Legend buys Hall

This article was originally printed in Numismatic News.
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Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, N.J., representing collector Bob R. Simpson of Fort Worth, Texas, has purchased the complete set of $10 Liberty Head gold pieces assembled by Professional Coin Grading Service Founder David Hall. The transaction is valued at $4 million, according to Laura Sperber, Legend President.

Hall’s set is listed on the PCGS Set RegistrySM as the “Ellen D” collection (after his wife’s first name). It is not only the finest set of its kind on the Registry, it is also finer than fabled sets assembled by noted 20th century collectors Harry W. Bass and Louis E. Eliasberg Sr.

Highlights of Hall’s 184-piece Liberty $10 gold collection include:

• 1848, PCGS MS-64, none graded higher.
• 1858, PCGS MS-64, a famous discovery coin from the 1970s and the finest known.
• 1875, PCGS AU-50. With only 100 coins minted, this is the lowest mintage regular-issue United States coin, and many experts believe less than 10 examples are known today.
• 1876, PCGS MS-60, the only known mint state example.
• 1883-O, PCGS AU-58, possibly the finest known example of this rarity.
• 1899-S, PCGS MS-68, the ex-Eliasberg-Clapp coin and the finest known by two full points.

Hall admitted he had mixed emotions about selling the set.

“While I have a personal use for the money, I really had second thoughts about actually selling my set. I put a lot of work into building it, and it was a lot of fun for a long time,” explained Hall.