Sale features gold

A 1796 Bust half dollar was the top lot in Scotsman’s Midwest Summer Sale where it realized $55,775.

Author:
NMN
Publish date:
Aug 2, 2010

A 1796 Bust half dollar was the top lot in Scotsman’s Midwest Summer Sale where it realized $55,775.

The auction, which also included gold, was held July 23 during the 50th anniversary convention of the Missouri Numismatic Society at the St. Charles, Mo., convention center.

Cataloged as Overton-101, the coin has 15 stars on the obverse. It was graded VF-30 by the Numismatic Guaranty Corp.

“There appears to be not a single noticeable rim tick whatsoever,” the catalog description said.

“We’re pleased,” cataloger John Bush said about the overall auction results.

Prices realized totaled $1,475,524 for the 1,250-lot auction. This and individual lot prices include the 15 percent buyer’s fees.

“There were certain areas that went real strong,” Bush added.

Jumping over its estimate to reach $29,037.50, an 1809 Capped Bust half dollar, was another of the strong results.

The half dollar was cataloged as Overton-109a and it graded NGC-65*.

“Even ignoring the ‘star,’ population reports show that NGC has certified eight coins in MS-65 for the date, with three exceeding that level,” the catalog noted.

The coin has an experimental edge that has on it what looks like a series of I’s between words, says cataloger John Bush.

Called a “remarkable gem” in its catalog description, the coin also has “electrifying color.”

Bid to $21,850 was a Mormon $5 gold coin of 1860 graded NGC VF-20.

The catalog noted that these coins were soft and wore quickly and this particular piece has “even wear on both sides and pale canary-gold color.”

Another Territorial gold piece, a Clark, Gruber & Co. $2.50 of 1861 realized $4,715. It was graded VF by the auction firm.

Silver dollars were highlighted by an 1895-S Morgan silver dollar, VAM-4, that NGC graded MS-65 Prooflike. It brought $16,675.

The catalog description notes that only eight coins have achieved this grade and none is graded higher.

A damaged 1795 Small Eagle gold $5 called “Genuine” by the Professional Coin Grading Service realized $12,650.

Bringing $11,500 was an 1836 Gobrecht dollar, one of the originals with coin alignment of obverse and reverse, Judd-60, Pollock-65 called PF-45 by PCGS.

A similar piece called “Proof, Genuine” by PCGS realized $10,062.50.

For a full list of prices realized, visit the firm’s website at www.scoins.com.

Scotsman’s mailing address is 11262 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141-7653. Telephone (800) 642-4305.