STACK'S BOWERS NOVEMBER 2024 SELECTIONS

PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE FULL ISSUE PREV FULL ISSUE

V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 50, December 22, 2024, Article 21

Yes, I know we're late with this one, but better late than never. Here are some additional lots in the recent Stack's Bowers sales that caught my eye. Some interesting pieces here. -Editor

1839 Pattern Half Dollar. Judd-96 Restrike, Pollock-104. Rarity-8. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-64 BN (PCGS). CMQ. The Backward Head obverse of Judd-96 was originally used to strike the Judd-93 (silver) and Judd-94 (copper) patterns with the Small Letters reverse. The Judd-95 (silver) and Judd-96 (copper) impressions with the Medium Letters reverse are restrikes prepared expressly for sale to contemporary collectors. The Medium Letters reverse was also used with other 1838- and 1839-dated obverse dies for this purpose. With 152 edge reeds, these restrikes match the count seen on regular issue Liberty Seated half dollars of 1861 to 1871, the uspatterns.com website stating, "We suspect the actual date [of production for the restrikes] is closer to the latter." Significantly, both dies show areas of considerable rust, more so on the reverse.

The Backward Head, Medium Letters restrike half dollar is a landmark numismatic rarity. The uspatterns.com website traces only three examples of Judd-96 in copper.

Its restrike counterpart in silver, Judd-95, is even rarer with only two known: the Garrett-Simpson specimen (PCGS Proof-66) and the 1995 ANA coin (PCGS Proof-65).

This sale represents our first offering for this die pairing since we (Bowers and Merena) sold this same Judd-96 Restrike copper specimen in May 1999 as part of the fabulous Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. The style of Liberty's portrait and the Medium Letters reverse link it to the regular issue 1838 and 1839/8 Liberty Head $10 gold eagle and 1839 Reeded Edge, "Small Letters" half dollar issues, respectively, guaranteeing that advance pattern enthusiasts will see strong competition for this piece from other groups of specialized collectors. Bidding will surely be intense before this famous rarity finds its next home in a world class cabinet.

Provenance: Ex Douglas Weaver, January 21, 1974; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part I, May 1999, lot 1154.

SOUTH CAROLINA. Charleston. Undated (1800) First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, South Carolina Communion Token. Breen-1181, Rulau-E SC 8, Bason SC-392. Silver. Extremely Fine. These were created in a curious fashion, with silver planchets struck by blank dies to create the substantial raised rims, then hand engraved on both sides and the edge. Each of these is handcrafted and a bit different. Church records reflect that 300 of these were ordered from England in 1800.

Autence Bason counted 14 known specimens in 1989; Breen termed this token "extremely rare." This one and one other that we offered in our (Stack's) Ford II Sale appear to be the only two that Mr. Ford encountered (this one in 1975, the other in 1977). We have sold only one other, the PCGS AU-55 Sydney F. Martin specimen that realized $3,360 in our Spring 2023 Auction. A later version of this type, struck in pewter to be used by African-American parishioners, is rarer still. While these silver pieces were taken as souvenirs from invading Union troops during the Civil War, thus preserving them, the pewter ones were not valuable enough to steal - and save - at the time.

Few objects are of such great interest to early American silver collectors and numismatists. These Charleston communion tokens occupy a very special place in the material culture of the Antebellum South.

Provenance: From the Ross Family Collection. Earlier ex F.S. Werner, November 17, 1975, obtained in Great Britain; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part II, May 2004, lot 258.

Two-Piece Set of "First Shipment" 1959 Lincoln Cents from Congressman Fred Schwengel, Iowa. Mint State. The first offering of this kind that we can recall, the centerpiece of this lot is a typed letter on the letterhead of Congressman Fred Schwengel. At upper left and right are the Congressman's addresses, assistant, and committee assignments. The rest of the letterhead reads FRED SCHWENGEL / 1ST DISTRICT, IOWA / CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES / HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / WASHINGTON, D.C.

There are two 1959 Lincoln cents in this set, and they were both originally taped to a plain index card. One example is no longer attached to the card, the other is lightly held to it by the aged and torn piece of tape. Both coins are Mint State, nearly full Red, but with light tape residue. The letter has been folded twice horizontally, but is otherwise generally crisp with only minor edge/corner folds, no foxing or other discoloration of note. The materials on the Lincoln bust referred to in the letter are not included.

1861 Brigadier General G.T. Beauregard or Confederate "Dime." Breen p.666. Silver-Plated. Extremely Fine, Holed. Michael Hodder offered the following in his cataloging for Ford I Sale:

The first specimen known is said to have been sold by a Confederate soldier to New York collector Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet. That piece was still looped and was suspended from a red ribbon. The soldier is said to have told Emmet that the medal was presented by the city of New Orleans following the Battle of First Manassas. This story may or may not be true. The Beauregard dime may be datable through its obverse inscription, however. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard resigned from the Federal army on February 20, 1861. On March 1, 1861 he was appointed brigadier general in the army of the Confederacy and given command of the Army of the Potomac. On July 21, 1861 his command was restricted to the 1st Corps when Joseph Johnston was given overall command of the Army of the Potomac. Johnston wisely left tactical command to Beauregard, however, and it was the latter who fought and won the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run) on July 21, 1861. Beauregard fought the battle as a brigadier. He was promoted to general on August 21, 1861 (with rank effective as of the start of First Manassas). The engraver of the Beauregard dime named his southern hero a brigadier and not a general, although he got the date of First Manassas right for his reverse. It is unlikely that the engraver would have demoted Beauregard had he known of his general's rank. It is always possible that he was recording Beauregard's historical rank at the time of the battle, however. Unless this is the case, it seems possible that the Beauregard dime was made between July 21 and the beginning of September 1861 (allowing time for the news of Beauregard's promotion to become widely known)....

Whatever the exact date of manufacture, this type was certainly in existence by 1868, as it was specifically mentioned that year in the American Journal of Numismatics. Historic, interesting, and very rare.

2023 Polymerbit 0.005 Bitcoin Banknote. Loaded. Christmas Edition. Serial No. X041. Gem Uncirculated 65 PPQ (PCGS). Loaded with 0.005 BTC. Funded on Christmas Day 2023 (12/25/23). A significant funded example of this rare note with only 76 printed. It was announced last year on November 24, 2023 and we are excited to be presenting it once again to collectors heading into the holiday season. The front is printed with a particularly jolly portrait of Santa Clause while the back features a bold Christmas tree motif. The right third of the note also showcases their "in-house clear window technology" with snowflakes scattered through out. The perfect gift for the passionate collector of physical crypto or world banknotes. Public Address: bc1qtnh5433hnxeuzzplekpxc0yk2ad067rq40w9an

Happy holidays! -Editor