Stack’s Bowers Galleries Makes Plans for ANA Auction

A dazzling cameo proof 65+ example of the workers ruble struck in 1924 at the Leningrad Mint under P.V. Latishev.

During the pandemic, many collectors have turned their attention to organizing and cataloging their holdings so that they can seek out through internet auctions and offering various coins that have eluded them through the years. The top end of the world coin market has blossomed with record breaking prices and the middle, what we used to call the bread and butter coins, those which were the heart of many coin dealers business, have also fared well with rising prices seen at most E-Auctions and Internet sales. The most common world coins, as we have always known, remain inexpensive and have gained little if any attention during the pandemic.

But that is just a quick analysis of the world coin market in monetary terms. What remains unrevealed in those numbers is a collector’s sense of isolation. Many collectors find the social aspect of visiting a local shop or attending a regional show to be an integral part of their collecting experience. The loss of camaraderie brought on by the isolation of the pandemic has left dealers and collectors hoping for the return of their regular coin show experiences.

Some regional and local coin shows have been testing the waters with some success, but the major coin show everyone is anticipating to open the physical interaction of the coin market up again is the ANA World’s Fair of Money scheduled for August 10-13 in Rosemont, Illinois. What a show this will be for all the folks who are able to attend in what we all hope will be a safe and secure environment.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries, is making plans to present the Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money in conjunction with the show and will be accepting consignments through June 10th. Though their website has not yet revealed any lot listings of the coins set for this sale, their World Coin News advertisements have displayed a few of the early highlights.

Christine Karstedt, Executive VP at the firm has kindly sent me a handful of requested images to share with our readers. So have a look and wet your whistle for what may be the first major post-pandemic coin show of 2021. And visit their website at https://www.stacksbowers.com/Pages/Home.aspx over the next few months to watch as the riches of one of the largest coin auctions of the year unfold to the delight of collectors everywhere.

This stunning Roman Imperatorial Julius Caesar gold aureus was struck in 46 B.C. and looks just about as struck today at NGC Ch AU, strike:5/5 and Surface: 4/5.

The VICESIMO edged 1746 Crown of George II is a proof only issue struck at the London Mint. Spink places an FDC at about $20,000 and this example grades PCGS proof-63+ Gold Shield.

The rarest coin of Montenegro is this 1910 Nicholas I proof 100 Perpera, KM12. It was a product of the Vienna Mint with a mintage of only 25 pieces and this one grades PCGS Proof-62 cameo Gold Shield.

Of the 19th century unified Kingdom of Italy crowns there are a handful of very difficult coins to acquire in top condition. One of them is this Umberto I silver 5 lire of 1878 struck at the mint in Rome. Mintage for this date of the two year type was just 100,000 and at PCGS Proof-64 Gold Shield this example is well above most known pieces.

Tom MichaelAuthor