Middle date copper large cents worth $3 million will highlight the second part of the Ted Naftzger collection when it is put on the block by Ira & Larry Goldberg in the firm’s Pre-Long Beach Sale scheduled for Feb. 1-4, 2009.
A firm spokesman said, “This is the finest group of Middle Dates ever offered at auction. So many finest-knowns, it would be foolish to try and list them all. This collection is over 50 years in the making; Naftzger began acquiring pieces in the early 1950s. Most of the pieces he got for under $100. His goal was to find the best and finest-known of every single variety. He had major dealers searching on his behalf to find the very best coins.”
Among the highlights is Lot 437, an 1839/6 N-1 R3+ graded MS-65 Brown by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
“This Overdate 9 over 6 has lustrous bluish steel and light chocolate brown with generous traces of slightly faded mint color remaining on the obverse and at least a third of the bright original mint color showing on the reverse,” the catalog says.
“This cent is a highlight of the remarkable Naftzger collection. An indispensable piece for anyone trying to assemble a Mint State ‘Red Book’ collection of Middle Date (1816-1839) large cents.”
PCGS Population is one with none finer.
The estimated value is $50,000 and up.
Lot 139 is an 1823 N-2 R2 graded MS-65 Brown by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
The catalog description calls it a “highly lustrous light bluish steel brown with 10 percent of the original mint red remaining.
“... a highlight of this fabulous collection and an extremely rare opportunity to obtain a truly Mint State example of the normal date version of 1823. Comes with a very long list of prior owners who were numismatic luminaries in their day. PCGS Population 1; 1 finer in 66BN.
It is estimate at $35,000 and up.
Lot 140 also is an 1823 N-2 R2. It is PCGS graded MS-66 Brown. ... Our grade is MS-65. ...
“The catalog notes that it is called MS-65 choice and tied for CC#1 with the preceding piece in the Noyes census.
“Today marks the first public offering of this remarkable cent. If you missed the previous lot, then this may be your only opportunity to acquire a gem Mint State example of the 1823 normal date cent. Good luck! PCGS Population 1; none finer.”
This was given an estimated value of $25,000 and up.
Lot 363 is an 1837 N-3 R7+ (as a proof) that PCGS grades PR-65 Brown.
The catalog says it is “very attractive deep magenta with tiny peeps of faded mint color on both sides. The fields are nicely reflective with moderately deep mirrors and the eye appeal is excellent.
“This piece is coin #1 in Walter Breen’s list of the five proof examples known to him.”
The PCGS Population is one with one finer in -67BN. It has an estimated value of $20,000 and up.
Copies of the catalog are available for $15. Telephone (310) 551-2646 to order, or visit www.goldbergcoins.com.
