Stacks auction tops $10 million

A 1796 no stars gold $2.50 sold for $212,750 and an 1875 $50 Legal Tender Note brought $275,000, leading Stack?s Nov. 13-14 auction in Baltimore, Md.

The full sale of coins, tokens, medals and paper money realized $10,339,148, including buyer fees.

Graded AU-58, the 1796 no stars quarter eagle topped a 1795 Small Eagle $5 in AU-55 that sold for $103,500, a 1796 $10 in AU-55 that brought $138,000 and an 1804 $10 in AU-58 that hit $115,000.

?Action was fast-paced, nonstop from beginning to end,? commented Larry Stack, CEO of the firm.

Anchor consignments in the sale were the Amherst and Waccabuc collections.

?Many records were broken, consignors were thrilled and market watchers were pleased that once again there was great strength for quality material,? said Chris Karstedt, president of Stack?s.

Colonial coins were capped by a 1776 Continental dollar in MS-64 grade that was bid to $189,750, a record price according to the auction firm.
An 1803 large cent, Sheldon 254, graded MS-64, fetched $66,000, and an 1842 proof cent, Newcomb 1, certified as MS-64 BN, went for $18,400. A choice 1858 small letters Flying Eagle cent, certified as MS-66, reached $24,150, another price record according to the firm.

Among early silver coins in the Stack?s sale, an MS-62 1796 dime fetched $34,500 and an 1898 dime in MS-63 brought $40,250. Graded MS-67, an 1837 Seated Liberty dime without stars went to $63,250, followed soon afterward by an 1876-CC dime, MS-66, that topped off at $40,000.

What the firm called a world?s record of $287,500 was registered by a 1794 half dollar in AU-58.

An F-15 1797 half dollar was lifted to $57,500.

Early silver dollars did well, a gem proof 1839 Gobrecht dollar selling for $103,500. Among the latter, the Amherst collection?s highlights included an 1889-CC in MS-64 at $80,500, 1892-S in MS-63 at $86,250, a Proof-67 1895 at $92,000, an MS-63 1895-O at $66,125, and an MS-64 1901 at $48,300.

In paper money, a 1709 Colonial New York 25-shilling note, graded XF, fetched $25,300. The highlight 1875 $50 Legal Tender Note, Friedberg 153, was graded Fine-12 and generated great competition among floor, Internet and telephone bidders before selling for $275,000.

?Stack?s has been a magnet for consignors of high-quality coins,? noted Harvey Stack, co-chairman of the firm. ?We are very gratified with the results of the Baltimore sale, this being part of one of the finest auction programs in the 72-year history of our firm.?

For further information, contact Stack?s at 123 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019; or Stack?s, Box 1804, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. By phone, (800) 566-1580 or (866) 811-1804.

The Stack?s Web site, includes full photos and text from previous sales, online at www.stacks.com.