Updated: July 5th – The Collection has been Posted

Douglas Winter Numismatics has been chosen to sell the Tri-Star Collection of Proof gold dollars. This collection, which was formed by one of the savviest collectors of gold coins in today’s numismatic market, includes a dozen very rare Type Three Proof gold dollars dated between 1856 and 1878.

In a conversation with the former owner of the coins, he stated the following: “My original goal was to assemble a complete set of Proof gold dollars in high grades. Instead of focusing on the dates from the 1880’s which I thought would be easy to acquire, I was more focused on the very rare Type Three coins struck from 1856 to 1879. These dates typically had mintage figures of fifty coins or fewer and many have as few as ten to fifteen survivors.”

This collector added another couple of interesting comments about his collection.” I tried whenever possible to buy coins that were original and which had not been recently conserved. I also tried to add a few coins that had particularly good pedigrees. The reason that I gave up on the set was that I found it too frustrating to find the dates I needed with the eye appeal that I wanted.”

What this collector did accomplish is still nothing short of amazing. The undisputed highlight of the coins being offered for sale by DWN is an 1856 gold dollar graded PR67 Ultra Cameo by NGC. It is the earliest dated gold dollar graded this high by NGC and it is the finest known of an estimated six or seven that exist.

Remarkably, the collection continues with a nice date run of Proofs dated 1857-1863. The 1857 is an NGC PR65 Cameo, while the 1858 is a stunning NGC PR66 Cameo that is tied with one other coin as the finest known. The 1859, graded PR66 Deep Cameo by PCGS, has amazing eye appeal and is a coin that is notable for its rich original coloration. The 1860 is graded PR65 Cameo and has a pedigree from the famous Harry Bass collection while the popular 1861 is a very high end PR65 that has also been graded by PCGS. The 1862 is an NGC PR66 Ultra Cameo which is among the finest known while the 1863, while “only” graded PR64 Deep Cameo by PCGS, has the eye appeal and appearance of a Gem. (more…)

Harvey Stack, long-time principal of Stack’s, announced his retirement as of June 30th, following 62 years as a full-time professional numismatist. At age 81 he will devote his time to other activities. “Harvey has been one of the great figures in numismatics,” said Stack’s president Christine Karstedt. “He has developed many outstanding collections, has auctioned some of the finest properties to be sold, was the key person in working with Congress on the State Quarters Program, and is a past president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, among many other accomplishments.”

Q. David Bowers has now become Chairman of the Board for the Stack’s organization and will lead the numismatic direction of the firm. “We have more numismatic talent within our walls then any other firm. Stack’s will continue to be a market leader in all fields of American, world, and ancient coins as well as paper money, tokens, and medals,” stated Bowers. Becoming a dealer at a young age in 1953, he has had many accomplishments in the intervening years, including serving as president of both the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild, receiving the Farran Zerbe Award from the ANA and the Founders’ Award from the PNG (the highest honors for each group), being named as one of the Greatest Numismatists of the 20th Century (one of just six living people to be accorded this status in a survey by COINage magazine), and being the first person to be named as Numismatist of the Year by the ANA.

Bowers has supervised the presentation at auction of the Louis E. Eliasberg Collection, the Garrett Collection, the Norweb Collection, and the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, four of the greatest cabinets ever formed. Since becoming a shareholder in Stack’s in 2006 he has been important in the production of our award winning catalogues and in spearheading collector based retail programs for the organization. The author of over 50 books and a popular columnist for Coin World and The Numismatist, he has won more “Book of the Year” and “Best Columnist” awards than has anyone in the history of numismatics. (more…)

The discovery of the long-lost S.S. New York and the sale of gold and silver coins from the wreck made headline news last year. Since then, further explorations on the wreck have yielded more coins, including some amazing American gold rarities. These include high-grade Philadelphia and New Orleans coins from the 1830s and 1840s, some of which are among the finest known!

A book detailing the loss and recovery, The Treasure Ship S.S. New York, by Q. David Bowers, tells the exciting story (available from Stack’s for $29.95 postpaid). The sidewheel steamer, 160.5 feet in length, was launched in New York City in 1837, and under the direction of Charles Morgan and others put into the coastwise run from New York City to Charleston. There she remained for but a short time, and was sent to New Orleans. The Republic of Texas, formed in 1836, beckoned immigrants from foreign countries, American citizens, and others to settle the vast territory. In 1845, Texas joined the Union. The S.S. New York was in service from New Orleans to Galveston, the latter being the largest city in Texas at the time.

Departing Galveston on September 5, 1846, with several dozen passengers and crew aboard plus light cargo, the ship headed toward New Orleans. It was foggy and the wind was light, but there was no indication of any problem. Unexpectedly, stiff winds and high seas arose, and within a few hours the ship anchored about 50 miles off the coast, to weather out the storm. This did not happen. A hurricane developed, the ship foundered, and despite heroic efforts of the passengers and crew to save it, the New York went to the bottom of the sea with a loss of 18 lives and an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 in money. (more…)