I recently purchased an auction of the Henrie Buck sale, held on March 3, 1913. Although listed under the auctioneer, C. M. Leonard, Delaware, Ohio, the catalog seems to be written by Mr. Buck himself. An example of this catalogue appeared in a Money Tree sale, #23, lot 501.

The auction is cataloged in the most curious way that I have ever seen. Many of the coins are grouped into large lots. However, within the lot, each coin has its own line with description and price. The prices were then added up to give the estimate for the total lot. For example, his lot #4 (Large Cents) covers over 5 pages, with the lot estimated at $927.40.

This was followed by lot #5 that had his 2nd best, or duplicate set of Large Cents. He followed this format through the whole U.S. series, first listing his best set, then his duplicate set.

This was a great collection. It included a 1793 Liberty Cap cent described as gem unc., an 1802 Half Dime, and other major rarities, including many, many 19th century proof and uncirculated coins. I can not imagine why a collection like this was sold at a country auction.

Unfortunately, my copy is unpriced. I would be quite interested in seeing what these coins brought. Do any of our readers have a priced copy of this sale?

I believe that I have found more information on the Buck collection. There was a sale of his estate in 1936. Many of the same coins listed in the 1913 sale are in the later one, so it looks like many (or most?) of the coins in the 1913 sale were withdrawn. The two stars of the original sale, the 1793 Liberty Cap cent, and the 1802 Half Dime were both in the 1936 sale, LISTED AS ELECTROS. The 1936 sale DID contain many other rare coins.