With a 1792 silver half disme fetching $126,500, Superior Galleries, Inc., realized more than $5 million in its Feb. 5-7 Pre-Long Beach Beverly Hills Auction.
The piece was part of the Allan Mandelstamm Collection that anchored the sale and was graded AU-50 by Professional Coin Grading Service.
Included in the total is the 15 percent buyer?s premium.
Larry Abbott, executive vice president and COO of Superior, said, ?We attribute the unqualified success of this auction to the large number of fresh, private collections that we were privileged to offer, especially the Allan Mandelstamm Collection, which exceeded our pre-sale estimates by almost $1 million.?
Among the highlights of the sale was a 1793 S-9 PCGS AU-53 large cent that was hammered down for $23,000 to a private collector. Two other copper pieces, a 1797 S-135 PCGS MS-64 specimen and an 1809 S-280 PCGS MS-62 piece, realized $21,562 and $17,250, respectively.
Sessions 2 and 3 featured small cents through half dollars, with a trio of items from the Mandelstamm Collection bringing in big money: an 1855 dime, graded Proof-66 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp., $17,825; and a 1798 98 over 97 PCGS MS-63 dime, $26,450.
The big ticket items of the sale were the Mandelstamm proof sets. A 1911 proof set, with cent through $20, realized $194,521.
For further information about this auction or to consign to Superior?s future Elite Auctions, contact Paul Song, vice president of auctions, by calling (310) 203-9855, or by e-mailing paulsong@sgbh.com. To learn more about Superior, visit www.sgbh.com.
