Coins from the famed Eliasberg Collection, along with the Fairmont Collection—Kronen Set and other fresh to market cabinets will create a huge buzz in the marketplace when they cross the block in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries official auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Winter Expo. This year’s sale features more than 4,900 lots across 12 sessions of American numismatic items offering coins, paper money, tokens, medals, and physical cryptocurrency. History will be made as the first coins stickered by CMQ (Certified Market Quality), will be offered at auction. These coins have been reviewed by Greg Roberts and David Hall and were selected for their outstanding quality and eye appeal.
Few names are as well known in numismatics as that of Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. In a 25-year period from 1925 to 1950, Mr. Eliasberg accomplished an amazing feat: owning one of every date and denomination struck by the United States from 1793 through 1950, as well as exceptional selections of world and ancient coins, colonials, patterns, and territorial issues. The vast majority of the collection was sold in various sales by our predecessor firms in 1947 (Stack’s), 1982 (Bowers and Ruddy), 1996 and 1997 (Bowers and Merena/Stack’s) and 2005 (American Numismatic Rarities). The family, over the course of these sales, retained some personal favorites and later reacquired some items as well. The remaining United States rarities are coming to the market now in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November Showcase Auction.
The Rarities Night session will feature lot 3059, the Eliasberg example of the 1853-O Liberty Seated, No Arrows half dollar graded Fine-12 (PCGS), the second finest of only four known. The 1853-O No Arrows is the undisputed key to the series and a classic rarity. The grand highlight of the session, also from the Eliasberg Collection, is the “King of Territorial Gold,” an 1855 Kellogg & Co. $50, Proof-63 Cameo (PCGS) CMQ-X. This coin, lot 3298, is extensively pedigreed back to Augustus Humbert and has graced many important cabinets including those of Zabriskie, Jenks, Nygren, and Clapp.
Other notable cabinets include the Dr. William M. Aden Collection, which offers such important delicacies as an AU-55 (NGC) 1808 quarter eagle, an AU-53 (NGC) 1795 eagle, an AU-58+ (NGC) 1804 Crosslet 4 eagle, a Proof-62+ (NGC) 1865 eagle and many other significant pieces. Another impressive and very fresh cabinet, the Barbaro Acres Collection, was assembled mostly in the 15 years from 1950 to 1965. It features a tied for finest graded 1854 Type II gold dollar, MS-67 (PCGS), as well as other significant rarities such as a Proof-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS) CMQ 1875 trade dollar, a MS-63 (PCGS) CMQ 1878-CC trade dollar, and an AU-55 (PCGS) 1861 Clark, Gruber & Co. $10. The Olds Collection focused on two pivotal eras of U.S. numismatics: colonial and early federal coins and Civil War-Era gold coins, many of which have earned approval by CAC. Highlights in this catalog include a remarkable two 1799 Draped Bust cents, a mint error 1799 dollar struck 5% off center and pedigreed to the Hesselgesser Collection, and a quartet of 1799 Capped Bust gold coins including an AU-55 (NGC) 1799 BD-7 half eagle considered to be a Rarity-6+ variety.
Being offered alongside these impressive collections are coins from all series, with Buffalo nickels, early dollars, Proof Morgan dollars, and gold coins well represented. No summation of the Rarities Night Session would be complete without mention of the Branch Mint Proof 1907-D $20 graded Proof-62 BM (PCGS) CMQ-X. This specimen was struck at the Denver Mint to commemorate the end of the Liberty Head series. Its earliest provenance has been lost to history, but likely the initial owner was a high-ranking Mint official in Denver, or a local state or city dignitary. The coin eventually found its way into the famed collection of King Farouk of Egypt. It is the only Proof certified by PCGS and represents a true trophy coin for the advanced double eagle specialist.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries is proud to offer another incredible installment from the Fairmont Collection, sold on the heels of the record breaking offerings of the Hendricks, JBL, CBL, CAG, and Rhone sets from this collection. A landmark feature of our November 2023 Showcase Auction, the Kronen Set comprises extensive runs of half eagles, eagles, and double eagles from 1834 onward, and features an astounding combination of Condition Census and Everyman quality across the rarest dates and varieties. Most importantly, each coin exhibits the incredible quality, originality, and eye appeal that has become a hallmark of the Fairmont provenance. All coins in the Kronen Set have been certified by PCGS and over 140 coins also feature approval by CAC. Highlights among the half eagles include an EF-45 (PCGS) CAC 1872-CC, a MS-63 (PCGS) CAC 1893-CC, a 1909-O graded MS-62 (PCGS), and a MS-63 (PCGS) 1911-D. The eagles feature an 1846/’5′-O graded AU-55 (PCGS), an 1862 graded AU-58 (PCGS), an EF-45 (PCGS) 1875-CC, an AU-58 (PCGS) CAC 1884-CC, and an 1890-CC graded MS-62+ (PCGS) CAC. The double eagles are highlighted by an 1858-O graded AU-55 (PCGS) CAC, an 1866-S No Motto graded AU-53 (PCGS) CAC, an EF-40 (PCGS) 1871-CC, an AU-58 (PCGS) 1873-CC, and an 1891-CC graded MS-60 (PCGS).
Stack’s Bowers Galleries has been at the forefront of selling the finest cabinets of colonial and early American coins and numismatic Americana since our first auction back in October 1935. Over the past decade, Stack’s Bowers Galleries and the Colonial Coin Collectors Club have joined forces, and the November Winter Expo Auction has been the official auction for the C4 club. This year’s Colonial and Early American live session begins with two Hogge money pieces of the Sommer Islands, highlighted by the Eliasberg Large Portholes sixpence in PCGS EF-45. An extensive Die Variety Study of over 70 pieces of Massachusetts silver coinage from the Muddy River Collection presents 15 distinct Oak Tree shilling varieties and 26 distinct Pine Tree shilling varieties. Highlights include a Noe 1-A Willow Tree sixpence (Rarity-6+), a Noe 3-E Willow Tree shilling (Rarity-7), a Noe-17.5 Oak Tree sixpence (Rarity-8), and a Noe-11 Oak Tree shilling (Rarity-6). Among the many sharp Pine Tree shillings are found a Noe-2 (Rarity-4) graded MS-60 (NGC) and a Noe-6 (Rarity-6-) graded MS-63 (NGC) CAC.
The remarkable selection of Numismatic Americana in the sale is highlighted by a newly discovered 1789 Florida Proclamation medal in silver. Graded EF-45 (PCGS) this ranks as one of only five confirmed specimens. Indian Peace medals are represented by nearly two dozen examples including rare silver issues and bronze medals in exceptional condition. The silver medals are highlighted by a middle size George III, while the bronze medals are topped by oval examples of the 1881 James A. Garfield and the 1889 Benjamin Harrison, each graded MS-67 BN (NGC).
“Our team has put together another amazing sale!” declared Brian Kendrella, President of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “There is truly something for everyone who collects U.S. coins, from the earliest days of the colonial period to some very recent U.S. Mint issues.”
“This is an incredible way to conclude our 2023 Showcase auction season,” he continued. “The current market shows broad strength as collectors are actively buying for their sets. Every auction sees record bidding and record prices realized, and I see this trend continuing in our November sale.”
Further sessions of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November Showcase auction feature United States Currency and Cryptocurrency, as well as Part V of the Sydney F. Martin Collection. All lots are available for viewing and bidding at StacksBowers.com. For more information on the November 2023 Official Whitman Winter Expo Auction or to consign to an upcoming Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale call 800-458-4646 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 nearly 90-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 Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with galleries in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Hong Kong, Paris and Vancouver. Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, Ancient coins and World coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money Shows.
