Written by Q. David Bowers, Chairman Emeritus
Philadelphia, one of America’s
most historic cities, will be a magnet for numismatists attending the Whitman
Coins & Collectibles Expo. As we have been ever since the Expos started, we
are the official auctioneer. Our sale, presented in two beautifully designed
catalogs, will be a double-header of numismatic treasures. One showcases
American coins, tokens, and medals from the colonial era forward. The companion
catalog, Ford XXIV, presents long-hidden tokens, medals, notes, and political
items.
Tradition. This is the city were
the first coins struck under the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, silver half dismes,
were slipped into circulation that following summer, and in March of the next
year the first copper cents were placed into commerce when Philadelphia was the
capital of the United States. This is the city that was the focal point of
American numismatics in the early 19th century, with the Mint Cabinet curators,
Jacob R. Eckfeldt and William E. DuBois, playing host to the circle of people
who enjoyed coins and their history. This is the city where Birch, Wright (with
a nod to Dupré), Scot, Reich, Kneass, Gobrecht, Longacre, the Barbers father
and son, Morgan, Sinnock, Roberts, Gasparro, Jones, Mercanti, and other
engravers created the coins and medals that today form the foundation of
American numismatics. This is the city where coin dealerships from Mason,
Haseltine, the Chapman brothers, and others are still honored and remembered.
Today’s Philadelphia continues
the tradition. On Independence Square the Philadelphia Mint welcomes visitors
to a tour and display that opened last year. At the shop within the Mint you
can buy all sorts of products including Proof and Mint State examples.
Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, fine restaurants, and other attractions
beckon. At the Expo itself our auction will be front row center, but hundreds
of dealers will also welcome you in a large bourse offering just about anything
numismatic imaginable.
Come to Philadelphia and have a
great time!
Auction Highlights
In recent years tokens and medals
have come to the fore. This is hardly new, for a century ago there were more
numismatists collecting these than then were who were interested in, say,
silver dollars or gold coins. Among the treasures you will find are some
memorable Hard Times tokens consigned by one of the prominent bidders and
buyers in our Dice-Hicks Collection of some years ago. Each token has a
fascinating story to tell.
Civil War tokens from the Stephen
L. Tanenbaum estate include many pieces which are among the finest known, are
great rarities, or are both. Steve, one of America’s leading professionals
until his untimely passing in 2011, spent 40 years of his life carefully
gathering these.
The Raymond W. Dillard Collection
of Elongated Coins, Part V, may well be the finest offering ever in this niche
but very interesting specialty—with concentrations from various California
state and local expositions in the 1930s and from the 1939 World’s Fair held in
New York.
Who would have imagined that
Betts medals, as described in the 1894 book by C. Wyllys Betts, would be one of
the hottest tickets in the marketplace today? It is true. In the pages to
follow we offer a number of these, plus
early American store cards and other items.
Federal coins range from half
cents to double eagles and include just about all types in between. I consider
this to be a collectors’ sale, so to speak, as the vast majority of items are
in popular series and will be affordable to most buyers. If you are collecting
cents or nickels by date and mintmark, you’ve come to the right place. Ditto
for silver coins early and late. Building a type set? Opportunities abound in
the copper, nickel, silver, and gold series.
To be sure, the sale is spangled
with condition rarities and early issues as well. A Gem 1867 With Rays Proof
nickel will attract attention as fewer than 50 are believed to exist. I bought
one of these for a record-breaking $610 at my first American Numismatic
Association convention back in 1955 when I was a teenager. Observers thought I
had a lot of money and little judgment, and I was flooded with offers from
people who wanted to sell coins to me. Today, of course, such a coin would be
worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Early silver coins are always
appealing, and among Draped Bust and Capped Bust coins there are many
opportunities. I can say the same for Liberty Seated coins. Morgan dollars, far
and away the most popular 19th century series, range from entry-level pieces
that are very affordable to such rarities as a Gem Mint State 1895-S.
Gold coins include Proofs,
condition rarities, and more. I have always thought that there is room in every
collection, that is for those who can afford it, for an MCMVII High Relief
double eagle by August Saint-Gaudens, probably the most admired of all American
coins. You are in luck if one is on your want list.
How to Be a Winning Bidder!
There are several easy ways to
bid in our Philadelphia Americana sale. First, the red carpet will be out for
you if you come to the “City of Brotherly Love” to attend. Lot viewing is
comfortable and convenient. Your bidder card is your ticket to refreshments and
a nice sideboard with our compliments while the auction is in progress.
Alternatively, you can participate on the Internet, on the telephone
(by advance arrangement), or by sending your bids by mail. Our dynamic SBG Live
Online Bidding feature enables you to attend our sale, in a way, from the
comfort of your favorite chair in your living room, or from your office. On
your screen you will see our auctioneer in action, hear every word of
commentary, and watch the progression of bids. See something you like? Just
touch “BID” on your screen, and you are the winner—at least for the moment. The
experience is exciting!
Today, most of our buyers bid this way!
Countless thousands of clients will be following the action on line. In
addition, many Internet-only lots will be offered this way exclusively.
Study our
lot descriptions carefully and view the pictures. Then come to the sale or bid
on line. Contemplate the coins you would like to own and consider some new
areas as well. Collecting is a dynamic and ever-changing adventure, and
discovering new things to collect is part of the enjoyment.
Thinking of Selling?
Do you want to the highest
possible price for your collection or individual rare pieces? Call us! Our
consignment team is at your service and will assist you every step of the way.
Making that call will set you on the path to cashing a very generous settlement
check in just a few short weeks. The consignors of the world’s most valuable
collections and the world’s most valuable coins and paper money have already
done your homework for you. They chose Stack’s Bowers Galleries. We are here to
assist you with the same expert results and look forward to hearing from you
soon!
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