United States Coin of the Week: The Just Having Fun Collection Leaves Its Mark on Philadelphia 2012 ANA

By Frank Van Valen, Numismatist and Cataloger, U.S. Coins

Standing Liberty Quarter Collection Bidding Goes Sky-High

Our recent August 2012 blockbuster Philadelphia ANA auction extravaganza – over $41.8 million in rare coins, currency, tokens, and medals sold – was an event that won’t soon fade from memory. Whether you collect U.S. coins or currency, medals or tokens, or anything else under the numismatic sun for that matter, the series of sales no doubt included something to your liking.

Among the highlights of the week-long auction event was the Just Having Fun Collection of Standing Liberty quarters, a set, complete by date and mintmark, ranging from the first year of Hermon MacNeil’s heraldry-rich design type, 1916, through the terminal year, 1930, with virtually every coin in the set either tied for finest certified or the finest certified of its date.

One of the most important highlights of this highlight-filled session was lot 11374, a PCGS-certified Choice MS-64+ Full Head 1918/7-S, a coin that represents the finest FH example of the date certified by PCGS, and the finest FH example of the date graded by either of the major third-party certification services. After a brisk round of fast and furious bidding activity this spectacular piece found a new home at the $253,000!

Another superlative highlight from the Just Having Fun Collection was lot 11378, a beautiful PCGS-certified Gem Mint State-67 Full Head 1919-D quarter that took center stage. Notable as the finest FH example of the date in a PCGS holder, this Gem was also noted as the finest certified 1919-D FH quarter from any leading third-party grading service. Bidding was again fast and furious, and when the dust settled, its final price of $149,500 stunned many in the audience.

Lot 11383, the semi-key date 1921 quarter, a beautiful PCGS-certified MS-67 Full Head coin with a CAC sticker of approval, represented one of just two examples of the date to receive the lofty MS-67 FH grade designation from PCGS. This attractively toned, sharply struck and highly lustrous Gem realized $69,000.

In closing, lot 11398 was the finest PCGS-certified 1928-D quarter, a blazingly lustrous and nearly fully brilliant Gem with the lofty PCGS grade of MS-67+ Full Head. The strike was bold and sharp, and so was the bidding on this otherwise plentiful date; the auctioneer called “sold” at $63,250 for this numismatic masterpiece.

We could write all day about this spectacular collection, as numerous coins within the set brought strong, indeed record prices. The issues mentioned here represent a wide cross-section of the bidding activity and are proof that there truly was “something for everybody” in the Just Having Fun Collection.