by: Kathleen Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities
While we enjoyed conversing and doing business with several of our good clients at last week’s Long Beach Coin Show, overall action was a bit slower than anticipated. Over the past couple years, activity at most of the Long Beach conventions has been brisk, but this time there was a notable lack of buzz. Part of the problem was the absence of several east coast dealers who had just attended Whitman’s Philly show the prior week.
As is inevitable, when shows are scheduled on top of each other, both venues are weakened and that was the case here. Regardless, we were able to locate a handful of exciting rarities, and fill more than a few items on our want lists. We were actually quite busy the entire show, from noon on dealer set-up until we left the show on Friday afternoon. We picked up some great type coins, notably a fabulous 1851-O 50c PCGS MS66, an 1887 25c PCGS PR67 Cameo, and a glowing 1806 Large Cent in PCGS AU58. In addition, we bought a good selection of high-grade silver commemoratives, some top-notch Standing Liberty and Washington quarters and many more diverse pieces for you to peruse. We will continue listing coins from the Long Beach show through the end of the week.
Back at the office, we have remained steadily busy since the ANA. We just reacquired one of the top 5 PCGS graded 1794 Half Dollars, a PCGS AU58. This first year of issue for the United States Half Dollar is a rarity in all grades. Just 23,363 coins were produced. Now that we have a break before our next show in Baltimore, we are working diligently to acquire coins from our collector and dealer contacts. We already have two collections in the works. So expect new coins to be added almost daily. We are now adding slab images to all of all our inventory listings, so please be patient, as it takes us a bit more time to get new material imaged. If you would like an image or description of anything that doesn’t have one, just let us know and we will give it priority.
Also in the news, Heritage is auctioning off Part 2 of the Eric P. Newman collection next month. Eric, at the ripe old age of 102, has amassed one of the finest private collections of American coins and currency and also happens to be the only living person to have owned all five 1913 Liberty Head nickels, purchasing them from E.H.R. Green back in the 1930s. There are some amazing, super-high-grade early rarities in the sale, so if nothing else, take a look on either Heritage’s or NGC’s site, as NGC graded the collection. Some of his Draped Bust coins, particularly his 1796 quarter look so perfect they almost look fake…but they’re not. Neat stuff.
