exceptional quality combined with the presentation in their early holders will command attention from collectors, dealers, and museum curators alike.
While building his cabinet, one of Mr. Winthrop’s favorite series was silver and gold commemoratives. He was a particular buyer, choosing only examples with extraordinary eye appeal.
Mr. Winthrop graduated from Harvard University in 1980. He spent a few years after graduate school working for a global strategy consulting firm, and then in 1992 he formed his own consulting firm helping small nonprofit organizations. He has served on several boards of directors, and has played important parts in numerous nonprofit organizations.
A year ago, Mr. Winthrop was diagnosed with ALS, an incurable degenerative disease that attacks an individual’s motor neuron cells, and results in a painless yet progressive weakening of muscles throughout the body. An average patient’s life expectancy is four years. A few months ago, Mr. Winthrop decided to liquidate his entire coin collection and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to finding a cure for ALS. More specifically, the funds will go to the Stephen Winthrop ALS Fund at Harvard University. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014 was enormously successful in terms of raising both funds and awareness. “Now the time has come,” Mr. Winthrop said, “to make a lasting splash in the fight against ALS.”
Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to join Mr. Winthrop and Harvard University in this philanthropic venture. “We will be including additional lots with all proceeds going to Mr. Winthrop’s charity at Harvard, and are inviting consignments of donated numismatic items to be sold in this special section of our catalog,” said Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “In addition, we are accepting consignments of United States coins, tokens and medals to be showcased alongside The Winthrop Collection in our Americana Showcase and Rarities Night Auction.”
For more information on how to consign U.S. coins, medals and tokens to this event, contact a Stack’s Bowers Galleries consignment specialist at 800.458.4646 (West Coast), 800.566.2580 (East Coast), 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 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 Irvine, 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 and August Hong Kong Auctions.
