The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 46, October 30, 2005, Article 4

FORD MASSACHUSETTS SILVER SALE REPORT

Alan V. Weinberg writes: "I'm really surprised no one reviewed
the Stack's JJ Ford Sale of Massachusetts colonial silver
coinage in NYC this past October 18. So here's my contribution:

Massachusetts colonial silver coinage has been a favorite specialty
of mine back to my high school days - I'm 61 now. I received a
choice shilling for graduating from high school and another choice
shilling in 1976 for my wedding...still have 'em (yes, the wife too).
So it was with enormous anticipation when I first learned the Ford
Mass silver would be auctioned as I knew the collection, ex T.
James Clarke & FCC Boyd, would be noteworthy. And when
I received the Stack's ground-breaking auction catalogue I was
ecstatic. The quality of the catalogue - not just the contents - was
beyond expectations. A classic reference.

I'd always regarded the series as rather esoteric in that very few
people collected Mass silver by variety compared to collectors
of colonial state coppers. So I didn't anticipate the crowd that
I saw upon entering the hotel auction room across the street from
Stack's. Standing room only. Uh oh, another record-breaking
auction. Can I buy anything?

I was even more concerned when the New England shillings
broke the previous 2001 Andy Hain records, ranging from
$220,000 to $300,000 "hammer" (that's plus another 15%
buyers fee). And the tiny, visually unimpressive Willow Tree
threepence hammered for $550,000. Oh Boy! I'm gonna
go home empty-handed!

Coin after superb coin, and some not so superb, sold for
top prices. And this on top of the fact that many varieties
were offered in duplicate, triplicate and more. To mainly
serious collectors and dealer colonial specialists , not to
"slabbers" and speculators. And no one bidder dominated
the bidding as has occurred in some previous Ford sales,
to the chagrin of other bidders.

I went targeting two particular coins and went home with
one, my first choice, an extraordinarily choice and massive
Pine Tree shilling . An altogether pleasant day in NYC
viewing, bidding and then socializing during and after the
sale. Pure numismatics. Not a slab or a Grey Sheet in sight.
And it was warm and sunny in NYC , not like the previous
rain-deluged week."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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