Once again, the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the Whitman Coins & Collectibles Baltimore Expo attracted great excitement. The sale comprised six separate offerings of United States coins, beginning with a Rarities Night session and concluding with two Internet Only sessions. With spirited activity overall, the November Baltimore U.S. coin auction garnered over $5 million. The event also included U.S. currency and world coins and currency, bringing the total prices realized to over $7.9 million. All prices include the buyer’s premium.
The Rarities Night session held on November 5th, offered 157 world-class lots that realized over $2.18 million. Spotlighting the night was lot 20105, an incredible 1879 $4 Flowing Hair Stella certified Proof-65+ by PCGS that realized an impressive $188,000. Also noteworthy was the following lot, a second 1879 Flowing Hair Stella, graded Proof-62 by PCGS and approved by CAC, that brought $135,125, indicating the enthusiasm for premium material throughout the market.
Strong activity in early gold rarities included a gorgeous AU-58 (PCGS) 1796 Capped Bust Right eagle in lot 20121 that realized $86,538, and a 1799 Capped Bust Right eagle, certified MS-63+ by NGC, in lot 20124 that sold for $44,062. The excitement wasn’t confined to early issues, as a Proof-67 1914 Indian half eagle offered in lot 20119 went on to realize an astounding $111,625.
The fervor for silver coinage was demonstrated by an example of the elusive 1795 Silver Plug Flowing Hair half dollar offered in lot 20056. Graded VG-10 by NGC, this piece is one of just four known half dollars with a Mint-made silver plug, and it realized $49,937. Similarly, a beautiful MS-67 (PCGS) 1882 Morgan silver dollar in lot 20083 is among just seven other examples at that grade and just a “+” below the sole piece graded finer. Morgan dollar collectors eagerly acknowledged the desirability of this piece with the bidding rising to $21,150.
Session 5, held on November 6th, began with an incredible selection of early American medals from the John W. Adams Collection, showcasing some scarce and extremely prized issues. The handsome example of the historic silver 1777 Battle of Germantown medal seen in lot 23027 was passionately pursued, realizing $22,325. The silver 1783 Peace of Versailles/Libertas Americana medal found in lot 23081 brought $30,550. One of the most impressive offerings of the collection was lot 23105, the 1787 Columbia and Washington medal in bronze, of which only six to eight are known. Though too late to be evaluated by Betts and too early to be included in the Julian reference, this great rarity attracted strong bidding and finally realized $32,900.
Concluding Session 5, and presented in cooperation with the Colonial Coin Collector’s Club (C-4), was an offering of colonial and related issues highlighted by such rarities as lot 23107, a 1652 Oak Tree shilling certified EF-40 by PCGS. This example of the Noe-8 variety, displaying IN at the bottom, is considered to be Rarity-7 and garnered an impressive $12,925. The EF-40 (PCGS) 1722 Wood’s Hibernia halfpenny seen in lot 21128, Rarity-7+, realized $13,512, and the nearly unique (Rarity-9) “1799” Washington Funeral Urn medal in lot 23241 brought $8,812.
The success of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November Baltimore Auction in many areas, including federally issued coins, colonial coins and exonumia, indicates a healthy and eager coin market overall. Stack’s Bowers Galleries offers the most knowledgeable team of experts and an exciting lineup of auctions in 2016 including three D. Brent Pogue Collection and associated Rarities Auctions events, an official auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money, and three Official Auctions of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expos. To consign to an upcoming auction, please contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries today at 1-800-458-4646 and speak with a Consignment Director.