 Dallas,
Texas: Heritage Auction Galleries opened their Signature Auction of the Jules
Reiver Collection of US Coinage on January 24, 2006 in their Dallas
headquarters. This auction, held with no reserves, has realized $2,116,287
through two sessions so far, with 1,927 total bidders participating, 148 of
them successfully, for 668 total lots.
"This auction has been
tremendously popular with the public," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage.
"Our lot viewing sessions have been consistently full, and bidding sessions
have been standing room only. Interest has been so strong that WFAA, Channel 8
in Dallas, sent a camera crew to cover last night's session. Needless to say,
Mr. Reiver's family has been thrilled with the results of the auction so
far."
"I am amazed by the prices these coins are bringing," said Mark
Borckardt, Senior Cataloger for Heritage and lead cataloger for this auction.
"One early copper dealer attending the sale said that even the low-value
material is bringing 'all the money.' The important rarities in the Reiver
Collection are bringing prices that have never been seen before in the copper
market. We all felt that the Rasmussen Collection we sold last year did
extremely well, but comparatively, I feel the Reiver Collection is exceeding
all expectations, and will make prices at the Rasmussen sale seem like
bargains."
"Jules Reiver was a fascinating man," opined Rohan. "A World
War II hero who was awarded the Bronze Star, he was a passionate numismatist
who assembled probably the most complete collection that has ever existed of
early US copper and silver coinage by die variety and die state. Mr. Reiver was
also an author, writing the authoritative reference on Half Dollars minted
1836-39 and books and articles on several other series."
"The first two
sessions, covering Half Cents and Large Cents minted before 1816," continued
Rohan, "represented only a portion of his collecting efforts, with remaining
sessions set to cover many other series of US coins."
This auction will
continue through January 28 at Heritage's headquarters, with internet bidding
still open on many items at
www.HeritageAuctions.com/coins.
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