A bid of $1,552,500 bought an 1894-S Barber dime at Stack?s 72nd anniversary auction held Oct. 16-17 in New York City.
Overall, the sale realized $7,390,908.55 and when combined with the $4,202,337.75 results of the John J. Ford collection sales Parts 20 and 21 held Oct. 16, the total was $11,593,246.30.
The dime is one of the great U.S. rarities. It is graded PCGS Proof-64. Mint records state that 24 were struck. References cite 10 known today, Stack?s catalogers said.
Lot prices include a 15 percent buyer?s fee.
A special 1906-D $20, graded PCGS SP-66, brought $172,500. It was ?one of six special pieces struck on April 2, 1906, the first day of $20 coinage at the new Denver Mint,? catalogers wrote.
?The present coin was that presented to Colorado pioneer Isaac Gotthelf, born in Germany in 1844, who arrived in Colorado in 1866 and formed the town of Saguache in 1873,? they continued. ?When Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, he was elected to the first state legislature, and was re-elected in 1878. Gotthelf married Florence M. Lot on March 18, 1879, niece of Denver Mint Superintendent Herman Silver. He served as president of the Saguache National Bank, was a member of the firm of Gotthelf & Tarbell (Charles), and was the largest landowner of the county. Isaac Gotthelf died in Saguache on Nov. 10, 1910.?
A proof Kellogg and Co. $50 of 1855, Kagin 4, graded PCGS Proof-62 realized $460,000. ?This actual proof specimen was one of the three examples of the 1855 $50 round slug that John Glover Kellogg retained when they were struck and kept with his personal effects,? catalogers stated. They said probably fewer than 25 were struck, and they speculate that 11-13 survive to today.
An 1870-S Seated Liberty dollar grading VF-20 fetched $552,000.
For more information, see the Web site at www.stacks.com.
Alternatively, contact the firm at 123 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019; telephone (800) 566-2580.
