(Virginia Beach, VA) John Feigenbaum, President of David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC, agent for Buyer) and Mitchell J. Spivack (wondercoins.com; agent for seller), jointly announced today the completion of DLRC’s purchase of the finest known 1894-S Barber Dime. The transaction was completed in a private treaty transaction between the collector (seller), Daniel Rosenthal and his professional representative, Mr. Spivack on the one hand, and DLRC on behalf of their buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous.

This is the third time John Feigenbaum and David Lawrence Rare Coins have successfully sold this important numismatic rarity. According to Feigenbaum, “this is the one coin that most defines my numismatic legacy. My father, David Lawrence Feigenbaum, originally wrote a detailed pedigree on the 1894-S dime in 1990, and it was his life’s ambition to own this specimen. It is the finest of the nine known examples, and both PCGS and NGC have graded it Proof 66 on several occasions. Even at the current market level, I think this piece remains underrated, especially considering its peers in other collectibles. Being the finest example among a top-5 U.S. coin is truly special. Frankly, I think it’s right up there with the 1913 nickel and 1804 dollar in desirability.”

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Dallas, TX: Heritage’s 36th Official ANA Auction at the 2007 Milwaukee “World’s Fair of Money” is featuring a Platinum Night session containing the highlight coins of the 3,500 lot auction. The Signature Auction sessions will be held August 8-10, and Platinum Night will take place on August 9, 2007. All sessions are currently posted at www.HA.com . All auction sessions will take place at the Midwest Airlines Center; lot exhibition begins there Sunday, August 5 in Room 201 B-D, 400 West Wisconsin Ave in Milwaukee.

“Heritage’s Official ANA Auction will be an incredibly exciting event,” predicted Heritage President Greg Rohan. “Approximately 350 consignors are participating in this event, and they have entrusted us with $25-$30 million of their numismatic treasures. As you can easily see from our list of highlights, the number of truly important coins in this auction seems almost limitless. I predict that many Registry collections will pick up their most important coins at out Milwaukee Platinum Night Session.”

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An 1827/3 Capped Bust quarter restrike that sold for $126,500 is the top lot in Heritage Auction Galleries’ sale at the Summer Florida United Numismatists show in West Palm Beach.

The Heritage cataloger specified that the die rust and other markers on this piece indicate that it is from a later group of restrikes, from which about a dozen pieces are known. This one was graded Proof-66 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. It sold to an Internet bidder. The total prices realized in the July 12-13 auction was not available by press time. All prices reported here include buyer fees. An 1893-O Morgan dollar in NGC MS-65 came in next at $115,000.

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Editor’s note: It is the opinion of the authors that revisionist theory about Gobrecht dollars is invalid. The Breen theory, that originals can be determined by noting that the eagle flies upward when the coin is properly rotated, they believe should be immediately restored. This article is an attempt to support the contention. It is divided into two parts, with a conclusion following. The first section, by R.W. Julian, deals with the historical aspects of the Gobrecht dollar coinage, while the second, by Craig Sholley, examines the critical areas of mint machinery, weights, die rotation and rarity.

Prior to about 1975 the Gobrecht silver dollars of 1836 through 1839 were all considered to be patterns. It was known that restrikes had been made in the late 1850s but until Walter Breen tackled the problem in the mid-1970s, no one knew how to distinguish the true originals. At the same time, documentary proof was published showing that some of the dollars of 1836 and 1839 were in fact coins issued for circulation.

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Dallas, TX: Phil Kaufman’s superlative collection of Early Seated Proof Sets (1839-1858) is being offered by Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries in a series of events starting with the August 8-10, 2007 ANA World’s Fair of Money Platinum Night Auction in Milwaukee.

“Mr. Kaufman’s Collection is so extensive - and so valuable,” noted Heritage President Greg Rohan, “that we will be offering important pieces over four of our Signature/Platinum Night auctions during the coming year. Mr. Kaufman wanted to start this process in Milwaukee at the Official Auction of the summer ANA, as this represents one of the most important venues of the year. Milwaukee marks Heritage’s 36th selection as the Official ANA Auctioneer.”

“Mr. Kaufman is an extraordinary collector,” continued Rohan. “We started selling important selections from his collections in 2002, and have successfully concluded more than a half dozen separate consignments. He has been so pleased with his results that we are now privileged to offer his beloved early Seated silver proofs.”

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