By David Lawrence Rare Coins ……
Our Sunday Internet Auction #950 is now live with a great selection of 337 fresh, new coins, 65 No Reserve lots and 25 Vault Value items. All lots will begin closing at 8pm Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, March 5.
Some of the more interesting highlights from this week’s sale include:
- 1860 1c PCGS MS65+ (Pointed Bust)
- 1909-S Lincoln 1c PCGS MS66+ RD
- 1805 H10c PCGS AU53
ex: Pittman - 1835 10c PCGS Proof 64
- 1934-S 50c NGC MS65
- Top 100 VAM: 1878 7TF $1 PCGS MS66 (Rev of 1878, VAM-100, Type 1 Obv)
- 1884-CC $1 PCGS MS67
- 1886 $1 NGC MS68
- 1887/6-O $1 NGC MS65 (VAM-3, Top 100)
This 1887/6 overdate Morgan silver dollar from the New Orleans Mint is a wonderful example of the variety. Tied with one other coin as the finest graded by either service, its satiny surfaces feature flawless eye appeal and a very light patina. This coin is the nicest example of the scarce VAM-3 that we’ve seen.
- 1889-O $1 PCGS MS65
- 1891 $1 PCGS MS65
- 1893-CC $1 PCGS MS64
- Hot 50 VAM: 1895-S $1 PCGS MS63 (VAM-3, S/S)
- 1896-S $1 PCGS MS63+ (VAM-5, S/S)
- 1901 $1 PCGS MS64
Here’s another Morgan dollar for you – one of the nicest 1901-P Morgan dollars we’ve ever offered. A rare date in mint state, this issue is prohibitive rare in gem as PCGS has only graded three examples to date above MS64. None have ever made an auction appearance but we expect they would be worth $500,000 and up. This lustrous high-end MS64 might achieve MS65 status if it were a more common date but PCGS is very careful with 1901-Ps, and this coin is very sharp for the grade. White with a hint of gold and very clean of marks. A great coin.
- 1902-S $1 PCGS MS66
- 1903-S $1 PCGS MS65+
- 1904-O $1 NGC MS67
- 1891 $1 PCGS Proof 66 CAM
- 1892 $1 PCGS Proof 67 CAM
- 1897 $1 PCGS Proof 67 CAM
- 1880 Pattern $1 PCGS Proof 67 RB (J-1646)
- 1857-S SS Central America Shipwreck $20 PCGS MS65 (20A)
- 1851 $50 Humbert PCGS AU55 (Reeded Edge, 880 Thous)
That last selection happens to be this week’s highlight: an 1851 $50 Humbert PCGS/CAC AU55 (Reeded Edge, 880 Thous). Long popular with collectors, these octagonal slugs are a unique offering from the California Gold Rush era. The surfaces on this particular piece are fantastic with nearly Prooflike fields. It’s very rare that we find such a nice example with no major distracting marks on the reverse. The beautiful design was struck before the US Mint started conducting business in San Francisco at the Assay Office under the direction of Augustus Humbert and were widely circulated in California, even once official coins were produced.
Of course there are many other excellent coins available in the current auction, so be sure to browse all lots in this exciting new sale before it closes on Sunday, March 5.
