Revisiting An Old Acquaintance at the ANA World’s Fair of Money
At the ANA World’s Fair of Money, collectors relished rare opportunities to hold treasures—from Baldwin & Co. gold to the famed Double Eagle.
You don’t always have to spend money to have the opportunity to hold scarce treasures from the past. It is often possible to do so when reviewing lots offered for sale in numismatic auctions or in the inventories of dealers or collections of numismatists.
Last week’s American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Oklahoma City presented many such opportunities.
Over the decades, a number of replicas of Baldwin & Co. privately issued gold coins have been brought into the store where I work. Last week, I was finally able to closely inspect a beautiful, genuine $10 specimen coming up for auction later this year as part of the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. I was also able to examine several other rarities from this upcoming “Once-in-a-generation” sale.
In the ANA museum section of the show, one of the exhibits included August St. Gauden’s personal MCMVII High Relief $20 Double Eagle, which bears the initials ASG inscribed on its edge. This was not available to be held personally, but I was at least able to get very close to it.
Back in 1844, the New Orleans Mint struck proof $5 and $10 Liberties. There is only one known survivor of each denomination in proof condition. Back in the 1990s, the $10 coin appeared on the market. While attending a major coin show back then, I was able to hold and inspect this piece, which I could have purchased for $400,000 at the time. At the time, that was outside of my collecting interest and financial resources.
As I understand, this coin was then put on exhibit in a museum building that was formerly the New Orleans Mint. Since then, this and the proof $5 Liberty were sold to a private collector, who allowed an auction company to put both on display at last week’s ANA show. When I asked if I might again hold this one-of-a-kind rarity, the auction company checked with the owner to get permission for me to do so. Three decades apart, I was able again to revisit, hold, and inspect this amazing specimen.
Among other pieces I was able to hold at the ANA World’s Fair of Money were issues by Croesus, Cleopatra VII, Caligula, King Henry VIII, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and a 400-ounce pure gold bar. As an exhibit judge, I viewed, but didn’t hold, an exceptional entry to which I gave the highest score I have ever given to any exhibit (as did the other two judges for that category).
Yes, business was brisk at last week’s convention. But the camaraderie of meeting old friends, the opportunity to view and even hold great treasures, and the knowledge I gained all contributed to a well-rounded, wonderful experience.
Last column’s numismatic trivia question.
Last time, I asked, "Who was the second person from Michigan to design a U.S. coin? " Some people count Felix Schlag as a Michigan coin designer. However, he lived in the Chicago area when he submitted the winning design for the Jefferson Nickel in 1938. He didn’t move to Owosso, Michigan, until after World War II. Steven M. Bieda became the first Michigan resident when he designed the reverse of the 1992 Olympic Half Dollar Commemorative.
Emily S. Damstra attended Forest Hills Northern High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and earned her Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Michigan. Her first coin design for the U.S. Mint was the 2017 Boys Town Silver Dollar Commemorative. She has now created designs for 15 U.S. Coins, including the new reverse in 2021 for the Silver Eagle Dollar. Since 2011, she has also produced 35 designs for coins struck by the Royal Canadian Mint.
This week’s trivia question
Here is this week’s question. Why did George Washington choose Ephraim Brasher to overstrike what are now called the Brasher Doubloons? Come back next week for the answer.
Patrick A. Heller was honored as a 2019 FUN Numismatic Ambassador. He is also the recipient of the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, the 2017 Exemplary Service Award, the 2012 Harry Forman National Dealer of the Year Award, and the 2008 Presidential Award. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild, Professional Numismatists Guild, National Coin & Bullion Association, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Michigan, and writes “Liberty’s Outlook,” a monthly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. Past newsletter issues can be viewed at www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries, "Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So,” and “Important News You Need To Know,” can be heard at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and becomes part of the audio archives posted at www.1320wils.com).
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