A magnificent collection of United States coins, valued in excess of $10 million, will be offered in our Platinum Night session at the official auction at the Florida United Numismatists 2008 Convention in Orlando, January 9-12, 2008. The extensive scope of the Madison Collection ranges from high-grade early American Colonial silver to a magnificent example of the extremely rare 1933 gold Indian Head Eagle, and everything will be sold without reserves.

The Madison Collection is the product of much thought and even greater enthusiasm. The consignor had first been interested in rare coins as a young man, but the Madison Collection is much more a product of a conceptual framework that emerged from the mature reflections of a sophisticated collector and businessman. Conceptually, the collector sought a representative of everything that had passed for money in the geographical United States, from colonial to modern times. This was much more than a simple type collection, in conception or execution – it really is a series of type sets designed to tell stories through museum-quality coins.

The numismatist worked for more than a decade assembling these wonderful coins, but the actual buying began only after lengthy reflection on which coins and coin-substitutes best illustrate American economic and political history. This wasn’t a search for the ‘finest known’ or for Registry ‘completeness’ – although it certainly contains many coins of the very highest quality. Rather, his collection was based on telling important stories utilizing money as the main narrator. The collector asked himself important questions, and then conducted research until he found satisfactory answers:

* What defines a proper representation of a collecting specialty?
* Which pieces of Territorial Gold are absolutely necessary to include in a representative set, to fully convey the visual story of this critically important part of our history?
* Which varieties are crucial to telling the story? Which others are merely fascinating to the specialist? What kind of collectible assemblage properly represents that era?
* What constitutes a representative set of colonials? Of Hard Times tokens? Of private coinage?
* Which English coins might the earliest colonists have brought with them?
* Which foreign coins were most often used as Legal Tender?
* Which coins defined the Civil War for North and South?
* Which coins best illustrate the historical aspects of Mint production problems during the nineteenth century?
* Which twentieth century die varieties, overdates, and doubled dies are needed to provide a complete representation?
* What stories can be told through the proof finishes of the 20th century?
* What is a type set of Patterns?
* Which coinages from how many places (that may later have become states) were required to help define American Territories?

Only after years of reading and reflection, and then designing customized plastic holders was this numismatist ready to begin more than a decade of enthusiastic, dedicated collecting. Buoyed by the revenues from maturing investments, he vigorously pursued the coins previously selected. This was very much still a work in progress, but an irresistible business opportunity that demanded his substantial energies, as well as the substantial capital the coins represent, called for an auction at this time. The consignor hopes that enough of his concept is evident in the coins he has chosen that a new generation of owners will be challenged by his vision, and will also appreciate the motto under which he collected: Sufficit Diei (“sufficient unto the day”) from the Sermon on the Mount.

Just a few of the many highlights from the Madison Collection include:

• (1652) NE Shilling, Noe III-C, AU50 NGC.
• 1792 Getz Cent, Baker-25, MS62 BN NGC.
• 1804 Half Cent, No Stems, Plain 4, MS65 RB NGC.
• 1794 Large Cent, S-26, B-16, MS66 RB PCGS. Ex: Eliasberg
• 1795 Large Cent, S-75, Lettered Edge, MS65 B NGC.
• 1792 Half Disme, Judd-7, MS63 PCGS.
• 1796/5 Half Dime, V-2, LM-2, R.6, MS66 PCGS.
• 1795 $1, B-1, BB-21, MS65 NGC.
• 1800 $1, B-13, BB-193, MS65 NGC.
• 1855 Gold $1, PR66 DCAM PCGS. Ex: Pittman
• 1861-D Gold $1, MS65 NGC. Ex: Duke’s Creek
• 1796 $2.50, No Stars, BD-2, MS65 PCGS.
• 1796 $2.50 Stars, BD-3, MS65 NGC.
• 1808 $2.50, BD-1, R.4, MS63 NGC.
• 1831 $2.50, BD-1, R.4, MS66 PCGS.
• 1848 $2.50 CAL., MS68 NGC.
• 1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-3, High R.3, MS64 PCGS.
• 1810 $5, Large Date, Large 5C, MS66 NGC.
• 1838 $5, Small Arrows, MS66 PCGS.
• 1800 $10, BD-1, MS65 NGC.
• 1852 $10, MS66 PCGS.
• 1907 $10, Rolled Edge, MS67 PCGS.
• 1933 $10, MS65 PCGS.
• 1861-S $20 Paquet Reverse, AU58 NGC.
• 1869 $20, MS65 PCGS.
• 1855 $50 Wass, Molitor, MS60 PCGS.
• 1854 Kellogg $20, K-1a, MS64 PCGS.
• 1792 Cent, Judd-2, No Silver Center, VF30 PCGS.

This auction will be open for bidding soon at www.HA.com/Coins. Previews of this collection and the other outstanding items in this auction are available now, with more pieces being added every day!

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