The Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Coin Auction of the June 2017 Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo, held at the Baltimore Convention Center, brought together collectors across all specialties for the offering of material truly fresh to the market. Highlighted by the Blue Moon and Robert Warner Wolfe Collections, over $5.3 million USD in U.S. coins were sold over the course of the sale, signaling sustained demand for quality coins of every denomination.
A number of spectacular tokens from the Q. David Bowers Collection started off Session One, with the unique 1834 Herring of Fair Mount token realizing $16,450 in lot 9024, followed by the Undated Wright and Bale token in lot 9036 that brought the same strong price.
This enthusiasm continued into Federal coinage as the Robert Warner Wolfe Collection approached the auction block. Lot 9202 offered the finest-known 1803 Cohen-2 half cent from this cabinet; it was certified AU-58+ (PCGS) and approved by CAC.
Ranking finer than even the Missouri Cabinet specimen, this piece drew an astounding $49,350. The highlight of this collection was the stunning AU-53 (PCGS) 1793 Sheldon-3 Chain cent featured in lot 9224. A newcomer to the market as well as to the condition census, this impressive example brought a total of $79,312.
Session Two featured Part II of the Blue Moon Collection, following up the first part of this impressive cabinet sold by Stack’s Bowers this past March. With an emphasis on minor denominations, this recent group contained numerous high-grade rarities including some of the most popular key dates of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Lot 10071 offered the Norweb-Hawn specimen of the famed Proof 1864 Small Motto two-cent piece, certified Proof-65 BN (PCGS). Traceable back to around 1910, this gorgeous Gem brought $54,050.
The iconic key date of the Mercury dime series was represented by a magnificent 1916-D in lot 10287, graded MS-65+ FB (PCGS) and approved by CAC. This outstanding original Gem garnered $58,750, claiming the highest price of the session.
Lot 11102 of Session Three featured an 1806 Draped Bust quarter certified MS-64+ (PCGS) CAC that ranks among the finest known of the issue. Struck from the Browning-9 dies, this near-Gem drew a strong price of $58,750.
Lot 11143 featured a significant MS-60 (PCGS) 1801 Draped Bust half dollar that had been purchased from Stack’s in 1974 and again sold by Stack’s as part of the legendary Queller Family Collection in 2002. This condition census specimen earned an astounding $70,500.
A handsome AU-58 (PCGS) 1839-D half eagle in lot 11395 brought $30,500, a price which was matched by the AU-58 (NGC) 1842-C Small Date half eagle offered in the following lot.
This excitement over branch mint gold was apparent throughout the sale, compelling a top bid of $32,900 on the 1852-O Liberty Head double eagle (MS-61 NGC) offered in lot 11446. Even so, it would be a Philadelphia issue that commanded the top price of the overall sale.
The handsome AU-58 (PCGS) 1881 Liberty Head double eagle in lot 11470 hailed from a mintage for the year of just 2,199 pieces and Q. David Bowers estimates that “no more than a few dozen” remain in all grades. As one of the finest, this Choice survivor inspired fervent bidding up to $88,125.
The live bidding was brought to a strong close with a selection of Pattern and Territorial issues that included some great rarities. A 1872 Amazonian Eagle in copper (Judd-1246) was presented in lot 11606 and garnered $37,600, just exceeding the $32,900 earned by the 1850 Baldwin & Co. $5 (AU-55 PCGS) featured in lot 11615.
With a memorable selection of fresh collections and rare issues, the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the June 2017 Whitman Coin and Collectible Expo in Baltimore was a successful kick-off to the summer auction season. The exciting offerings from this firm will continue in August at the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money, where Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an official auctioneer though 2019. Highlighted by the incredible Lord St. Oswald-Norweb 1794 dollar and the finest-known 1853-O No Arrows half dollar from the Garrett Collection, this year’s mile-high event in Denver, Colorado will surely be the auction event of the summer. Contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 1-800-458-4646 or email [email protected] to secure your copy of this catalog.
