Stack’s Bowers Galleries is delighted to present an incredible offering of world-class collections as part of their Official Auction of the Whitman Coins & Collectible Expo this March in Baltimore, Maryland. Anchored by the exceptional Blue Moon Collection, Part I, and the Collections of Dr. Gordon Shaw and Anthony Bettencourt, this event will showcase fresh, high quality material that is sure to excite collectors.
The auction will commence on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 29 with Session I at 4:00 PM ET, featuring numismatic Americana, colonial and related issues, and early American copper. The tokens and medals offered in this session comprise both collector favorites and historic rarities, including scarce Betts medals and Indian Peace medals from several nations. A gorgeous Mint State-623 BN (NGC) example of the “1781” (1782) Libertas American medal will be offered in lot 8, quickly followed by a rare 1783 Franklin and Washington medal, Betts-617 in lot 12. The 1845 James K. Polk Indian Peace medal in lot 42 represents one of just 11 large size examples issued in silver and is a significant opportunity for enthusiasts of this series.
The Collection of Anthony Bettencourt is strongly represented in this session by highlights such as the legendary 1739 Higley copper (lot 168) and the scarce Undated (1790) Albany Church Penny (lot 376). The Wednesday afternoon session will also feature many rarities from the Collection of Dr. Gordon Shaw, most notably a stunning 1786 New Jersey copper/Immunis Columbia muling in lot 220, followed by over 140 additional New Jersey coppers, many of which rank high on the Condition Censuses for their respective varieties.
The excitement continues on Thursday at 10:00 AM with the offering of small cents through quarters in Session 2, leading up to the presentation of the Blue Moon Collection, Part I in Session 3 at 2:00 PM. This inaugural installment includes a dazzling array of rare and high grade U.S. coins that range from the earliest years of the U.S. Mint up through the World War II era. The Blue Moon Collection was started over 50 years ago and comprises chiefly private acquisitions from Stack’s along with astute auction purchases from many of their most famous sales of the 1970s and 1980s. Part I is highlighted by an AU-58+ (PCGS) CAC 1794 Flowing Hair dollar in lot 2534. In addition, crossing the block will be a showcase of original Proof sets beginning with 1865, a nearly comprehensive run of half eagles from 1795 through 1929, nine stunning Gobrecht silver dollars of assorted varieties, and additional exciting lots. This cabinet has been off the market for several decades, has just now been certified for the first time, and is truly “fresh” to the numismatic market.
The parade of numismatic treasures will continue into the evening with Session 5, Rarities Night, beginning at 7:30 PM. Lincoln cent collectors will be delighted by handsome rarities from this popular series, highlighted by an elusive Matte Proof-66 RB (PCGS) 1909 V.D.B. in lot 3016 and the sole finest known 1913 in lot 3019 certified MS-67 RD by PCGS. The gold coins comprise an incredible array of world-class rarities, notably a pair of Gem Proof double eagles from 1882 and 1883 (lots 3146 and 3148), and a virtually perfect Sand Blast Proof 1914 Indian half eagle (lot 3115) certified Proof-68 by PCGS and approved by CAC. Eagle specialists will be thrilled with the MS-64 (PCGS) 1880-O (lot 3120) that is the finest known example by several points, as well as the MS-66 (PCGS) 1915-S Indian eagle (lot 3128) that ranks high on the condition census for the issue.
Session 6 will begin at 10:00 AM on Friday morning, and half dollars, silver dollars and gold coinage will cross the block. Internet Only sessions 7 and 9 will open for live bidding at 9:00 AM PT on Monday and Tuesday of the following week, respectively. In conjunction with the Stack’s Bowers Whitman Expo auction, the D. Brent Pogue Collection Part V will be offered at 6:30 PM on Friday, March 31, at the historic Evergreen Library & Museum on North Charles Street in Baltimore.
The sale is currently available for viewing and bidding online at StacksBowers.com. For more information, or to secure your copies of the exciting catalogs produced for this event, contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries today at 949-253-0916 or email info@StacksBowers.com.
