When reviewing upcoming auctions, one of the things we like to look for are the more unusual items, the coins that surprise you and say “I didn’t know that!”

In the upcoming Heritage Signature Sale of The Ellsworth Collection (May 29th) we found the following 1795 Double Error Half Cent.

Below is the auction catalog Description:

This is a stunning and spectacular double error, either of which would be extremely important in its own right. The substantial curved clip is positioned at 4 o’clock. This clip is larger than any we recall seeing on a half cent of any date, let alone this 18th century date. Similarly, the off-center strike, positioned to 9 o’clock, is further off-center than we recall on any other examples. The combination is nothing short of amazing.

Any combination of two or more error types on a single coin essentially makes that coin unique. It is completely unreasonable to think that another identical error combination could have been produced, unless someone at the Mint was making these intentionally, and during the 1790s, that was probably not the case.

The surfaces are lightly corroded. The obverse has charcoal-brown and deep green color, with mostly deep green on the reverse. A few old obverse scratches are so nicely blended with the rest of the coin that they are not immediately obvious. EAC 12.

Among the collections anchoring the upcoming Heritage Long Beach Signature Auction, one simply stands out. The Silbermünzen Collection (the word Silbermünzen is German for “silver coins”) lives up to its name quite nicely, offering a particularly high quality selection of rare quarters and half dollars, with many series represented, including some spectacular early proofs.

Many of the coins in the Silbermünzen Collection are the finest known or close to it, often with superb pedigrees. The 1891-O Specimen Strike quarter we profiled two weeks ago in CoinLink’s Coin Guide, is from this collection, as are early proofs such as the 1820, 1828, 1833, and 1841. Half dollars include proof 1825, 1841, 1845 and 1846 coins, as well as circulation strikes such as an amazing Gem 1892-O Micro O half and a 1915-S half grading MS67. The collector did not limit himself to quarters and half dollars; another standout piece is a magnificent gem Proof 1846 Seated Dollar.

Highlights of the Silbermünzen Collection include:

Live sessions of the 2008 May Long Beach, CA Signature Auction will take place at the Long Beach Coin and Collectibles Expo on May 28-30, and online through Heritage Live May 31-June 2. Internet bidding for this auction is open now at www.HA.com.

In the upcoming Heritage Long Beach Signature Auction is a popular Conder token highly desired by collectors of American colonial coins. The New York Theater Penny Token, graded Proof 64 Brown by PCGS, is a 35mm token often referred to as a penny because of both its size and the lettering on its edge.

The late Walter Breen estimated 10-12 pieces known, but in February 1993 Don Scarinci presented a census of 13 pieces in the Colonial Newsletter. The legendary John J. Ford Collection had two of the 13 known examples of this early and extremely rare penny token.

In 1794, John Kleeberg demonstrated that this token was one of the so-called Conder series popular in Britain in the 1790’s. Made for collectors, this token is generally found in high grades, and most known pieces are proofs.

Peter Skidmore struck The Theatre at New York penny tokens in London from dies engraved by Benjamin Jacob, who issued several tokens including one for himself in 1798 where he was identified as an “AUCTIONEER, IRONMONGER & c” at Welsh Cross in Birmingham. That token and the New York Theatre token were made with hand-cut letters rather than punches. Jacob also did an entire series of halfpenny tokens depicting London churches and gates based on copperplate engravings. The use of the final S on the New York Theatre token may signify the possessive Jacob’s. (more…)

On May 29-30 Heritage will present the Long Beach World Coin Signature Auction. With over 3200 lots from 115 different countries, this auction is guaranteed to satisfy a wide range of World Coin collectors.

“We haven’t had this wide range of coins since we started doing World Coin auctions at Heritage”, says Warren Tucker, Director of Heritage World Coin Auctions. “If you asked me which country had the strongest selection I would have a hard time answering you”, continues Cris Bierrenbach, Heritage’s Director of International Sales, “but I can tell you that we have tremendous selections from Chile, Peru, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, Hong Kong, Russia and China, and I am sure I am forgetting a few others.”

Included in this sale is a Great Brazilian Rarity:

Pedro II 100 Reis 1844, KM452, toned XF, one of the greatest Brazilian rarities–finest of only three known.

From the founding of the first mint in the state of Bahia in 1694, Brazil has had three Monetary Systems. The first, which dates from 1695 to 1834, is the so-called “divisional” system. Each denomination was double in value of the previous denominations so the coins in circulation ranged from 20 to 640 Reis. In 1809, Brazil started striking the 960 Reis on the Hispanic 8 Reales, which had just begun circulating in Brazil when the Portuguese Crown was transferred to the Brazilian colony to escape the Napoleonic invasion.

Starting in 1834, Brazil, now an independent empire, attempted a new monetary system nicknamed the Cruzado (mainly due to inflation and the need for coins of higher values). With odd denominations of 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1200 Reis, this Cruzado system was rejected by the Brazilian population as they continued to use the older coins. Consequently, instead of increasing mintages, the Empire created a whole new monetary system that was established in 1849. With more “standard” denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 Reis, the new system was a quick success and remained in place until the Cruzeiro monetary reform in 1942.

While “failing” with the Cruzado system, the Brazilian empire created one of the rarest numismatic series in the wide collection of Brazilian coins. Only 42 date/denominations were issued under the Cruzado system, and most are scarce or rare.

The jewel of the Cruzado series is without a doubt the 1844 100 Reis (or the Tostao). The Krause Catalog lists it simply as “Rare”. In fact, only three are known, the finest of which is a toned XF piece we are privileged to offer as a part of the 2008 May Heritage Long Beach Signature World Coin Auction. Estimated at $40,000 - $55,000, this amazing rarity promises to be the centerpiece of its new owner’s collection.

Dallas, TX. A pair of 1794 silver dollars and three Continental dollars are among the rarities included in the catalog for the Official Auction of the May 2008 Long Beach Coin Expo. The auction, being held in California May 28-30, is now posted by Heritage Auction Galleries on their HA.com website. Signature catalogs for the auctions of both U.S. and World Coins & Ancients have been posted.

“The strong market is continuing to bring great rarities onto the Heritage auction block,” commented Heritage President Greg Rohan, “including the Col. Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Half Cents, Part Three of the Liberty Collection of U.S. Colonial Coins, and the Silbermünzen Collection. Among the other rarities included are: an 1891-O Quarter dollar Specimen MS65 NGC; 1796 15 Stars Half Dollar, O-101, AU55 NGC; 1800 Dotted Date $1, B-14, BB-194, R.3 MS66 NGC; 1808 $2.50 MS61 NGC, Breen-6125, BD-1, R.4; 1907 $10 Wire Rim, Periods, MS67 NGC, Judd-1901 (formerly J-1774); an 1855 $50 Wass Molitor, MS61 NGC. CAC. K-9, R.5; and a (1797) New York Theatre Penny Token, D&H-Middlesex-167, Rulau-E-NY-892, PR64 Brown PCGS. This auction contains a wide range of material!”

“In addition to the Ellsworth and Liberty Collections,” continued Rohan, “Long Beach contains rarities from Part Three of the Mario Eller Collection, the Northwest Collection, Part One of the Estate of Robert R. Rollins Collection, Part One of the Estate of Francis A. Sullivan, Jr., Part Two of the Leroy Van Allen Collection, and Part Two of the Yoder Family Collection. Altogether, more than 650 consignors are participating in our May Long Beach auctions. With a wide range of rarities from Colonials through double eagles, this will be an incredible event!”

Highlights from Heritage’s Long Beach Signature Auction:

Lot 799: 1794 Dollar VG10 PCGS.
Of the mere 1,758 pieces struck, approximately 125 individual examples have been traced today, making this first dollar an essential rarity. Ex: John N. Brooks Collection (United States Coin Co., 12/1914), lot 17. From The Northwest Collection.

Lot 800: 1794 Dollar VF30 PCGS.
Struck on the initial day of the production of silver coinage, October 15, 1794, this rarity is a historic relic of America’s earliest attempt to produce large size silver coinage that would compare favorably in weight to the widely circulated Spanish (Carolus) dollars.
Ex: George C. Slawson (Stack’s, 4/1970), lot 840; 1991 ANA (Bowers and Merena, 8/1991), lot 436. (more…)