The Presidential Coin and Antique Company’s 83rd Sale features the late Harvey Elfenstein’s Collection of the Medals of The American Numismatic Society. The medals of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) are arguably the most important medallic series issued in the United States. In the past, Presidential has auctioned a number of significant offerings of these medals – the most recent being Ken Traub’s Collection of 56 ANS medals in our last sale. The Elfenstein Collection of 84 medals dwarfs the Traub offering and promises to set the price standard for the series for years to come.
Harvey Elfenstein’s interest in the numismatic organizations also extended to the medals and badges of the American Numismatic Association. Our offering of early ANA badges is the most extensive in recent memory and includes no fewer than 9 pristine-condition badges from the teens.
The highlight of our Hard Times Token selection is the extremely rare Low 374, Gibbs USM Stage token from Belleville, NJ. It is distinguished by being one of the most sought-after tokens in both the Hard Times and Transportation fields. The ever-popular field of So-Called Dollars is headlined by an unlisted General Motors silver-anniversary dollar with the iconic Norman Bel Geddes design and the ever-popular HK 296, Wells Fargo 1902 Semi-centennial dollar.
There is an extensive listing of Washingtonia which leads off with a beautiful original Washington Before Boston medal in choice AU condition. It is immediately followed by a most unusual example of a Washington medallic portrait silver-plated snuff box. From the Garrett Sale comes all four Washington obverses combined with the U.S. shield reverse. There is also a complete set of Lovett’s Washington’s Headquarters Series – second obverse. We have an unusually extensive offering of large presidential plaques in this sale. Abraham Lincoln is represented by the iconic Brenner plaque on marble, a large oval bronze by Franklin Simmons done in 1865, and additional plaques by Max Peinlich, & J, E. Roine. There are three large bronze portraits of Theodore Roosevelt including a galvano of an early stage of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s Women’s Roosevelt Memorial Association service medal; Allen Newman’s “100% American” plaque, and an excessively rare example of Christian Petersen’s “Theodore Roosevelt American,” a standing full-figure pose of TR. Woodrow Wilson is represented by four stunning bronze portraits including a spectacular two-sided 7 ¼” medallion by Louis Ragot. Our usual fine offering of Presidential Inaugural Medals features two examples of the very rare 1917 Wilson official medal.
The World’s Fair section abounds with seldom-offered rarities including Eglit 300—Columbus, Admiral of the Ocean Sea; LPE’s gold medal for the Philippine Exhibit; a California-Pacific named award medal ; ma rare pattern of the 1939 NYWF Award Medal and a 5 oz. platinum medal struck by Baker & Co. for the 1939 Fair.
Our floor sale offering of US Mint medals numbers 44 medals including a rare 1949 Assay Medal; Lincoln PR-12 medal in aluminum; two rare First Steam Coinage medals (MT-20 & 21); Paul Manship’s silver medal for the visit of President Dutra of Brazil; and a silver example of the Treasury Department Second Class Life Saving medal.
Next comes an unusual offering of 21 medals from the Corporation of the City of London medallic series including many in their ornate original boxes. A small selection of Betts medals is headed by Betts 167, a George II Indian Peace/Trade medal. Works by world-renowned sculptors abound throughout the sale. There are especially significant offerings of medals of Victor D. Brenner and Paul Manship.