Records fell as Stack’s realized $10 million at its 70th anniversary sale, including the 15 percent buyer’s fee.
Graded very fine by the cataloger, a 1652 Willow Tree threepence, Noe 1-A, fetched $632,500, an auction record for any Massachusetts silver coin, according to Stack’s. The result was also an auction record for the entire Willow Tree series.
The coin, one of only three known and the only one ever available to collectors, was part of the John J. Ford Collection of Massachusetts Silver Coins that anchored the sale, which took place Oct. 19-20 in New York City.
On its own, the Ford Collection brought in $6.5 million in the sale, including the 15 percent buyer’s fees.
According to Stack’s, there were other record prices recorded at the event. They included a New England shilling, Noe III-B, graded choice very fine by the cataloger, that realized $345,000, an auction record for the entire New England series.
Other records included a Willow Tree shilling, Noe 1-A, graded extremely fine by the cataloger, that realized $276,000, and a Willow Tree sixpence, Noe 1-A, graded essentially uncirculated by the cataloger, that fetched $253,000.
Auction records were also recorded for Oak Tree and Pine Tree pieces, including an Oak Tree shilling, carrying the cataloger’s grade of uncirculated, that set a record for the entire Oak Tree series by taking in $126,500.
The other major part of the sale dealt with the Lemus Collection of U.S. Dimes, 1796-1916, which brought $1,014,317, including the 15 percent buyer’s fees.
A number of gold, silver and copper U.S. coins were also included in the 70th anniversary sale. Considered extremely rare, according to Stack’s, an 1875 $3, graded by the cataloger as choice brilliant proof, went for $135,125. The coin boasts full cameo contrast, according to the cataloger.
To find out more about the auction, visit www.stacks.com. To contact Stack’s, call (212) 582-1946 or fax (212) 245-5018, or write to: 123 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019-2280.
