On May 9-10, Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducted the Official Auction of the ANA National Money Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. The sale was a resounding success and sales totaled $7,264,344. Anchored by two old-time collections, this sale contained a plethora of fresh material that had been off the market for decades, creating an exciting sale that saw a great deal of activity. The Dr. Dexter C. Seymour Collection contained a number of significant pieces ranging from a Templeton Reid $2.50 rarity to California gold to federal issues, and another important collection consigned by a New England museum contained coins that had been off the market for more than a century!
The collection of Dr. Dexter C. Seymour, whose research on Georgia territorial gold coinage revolutionized the way today’s collectors view Templeton Reid, featured a number of notable coins, including the extremely rare and one of the finest known 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50. Housed in an AU-58 PCGS Secure holder, this amazing coin sold for a hefty $329,000 when it crossed the block.
The New England Museum collection spanned the 18th century to the very early 20th century, and featured a selection of beautiful Proofs highlighted by a Superb Gem 1895 Morgan dollar. The consignment included many circulation strikes as well, in nearly every case being of outstanding quality, many crossing the MS-65 mark. Offered here was a beautiful 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar, known as the King of the Morgans and one of two examples offered in this sale, graded Proof-65+ by PCGS that brought a strong $73,439.
Gold coins offered significant pieces in all series from gold dollars through double eagles. The sale contained two beautiful $4 Stellas, one Flowing Hair and one Coiled Hair example. The Coiled Hair example, one of the most coveted issues in American numismatics, was offered as lot 1294 and was graded an amazing Proof-64 Cameo by PCGS. The bidding opened up at $380,000 and quickly climbed to $525,000 by several persistent phone bidders. A few seconds later, one more bid pushed the final price of this amazing coin to $646,250!
Highlights of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries May 2013 Official Auction of the ANA National Money Show in New Orleans include:
- Lot 337, 1811 Capped Bust Half Dollar. O-110. Rarity-1. Small 8. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC. From a New England Museum. Realized $49,938
- Lot 436, 1895 Barber Half Dollar. MS-66+ (PCGS). CAC. From a New England Museum. Realized $23,500
- Lot 1151, 1895 Morgan Silver Dollar. Proof-65+ (PCGS). CAC. Realized $73,439
- Lot 1152, 1895 Morgan Silver Dollar. Proof-64 Deep Cameo (PCGS). Realized $67,563
- Lot 1204, 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50 Gold. K-1. Rarity-6. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC. Secure Holder. From the Dr. Dexter Seymour Collection. Realized $329,000
- Lot 1206, Undated (1831-1834) Christopher Bechtler $5 Gold. 150.G., 20.CARATS. AU-55 (PCGS). Realized $64,625
- Lot 1259, 1797 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle. BD-1, the only known dies. Rarity-6. AU-53 (PCGS). Realized $105,750
- Lot 1260, 1804 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-4. 14-Star Reverse. MS-62 (PCGS). Realized $44,063
- Lot 1275, 1900 Liberty Quarter Eagle. Proof-68+ Deep Cameo (PCGS). CAC. Realized $111,625
- Lot 1293, 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella. Flowing Hair. Reeded Edge. Proof-64+ Cameo (PCGS). Secure Holder. Realized $176,250
- Lot 1294, 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella. Coiled Hair. Reeded Edge. Proof-64 Cameo (PCGS). Secure Holder. Realized $646,250
- Lot 1416, MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. High Relief. Wire Rim. MS-67 (PCGS). CAC. OGH. Realized $217,375
For a complete list of prices realized in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries May 2013 Official Auction of the ANA National Money Show, visit stacksbowers.com or call at 800.458.4646. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is currently accepting consignments for the Official Auction of the August 2013 World’s Fair of Money that will take place in Chicago, the Official Auction of the September 2013 Whitman Coin and Collectibles Philadelphia Expo, and the Official Auction of the November 2013 Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a division of Fortune 500 Company Spectrum Group International Inc., combines the extraordinary histories of Stack’s, the oldest rare coin auction and retail company in America, with Bowers and Merena Auctions, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers of rare coins and paper money. The two companies unite to share a combined legacy that spans more than 100 years, and includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable collections to ever cross an auction block — the John J. Ford, Jr. and Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collections, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, and The Norweb Collection — to name just a few. 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: the1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, New Hampshire and Hong Kong. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including the 2013 ANA World’s Fair of Money and the ANA/PNG Pre-Show, the 2013 ANA National Money Show, and the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo, three times yearly.
