Beginning at 4 pm ct. on Friday, October 17th, 2008, Scotsman Auction Company will conduct the most significant rare coin auctionever held in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. It will take place at the Saint Charles Convention Center located off Interstate 70 in St. Charles, MO. This sale will be in conjunction with the 2008 Silver Dollar and Rare Coin Exposition, October 16th – 18th.

The nucleus of this magnificent sale consists of eighty-one gold coins pedigreed to the famous Eliasberg Collection, unavailable since October 1982.

These pieces were once a part of the renowned complete collection of United States coins formed by the late Louis E, Eliasberg, Sr. of Baltimore, Maryland. This collection of United States regular issue coins was complete in all denominations, by date and by mintmark, beginning with the first year, 1793, and kept current until his death in February 1976. The collection was featured in both Life and Look magazines, as well as being exhibited not only at the Smithsonian Institution, but also at the Philadelphia Mint during the nation’s bicentennial. Eliasberg began his pursuit in 1925 and was able to attain completeness prior to the end of 1950.

Besides having the notoriety of being the only collector to have achieved this momentous accomplishment of assembling this unique complete collection of United States coins. Eliasberg was part of the group of investors that purchased the St. Louis Browns baseball team and subsequently relocated the team to Baltimore, renaming it the Baltimore Orioles.

Among the eighty-one gold coins consigned to this sale with an Eliasberg pedigree are four “stellar” pieces. These following pieces are: the “finest known” 1862 Gold dollar; the “finest known” 1851 Gold quarter-eagle($2 ½ gold piece); one of the finest surviving 1880 Flowing Hair $4 gold pieces (“Stellas”), only 17 known to exist; and one of the finest known 1930 Saint-Gaudens double eagles ($20 gold pieces) struck at the San Francisco branch mint, with only an estimated fifty to sixty extant.

Along with these prestigious pieces in this public sale, are many other desirable, collector coins, for a total of 1,272 Lots. (more…)

Bank of Valletta has purchased rare coins of the Knights of the Order of St John which were on sale at an auction in London.

The coins are an outstanding example of fine 16th, 17th and 18th century coins that will enhance the local numismatic collection, the bank said. The coins will initially be on display at BOV’s head office in Santa Venera and will then be displayed at the BOV Museum at St John’s Square where they can be admired by the public.

Heritage Malta was informed by UK auctioneers about the coins and informed BOV which acted immediately to purchase the coins and have them brought back to Malta.

“Bank of Valletta believes that through the acquisition of these coins it is giving back to society something that is truly significant to the people of these islands. These coins have more than just historical importance for us, they also have significant value as they form part of our common heritage,” Bank of Valletta CEO Tonio Depasquale said.

The Knights of St. John settled in Malta when Charles V of Spain granted the humble islands of Malta to the Knights following their expulsion from the island of Rhodes. The order, which settled in Malta in 1530, would find its fortune in these islands as the Maltese people would prove to be an exceptional asset in warding off their long feared enemies, the Ottomans.

The collection consists of eight coins that are all categorized as very rare or extremely rare; one coin is in fact categorized as the only dated silver coin of its type. Decorated with various symbols of religious and military importance for the knights, the coins are ideal examples of fine craftsmanship.

Heritage Auction Galleries has never printed an Auction supplement for any special collection, no matter how spectacular…….Until now.Heritage is breaking with tradition, in adding the Baltimore Collection of Liberty Double Eagles to the October Sale. This multi-million dollar collection is being auctioned as an integral part of our Dallas Signature Auction, Oct. 23-25, now available online at HA.com for your viewing and bidding.

This impressive collection will be presented along  with  the anchor consignments of the Jack Lee Estate Inventory, and the Lucy Collection of Proof Liberty Nickels to make up The Dallas Signature Auction containing more than 4,500  lots of important American coins.

The astute Maryland collector who assembled the Baltimore Collection brought together more than 150 Liberty Double Eagles over a period of fifteen years. They exhibit premium quality attributes in grades that collectors covet. Many of his AU58 coins are exceptional, with the clean surfaces and eye-appeal that collectors so appreciate. Deserving of special attention — and needing no further introduction — are his 1854-O, his 1856-O, and 1870-CC.

Highlights of the Baltimore Collection of Liberty Double Eagles include: (more…)

The sale includes a wide variety of material on ancient, medieval, foreign and U.S. numismatics, and features a number of rare and important works. Selected highlights include:

* The Journal of the Senate, First Session, Second Congress (1791–1792), featuring the complete text of “An Act Establishing a Mint, and Regulating the Coins of the United States,” with the discussion leading up to its passage and other important historical context: the foundation of U.S. coinage.

* Antiquarian titles dating back to the 1570s.

* An original Crosby in a Nova Constellatio binding

* A fine leather-bound set of Loubat

* A number of 19th-century American auction sales with photographic plates, including a plated copy of the 1886 Maris sale

* A plated copy of Elder’s 1908 Gschwend sale

* A plated copy of the Malcolm N. Jackson sale (US Coin Co., 1913)

* 18th-century American almanacs, newspapers and mercantile publications discussing coinage

* Important European catalogues of the 19th and 20th centuries

* A large paper copy of Hickcox on the paper money of New York

* Copy number 1 of Hough on Washingtonia, published by Woodward

A printed catalogue will be sent to established customers and to those requesting a copy. The catalogue can also be downloaded from the company’s Web site at www.fanningbooks.com. International bidders are welcome: the auction includes works in at least a dozen languages and we are pleased to conduct business with overseas customers. Contact us today to be added to the mailing list. (more…)