by Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

Superior, Stack’s and B&M are all conducting auctions in the Baltimore area before the ANA Convention starts on July 30th. A staggering assortment of U.S. coins and other numismatic items will be offered. I will discuss some of the coins that are rare, are interesting in other ways and/or are ‘in the news’ for some particular reason, like multiple examples of a scarce issue being offered in more than one pre-Convention auction.

The key Proof in the Shield Nickel series (1866-1883) is the 1867 ‘With Rays.’ The pre-ANA auctions include three of these.

Not long ago, it was thought that there were fewer than twenty-five Proof 1867 ‘With Rays’ nickels. In recent years, it has become apparent that there are more. An estimated mintage of seventy-five is listed on CoinFacts.com, and the April 2008 PCGS Population report lists a mintage of sixty and indicates that fifty have been certified by the PCGS, a number which certainly includes numerous resubmissions of some of the same coins.

My guess is that the PCGS and the NGC have certified about forty-three DIFFERENT Proof 1867 ‘With Rays’ Shield Nickels. If there are another dozen or so that have never been submitted to the PCGS or the NGC, then the total in existence is probably around fifty-five. So, it is still extremely rare in Proof format and is highly demanded as Shield Nickels are a very popular series.

Superior will auction a Proof 1867 ‘With Rays’ that is PCGS certified Proof-64 with ‘Cameo’ contrast. B&M will offer two, both of which are PCGS graded Pr-64. The first, though, is in a holder with a green label, and was thus certified a while ago. Many, though nowhere near all, of the coins that PCGS graded in the 1990s qualify for higher grades now, since the grade-inflation of 2003 to 2007. Although I have not seen this specific nickel, the catalogue image suggests that it may have really neat, natural russet toning.

Flying Eagle Cents are even more popular than Shield Nickels. The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent is a longtime collector favorite. There are six 1856 Flying Eagle Cents in the pre-ANA auctions.

Almost every coin collecting kid has acquired a few Indian Cents and has dreamed of an 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. I will always remember when I first acquired an 1858 Flying Eagle Cent. I was about eight years old, and this 1858 maybe graded AG-03. I was not much older when I first saw an 1856, a Gem Proof Flying Eagle cent that a local coin dealer showed to me. I was enthralled. (more…)

by Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

On May 26 and 27, Superior Galleries of Beverly Hills will auction a variety of numismatic items, mostly U.S. coins, plus some patterns, many British and other European coins, tokens and medals, and paper money. The topic here is the ‘Roadrunner’ collection of 133 items, the vast majority of which are U.S. coins.

A significant percentage of the Roadrunner collection consists of coins from the shipwreck of the S.S. Republic, including a startling sixteen Liberty Seated Half Dollars. An extensive run of Liberty Head Double Eagles ($20 coins) is newsworthy. The collector known as ‘Roadrunner’ has gold coins of all denominations dating from the middle of the 19th century. Most of his gold coins were produced at Branch Mints, though he has several Philadelphia Mint gold coins.

The most valuable coin in the Roadrunner collection is an 1879 Flowing Hair Stella ($4 gold coin). It is NGC certified ‘Proof-67 Cameo.’ He purchased it privately from Superior Galleries.

Overall, this collection is particularly strong in the series of Liberty Head Eagles ($10 gold coins). Eagles dated 1860-S are extremely rare, and Roadrunner has one of the highest graded ones, an NGC certified MS-61 1860-S from the S.S. Republic. It is one of only two that the NGC has graded above MS-60; the other, which is graded MS-61 is also from the S.S. Republic. The PCGS has not graded any of these above AU-55. It seems likely that fewer than fifty 1860-S Eagles are known.

The 1858-S Eagle is very rare. There are certainly less than 135 pieces known. Roadrunner’s 1858-S, NGC graded AU-55, may be one of the best. Jeff Garrett & Ron Guth write that the 1858-S “is nearly as rare as the more highly regarded 1858 Eagle, but unlike the 1858, no Mint State examples of the 1858-S are known” (Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins, 2006, p. 337). (more…)

DGSE Companies, Inc. (AMEX:DGC), which wholesales, retails and auctions fine watches, jewelry, diamonds, precious metal and rare coin products via traditional and internet channels, today announced its results for Superior Galleries’ April 10, 2008 Santa Clara Elite Auction, where Superior Galleries is the official auctioneer. This 800 lot event realized $945,000 inclusive of the buyer’s premium.

Some individual highlights of this auction included:

* 724 – Fr. 376 1890 $50 Treasury Note PMG VF $143,750
* 513 – 1801 $10 Capped Bust NGC MS62 $35,880
* 552 – 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim NGC MS64 $35,075
* 275 – 1889-CC Morgan Dollar ANACS MS62 $20,700
* 529 – 1871-CC $20 Liberty PCGS XF40 $19,550

Commenting on the Superior Galleries Beverly Hills Elite Auction, Senior Vice President of Auctions Paul Song said, “We are delighted to have set a new record for the grade for lot 724, the 1890 $50 Treasury Note Fr. 376, graded PMG VF. This rare piece of American currency brought $143,750 which represents the highest price ever achieved for a similar note in VF grade at auction. This item sold to one of Superior Galleries’ private collectors on the telephone amid fervid bidding. Our strong results are a testament to the attention and care that we have been putting toward creating the finest auctions in the industry.”

Mr. Song continued, “We are now concentrating our efforts on our May 26-27, 2008 Pre-Long Beach Elite Auction, which will feature the Roadrunner Collection of U.S. Coins, the PamGold Collection of English Coins, and the Precious Bird Nest Collection of High Relief Double Eagles.” For more information on this auction, or on how to consign to one of our future Elite Auctions, please call Paul Song or Aaron Malone, Consignment Director: 800-545-1001 or consign@sgbh.com. Space is limited in all of our exclusive Elite Auctions, so please contact us well in advance to reserve a spot alongside these or future special numismatic treasures. (more…)