The collecting history behind the Vegas Collection starts out like many others, but then takes decidedly interesting twists! The consignor became interested in collecting coins at the age of eight, while living in Southern California. His mother supported his efforts, but the single-parent household had no extra funds for indulgences. His low-key collecting continued through high school, where working at the student store promised a continual flow of interesting coins to swap out. In his early adulthood, he moved to Las Vegas, and continued his searching through all of the silver dollars swirling around him. His finished his Morgan series and began to increase his sophistication in collecting.

Fueled by the explosive growth of Vegas, the commercial success of his business allowed for increased buying of rarities and the upgrading of his Morgans and other series. He might buy entire collections from other collectors, but when buying at auction would be more inclined to pursue rarities and more expensive coins, and he began to focus on the eagle and double eagle series. Over the years, as he explains it, “the collector became an investor.”

One of the prime highlights in the collection is a 1920-S $20 MS64 PCGS. In 1920, the mints in both Philadelphia and San Francisco struck double eagles, the first since the production of the 1916-S coins. Philadelphia produced roughly a quarter-million coins, while San Francisco made more than a half-million. But while the 1920-P is common up to the MS64 level, the 1920-S is rare in all grades. Today, it is considered a classic rarity in a series that abounds with them. Unlike some later dates where repatriations from overseas have replenished the supplies of once-rare issues, no hordes of 1920-S coins have ever been discovered in international holdings. One of the latest references on the Saint-Gaudens series, David Akers’ Handbook of 20th Century United States Gold Coins, proposes:
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Heritage to present 2,800-lot survey of global coinage, ancient and antique, Sept. 10-13 in Long beach, CA

An auction event featuring numismatic treasures spanning the four hemispheres of globe is set to take place at Heritage’s Sept. 10-13 Long Beach, CA Signature® World Coin Auction, at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

“We’ve put together a very strong, marvelously focused auction,” said Warren Tucker, Director of World Coins at Heritage Auction Galleries. “After spending a great amount of time gathering and cataloging these coins it’s very gratifying to see the great auction quality we’ve produced for this event. Even better, there are coins in here for collectors of all types and all levels.”

Leading the way for world coin aficionados is a classic and extremely rare Chinese coin, a Mint State Chihli Tael, Year 33 (1907), KM-Y74.1, L&M-438, MS63 NGC. This coin is as sculptural as they come, and carries an appeal equally strong numismatically as it artistically. As a classic and exceedingly uncommon issue of the Chinese late Empire series it is bound to be a hotly contested lot. It carries an estimate of $80,000-$120,000.

“This coin is as attractive as they come,” said Tucker. “It’s fully lustrous with a wonderful gold and gray patina along with superbly defined details on the dragon. There are a lot of collectors bound to be very excited by this coin.”

One of Latin America’s most intriguing coins, the famous Coquimbo Republic Peso 1828-TH, KM88, WR-10, Eliz-98, XF45 NGC, is certain to generate some serious bidding along with equally serious discussion as the coin presented here is an unquestionably authentic type “A” of this issue, and if you know your world coinage then you know there has long been debate over the authenticity of several examples. It carries an estimate of $30,000-$40,000.
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Heritage to Present 3400+ Lot Signature® Currency event, Sept. 9-13

One of the largest offerings of Continental currency and Colonial paper money to be auctioned off in decades will highlight the Official Currency Auction of the September 2009 Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expoconducted by Heritage-Currency Auctions of America, Sept. 9-13, at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802. The auction will consist of four floor sessions along with one online-only session. The lot viewing will take place in Room 104A and the auction itself will be held in Room 103C.

“We have four fine collections anchoring this auction,” said Dustin Johnston, Currency Consignment Director at Heritage, “all of which, taken together, offer an excellent survey of American Currency from the Colonial era through current Federal Issues. We’re quite excited to offer these great examples.”

The Midnight Ride Collection includes an extensive quantity and variety of Colonial material, including many rare pieces. Numerous scarce and seldom seen Texas Nationals are included in the Lone Star Collection, while the notes in the Kim Fisher Collection include a wide variety of material. The small size holdings in particular include many finest known, only known and highest serial number known examples. Many of the Mexican Specimen notes being offered from the Giana Lynn Samantha Rose Collection are unlisted in the Krause price guide.

Session One, Wednesday evening, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. PST, consists of 981 lots of Colonial material and features the aforementioned Midnight Ride Collection, an important assemblage of Continental Currency and Colonial Notes and one of the largest collections of Colonial material ever offered at auction.

“The Continental set is complete, and many of the Colonial notes are rarely seen at auction,” said Johnson. “All of the notes have been third-party graded, with a large number of finest knowns represented. Included in the collection are a number of notes from the popular North Carolina April 2, 1776 Issue, an Issue with 56 different varieties, the largest number of varieties seen in any issue of American paper money.”
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