SANTA ANA, CA. (July 13, 2017)— Stack’s Bowers Galleries is thrilled to present an incredible lineup of United States coins in their Official Auction of the 2017 ANA World’s Fair of Money, August 1-5 in Denver, Colorado. Showcasing the High Rise Collection, the Magnolia Collection, and other important properties, this sale is poised to be the numismatic event of the summer, with highlights that include the finest known 1853-O No Arrows half dollar and the Lord St. Oswald-Norweb 1794 Flowing Hair dollar.
Session One on Tuesday, August 1 begins with an exciting selection of Numismatic Americana, from Betts medals to Indian Peace medals and more. A gorgeous silver striking of the Washington Voltaire medal, ex Ford Collection, in lot 24 is notable, as is an extremely rare plain edge variant of the iconic Roosevelt Inaugural medal by Saint-Gaudens in lot 34. Lots 67 through 73 showcase Numismatic Literature relating to the magnificent collection of Colonel E.H.R. Green, presented in partnership with Kolbe and Fanning Numismatic Booksellers. This group comprises inventories, appraisals, and photographic plates with associations to figures like M.L. Beistle, F.C.C. Boyd, Waldo Newcomer, and Morton Stack, making them essential for every dedicated numismatist or bibliophile.
A diverse offering of colonial issues is highlighted by a lovely AU-50 PCGS (1869) Lord Baltimore Shilling in lot 89. Federal coinage featuring large cents through quarters concludes the session.
U.S. Coins return to the auction block again on Thursday, August 3 with Session Three starting at 11:00 AM MT. A sextet of 1795 Flowing Hair half dollars kick off the bidding, followed by silver dollars, gold coinage, and a memorable assemblage of Hawaiian coins from the Rainbow Falls Collection.
Excitement will be great at the Colorado Convention Center with the approach of the Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night session at 6:30 PM on Thursday. Featuring over 250 lots of world-class rarities, this session will undoubtedly be one of the year’s most memorable nights for collectors. An incomparable trio of regulated 8 escudos bearing the countermarks of goldsmiths Ephraim Brasher, John Burger, and Joseph Richardson open the session, offering rarity and historical significance that goes virtually unmatched. Early American copper connoisseurs will surely delight at the treasures in the session, beginning with an historic 1792 Judd-2 copper cent graded Fine-15 (NGC) CAC in lot 2004 that is one of fewer than 10 examples known. An incredible Choice AU 1793 Liberty Cap cent, ex Loring-Halpern-Pogue, is offered in lot 2009, complemented by a stunning 1796 Draped Bust cent certified MS-66 RB (PCGS) with provenance to the John Whitney Walter Collection. Modern copper collectors will take note of lots 2031 and 2032 which offer unique Lincoln cent errors from the Denver Mint struck on obsolete bronze planchets. These recently discovered rarities represent significant opportunities for error collectors and Lincoln cent specialists alike! A magnificent Proof-66 Cameo (PCGS) 1867 Shield nickel with Rays is offered in lot 2040 and is followed by an 1880 Shield nickel graded MS-65 (PCGS) CAC in lot 2041, both from the High Rise Collection.
Lot 2099 showcases the finest 1853-O No Arrows Liberty Seated half dollar, a truly legendary rarity in U.S. numismatics, of which just four are known. The specimen being offered by Stack’s Bowers in their August 2017 ANA Auction carries an impressive provenance that can be traced back to circa 1881, that includes custodianship in the Garrett Collection, the Queller Family Collection, and the Byers Collection.
Mid-way through the evening’s session will come the most highly anticipated offering of the summer, as collectors from all over the world focus on the mile-high auction room when lot 2113 crosses the block. Showcased therein is the famous Lord St. Oswald 1794 Flowing Hair dollar from the Norweb Collection, certified MS-64 by PCGS and stickered by Certified Acceptance Corp. Obtained by English gentleman farmer William Strickland on his tour of early America in 1794-1795, this piece has been treasured since shortly after its striking over 220 years ago. It now ranks as the fourth finest in the Condition Census for the issue and third finest among Mint State examples seen by PCGS. It was last offered at public auction nearly 30 years ago. On August 3, for the first time in a generation, collectors will have a chance to acquire this important treasure, which then might be off the market for another generation or even a lifetime!
Numerous important silver dollars accompany this rarity, including the incredible MS-64 (NGC) 1799/8 Draped Bust example in lot 2188 that has a provenance to the Cardinal Collection and is also the plate coin for the BB-142 variety in Q. David Bowers’ reference on the series.
Later in the night, a Choice Proof 1879 Flowing Hair Stella in gold is featured in lot 2173, paired with a beautiful 1879 Coiled Hair example in gilt copper that follows in lot 2174. Early gold issues are impressive, with a rare AU-53 (PCGS) 1797 Capped Bust Right, Small Eagle half eagle appearing in lot 2176 and a pristine MS-66 (PCGS) CAC 1818 Capped Head Left half eagle pedigreed to the Pogue Collection in lot 2183. Half eagles in the Liberty Head and Indian series are also well represented, with stunning Proof examples from each series among the sale’s highlights. A Gem Cameo Proof 1860 Liberty Head half eagle, ex Ten Eyck-Eliasberg-Trompeter, is presented in lot 2189 and followed four lots later by a 1909 Indian half eagle in Proof-67 * (NGC) in lot 2193. Rarity is echoed in the larger denominations, as a Proof-64 Cameo (NGC) 1862 Liberty Head eagle is featured in lot 2022 and shortly thereafter a Gem Proof 1909 Indian eagle will cross the auction block in lot 2205.
Concluding the session is an array of rare Patterns and Territorial issues. Lot 2245 features a Proof-64 (PCGS) example of the desirable 1872 Amazonian Pattern quarter in silver (Judd-1195) from the Collection of Carl Valparaiso, while lot 2247 features a Proof-64 (NGC) example of the popular 1882 Shield Earring Pattern half dollar in silver (Judd-1700), also from the Valparaiso cabinet. A MS-61 (NGC) 1849 Massachusetts & California Co. $10 die trial struck in brass (Kagin-6A) is showcased in lot 2250, recently discovered in an English collection that had been last added to in the early 20th century. As the considerably finer of only two known pieces, it is surely a monumental opportunity for Territorial Gold specialists. An offering of important ingots begins with the astounding 55.48 ounce gold ingot from Harris, Marchand & Co. appearing in lot 2253. Salvaged as part of the S.S. Central America treasure, the visual magnificence of this piece is complemented by its historic significance. With appeal to both numismatists and shipwreck enthusiasts, this unique bar is bound to attract great excitement when it appears at public auction for the first time this August. Following this treasure from the California Gold Rush is a trio of rare silver ingots from Colorado that mark the end of Session Four and the live bidding portion of the sale.
Internet-Only Sessions Five and Six will take place the following week at 9 AM PT on Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8, and offer a diverse array of collector-quality coins across all series.
The Stack’s Bowers Galleries World’s Fair of Money auction is currently available for viewing and bidding online at StacksBowers.com. Lot viewing will be available before the sale by appointment at Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Santa Ana and New York offices, with additional lot viewing at the auction venue in Denver. For more information, or to secure your copies of the exciting catalogs produced for this event, contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries today at 949-253-0916 or email info@StacksBowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
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, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
