1915 Indian Eagle. MS-65+ (PCGS). CAC.

This is a breathtakingly beautiful example of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Indian eagle design type of 1907 to 1933. Both sides are fully struck with razor sharp definition from the rims to the centers. Bathed in a blend of softly frosted luster and warm medium gold patina, the surfaces are exceptionally smooth to fully justify the coveted MS-65+ grade. The Philadelphia Mint struck 351,000 circulation strikes ten-dollar gold eagles in 1915, a generous total for the Indian series that helps to explain why this is one of the more readily obtainable issues of its type. The 1915 is not the most common Indian eagle in Mint State, however, for it is rarer than the 1907 No Periods, 1910, 1910-D, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1926 and 1932. Even so, enough examples are extant in the MS-60 to MS-63 grade range that the 1915 is a popular and affordable type issue at the lowest reaches of Uncirculated preservation. Near-Gems in MS-64 are scarce, while both the issue and the Indian eagle as a type are rare in Gem Mint State. This is one of the finest examples known to PCGS, and it is a coin that do would justice to an advanced gold cabinet.

PCGS# 8878. NGC ID: 28H5.
http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/8878
PCGS Population: 6; 14 finer (MS-67+ finest)

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By James McCartney, Numismatist & Cataloger

Among the numerous highlights of our March 2018 Baltimore Auction is lot 3102, an extremely rare Louis d’Or countermarked by Ephraim Brasher of Brasher Doubloon fame. Brasher worked as a gold and silversmith in New York following the evacuation of the British Army on November 25, 1783. A good friend and neighbor of then-General George Washington, he quickly gained the confidence of regional merchants and became perhaps the most prolific regulator of the era. His unmistakable EB touch mark is now associated with an exclusive and mythical realm of numismatics, and the present piece is among the most elusive representatives bearing the Brasher mark.

The EB counterstamp is nicely centered over King Louis XV’s portrait, rendered on top of Brasher’s own regulating plug. The surfaces are bright and glossy in most areas from time cherished as jewelry, with a hole apparent at 12 o’clock that has been plugged and re-engraved. Similarly, the central, regulating plug has also been re-engraved on the reverse. Though the plug at the rim was added long after Brasher made his adjustment, this specimen’s current weight of 123.9 grains is still aligned to the 5 dwt, 4 grains (124 grains) standard that Brasher would have been regulating to. 

This standard was established by the Bank of New York in May 1784, which dictated that «French Guinea(s)», or Louis d’Ors, would be received and paid out at a weight of 5 dwt, 4 grains with a value of $4.52, not the $4 2/3 as stated on the current PCGS label. This valuation would continue to be the accepted rate up through the establishment of the U.S. Mint, with the Congressional Act of February 9, 1793, calling for «the gold coins of France, Spain and the dominions of Spain [to be valued] at the rate of one hundred cents for every twenty-seven grains and two-fifths of a grain.» When calculated out, we see that this is virtually the same standard established by the Bank of New York a decade earlier. The U.S. Mint would not strike its own gold coinage for circulation until 1795 and the acceptance of foreign gold coins like the Louis d’Or was a crucial element of the growth in the early American economy. Regulators like Brasher were essential in the maintenance of this haphazard monetary system, and the present piece is a significant relic of this foundational era.Read More

View Lot 3102

View All Lots in Session 6 – U.S. Coins

View All Lots in the March 2018 Baltimore Auction

The Stack’s Bowers & Ponterio April Hong Kong Showcase Auction is now online and can be viewed here. The iconic Lunar Series, complete with majestic animal imagery and impressive architectural motifs, always draws a crowd when these coins come to auction. The Chinese Lunar Zodiac assigns each year in a 12-year cycle a representative animal and various attributes to said animal. Everyone born in that year is said to display traits and behaviors similar to that animal. The independent and capable rooster is the subject for an impressive twelve ounce 1,000 Yuan piece. The obverse features an artistic representation of two roosters and a rocky pillar, with the denomination of 1,000 Yuan appearing to the left. The reverse design depicts the famous «Bell Tower of Xi’an» which was built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty. Arching above the impressive facade is the inscription which reads: «People’s Republic of China,» and below the pavilion is the date of 1993. This rare example has a microscopic mintage of just 99 pieces, which prevents easy access to this desirable type. Certified by NGC at Proof-69 Ultra Cameo, this example is tied for finest certified at NGC. This wonderful example offers needle sharp strike details and hard mirror fields with frosted cameo devices.

While we are no longer accepting consignments for our April Hong Kong Showcase Auction, we are accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our August 2018 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. In addition, we are currently taking consignments of world and ancient coins as well as world paper money for our May 2018 Collector’s Choice Online Auction and August 2018 ANA Auction. Time is running short, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment directors.

View Lot 51123

View All Lots in Session C – Modern Chinese Coins

View All Lots in the April 2018 Hong Kong Auction

This week’s we offer another highlight from the Q. David Bowers/R.B. White Collection of Chinese Copper Coins to be offered in our April 2-4, 2018 Hong Kong auction as a stand along catalog. This extremely rare and desirable Shantung pattern 20 Cash is dated the twenty-second year of the Republic of China. It displays a familiar design with the crossed flags of the Republic of China (right) and the Kuomintang (left) with tassels hanging between, Chinese inscription above and below from right to left as «中華民國廿二年» (Zhong hua ming guo nian er nian) (Republic of China twenty-second year (1933)) and «山東省造» (Shan dong sheng zao) (Made in Shandong province). The reverse displays a more refined style smaller wreath with central Chinese inscription that reads as «貳拾文» (er shi wen) (twenty wen (cash)), encircled by a beaded border then flanked by five-petaled rosettes at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, Chinese inscription «銅元» (Tong yuan) (Copper Dollar) above and English inscription «Twenty Cash» below. The design features are simple yet elegant.

Scouring the internet and reference books reveals little information about these issues. No major events seemed to take place during or around their time of manufacture other than Governor Han Fuju unifying Shantung province in autumn of 1932 after defeating Liu Zhennian the «King of Eastern Shandong.» After his triumph and the unification, Governor Han Fuju cracked down on narcotics trafficking and banditry virtually wiping them out under his watch. He was a strict disciplinarian, but also very generous making significant advancements to his province by donating to schools and hospitals and making civic improvements. It is suspected that after the onset of the Second Sino-Japanese war, Governor Han Fuju conspired with the Japanese to protect his province and his power. When he discovered that the Japanese had crossed the Yellow River he abandoned his post. He was later arrested, tried and used by Chiang Kai-shek as an example of what comes from disobeying a direct order. It is said that he was executed by General Hu Zongnan with a single gunshot to the back of the head. Read More

View Lot 40225

View All Lots in the Q. David Bowers Collection of Chinese Copper Coinage

In our April Hong Kong 2018 Auction at the Mira Hotel in Kowloon, we are offering three Japanese Occupation of Russia World War II notes. These are found in lot 60070, the M19 10 Kopeks; lot 60071, the M20 50 Kopeks; and lot 60072, the 1 Ruble.

Lot 60070 represents only the second time we have handled this design. The 10 Kopeks note displays a dark green design with light green under-print. Block number «17» is at lower left and the upper right and back offer simple designs with the denomination repeated five times. It is printed on watermarked paper and has only minor stains with PMG commenting «Stains,» on the back of the holder. The other example we sold was certified by PMG at the Choice Extremely Fine 45 level and brought $13,742 in our August 2013 Hong Kong sale.

Lot 60071, the rare 50 Kopeks note, is just the second we have handled and is in a nearly Extremely Fine state. A strong impression offers deep detail on the geometric lathe design and ornate under-print. It is nicely centered. Some ink is seen throughout the face and back and is mentioned by PMG in the comments section of the holder. The other we handled brought $13,742 in our August 2013 Hong Kong sale in a PMG About Uncirculated 55 grade.

Lastly, in Lot 60072, the One Ruble note is the first we have handled for the catalog number. There is a large 1 counter at left and ornamental floral design at right. Intricate lathe styling and sharp under-printed details in ochre. Out of all that PMG has graded, this Very Fine 35 note is the single finest they have certified. Blue ink is seen at the face and back and is mentioned by PMG in the comments section of the holder. This is an important occupational note that is certainly missing in even advanced collections.

Live Bidding for Session E, offering Hong Kong, World & Chinese Paper Money, begins April 4, 2018 at 2:30 PM HKT. For questions regarding registering or bidding on the sale, please contact info@StacksBowers.com. For questions regarding consigning your future rarities to our sale, please contact Aris@StacksBowers.com.

View All Lots in the April 2018 Hong Kong Paper Money Auction

Excitement and more excitement! The catalog for our forthcoming sale of the Joel R. Anderson Collection of large-size paper money types is in the hands of our clients and is on the Internet. Part 1 will cross the block at the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore in just two weeks.

The Anderson Collection by definition includes notes from affordable and available to great rarities—among the last being unique and, often, the finest known.

This week’s showcase note is a trophy deluxe! 

Important $500 Interest Bearing Note
Unique in Private Hands
The Friedberg Plate Note

Fr. 209a (W-3950). 1861 $500 Interest Bearing Note. PCGS Currency Very Fine 25. There are only two examples of this 1861 $500 Interest Bearing Note extant. The serial number 1 piece resides in the Bureau of Public Debt in Washington, DC, leaving this serial number 15502 note as the only collectible example of this early federal type. It is also the only one without cancellations, a notable difference making this one all the more special. These notes bore interest at a rate of 10 cents per day. There are light purple Treasury Department stamps on both the face and back of the note and a penned manuscript on the back reading «Pay the Secretary of the Treasury for redemption. Geo. Waters.» A small concentration of pinholes is found at the left end of the note, otherwise the paper retains excellent body and is naturally bright. All of the printed inks are bold and illustrate the type in dramatic detail. It has been 13 years since collectors have had an chance to acquire this note. At that time it realized $299,000. Collectors interested in securing this prohibitively rare design type for their collections must seize the opportunity as it will not likely present itself again for quite some time.

PCGS Population 1; none finer. Unique in private hands and the only uncancelled note of the two. Read More

View Lot 1030

View All Lots in The Joel R. Anderson Collection of United States Paper Money, Part I

By Q. David Bowers, Co-Founder

Welcome to one of the most amazing specialized collections we have ever offered. Working over a period of years and seeking ultra-high quality the collector succeeded in creating the No. 1 PCGS Registry Set, not only of circulation strike Lincoln cents, but of the major varieties therein. The 1922 Plain, the 1955 Doubled Die, the 1969-S Doubled Die and other varieties included are rarely seen in the grades that are presented here. The 1969-S Doubled Die alone, of which there is no finer certified example, would be worthy of being a cover coin all by itself.

The Professional Coin Grading Service introduced the Registry Set program (created by David Hall) in the late 20th century. It was a unique concept combining the quest for completing a coin series with the challenge of obtaining the finest possible example of each variety. A system was devised to give weight to each issue based on its rarity. Accordingly, a relatively common Lincoln cent—the 1999-D for example—is given a low multiplier, while classics such as the 1909-S V.D.B. 1914-D, 1922 Plain, and other keys have high multipliers.

PCGS Registry Set participants enjoy special amenities and enjoy the spirit of competition. At each ANA World’s Fair of Money convention, PCGS holds an awards luncheon for members. Lots of fun!

The concept of condition rarity is a key element. In the Lincoln cent series a variety might be very common in, say, MS-65 RD grade, but becomes a condition rarity in an ultra-high grade. An example is provided by 1990-D, which can be acquired by the thousands in MS-65, but at the highest grade awarded by PCGS, MS-68 RD, there are only 40 with none graded higher. For the 1923-S, semi-scarce in lower Mint State grades, the highest PCGS certification is MS-65 RD. Read More

Did you know that the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2018 Baltimore Auction features an array of colorfully toned coins across nearly every series? Colonial collectors will be delighted by the 1670-A 5 sols in lot 3014 that offers both incredible rarity and beautiful color. The key date Gem 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent in lot 3232 displays vibrant color for the issue. Lot 3274presents a gorgeous toned Gem Proof 1870 silver three-cent piece from a mintage of just 1,000 pieces. A Gem Proof 1870 Liberty Seated quarter in lot 3364 sports a gold CAC sticker in addition to a lovely rainbow patina. Fans of bull’s eye toning will appreciate the 1903-S Barber quarter in lot 3372 that also earned a green CAC sticker. The 1801 O-102 Draped Bust half dollar from the Sutton Court Collection in lot 3392 displays vivid coloration and a Ratity-4+ rating. A wild display of neon color is seen on the obverse of the 1879-S Morgan dollar in lot 3590, and contrasts with the brilliant reverse. Peace dollar specialists will be thrilled by the 1923 in lot 3692 that exhibits rich toning on both sides, a feature seldom encountered in this series. 

The A.J. Vanderbilt Collection offers several beautifully toned jewels that have been off the market for decades. These include the Choice Mint State 1820 Capped Bust quarter with intense rainbow toning in lot 10144, and the near-Gem 1813 Capped Bust half dollar in lot 10194 that offers rich shades of sapphire and gold. 

Lot 2233 of the Rarities Night session features an amazing crescent-toned 1882-CC Morgan dollar certified MS-67* (NGC), surely among the most pristine examples to display such beautiful color. The parade of beautiful patina continues into our Internet Only session and includes such remarkable pieces as the colorful Gem 1856 Braided Hair cent in lot 5863 and an incredible two-sided «monster toned» Proof 1868 Liberty Seated half dime in lot 6186 (in a desirable old green PCGS holder). 

These lovely examples are merely a sample of the numerous colorful coins featured in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 2018 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo. View the sale in its entirety online at www.StacksBowers.com or call 1-800-458-4646 today to secure your catalogs for this exciting event.

The year 1952 followed the pattern that had been set in 1951. Collectors were still adding Proof sets to their collections and starting new series. Several small and medium size collections were dispersed at public auctions, conventions got more popular, and regional clubs started having conventions, like the Metropolitan New York show, the Middle Atlantic show and the New England show (just in our area alone). Similar shows were started nationwide, but these eastern shows attracted many and initially were the most attended.

We continued to attract collectors to Stack’s Rare Coins on 46th Street and to the sales we conducted there. By this time, we had taken over the whole second floor for the cataloging staff and for presenting auctions.

Mr. Lilly continued to build his collection. His interest in coins from the Spanish Colonial period grew to include items from England and France, important trading countries who also had a presence in the New World.

While the shop was close to 5th Avenue a very popular attraction, the surrounding neighborhood was starting to change. It was decided that Stack’s would do better if the store were moved. We searched for a new location going north towards Central Park, (59th Street) where there were high-end stores that seemed a better fit for us. We were fortunate to find a location (where Stack’s is still today after six decades) at 123 West 57th Street. At the end of 1952 we began to prepare for the move. Read More

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