Gold $50s in sale

This article was originally printed in Numismatic News.
>> Subscribe today!

Round and octagonal 1915-S gold $50 Panama-Pacific Exposition commemoratives will be among the highlights of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction slated for March 29-April 1 at the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

Kept as heirlooms until now, the two coins were purchased at the expo nearly 100 years ago and held by the same family.

The round version is graded MS-63 by the Professional Coin Grading Service while the octagonal registers PCGS MS-64.

Stack’s Bowers will offer almost 4,250 U.S. coin lots, some 850 paper money lots and its world and ancient coin division ,Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, will gavel over 2,500 lots.

Among the collections comprising the sale is the Dr. Albert R. Frederick Jr. Collection. The firm notes that it was formed over a period of many years by a New England collector working closely with Q. David Bowers and Ray Merena.

One of the stars of this collection is an 1803 Capped Bust Right $10 gold piece with Small-Stars Reverse. PCGS grades it MS-63.

Other highlights of the U.S. section of the sale include a 1793 Chain cent, S-3, AMERICA, No Periods, EF-40 in PCGS Secure Holder and a 1793 Wreath cent, S-8, Vine and Bars edge graded PCGS MS-64 Brown.

An 1852 Seated Liberty silver dollar, restrike graded Proof-65 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. will also stand out among the lots going on the auction block as will an NGC Proof-67 1885 $3 gold piece with a Certified Acceptance Corp. sticker.

Another gold highlight will be an 1883-O Liberty eagle graded AU-53 by NGC. It is from the David Solomon Collection.

Paper money buyers will see a high denomination come up for bids, a Series 1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note, Fr. 2231-B. It is graded Uncirculated 62 by Paper Money Guaranty.

Highlighting the world coin section will be the second part of the Len Novotny Collection of Mexican coinage. The first part was offered in January in New York.

“The Len Novotny Collection should be considered one of the finest collections of its type ever to be sold at public auction,” Rick Ponterio said. “The collection contains many rarities, including pieces that have never before been offered at public auction.”

Part II is comprised primarily of minor coinage of the Republic of Mexico.

Four different mints of the rare 1888 50 centavos will be sold.

The Alamos, KM-407, is probably unique, according to the catalog, the Culiacan, KM-407.2, is probably unique, the Hermosillo, KM-407.5, is extremely rare and the Mexico City, KM-407.6, is probably unique.

According to Stack’s Bowers Galleries president Chris Napolitano: “Our official auction of the March 2011 Baltimore Expo will present a diverse and exciting array of U.S. coins, currency and exonumia. From historic Betts medals, to premium-quality ‘collector coins’ in old PCGS and NGC holders, to world-renowned rarities such as early United States Mint proof coinage and matte proof gold, our March Baltimore Auction offers something for everyone.”

For a complete auction and lot viewing schedule, visit the firm’s website at www.stacksbowers.com, or telephone (800) 458-4646.