Dallas, TX. Heritage Auction Galleries is presenting its inaugural Signature Auction at the Money Show of the Southwest, taking place in Houston, November 29-30, 2007. Descriptions and images of all lots are currently posted at HA.com, and are available for bidding. Combining the Signature and Final Session catalogs, nearly 4,000 lots covering a broad range of coinage will be auctioned.

According to Heritage President Greg Rohan, “Our year-end events continue to be very successful, with buyers and sellers seeking the last major auctions before the New Year. Heritage’s schedule includes two November Signature events - the first in Dallas, and the second in Houston. The Houston catalogs include hundreds of Registry-leading coins.”

“The November Houston catalog is anchored by several important collections,” continued Rohan. “The Michael Fuller Registry Collection Of Washington Quarters greatly extends Heritage’s leadership in auctioning Registry collections. Fuller has assembled a world-class collection that has captured six different #1 Current/#1 All-Time rankings in different categories, as well as additional Registry honors. The Nick-A-Jack Collection was assembled by an astute investor who started collecting back in the 1970s, in addition to investing in many other areas; at the age of 92, he is still actively and successfully trading options.

The Pearl E. Pemberton Collection contains more than thirty gold dollars collecting by this astonishing woman who made the Land Run of 1889 into the unassigned lands of Oklahoma with her father; she ultimately visited the capitol buildings of all 50 states with her husband of 56 years, as well as traveling internationally. Before her death in 1980, Mrs. Pemberton often told friends and family that she had lived through the most interesting time of history: she traveled by horse and buggy as a child, later by automobile, then airplane and jet, and had lived to see a man walk on the moon.”

“Our final anchor consignment is the Fleur Wales-Baillie Collection, with selected lots benefiting the Khumbula Thina Trust,” concluded Rohan. “The Khumbula Thina Trust is a U.S. 501-[C]3 Private Operating Foundation working in the Zulu lands of Africa. The funds generated will be used to expand the territory for existing wildlife, and establish a water system of lakes and ponds for aquatic birdlife. I encourage you to view their fascinating website at www.Khumbula.org for additional details.” (more…)

Baltimore, one of our favorite cities, is the site for our sale of the Amherst and Waccabuc Collections and other important consignments. A panorama of interesting coins, paper money and other items awaits your review and bidding pleasure. Come early and attend lot viewing, which begins on November 11th. Our host for this sale is the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel. Our auction will be held on two days, the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, November 13th, and the afternoon of the 14th, also extending into the evening. As a registered bidder you will be our guest for dinner. The red carpet will be rolled out!

Our sale has something for every interest in American numismatics. Colonial and early American coins are highlighted by a choice Mint State 1776 Continental dollar. Cents begin with 1793 and continue to include high grade coins, “type” issues, and rarities, through Flying Eagle, Indian and Lincoln issues. Half dimes from 1794 (two Mint State examples), dimes from 1796, quarters from 1796, and early half dollars will be a magnet for connoisseurs and specialists as well as type coin collectors. Capped Bust, Liberty Seated, Barber and other issues await. Into the 20th century, a gem 1916-D dime and 1916 Standing Liberty quarter set the pace for a field that includes many other treasures.

Morgan silver dollars, perhaps the most popular of all 19th century coins, include one of the finest collections ever assembled, the Amherst Collection–with emphasis on a combination of high grade and superb eye appeal. Suffice it to say, if these are your specialty, here is an offering that can’t be missed. In addition, many other Morgan dollars, Mint State coins as well as Proofs, are in the offering.

Gold coins range from dollars to double eagles, commencing with the first year of issue. From the “rarest of the rare” era, 1796 through early 1834, rare quarter eagles include 1796 and 1808 and other delicacies, half eagles from 1795 onward, and eagles from the same year. Later date gold is rich in Liberty Head and 20th century issues, including rarities, Proofs, multiple gem MCMVII twenties, and more. The superb gem Proof 1845 quarter eagle is the stuff of which dreams are made. Territorial gold coins range from Bechtler to California issues, including $50 “slugs” by Augustus Humbert, direct from the Gold Rush. (more…)

Dallas, TX. Heritage Auction Galleries will be presenting a late-year Signature Auction in Dallas, November 6-7, 2007. Descriptions and images of all lots are currently posted at HA.com, and are available for bidding. When the Signature and Final Session catalogs are combined, nearly 5,500 lots covering a broad range of coinage will be auctioned.

“The November Dallas catalog is anchored by the Sterling Collection of silver and gold commemoratives,” noted Heritage President Greg Rohan, “and the Arroyo Grande Collection from America’s gold rush heritage, including nineteen Liberty double eagles dated from 1855 to 1865, an 1852 Reeded Edge Humbert $50 (certified AU58 by NGC), and an important group of gold ingots; pedigrees include the S.S. Central America; the S.S. Republic , and the S.S. Brother Jonathan. The November catalog also contains many Registry-level coins from all series.”

According to Rohan, “Our year-end events have proven to be extremely successful, with consignors seeking the last major auctions before the calendar rolls into another new year, and bidders always anxious to add important coins. In 2007, Heritage is adding a new twist instead of two events here in Dallas, our final Signature Auction will take place at the Houston Coin Expo. This is a very exciting time for the coin market!” (more…)

By Greg Reynolds For CoinLink

A 1921 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle ($20 gold coin) was the main attraction of the September auction by the firm of Ira and Larry Goldberg. It is one of only four privately owned gem quality 1921 Saints. This coin ‘came on the block’ on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The Goldberg’s sale lasted several days, Sept. 23-26, and was held at the Beverly Hills Crowne Plaza, just prior to the beginning of the Long Beach (CA) Coin, Stamp and Collectible Expo.

It is the finest quality 1921 Saint to become available since Nov. 2005, and it is unlikely that any of the other three privately owned gems of this date will be ‘on the market’ in the near future. As Saint Gaudens Double Eagles are among the most popular of all collecting specialties, a gem 1921 Saint is truly a prize.

I estimate that fewer than one hundred 1921 Saints exist in all grades. Next week on CoinLink, there will appear my analytical article on 1921 Saints in general. There is more information regarding this 1921 below.

Goldberg’s September auction included a wide variety of coins, from many nations and time periods, plus other numismatic items. U.S. and foreign coins consigned by Robert Hesselgesser, MD, were featured. His collections of Russian and British coins, now mostly dispersed through Goldberg’s auctions, were among the finest of all time, in terms of quality. (more…)

Today Spink’s World Banknotes auction featured numerous rarities which realized unbelievable prices. Without a shadow of a doubt, the highlight of the sale was a collection of the first ever Malaysian banknotes. The lot was purchased for an amazing £115,100, four times the original estimate, which broke Spink’s previously held record for the most expensive Asian Banknotes sold ever at auction.

The banknotes were a gift presented by Ismail Mohd Ali, on behalf of the Board of Governors of Bank Negara Malaysia, to the (fourth) King of Malaysia, Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah. They are preserved in a blue leather presentation album with the title Bank Negara Malaysia and arms in gold on the front cover. The folder contains the following: 1 ringgit, blue and multicoloured, 5 ringgit, green and multicoloured, 10 ringgit, blue and multicoloured, 50 ringgit, blue and multicoloured and 100 ringgit, purple and multicoloured, all ND (1967), serial number A/1 000001, all with portrait of Yang Di- Pertuan Agong, TuAnku Abdul Rahman, first King of Malaysia, at right, all are signed by Ismail Mohd Ali, value at centre and at each corner, all notes are mounted in card with gold border (Tan M 27, 28, 29, 30, 31). There is also a second presentation album containing 1000 ringgit, ND (1968), serial number A/1 000001, purple and multicoloured, portrait of Yang Di- Pertuan Agong, TuAnku Abdul Rahman, first king of Malaysia at right, signed by Ismail Mohd- Ali, value at centre and each corner, mounted in card with gold trim (Tan M 32). (more…)

Dallas, TX. The Official Auctions of the September 2007 Long Beach Coin Expo were held by Heritage Auction Galleries, and included Signature Auctions of U.S. coins ($11,311,996), U.S. currency ($10,486,434), ancient and world coins ($3,210,026), and U.S. tokens and medals ($598,946). When proceeds from Final Session Auctions of U.S. coins, U.S. currency, and ancient and world coins are concluded, plus Post Auction Buys from all events are added, the total prices realized are expected to approach $27 million. This was Heritage’s 61st Official Auction at Long Beach. All lot descriptions, images, and prices realized for more than eleven thousand lots that sold in Long Beach are currently posted at HA.com.

“Heritage offered an incredible suite of events at the September Long Beach,” noted Heritage President Greg Rohan. “The U.S. Signature event contained wonderful rarities from the silver and gold series, and Heritage’s leadership position offering high-level Registry coins continued with Jim O’Neal’s collection of Indian Half Eagles and the #3 PCGS ‘Mile High’ Registry Set of Carson City Morgan Dollars.” (more…)

Numismatists from the around the world gathered at Spink in London yesterday to bid on one of the most exciting offerings of coins and medals to come on the market for some time. When the hammer dropped on the 753rd and final lot, the sale had realized a staggering total of £1,914,747. Several items sold for as much as twenty times their estimates in the end.

English coins and Russian medals stole the show with fantastic prices achieved. The highlight of the sale was the Charles II ‘Petition’ Crown by Thomas Simon which sold for an astounding £207,100. Spink last sold a ‘Petition’ Crown in May 2003 which realized £138,000. This numismatic masterpiece is the creation of the great engraver, Thomas Simon. Following the Restoration of the Monarchy Charles II ordered trials for a milled coinage from the Royal Mint. Simon, aggrieved that he had not been given the commission, was determined to win the King over and be chosen as the official designer with his clever concepts.

Thomas Simon engraved the dies for this Crown featuring a bust of Charles II on the obverse with “Simon” engraved just below the King’s clothed neckline. The “Petition” is two hundred raised letters in two lines around the coin’s rim which is only 35mm in depth and reads:

THOMAS SIMON MOST HVMBLY PRAYS YOVR MAJESTY TO COMPARE THIS HIS TRYALL PIECE WITH THE DVTCH AND IF MORE TRVLY DRAWN & EMBOSS’D MORE GRACE; FVLLY ORDER’D AND MORE ACCURATELY ENGRAVEN TO RELIEVE HIM (more…)

Dallas, TX. The Official Auctions of the September 2007 Long Beach Coin Expo will be held by Heritage Auction Galleries the final week of September in Long Beach, California. Heritage will present Signature Auctions of U.S. coins (Sept. 27-28), U.S. tokens and medals (Sept. 27-28), U.S. currency (Sept. 28-29), and ancient and world coins (Sept. 27-28). Individual lots in Heritage’s 61st Official Auction at Long Beach, with descriptions and images, are currently posted at HA.com.

“The September Long Beach Signature catalog of U.S. coins,” noted Heritage President Greg Rohan, “contains numerous wonderful rarities from both the silver and gold series, with many high Registry-level coins; we are especially pleased to be offering The Jim O’Neal Collection of Indian Half Eagles and The #3 PCGS ‘Mile High’ Registry Set of Carson City Morgan Dollars. Altogether, more than 8,000 U.S. coin lots will be available for viewing in Long Beach, and when all of the other lots are added in, nearly 20,000 lots of numismatic treasures will be available for inspection and bidding.” (more…)