Bowers and Merena, one of the world’s preeminent auctioneers for rare coins and currency, will conduct the January Rarities Sale as its first event of 2011. The single-session sale on Jan. 4 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay will offer nearly 1,700 lots of rare and desirable United State and Colonial-era coinage.

“It is and honor and thrill to start my career with Bowers and Merena with such an important sale,” said Chris Napolitano, President of Bowers and Merena. “Our January 2011 Rarities Sale will be presenting a wide selection of United States, Colonial and Territorial coins which range from affordable collector coins to world-renowned absolute and condition pieces.”

Headlining the sale is Part II of the Malibu Collection. “The first part of this impressive Malibu Collection helped propel our Official Auction of the November Whitman Coin & Collectible Baltimore Expo to the forefront among numismatic events of 2010. Part II promises the same rarity, quality and eye appeal that we have come to expect from the collection,” said Napolitano.

Highlights from the Malibu Collection include lot 855, one of the finest-known 1866 Motto Seated Dollars in PCGS Secure Proof-66 Deep Cameo, as well as lot 594, an important strike and condition rarity 1918-S Standing Liberty Quarter certified MS-67 Full Head by NGC with a combined pop of just 2/0 by PCGS and NGC.

“From U.S. minors to patterns, bidders will also enjoy Part II of the G. Edward Reahl, Jr. M.D. Collection and the Abingdon Collection,” said Napolitano.

Additional highlights in the sale include:

* Lot 48, 1883 Hawaii Eighth Dollar, Proof-62 Cameo (PCGS), Secure Holder
* Lot 59, Undated (Circa 1616) Sommer Islands Twopence, BMA Type I, Small Star Below Hog, AG-3 (PCGS)
* Lot 73, 1776 Continental Dollar, CURENCY, Pewter, MS-63 (NGC)
* Lot 302, 1924-S Buffalo Nickel, MS-66 (NGC)
* Lot 304, 1925-D Buffalo Nickel, MS-66 (PCGS), Secure Holder
* Lot 722, 1865 Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Proof-67, Cameo (NGC), From the Malibu Collection
* Lot 1261, 1856 Pattern Flying Eagle Cent, Snow-4, Rarity-7+, Proof-63 (PCGS), From the G. Edward Reahl, Jr. M.D. Collection, Part II
* Lot 1351, 1879 Liberty Quarter Eagle, Proof-67 Cameo (NGC)
* Lot 1359, 1899 Liberty Quarter Eagle, Proof-68 Ultra Cameo (NGC)
* Lot 1383, 1911-D Indian Quarter Eagle, MS-65 (NGC)
* Lot 1412, 1854-D Three-Dollar Gold Piece, AU-55 (PCGS)
* Lot 1423, 1873 Three-Dollar Gold Piece, Closed 3, MS-61 (PCGS)
* Lot 1458, 1859-C Liberty Half Eagle, Winter Variety 1 (27-M), MS-63 (PCGS)
* Lot 1459, 1860-D Liberty Half Eagle, Winter 38-FF, MS-64 (NGC)
* Lot 1489, 1911 Indian Half Eagle, Proof-66 (NGC)
* Lot 1544, 1907 Indian Eagle, Wire Rim, MS-67 (PCGS), Secure Holder
* Lot 1556, 1913 Indian Eagle, Proof-66 (NGC)
* Lot 1584, 1876 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-63 Cameo (PCGS)
* Lot 1609, 1905 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-64 (NGC)
* Lot 1634, 1911 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-67 (NGC)

All lot descriptions and images can be viewed online at the firm’s web site by visiting www.bowersandmerena.com and printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800-458-4646. Bidding is open and pre-auction bids can be placed through the firm’s web site, by email at auction@bowersandmerena.com, via fax at 949-253-4091, by calling 800-458-4646 or by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, Tampa Bay January 2011, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614. Lots viewing will be conducted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in the White Ibis Room on Jan. 2-4.

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Upon their deaths in 1865, her father and maternal aunt willed to her a total of about $10 million. Even after her 1867 marriage to Edward H. Green, she kept her finances separate, managing them herself with single-minded monomania. Her father and grandfather had educated her in finance from early childhood, and she dedicated herself to expanding that fortune. As her wealth increased, she continued to live with her son and daughter in modest surroundings, avoiding all social contacts or displays of wealth. In time she became a major force on Wall Street, despite which she often appeared in public in shabby garb and sought medical treatment for herself at charity clinics. She left an estate valued at more than $100 million when she died in 1916, reputedly the world’s richest woman.

“Extremely rare grade and one of two finest known of just three, possibly four known in full Mint State. Certainly the most famous specimen and long thought to be clearly the finest.”

The most often-repeated story concerning her penury is that concerning her son Edward, whom she refused to take for medical treatment, resulting in the need for his leg to be amputated. Col. Green was born the year following Hetty’s marriage to Edward Green, during his parents’ tour of Europe.

By age 25, Col. Green had been admitted to the bar and become president of the Texas Midland Railroad (his mother Hetty had owned many railroad stocks during her lifetime). He was active in Texas Republican politics, served as chairman of the Texas Republican State Committee, and was a director of the St. Louis Exposition of 1904. In order to maintain a Texas residence, he kept a suit of clothes and one of his wooden legs in a “fine residence” in Terrell, Texas. He died at age 68 in Lake Placid, New York.

At the time of his death–with a total estate valued at more than $40 million–his coin collection was valued at an estimated $5 million, along with a stamp collection worth $3.5 million. Green’s numismatic holdings included at least seven different 1838-O half dollars, a Brasher doubloon, all five of the 1913 Liberty nickels, and a staggering hoard of 1796 quarters, said to number more than 200 pieces.

This wonderful coin, also pedigreed to the Col. Green collection of early quarters, is the Browning-1 variety, with the 4 in the date low and a die cut between stars 8 and 9 seen on all examples. Although not as famous (because neither a single-year type nor a first year of issue) as the 1796 quarters, the 1804 quarters are many times rarer in Mint State than the 1796 pieces.

This coin is sharply struck, save for at some of the denticles, as usually seen, and wonderful steel-blue and pinkish-purple iridescent patina covers both sides. Bold die clashing is visible along the upper bustline, creating a “collar” effect on Liberty similar to the 1800 BB-196 Bust dollar variety. Lesser (but still dramatic) clashing is visible on the reverse as well.

As of (10/10) NGC has certified 31 Mint State 1796 quarters, compared only five Mint State 1804s, of which this is the single finest by two grade points. At PCGS, there are 33 Mint State 1796 quarters, compared with only eight Mint State 1804s. This is the single finest 1804 quarter certified at either NGC or PCGS.

By way of further comparison, there are 15 Mint State 1796-97 Small Eagle half dollars (long acknowledged as the rarest silver type coin) certified at NGC, along with nine Mint State Small Eagle halves at PCGS. This is, in conclusion, a monumental early Bust quarter, a coin whose rarity, historicity, and numismatic importance simply cannot be overstated.

Ex: Col. E.H.R. Green; Stack’s (1945); Jerome Kern Collection (B. Max Mehl, 1950), lot 1385; Eugene Gardner Collection (Stack’s, 2/1965), lot 1620; H. Philip Speir estate (Stack’s, 3/1974), lot 2, which brought $16,500; 1975 ANA Sale (Superior, 8/1975), lot 352, which realized $10,500; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2008), lot 2274, which realized $310,500. From The Joseph C. Thomas Collection, Part Two. (#5312)

This coin is being sold at auction in the 2011 January Tampa FUN Signature & Platinum Night sale #1151 as Lot 14022

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Mr. Greg Roberts, CEO of Spectrum Group International: “His numismatic knowledge is virtually unsurpassed, and I have tremendous confidence in his business and leadership abilities. Along with the addition of Chris, who will be relocating to Orange County, Bowers and Merena has also acquired certain assets of Summit Rare Coins, furthering our goals of expansion and growth.”

A collector since childhood, Mr. Napolitano decided to make numismatics his life’s career in 1989 with the founding of Summit Rare Coins, Inc., serving as president and CEO since its inception. Under Mr. Napolitano’s leadership spanning more than two decades, the company has handled in excess of $250 million in rare coins, including many classic American rarities, and has attended every major show and auction during that period. In 2001, Mr. Napolitano co-founded American Rare Coins and Collectibles with locations in St. Paul and Minneapolis, which he helped to grow into a $20 million business. Mr. Napolitano belongs to many important numismatic organizations and is a Lifetime Member of the American Numismatic Association.

Mr. Napolitano has personally handled approximately 80 of the coins featured in the popular numismatic reference book by Jeff Garrett, “100 Greatest U.S. Coins,” along with many notable pedigrees. He counts the L. Rogers 1794 FH $1 in PCGS 66 among his favorites, and other career highlights that include:

* 1794 50c PCGS 64
* 1793 Chain 1c PCGS Specimen 67 BN
* 1793 Wreath 1c PCGS Specimen 68 RED
* 1870-S Seated $1 PCGS AU 58 EX-NORWEB
* 1893-S $1 PCGS 67 EX-NORWEB/JACK LEE
* 1870-CC 25c NGC 64 EX-ELIASBERG
* 1856-O $20 PCGS 58 EX-AMON CARTER

“My mission in business has always been to provide great service and the right product — at the right price — to both the wholesale and retail community,” Mr. Napolitano said. “I have known Bowers and Merena throughout my career in this industry, and I am excited to join such a highly regarded business that shares my goals.”

“We are very happy to welcome Chris to our team,” said Greg Roberts, president and CEO of SGI. “His numismatic knowledge is virtually unsurpassed, and I have tremendous confidence in his business and leadership abilities. Along with the addition of Chris, who will be relocating to Orange County, Bowers and Merena has also acquired certain assets of Summit Rare Coins, furthering our goals of expansion and growth.”

Continued Mr. Roberts, “Chris could not have joined us at a more opportune time. We have just concluded a quarter which saw a record-setting level of aggregate sales for our Collectibles Division, which includes Bowers and Merena Auctions and its world and ancient coinage division, Ponterio & Associates, Teletrade Certified Coin and Currency Auctions, H.R. Harmer, Spectrum Wine Auctions, Corinphila Auktionen of Switzerland, Corinphila Veilingen of The Netherlands, Heinrich Köhler in Germany, and John Bull Stamp Auctions in Hong Kong. Many of our auctions came in at multiples above their pre-sale estimates, which I believe is a testament to the buying strength of our customers worldwide.”

In November, Bowers and Merena delivered the largest ever Official Baltimore Auction, offering more than 6,800 U.S. and world lots to realize over $13 million in total sales. Also that month, Teletrade’s Official Santa Clara Auction was one of the largest ever in its 24-year history, realizing $1.0 million. The quarter culminated with three outstanding auctions that took place in December, highlighted by the Ponterio & Associates auction of the historic Wa She Wong Collection of Chinese and Asian Coins in Hong Kong, which realized $10.5 million, far exceeding the company’s expectations and breaking a number of records. Spectrum Wine’s Hong Kong auction was the largest wine auction held by that company since its formation one year ago, and Corinphila’s Switzerland auction also achieved notable results.

Dieter Michelson, head of the SGI’s worldwide philatelic division, commented, “Our three stamp auctions in the second fiscal quarter were conducted live on three continents, generated in excess of $14 million in aggregate sales and delivered many record-setting prices. We take these results as evidence of the success of our new global philatelic network, which draws on the strengths of each of our international stamp auction houses.”

Mr. Roberts added, “We are already preparing for our next season of auctions in spring 2011, where we hope to continue our run of auction successes.”

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For more than a century, numismatists have puzzled over the purpose of the Kellogg fifties and exactly how many were struck. All known specimens were minted in proof format, suggesting they may have served as presentation pieces for bankers and politicians: They were struck when the firm was considering a large business strike mintage to compete with the fifty dollar pieces of their competitors, Wass, Molitor and Company. The “regular-issue” coins never materialized, but the proof production has delighted and puzzled collectors since the coins appeared.

One disputed question about the Kellogg proof fifties has been the number struck. The proprietors of Kellogg & Co., John Glover Kellogg and Augustus Humbert, were partners in 1855. Both of them retained several examples of the Kellogg fifties long after they dissolved their partnership in 1860. Kellogg’s heirs, including his son Karl, remained in possession of three coins many years after Kellogg’s death in 1886. Humbert, who died in 1873, left his collection to his brother, Pierre. When Pierre died in 1901, his heirs sold the collection to Captain Andrew C. Zabriskie. As Henry Chapman relates in the introduction to the Zabriskie Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1909):

“Capt. Zabriskie some years ago had the good fortune to purchase from his executors the collection of coins left by Mr. Humbert, the California Assayer, and from which collection he derived many of the most remarkable Pioneer Gold Coins, which , added to his collection that had been forming for many years, makes his Pioneer Gold the best ever offered at public sale.”

Later in the sale, Chapman described the Kellogg fifty in lot 341, which realized $1,250, a huge price at the time. To quote his description in part:

“Sharp, beautiful specimen. The finest known, as Capt. Zabriskie had his choice of the six which Mr. Humbert had preserved. So far as I am aware, it is possible about 10 are known, in fact, this is the number it is said was coined.”

Chapman thus reveals the startling fact that Humbert saved at least six specimens of this issue until his death. We can only wonder what Humbert’s purpose was, since $300 was a large sum in 1855, too large to tie up in souvenirs. Whatever his reasons, he deserves the thanks of all Pioneer gold collectors for preserving so many of these wonderful coins. In his catalog of Humbert’s collection, which he sold in 1902, Chapman mentioned one specimen in the collection of J.W. Scott, which would be the 10th coin in his census, after the three kept by Kellogg’s family and the six in Humbert’s estate.

The trouble with Chapman’s roster is this: More than 10 specimens have always been known to numismatists since the coins surfaced. The census of known examples has gone up and down over the years, but most catalogers agree at least 13 pieces were struck, even if fewer examples seemed to be extant at a particular time. With the appearance of the present coin, we have a pictorial record of what seem to be 14 different coins.

In 1905, prominent collector DeWitt Smith compiled a list of 13 coins he was familiar with, and the owner of each piece. Edgar Adams published the list in Private Gold Coinage of California in 1912, making one correction. The number of known specimens remained the same, but an example DeWitt Smith erroneously believed to be in the Mint Cabinet was removed from the roster, and a specimen in the H.O. Granberg Collection he was unaware of was added. Apparently, Chapman was unaware of the list in 1909, when he reported only 10 specimens were struck. The J.W. Scott coin was not on Adams’ list, and no such coin appeared in the catalog of Scott’s collection when he offered it in 1882. Still, the fact that we have 14 specimens extant today lends credence to Chapman’s statement regarding the coin’s existence.

Zabriskie marketed the five duplicate specimens from Humbert’s collection, along with many other coins, through the Chapman Brothers. They placed one of the Kellogg fifties in lot 716 of the William R. Weeks and Augustus Humbert Collections (S.H. and H. Chapman, 5/1902), which realized $575 to Virgil Brand. They sold one example each to George Earle and John Story Jenks by private treaty. It is very likely that John A. Beck acquired his Kellogg fifty in the same fashion. The details of what happened to the final coin in Humbert’s hoard are unknown, but it was undoubtedly sold to one of the early collectors on DeWitt Smith’s list. When news of the great prices realized by the coins featured at auction spread, the examples held by Kellogg’s descendants and the other specimens began to appear on the market. We have included as much of the history of these fabulous coins as can be determined in the roster below.

Greg Reynolds in his lasted Coin Rarities Column stated “I am certain that this is not one of the two that Stack’s auctioned in March 2005. I am almost certain that it is not an ‘upgrade’ of the PCGS certified Proof-53 Kellogg fifty that sold in Superior’s (Goldbergs’) session of Auction ‘90. Except the probably never certified Eliasberg coin, all the other privately owned Kellogg $50 gold pieces on Borckardt’s 2007 list have been PCGS or NGC graded 62 or higher. Therefore, it appears that this one is a newly emergent Kellogg fifty or a rediscovery of one that had been forgotten about or had been erroneously incorporated into the pedigree chains of one of the others. Either way, it is exciting. I believe that the Kellogg fifties are the only classic, Proof $50 gold coins that are available to collectors.”

The present coin is sharply struck, with fine detail on Liberty’s hair and all star centers fully brought up. A few minor handling marks are evident on both sides, almost inevitable with such a large gold coin. The brightly reflective surfaces are a pleasing orange-gold, with green highlights. The majesty of this numismatic icon cannot be conveyed by words or pictures alone. It only becomes real when you feel the solid weight of this enormous gold coin in your hand.

The discovery of a new Kellogg fifty is big news for the numismatic community. The last time a previously unknown specimen of a coin of this magnitude appeared was in 2005, when the C.L. Lee specimen of the 1854-S quarter eagle came to light. Of course, there is also a precedent in the roster of Kellogg fifties, when coin number 5 surfaced in the Buddy Ebsen Collection in 1987. We expect the excitement of those previous landmark events to be equaled when this lot is offered.

The following roster was compiled from many sources, expanding on previous efforts by Walter Breen and DeWitt Smith, with extensive contributions by Heritage Senior Cataloger Mark Borckardt, numismatic researchers P. Scott Rubin and Karl Moulton, and Pioneer gold specialist Don Kagin.

It is believed that just 14 examples of this famous rarity are known, but some earlier appearances are not definitely accounted for today and may yet turn up as additional coins. The numbers assigned to each specimen rank them according to grade, with the exception of the present coin, listed as number 14. The associated number from Walter Breen’s roster has been included where applicable. At one time or another, most of the known examples have been described as the finest known.

1. PR64 PCGS. Breen #11. British private collection; Greater New York Convention (Stack’s, 5/1984), lot 784; Robert Hughes; Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 8/1995), lot 498; 2007 FUN Auction (Heritage, 1/2007), lot 3893. In the 1984 catalog, Stack’s noted: “From information conveyed to us, this coin has recently come from England along with a few less important Territorial and Federal gold coins.”

2. PR64 PCGS. Breen #1. Augustus Humbert; Humbert’s heirs; Capt. Andrew C. Zabriskie; Zabriskie Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1909), lot 341; Col. James W. Ellsworth; John Work Garrett; Johns Hopkins University; Garrett Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 3/1980), lot 910; Kagin’s; Paul Padget; Donald Kagin and Stuart Levine; private collection. In the Garrett catalog, it was noted: “It is believed to be the finest known example of its kind.” However, that catalog was written several years before the example mentioned above became known to the numismatic community.

Note: Walter Breen recorded the Garrett piece as later appearing in Auction ‘85. However, the coin in that auction was the unique 1854 Kellogg $20 proof from the Garrett Collection.

3. PR63 PCGS. Not in Breen. Smith & Son (3/1941); Frank Heim (6/2000); Don Kagin; Q. David Bowers; Don Kagin; Superior (1/2005), lot 953; Western collector; ANA Signature Auction (Heritage, 8/2007), lot 2119; FUN Signature Auction (Heritage, 1/2008), lot 3448.

4. PR63 PCGS. Breen #2. Kellogg family; possibly sold privately by Thomas Elder around 1916; New York collector, possibly F.C.C. Boyd; “J.F. Bell” in 1945; Memorable Collection (Numismatic Gallery, 3/1948), lot 967; Don Keefer; F.K. Saab; Gibson Sale (Stack’s, 11/1974), lot 189; Auction ‘79 (Stack’s, 7/1979), lot 996; Jerome S. Coles Collection (Stack’s, 10/1983), lot 239; 68th Anniversary Sale (Stack’s, 10/2003), lot 2292; 72nd Anniversary Sale (Stack’s, 10/2007), lot 4017; FUN Signature Auction (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 4228.

5. Choice Proof. Not in Breen. Buddy Ebsen Collection (Superior, 5/1987), lot 3140. This piece appears to be a new example that matches none of the others and was unlisted in the Breen Census.

6. PR62 PCGS. Breen #3. George W. Rice; Virgil M. Brand; William F. Dunham (B. Max Mehl, 6/1941), lot 2369; W.D. Waltman Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1945), lot 37; Amon Carter Collection (Stack’s, 1/1984), lot 1149; Harlan White; ANA Signature Auction (Heritage, 8/1997), lot 7898; Donald Kagin; Craig Smith; Paul S. Mory Collection (Bowers and Merena, 6/2000), lot 1053; Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 1/2002), lot 857; Midwest collection.

7. PR62 NGC. Breen #7. N.M. Kaufman Collection (RARCOA, 8/1978), lot 66; Auction ‘80 (Paramount, 8/1980), lot 982; Auction ‘84 (RARCOA, 7/1984), lot 2000; ANA Signature Auction (Heritage, 8/1992), lot 2583; RARCOA; Donald Kagin; private collection.

8. PR62. Breen #9. Augustus Humbert; Humbert’s heirs; Capt. Andrew C. Zabriskie; Henry Chapman; John Story Jenks; Reuting Collection (Reuting, a Pennsylvania collector who specialized in private gold coinage, was the proprietor of a lumber yard and served one term as mayor of Titusville, Pennsylvania); Arthur C. Nygren (B. Max Mehl, 11/1914), lot 82; Henry Chapman (per Mehl in the Waltman catalog); George Alfred Lawrence (Thomas Elder, 6/1929), lot 1365; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 5/1996), lot 366; East Coast collection.

9. PR62. Breen #4. Augustus Humbert; Humbert’s heirs; Capt. Andrew C. Zabriskie; Henry Chapman; George H. Earle Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1912), lot 3782; purchased by B. Max Mehl and sold to Fred T. Huddart; Judge C.W. Slack (B. Max Mehl, 5/1925), lot 29; Col. E.H.R. Green; Josiah Lilly Collection; Smithsonian Institution. Walter Breen recorded this specimen as once the property of Amon Carter, Sr. and Jr., although such a listing is doubtful. Additional intermediaries handled this coin on a consignment basis. Both Smithsonian pieces have recently been examined and graded by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth.

10. PR62. Breen #5. H.O. Granberg (consigned to the 1914 ANS Exhibition); William H. Woodin; Waldo C. Newcomer; Willis duPont; Smithsonian Institution. This piece was stolen from duPont in October 1967 and recovered in July or August 1978, as reported in Coin World, August 9, 1978. Illustrated at http://americanhistory.si.edu and plate-matched to Mehl’s Newcomer plates.

11. PR53 PCGS. Breen #10. J.W. Schmandt (Stack’s, 2/1957), lot 1028; Dan Brown; John H. Murrell; Henry H. Clifford;1983 ANA Sale (Kagin, 8/1983), lot 3630; Auction ‘88 (Superior, 7/1988), lot 491; Auction ‘90 (Superior , 8/1990), lot 1406; Orlando Sale (Superior, 8/1992); private collection.

12. Impaired Proof. Breen #6. Augustus Humbert; Humbert’s heirs; Capt. Andrew C. Zabriskie; Henry Chapman; John A. Beck; John A. Beck, Part I (Quality Sales, 1/1975), lot 729; Dr. Ketterman; Arnold and Romisa Collections (Bowers and Merena, 9/1984), lot 330; Hoke S. Green Collection (Bowers and Merena, 6/1985), lot 24; Christie’s (3/1994), lot 375; Morrison, Licht Collection (Stack’s, 3/2005), lot 1320; Donald Kagin; private collection. Described as a “Brilliant Proof with some hairlines and minor friction.”

13. XF Details NCS. Breen #8. C.W. Cowell (B. Max Mehl, 1911); Waldo Newcomer; Amon Carter, Sr.; 1962 N.Y. Metropolitan Sale (Stack’s, 4/1962), lot 2814; John Rowe; Abner Kreisberg (1968); Public Auction Sale (Quality Sales Corp., 11/1972), lot 1410A; Jack Klauson; 1973 ANA Sale (Jess Peters, 8/1973), lot 1030; Walter Breen Gold Sale #1 (Pine Tree, 3/1974), lot 455; West Coast collection; Christie’s (3/1990); Morrison/ Licht Collection (Stack’s, 3/2005), lot 1321; Donald Kagin; private collection. In 1972, Abner Kreisberg and Jerry Cohen commented: “The usual surface abrasions and scratches have all been removed and quite a bit of luster is still adhering. Extremely Fine.”

14. PR60 PCGS. From an East Coast estate. The present coin.

The following citations represent earlier appearances of coins we have been unable to positively link to the pedigree chains above. They may constitute duplicate appearances of some of the examples in the above list, or they may be different individual coins.

A. DeWitt Smith, of Lee Massachusetts, by 1905; obtained by Virgil Brand when he purchased the DeWitt Smith Collection intact.
B. Augustus Humbert; Humbert’s heirs; Capt. Andrew C. Zabriskie; Henry Chapman; William R. Weeks and Augustus Humbert Collections (Henry Chapman, 5/1902), lot 716; Virgil Brand.
C. Two specimens retained by the heirs of John Glover Kellogg.
D. A specimen said to be in the possession of J.W. Scott in the 19th century. (#10228)

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Bowers and Merena Auctions will host its Boston Rarities Auction on Saturday, Aug. 7 at The Castle at Park Plaza Hotel and Towers in Boston, Mass. The sale, comprised of nearly 1,800 lots, will feature world-class rarities and highly desirable collectors’ coins.

“Three consignments stand out in my mind as defining elements of the importance of this sale: the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation Mint State Set of 1794 United States Coinage, the Horseshoe Collection of New Orleans Mint gold and silver coins, and the Ostheimer Specimen of the 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar,” said Greg Roberts, CEO of Bowers and Merena. “With selections as diverse, important and desirable as these, we are confident that our Boston Rarities Sale will see spirited bidding from a wide variety of collectors.”

The Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation (CCEF) Mint Set of 1794 United States Coinage is a fully Mint State complete set of 1794-dated coins struck from the Half Cent through the Silver Dollar with most coins choice to gem in quality. The coins are among the finest known for their respective issues and die varieties, but the obvious highlight of the set is the Virgil Brand-F.C.C. Boyd-Cardinal specimen of the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. Certified MS-64 by NGC, the coin is Condition Census #4 for the issue and one of only six Mint State examples known to exist. The five coins in the 1794 Mint State Set will be auctioned individually at the beginning of the beginning of the Silver Dollar section.

“This important offering is made possible by the CCEF’s recent acquisition of the Carter-Contursi 1794 Silver Dollar, graded PCGS Specimen-66, which recently sold for $7,850,000 in a transaction that set a world record price for the most valuable coin,” said Roberts.

At the heart of the Horseshoe Collection is one of the most comprehensive sets of New Orleans Mint gold and silver coins that Bowers and Merena has offered in quite some time. The stand-out highlight of the collection is an 1854-O Liberty Double Eagle, a pop 2/0 coin certified AU-55 by PCGS. With an estimated 25-35 surviving coin population from a mintage of 3,250 pieces, it is the second-rarest New Orleans Mint Double Eagle. Other rarities featured in this collection include Morgan Dollar condition rarities, key-date 19th century gold coins from other Mints and a J.W. Scott Restrike of the fabled 1861 Confederate States of America Half Dollar.

“Last in the triad of world-class rarities anchoring our Boston Rarities Sale is the Ostheimer Specimen of the 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar,” said Roberts. “This coin is the fourth-finest example of only nine 1870-S Silver Dollars in existence. As such, it is an extremely important example of the rarest regular issue Silver Dollar struck in the United States Mint. The Ostheimer Specimen is certified EF-40 by PCGS.”

Additional collections that will be featured in the Boston Rarities Auction include the Fontaine Collection of 25 coins which all earned CAC designation, the Platinum Star PCGS Registry Set of Two-Cent Pieces and the Marmac’s Little Sisters Collection of Half Cents. Other coin highlights include:

* 1776 Continental Dollar, CURENCY, Pewter, MS-63 (PCGS), Secure Holder
* 1864 Two-Cent Piece, Small Motto, Proof-65 RD Cameo (PCGS), Secure Holder, CAC, From the Platinum Star PCGS Registry Set of Two-Cent Pieces
* 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar, O-106, AU-58 (PCGS), CAC
* 1794 Liberty Cap Half Cent, C-9, High Relief Head, MS-65 BN (NGC), From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation
* 1794 Liberty Cap Cent, S-29, Head of 1794, MS-65 BN (NGC), From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation
* 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime, LM-3, MS-67 (NGC), From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation
* 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar, O-105, MS-62 (NGC), From the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation
* 1801 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, BB-212, B-2, MS-63 (PCGS), Secure Holder, Ex: Jack Lee III-Hesselgesser
* 1895 Morgan Silver Dollar, Proof-68 Cameo (NGC), From the Horseshoe Collection
* 1877 Pattern Half Union, Judd-1547 Gilt, Large Head, Proof-63 (NGC), CAC
* 1877 Pattern Half Union, Judd-1549 Gilt, Small Head, Proof-64+ Cameo (NGC), CAC
* 1860 Pattern Half Eagle, Judd-271, Proof-62 Cameo (PCGS)
* 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella, Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Proof-66 Cameo (NGC)
* 1896 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-66 Deep Cameo (PCGS), Secure Holder
* 1900 Liberty Double Eagle, Proof-65 Cameo (NGC)
* 1921 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS-62 (PCGS)

For a complete list of coins that will be featured at the August 2010 Boston Rarities Auction, visit the firm’s Web site at www.bowersandmerena.com or call toll-free at 800-458-4646.

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