Heritage Auction Galleries? March 15-17 Signature Auction in Charlotte, N.C., includes gold ingots, Territorial gold and plenty of U.S. coins spanning a wide range from type to commemoratives to patterns.
The 2,496-lot sale is the official auction in conjunction with the American Numismatic Association?s National Money Show.
A 1799 silver dollar, no berries variety, Bolender 11, Bowers-Borckardt 161, graded MS-66 by Professional Coin Grading Service, is among highlights, along with a 1795 Flowing Hair dollar graded PCGS MS-64, B-5, BB-27. There are several other early dollars in the auction.
For Carson City Mint fans, among later silver dollars is an 1873-CC Seated Liberty graded PCGS VF-20.
One of the 1895 proof-only Morgan dollars is offered, graded Proof-66 Cameo by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. Heritage catalogers said that the NGC Census as of January 2007 reports 12 graded Proof-66 Cameo, with 18 graded finer.
An 1896 proof Morgan is also up for bids, graded NGC Proof-69 Ultra Cameo.
Early half dollars offer an example of the short-lived 1796-1797 Draped Bust type, this piece a 1797, Overton 101a, graded PCGS XF-45. Also offered is a proof 1836 reeded edge half, NGC Proof-64, of which catalogers said only about 20 are likely to exist. Several Walking Liberty halves are also available.
Among quarters are a 1796 Flowing Hair example in NGC VG-8 and a 1932-D Washington in PCGS MS-65.
An 1874-CC with arrows dime in PCGS F-12 will cross the block.
Buffalo nickels feature a 1920-D in PCGS MS-66. Heritage catalogers said, ?While the strike shows some softness at the high points, it has above-average detail,? and noted that this is the only example given this grade by PCGS while NGC reports one at the same grade, and neither service has graded one higher. A 1913-D Type 2 and a 1923, both in PCGS MS-67, will also draw fans of the Buffalo series.
A 1793 Chain cent, with periods, graded NGC XF-40, has ?Chocolate-brown surfaces? that catalogers said ?exhibit splashes of darker steel color.? Indian cents include an 1877 in PCGS MS-65 Red. The sale also contains examples of the 1909-S VDB and 1914-D Lincoln cents, among others.
Gold coins are led by the 1920-S Indian Head $10, PCGS MS-67, reported in the Feb. 27 issue of Numismatic News.
Gold highlights also include a Saint-Gaudens 1908-S $20, PCGS MS-67, which catalogers said is tied for finest certified by PCGS, with five pieces currently carrying that grade. Also up for bids are two 1907 high relief, flat rim, pieces, each PCGS MS-65, and a 1926-D $20, PCGS MS-64. Among Liberty double eagles is a proof 1890, NGC Proof-65 Ultra Cameo, and an 1871-CC, which catalogers stated is one of eight that PCGS has graded AU-53, with only 10 graded higher by PCGS.
Early eagles include a 1795 $10, ANACS AU-53 tooled, and an 1801 $10, PCGS XF-45. Half eagles are represented by an 1806 $5, PCGS MS-64, and an 1840-C $5, NGC MS-64, and a 1929 $5, PCGS MS-64. Gold $3s include an 1888 proof, PCGS Proof-65.
Territorial gold is led by two 1852 Assay Office $50 slugs, ?.887 THOUS.,? Kagin 13. Catalogers noted that the first piece, graded NGC MS-61, ?appears to be the first problem-free Mint State example Heritage has offered, at least since we began maintaining our permanent auction archives in 1993.? The second example in the sale is graded PCGS AU-58.
Another Territorial gold piece, an 1855 Wass, Molitor & Co. $50, K-9, graded NGC AU-55, stands out as the only privately produced $50 of 1855, according to catalogers. This is joined by an 1855 Wass, Molitor $10, PCGS AU-55.
A selection of gold ingots salvaged from the S.S. Central America includes a 112.38-ounce piece from California assayers Justh & Hunter, as well as ingots from Kellogg & Humbert and Harris, Marchland & Co., among others.
A muling in copper-nickel of an 1864 Indian cent with the obverse of an 1858 Flying Eagle cent, Judd 362, Pollock 428, graded PCGS Proof-62, highlights patterns. ?This fantasy coin was most likely produced to sell to collectors. It is believed that 3-4 pieces exist today,? catalogers wrote.
Modern rarities include a 1995-W 10th Anniversary American Eagle Proof Set, including proof examples of the tenth-ounce through ounce in gold as well as the key one-ounce 1995-W silver Eagle, all in the original packaging.
The auction and the National Money Show will be held in the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., Charlotte, N.C.
For more information about the contents of the auction, see Heritage?s Web site at www.ha.com. For a sale catalog, contact Nicole Jewell, c/o: Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Ave., 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219; telephone (800) 872-6467 ext. 272.
