30-09-2015 – 01-01-1970
Rarities Auction
Stack’s and Sotheby’s Rarities Auction Realizes nearly $3 Million
On the afternoon of October 1, the Rarities Auction, comprising 135 lots of coins and numismatic Americana, was presented to an active audience in the seventh floor sales room at Sotheby’s New York headquarters. When the gavel fell on the last lot, a total of $2,993,230 worth of coins, medals, and documents had traded hands.
Lot 55: 1796 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle. No Stars. BD-2. Rarity-4. MS-61 (PCGS). CAC-Gold Label. OGH. Price Realized: $352,500.00.
Taking top honor was lot 55, a beautifully toned 1796 No Stars quarter eagle graded MS-61 (PCGS) and bearing a gold CAC sticker, which realized $352,500.
Lot 110: 1880 Four-Dollar Gold Stella. Coiled Hair. Judd-1660, Pollock-1860. Rarity-6. Gold. Reeded Edge. Proof. Unc Details–Polished (PCGS). Secure Holder. Price Realized: $258,500.00.
Taking second place was lot 110, an example of the exceedingly rare 1880 Coiled Hair Stella, one of only 10 known. The Stellas, or $4 gold pieces, were struck in two formats, one with a flowing hair obverse and one with Liberty’s hair in a coiled bun. The offered example traced its pedigree to the famous “Dallas Bank” Collection sold by us (in partnership with Sotheby’s) in October 2001, and was consigned to the current sale as part of the Griggs Collection of U.S. Gold Type Coins. It was certified by PCGS as Proof, with Uncirculated details, polished, and realized $258,500.
Lot 3: “1776” (1792) United States Diplomatic Medal. Original. Bronze. 67 mm. By Augustin Dupre. Julian CM-15. Specimen-55 (PCGS). Secure Holder. Price Realized: $188,000.00.
One of just three Diplomatic Medals in private hands, this one from the Cardinal Educational Foundation Collection, was offered as lot 3 and realized an astounding $188,000. Making its first appearance on the market since 1938 was a lustrous 1799/8 15 Star Reverse silver dollar, graded MS-64 by PCGS that brought $88,125.
“We are very pleased with the results of the Rarities Auction,” stated Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers. “Famous rarities and important numismatic items found new homes with collectors. The Pogue Collection sale the prior evening brought in some new faces, who also participated in the Rarities Auction, and we were thrilled to welcome them.”
Additional highlights included:
Lot 22: 1798/7 Dime. MS-65+ (PCGS) CAC. Realized: $117,500.
Lot 28: 1843 Quarter. Proof-65 (PCGS) CAC. Realized $70,500.
Lot 57: 1808 Quarter Eagle. AU-55 (NGC). Realized: $94,000.
Lot 17: 1837 Half Dime. MS-66+ (PCGS) CAC-Gold Label. Realized: $19,387.50.
For a complete list of prices realized, please visit the website of Stack’s Bowers.