By Christine Karstedt
The Americana Sales held twice yearly by Stack’s Bowers Galleries are a much-anticipated tradition. Our recent sale continued the excitement as over 4,000 lots crossed the block in our state-of-the art auction gallery January 25-27, 2012, in Manhattan. Participants were thrilled with the wide variety of material offered highlighted with several “name” collections and old-time cabinets being presented for the first time in decades. As the last session closed on Thursday night the sale realized over $6 million. Electricity was in the air as thousands of customers followed the action on the Internet and others attended in person. At Stack’s Bowers sales records are made to be broken, and this happened time and again!
Leading the highlights in the medal department was the legendary 1905 Theodore Roosevelt presidential inaugural medal by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Bowers-Jaeger 27 in 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens, graded AU, which went to a private collector for $17,250. Soon after a seldom-seen State of Louisiana medal presented to Major General Zachary Taylor, silver, Choice AU, went to a new home after heated competition for $14,950. This medal was hidden away in a private family cabinet with a direct family tie to the Elmores of Louisiana! A memorable offering of Washington inaugural buttons, indeed the greatest auction offering in recent times, delighted onlookers as an example with a script GW, indented border, 32 punch marks, widely spaced rays, the Grant pattern, Cobb 8a in copper, graded Very Fine, soared to $19,550. An 1892 Columbus Discovery and Return Medal Rulau-82B in gold created a lot of pre-sale attention worldwide. After much bidding excitement it sold for a record $27,600.
Collection SLT garnered the interest of every serious colonial collector, many of whom attended the sale in person. This magnificent cabinet had been formed over a period of more than three decades by one of America’s foremost connoisseurs and specialists. The session opened to a packed gallery. As auctioneer Melissa Karstedt started the session, all bidders had their “game face” on as the heated competition began and records were set. A rare 1787 Connecticut “Muttonhead” Miller 1.2-mm, Rarity-7, Fine 15 went through the roof at $109,250 to the delight and amazement of everyone. Soon after the discovery specimen of the 1787 Connecticut copper, Miller 49.2-z.1, Rarity-8, Unique INDE over INDN in Fine 12, excited the audience at $54,625. A unique 1787 Miller 49.2-Z.26 Rarity-8 graded Very Good 8 went to a determined private collector at $63,250. The New Jersey coppers caused equal excitement as a 1786 Maris 9-G No Coulter Type Rarity-7, VF-20 sold to a round of applause at $48,875. Rounding out this section of the Americana Sale were two incredible gold rarities—regulated coins with hallmarks attesting to their value in America. This specialty, once virtually unknown, has developed in recent years as more research has been conducted. A 1757-R gold half Joe on a Brazil 6400 Reis, JB monogram (John Burger) and TP mark (Thomas Pons), soared to $50,025, and a rare and important circa 1770 Philip Syng regulated escudo went through the roof at $87,400. “This was a market-changing sale” noted Dave Bowers, who worked with the Stack’s Bowers Galleries experts to research and describe the coins.
The federal series saw a rare 1796 With Pole Half Cent EF Details (NCS) bring a strong $43,125. Walking Liberty half dollars 1916-1947 were showcased with many opportunities for all collecting budgets, with the remarkable Walking Liberty Tribute Collection of later-date pieces offering hundreds of superb gem Mint State and Proof coins certified by PCGS and NGC. Among earlier halves a key date 1919-D MS-64+ PCGS sold to an excited internet bidder at $34,500. Early dollars, always popular due to their rarity and beautiful design, saw a choice 1798 Small Eagle, 13 Stars obverse , EF-45 PCGS, cross the block at $23,000. A key date, original 1851 Liberty Seated dollar, AU-58 PCGS, realized $37,950, and an ultra-rare 1921 Chapman Proof Morgan dollar in Proof-62 NGC sold at $23,000. Rounding out the silver dollar series was a rare and intriguing pattern copper restrike Proof 1851 Liberty Seated dollar, Judd-132 in Proof-65 BN NGC, realizing $20,700, and a lovely and original 1883 Hawaii Dollar graded MS-65 PCGS, certified by CAC, sold for $23,000.
Gold coins are dynamic in today’s market and strong prices continued in every series. “Market watchers were delighted with the results,” noted Stack’s Bowers president Chris Napolitano, adding, “What a great way to start the 2012 year!”
A superlative gem 1868 $1 MS-68 PCGS, CAC, started the action at $24,265. A “condition rarity” 1881-CC $5 MS-61 PCGS, among the three finest graded by PCGS, brought $21,850. A gorgeous 1896 $5 Proof-65 Deep Cameo PCGS sold at $37,375 after heated competition. The action continued as a captivating 1896 $10 Proof-64+ Deep Cameo PCGS went to a serious collector at $31,625. One of the finest certified 1889 $20s graded Proof 65 Ultra Cameo by NGC went through the roof at $87,975, followed by an elusive 1896 $20 Proof-63 Deep Cameo PCGS garnering $32,775, and closing the series a gorgeous gem MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens, High Relief, Wire Rim MS-65 PCGS, CAC, going to a new home at $54,625.
For more information on consigning to Stack’s Bowers Galleries or bidding in an upcoming sale, visit our website at www.stacksbowers.com.
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