The ANA World’s Fair of Money is always one of the top numismatic events of the year, and, as always, Heritage is proud to be able to present the official auction. This event, scheduled for August 14-18 at the convention in Rosemont, Illinois, with Platinum Night scheduled for the evening of August 14, features coins from a tremendous group more than 200 consignors.
The story of this auction is best told by focusing on our fascinating Featured Collections.
The Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection
Heritage is pleased to present an important selection of U.S. gold coins from The Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection, a highlight of this year’s ANA World’s Fair of Money. Mrs. Steinbrenner had a true collector’s interest in gold coins and enjoyed expanding the collection to include some of the finest gold type coins Heritage has ever had the privilege to offer. This year’s Signature auction includes 44 lots from the collection, including a famous and historic three-piece 1843 gold proof set, presented as separate lots during Platinum Night. This exceptionally rare proof set is Ex: John Jay Pittman, and includes the 1843 quarter eagle, PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC … an 1843 half eagle, PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC … and the finest certified 1843 eagle, PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS, CAC.
Other outstanding selections from the collection include a rare 1837 Classic Head quarter eagle, PR66+ Deep Cameo PCGS with CAC, the sole-finest example of this proof-only issue, Ex: Parmelee-Eliasberg-Bass. An exceptional 1907 Rolled Rim Indian eagle is certified MS64+ PCGS with CAC — one of the rarest of all Indian tens — a coin with beautiful luster.
The Poulos Family Collection
It is a remarkable fact that this year’s Platinum Night session alone presents 28 of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins, as defined by the Fourth Edition reference by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth (2015). But perhaps the most astounding fact of all is that of the 28 Greatest U.S. Coins in Platinum Night, 25 of those issues are included in this installment of The Poulos Family Collection.
With more installments to come in future Heritage Auctions, this collection is destined to be one of the most extensive gatherings of truly rare U.S. type coins we have handled in several years. Many of the pieces rank among the finest of their type. Many are rare varieties as well.
The Poulos Family Collection includes such highly sought rarities as a Select Proof 1884 Trade dollar (PR63 PCGS), an equally rare 1870-S Seated dollar (Ex: Miles-Queller, XF40 NGC), and a pair of Coiled Hair stellas – an 1879 certified PR63 NGC and an ultra-rare 1880 certified Proof Genuine PCGS, Unc Details.
Among Colonial issues, not on … not two … or three … or four … but five Higley coppers will cross the block, as well as a recently-discovered New England shilling and a New England sixpence (the well-known “Potato Field” coin).
A seldom-offered George Clinton Excelsior cent certified VF20 PCGS represents the Confederation Period coppers.
Federal double eagles feature an 1854-O certified AU53 NGC and an 1856-O twenty, Ex: Pittman.
Last, but by no means least, this collection features a 1943 bronze cent graded AU58 PCGS, CAC (Ex: Bob Simpson Collection) and a 1943-S bronze cent, one of six examples traced of this famous wrong-planchet error, certified AU53 NGC.
The Castle Collection
The Castle Collection is well-known among Indian cent collectors, having occupied the top spot in the PCGS Set Registry for many years and in several categories. Among all of the complete Indian cent sets that Heritage has witnessed over the years, none compare to the overall standout quality represented by this collection.
Full red, high-grade pieces are seen throughout the collection. Only a few of the major varieties have a red and brown designation, and those because full red examples are simply unobtainable. Both CAC-endorsed and Eagle Eye Photo Seal coins abound. Here are some of the most notable examples:
- 1868 cent MS66+ Red PCGS, CAC
- 1871 cent, MS66 Red PCGS, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1872 cent, MS66 Red PCGS, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1873 Doubled LIBERTY cent, MS65 Red and Brown PCGS, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1877 cent, MS66 Red PCGS. CAC, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1886 Variety 2 cent, MS66 Red PCGS, CAC, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1888/7 cent MS64 Red and Brown PCGS, CAC, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1888 cent, MS67 Red PCGS, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1899 cent, MS68 Red PCGS, Eagle Eye Photo Seal
- 1909-S cent, MS67 Red PCGS
The Collection of a Patriotic American
Our consignor is both a numismatic scholar and consultant who has assisted with the formation and sale of many great collections. He is also a collector with keen awareness of quality, pedigree, and numismatic significance. As with previous Heritage consignments from his personal collections, every item reflects his knowledge and expertise to the fullest. Not surprisingly, each coin easily qualifies for Platinum Night status.
The collection includes 11 exceptional Colonials and two special gold pieces, headlined by a circa 1659 Lord Baltimore groat (fourpence), Small Bust, certified AU53 NGC, CAC — unique with no other confirmed examples, the Crosby plate coin. The circa 1737 Higley copper is also unique — the famous Wheele Goes Round copper from the Garrett, Roper, and Partrick collections, certified VF30 NGC.
Other Colonials include additional rare Lord Baltimore examples, plus two important Immune Columbia pieces. One Immune Columbia is struck in silver with diagonal reeded edge, possibly the finest-known, certified AU55 NGC, while the other is the finest 1787 “New York” Immunis Columbia, struck over a New Jersey Maris 26-S, by far the finest Wide Planchet variant, Plain Edge, certified MS64 Brown NGC, CAC. An attractive AU53 1848 CAL. quarter eagle and a Choice AU55 Bechtler five dollar gold piece round out the offering.
The Genau Collection
One of the most challenging subsets of the Liberty Head double eagle series is a set of New Orleans Mint twenties. All but a few of the 13 O-mint dates are scarce, and a handful are true “stoppers” that can challenge even the most aggressive and well-heeled collector. Our consignor is one of the few who has accomplished the set, all in AU50 or finer grades except the rare 1854-O, which is conservatively graded VF30 PCGS, CAC. The equally rare 1856-O is certified AU50 NGC, Ex: Dallas Bank Collection.
The 1855-O, sandwiched between the two extreme rarities, is almost as challenging, yet the collection holds a Mint State example certified MS61 NGC, one of the two finest-known examples. Likewise, the 1858-O is graded MS61 NGC – well struck, with just three pieces certified finer by NGC and PCGS combined. The 1859-O and 1879-O both have mintages below 10,000 pieces, and both are rare in their own right. The 1859-O grades AU53 NGC, while the 1879-O is nearly Mint State, grading AU58 NGC.
The Alan V. Weinberg Collection, Part II
Part I of the Alan V. Weinberg Collection appeared in our January 2019 FUN Platinum Night session and featured a memorable offering of 1792 patterns, Colonials, and early U.S. cents. Part II of Alan’s collection, appearing in this ANA World’s Fair of Money event, features spectacular Massachusetts silver and a group of outstanding American medals — just a small portion of his extensive medal collection.
The ANA selections include (in part):
- 1662 Oak Tree Large Date twopence, XF45+ PCGS, Noe-34, the Whitman Encyclopedia plate coin
- 1652 Oak Tree threepence, IN on obverse, AU53 PCGS, Noe-23
- 1652 Oak Tree shilling, IN at bottom, MS61 PCGS, Noe-4, the Whitman Encyclopedia plate coin
- 1652 Pine Tree shilling, Large Planchet, No Pellets at Trunk, MS62 PCGS, Noe-3, plated in Crosby, Whitman, and Salmon
- 1790 Washington Manly medal, Baker-618, MS61 Brown PCGS, number 17 of the 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens
- 1893 Columbian Exposition gold medal, MS63, Eglit-36A, MS63 Prooflike NGC, believed unique and presented to President Grover Cleveland
- 1892 World’s Columbian Exposition Presentation Set, Henry Owen Edmonds, Secretary, unique
- 1893 Constructed Gold Award medal, National French Draft Horse Association awarded to Ed Hodgson, MS66 NGC
The Mahal Collection
Collectors of Philippine coinage will find a wealth of opportunities in The Mahal Collection. The United States struck Philippine coinage at the San Francisco and Philadelphia Mints, and later at the Manila Mint that opened in 1920. In all, the Philippines were under U.S. sovereignty from 1903 to 1936. This interesting collection presents a partial history of those years through its coinage.
Among the key issues is a Mint State 1906-S peso graded MS61 PCGS; a 1911-S Philippines peso in Gem Uncirculated certified MS65 PCGS; and the 1912-S final Philippines peso, certified MS64+ PCGS.
Other issues include a rare 1920 Manila Mint gold medal, AU55 PCGS, HK-1031, with just six gold examples known to us. Several high-grade proofs from the early years of U.S. sovereignty represent the different denominations. An example of the important 1918-S Philippines five centavos mule, paired with a twenty centavos reverse, grades MS63 PCGS.
This auction is now open for bidding at coins.HA.com.
