PREV ARTICLE
NEXT ARTICLE
FULL ISSUE
PREV FULL ISSUE
STACKS BOWERS DECEMBER 2020 AUCTION SELECTIONSHere's a selection of gold lots that caught my eye in the Stack's Bowers Galleries sales closing December 17, 18 & 21, 2020. -Editor
Lot 1450: 1850 Mormon $5 
1850 Mormon $5. K-5. Rarity-5+. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC--Gold Label. OGH. Bordering on Mint State, this is an outstanding example of the Mormon $5 from the second year, 1850. Attractively original, both sides exhibit iridescent pinkish-rose highlights to a base of warm honey-olive patina. The overall detail is exceptional, with the strike very well executed for a territorial gold coin produced under the rustic conditions that prevailed at the Mormon's Deseret facility. Even the most intricate design elements are at least bold, and most features are razor sharp to full. Rarely do Mormon gold coins of any denomination or date retain even faint traces of original luster, yet here there is ample evidence of a satiny finish. Wispy handling marks are not out of place on a lightly circulated Mormon gold coin. The appearance is remarkably smooth. As lustrous, sharp and attractive as one could expect in any Mormon gold coin, this is an incredible example of the issue that is sure to sell for a strong premium to a discerning collector. The Kagin-5 variety is the only 1850-dated issue in the Mormon gold series, and the last produced using California gold. This issue uses a similar design to that seen on the 1849-dated Mormon coins, although the miter above the all-seeing eye has been replaced by a crown and halo, and the clasped hands are shaped differently and feature more intricate detail. Rarer than the 1849 Mormon $5, and typically offered no finer than the lowest reaches of AU (when available at all), the 1850 Mormon $5 is a tremendous condition rarity when found with the superior quality and strong eye appeal that define the Larry H. Miller specimen. Marvelous example of Mormon gold. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2027: Gold Dollar Love Token Bracelet 
Love Token Bracelet made from (10) Gold Dollars. 7 inches. 18.55 grams. Fashioned from (8) Type 1 gold dollars; (2) Type 3 gold dollars that are .916 fine and an additional 14 mm unmarked gold disk that tests as 14k, has a reeded edge and is engraved on both sides. The clasp is functional and secure and a safety chain is also present. Only one date is noted, 1850, the other pieces are all engraved on the reverse so no dates are seen. Engravings include: MAMMA; JEAN; AUNT JULIA; and assorted monograms. Of note, the 14mm gold disk is heavily scratched on one side in what appears to be a test for gold purity. The bracelet is unmarked and does not test as gold. A wholesome example of this art form. Provenance: From the Estate of Ruth Bauer. Neat item. There are a couple other gold dollar jewelry items in the sale. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2344: 1885 Proof Gold Dollar 
1885 Gold Dollar. JD-1. Rarity-4. Proof-66 Deep Cameo (PCGS). CAC. Breathtakingly beautiful surfaces are silky smooth in texture with vivid reddish-orange patina. Reflective fields exhibit a subtle "orange peel" texture when observed with the aid of a loupe, and they form a splendid backdrop to fully impressed, satin-textured devices. Expertly preserved with eye appeal to spare, this delightful premium Gem Proof will please even the most discerning gold enthusiast. The United States Mint in Philadelphia produced 1,105 Proof gold dollars in 1885. Writing in the excellent reference United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, Part I (2018), John W. Dannreuther states that 30 coins were delivered on January 17 for inclusion in complete Proof sets, followed by additional deliveries of 218, 106, 111 and 640 specimens before year's end. The author has identified two varieties for this issue using two obverse dies and one reverse die. The two die pairings are of equal rarity in numismatic circles with 100 to 150 coins believed extant for each. This puts the total surviving population of this issue at no more than 300 coins, the typical example encountered in today's market with lower quality and far less eye appeal than offered here. A phenomenal coin worthy of the strongest bids. Nice example of a Proof gold rarity. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2346: 1842-O Quarter Eagle 
1842-O Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. Winter-1, the only known dies. AU-55 (NGC). Warmly patinated in honey-gold, this piece is softly struck in the centers, yet considerably sharper toward the borders. The third rarest New Orleans Mint quarter eagle issue (per Doug Winter, 2020), the 1842-O has an extant population of fewer than 200 coins from a mintage of 19,800 pieces. This is a conditionally scarce survivor at the AU-55 level that would justice to an advanced Southern gold cabinet. Great branch mint gold rarity. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2376: 1810 Half Eagle 
1810 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle. BD-4. Rarity-2. Large Date, Large 5. MS-64+ (PCGS). CAC. A vivid and attractive condition rarity to represent this otherwise relatively obtainable die pairing in the Capped Bust Left half eagle series. This coin is well struck with most design elements sharply to fully rendered, though a few faint adjustment marks (as made) can be detected at the center of Liberty's portrait. Bright yellow-gold luster throughout with faint accents of deeper reddish-rose iridescence on the obverse that further enhance the eye appeal. A significant and fleeting bidding opportunity for the collector seeking a high grade example, as this variety is seldom offer above the basal MS-64 level. BD Die State a/a. The four different die pairings used for the 1810 half eagles have been listed separately in the Red Book thanks to the readily discernible differences between the date and denomination logotypes. Only two of the four, BD-1 (Small Date, Tall 5) and BD-4 (Large Date, Large 5), as here, are regularly available to collectors. All told, 100,287 half eagles were struck from these die pairs, at least three-quarters of which were coined using the BD-4 marriage. Somewhere between 500 and 750 specimens are believed to reside in numismatic holdings, helping to make this one of the most popular type candidates for the entire series. In fact, its relative availability has made the 1810 BD-4 half eagle among the most popular of all the early U.S. gold varieties across all denominations. Sure to see spirited bidding. Wow. A gorgeous early U.S. gold piece. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2445: Saint-Gaudens High Relief Double Eagle 
MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. High Relief. Wire Rim. Unc Details--Filed Rims (PCGS). Worthy of a close look, and also strong bids, this is an exceptionally attractive High Relief double eagle in a "details" holder. The in hand appearance is smooth and lustrous to suggest Choice Mint State quality. Softly frosted in texture, both sides are further enhanced by handsome rose-orange patina. Evidence for the PCGS qualifier is trivial and easily overlooked, the filing light and generally confined to the obverse from 2 to 8 o'clock. A concentration of faint hairlines along the upper left obverse border is also noted for accuracy. Quite an attractive piece, and more than respectable as a Mint State example of this eagerly sought 20th century gold issue. The ultimate U.S. gold coin. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2517: 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50 Octagonal 
1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition $50. Octagonal. MS-63 (PCGS). This is a handsome piece, boldly struck with a blend of soft mint luster and vivid golden-rose patina. The overall appearance is superior for the assigned grade and, indeed, both sides are generally free from the distracting marks that are often so prevalent on examples of this conditionally challenging type. Strong eye appeal further enhances this coin's desirability for advanced collectors. One of five issues struck in association with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal, the Octagonal variant of the $50 gold shares the same basic design as its Round counterpart. Both were designed by Robert I. Aitken, the obverse depicting Minerva, goddess of wisdom, skill, contemplation, spinning, weaving, agriculture, and horticulture. A helmet is pushed back over the top of her head, while at her shoulder is the top of a shield inscribed with the date, MCMXV (1915), in Roman numerals. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is in the upper left field, the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA lines the upper border, and the denomination FIFTY DOLLARS is below. Aitken's reverse features Minerva's sacred owl perched on a branch of Western pine, complete with large cones and needles. The Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM is in the right field, while the inscription PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION / SAN FRANCISCO encircles the border. The Octagonal variant, represented here, includes an extra outer border on both sides, each with eight dolphins that symbolize the uninterrupted waterway created by the opening of the Panama Canal. The San Francisco Mint struck 1,500 examples of each variant of Panama-Pacific $50 for sale at the Exposition. Due to their different shape and the addition of the symbolic dolphin border, the Octagonal pieces proved more popular with contemporary buyers, resulting in a greater distribution than the $50 Round. In truth, sales for both were disappointing, the original asking price of $100/coin proving too steep for most contemporary Americans. Attempts to increase sales by discounting the price of the $50s when offered as part of sets with the smaller denomination Panama-Pacific coins did little to improve the situation, and in the end most examples of both varieties were melted as unsold. The distribution for the Octagonal proved to be just 645 pieces, greater than that of 483 coins for its Round counterpart, but still a small total that explains the scarcity of survivors in today's market. Eagerly sought in all grades, and understandably so, we anticipate keen bidder interest in this pleasing MS-63 example. Classic U.S. rarity. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 2521: 1926 Sesquicentennial Quarter Eagle 
1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence Quarter Eagle. MS-65 (PCGS). I don't see these very often. Nice coins. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
THE BOOK BAZARREWayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
|