by Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

On March 4, in Baltimore, B&M auctioned a 1901 San Francisco Mint quarter dollar, which was then PCGS certified “MS-68,” for $327,750, an auction record for a Barber quarter and for any business strike Barber coin. John Brush, acting on behalf of DLRC, was the successful bidder. While bidding, he was talking to John Feigenbaum, the President of DLRC, on the phone.

On March 25, this quarter was featured at the PCGS announcement of the SecurePlusTM program in Fort Worth, and had been regraded “MS-68+.” On March 26, Bill Shamhart negotiated with Feigenbaum to buy this quarter. During the following week, it was CAC approved, and Shamhart placed it in a private collection. Other than the Olsen-Hawn 1913 Liberty Nickel that sold during the FUN Platinum Night event, this is the most ‘talked about’ coin in 2010, so far.

I. This 1901-S sells at Auction and then Privately

Early in 2010, this 1901-S quarter remained in an NGC holder, with an MS-68 grade, and was submitted by B&M to PCGS for consideration as a ‘crossover.’ It did, in fact, ‘cross,’ meaning here that the PCGS also graded it as MS-68.

John Feigenbaum explains that, soon after this 1901-S was auctioned on March 4, the “PCGS was looking for a trophy coin to display during their announcement; so they contacted me to inquire if I would be willing to put this coin in their new holder. I was happy to oblige.” Technically, there is a new SecureShield insert in the same type of holder. This quarter became the first coin to be PCGS graded “MS-68+,” under the new system that allows for ‘+’ grades. On March 25, David Hall included this coin in his presentation, in Fort Worth, at the formal announcement of the SecurePlusTM program.

When PCGS officials contacted Feigenbaum about arranging for this coin to be a showpiece, “there was no discussion of the ‘+’ designation,” Feigenbaum reports, “that was a complete surprise. Frankly, I didn’t even know it was an option.”

On Friday, March 26, at the ANA Convention in Fort Worth, Bill Shamhart, [www.numismaticamericana.com] a New Jersey dealer and CAC consultant, arranged for one of his clients to purchase this 1901-S quarter from Feigenbaum, subject to verification of its grade by the CAC. During the following week, the CAC placed a sticker on the holder, and this quarter thus traded again. The CAC approved the MS-68 grade; the CAC will not accept or reject ‘plus’ grades. Shamhart’s client is a “lifelong collector” who desires American coins of “amazing quality.”

At auction on March 4, the firm of David Lawrence (DLRC) acquired this 1901-S quarter for inventory largely because the firm has specialized in Barber Coinage for more than a quarter century. Barber coins were minted from 1892 to 1916. John Feigenbaum’s deceased father, David Lawrence Feigenbaum, founded DLRC in 1979. David authored three books on Barber coinage, one book on each denomination, dimes, quarters and half dollars. In the late 1990s, father and son co-authored a fourth book that focused on Mint State and Proof Barber coins that were certified by the PCGS and the NGC. DLRC sells Proof, Mint State, AU and circulated Barber coins. (more…)

Project Enables ANA to Showcase Collection at Boston Convention

The American Numismatic Association has contracted with its official paper money grader, Paper Money Guaranty, LLC to encapsulate, grade, appraise and provide a complete certification report for the ANA Bebee Collection of Paper Money.

The collection, donated to the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum by Aubrey and Adeline Bebee in 1987, is one of most comprehensive collections of U.S. paper money ever assembled. It features 904 notes including national bank notes from virtually every state and territory and perhaps the finest collection of large-sized notes outside of the Smithsonian Institution.

“This agreement with PMG makes it possible for the ANA to share this fabulous collection with numismatists and paper money aficionados who, otherwise, might never have an opportunity to see the spectacular rarities collected by Aubrey and Adeline Bebee,” said ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd. “The Bebees entrusted the ANA to protect and preserve their life’s work – but we also know that they hoped this special collection could be shared with the numismatic community. It’s a great feeling to know that we’ll now be able to expand our use of these notes for educational purposes, share them with the numismatic community, and preserve them for future generations.”

“This is such a special collection,” said Glen Jorde, manager of PMG, which along with NGC and NCS serve as the ANA’s official grading and conservation services. “So many of the Bebee specimens are either unique or the finest we’ve ever seen. The national bank note collection, with nearly every state and territory represented, blew me away. And the collection of large-sized U.S. notes is simply one of the finest anywhere outside of the Smithsonian.”

The Bebee collection, displayed on the ANA website , will be encapsulated in time for its inaugural display at the summer ANA World’s Fair of Money in Boston, August 10-14, at the Hynes Convention Center.

Beginning this month, PMG will accurately and safely grade and encapsulate each note into a holder designed for long-term protection. Three PMG graders will examine each of the notes to confirm authenticity, attribution and to render an opinion on its condition. Once graded, each note will be encapsulated along with a certification label. The information will then be recorded in PMG’s data management system and provided to the ANA. The project is scheduled for completion by June 11. (more…)

Certified by NGC is this recently discovered South Africa 6 Pence dated 1928. It is the only known example bearing this date.

The coin was first spotted in an English country auction where it was cataloged with an unusual notation: the coin’s date was not listed in the standard series reference. It was purchased by a dealer who had a strong suspicion about the its origin.

Although he had no doubt about the coin’s authenticity, he sent it first to South Africa, where a number of experts examined the coin, all declaring it genuine. The coin itself, as a unique discovery piece, created a sensation among collectors of South African coins, who marveled that this discovery took over 80 years to occur.

From South Africa, the coin was sent the coin to the United States to be certified and encapsulated by NGC.

The dies for South African coins of this era were manufactured in England and then sent to South Africa for use in coinage production. Mysteriously, six pence dies of this year were not shipped and no pieces dated 1928 were struck in South Africa. Other denominations of coins were produced in that year, however, and it is not certain why the six pence was omitted.

Numismatist believe that the coin was produced in England as a specimen piece.

It has shallow mirrored fields, a crisp strike, as well as squared rims, similar to all South African presentation coinage of this era. It is also struck on a .925 fine silver planchet, while coins struck for circulation in South Africa are only .800 fine. It has a deep amber patina and is remarkably well preserved, evidence that it resided in the possession of a collector since it was struck.