The upcoming Bowers auction in Orlando

[EVillageProwler]

A friend of mine called me this morning to tell me that the Bowers online catalog is now available. Since I have zilch, zero, nada money to spend, I figure I'll talk about other people's coins...

 

Of the Seated Dollars in the sale, here's what I found interesting:

 

* 1840 MS62 (NGC); looks really nice from the picture

* 1842 MS62 (PCGS); later die state (notice the die bulge in the obv rt field)

* 1850 MS63 (PCGS); the scan sucks, but I'm 99.9% certain that this is the Wally Lee (Bowers, 1/99) and Genaitis (Heritage, ) specimen. It did NOT sell during the Genaitis auction, and then languished in Heritage's FPL and EI auction for a long while. During the Lee sale, the coin was in an older PCGS slab w/ green colored insert whose type was done by a laser printer. When I last saw it (FPL and EI), it had a blue insert w/ the barcode on the front. This is a POP 3 coin, but it may actually be a POP 2 coin.

* 1850-O MS64 (NGC); almost certainly the Fairfield specimen; the pops say 3/0, but I think it should be 1/0. Actually, I think this coin should really be an MS63, but it'll still be the finest known. BTW, this coin was also listed in the BVC online catalog!

* 1856 AU58 (PCGS); someone care to check if this is the so-called 56/4 variety? This coin is very sharply struck, and looks familiar.

* 1859-S MS63 (PCGS); I remember this coin, but I can't remember from which sale. I think I would've liked to see this coin in an MS62 holder. I just didn't like the luster that much.

 

For a ``Rarities'' Sale, there is a paucity of truly rare silver dollars. The ED's are mostly common material. The Seated material has mostly recycled stuff or proofs. The Trade Dollars is a laugher. I think the 1874 proof entices me more than the 1884 proof. (Is that the Silverman specimen?)

 

Yuck!

 

EVP

 

[Tradedollarnut]

The 1884 is the Sprinkle specimen which last sold at Stacks earlier this year. The Silverman specimen was my old coin - ex Norweb and Bowers.

[keithdagen]

I agree that the catalog (as a whole) is weaker than the last couple. Looking at high grade Type pieces, there are a few pieces that are stunning, but for the most part, there doesn't seem to be that many stand-out pieces like the last several auctions.

[Sunnywood]

EVP,

 

There is a really gorgeous group of proof seated dollars in that sale, including a very rare & cool 1865 With Motto transitional seated dollar which is catalogued with the regular issues (rather than in the pattern section). Just because you collect MS pieces and not proofs doesn't make the proofs uninteresting !!!

 

Sunnywood

[EVillageProwler]

My apologies, Sunnywood. I forgot that about them, and did not look at their scans (because they were proofs). I am conditioned to ignore all proofs but the early ones, but I will make an exception in this case!

 

I did look at the 1865 Transitional Proof Restrike (not really a pattern) that is ex Eliasberg. That piece caught my eye!!!

 

(I have no doubt that all the pieces in this special group will be even lovelier when beheld in person!)

 

EVP

 

[EVillageProwler]

Wow!!!

 

I just took another, more measured, look at the proof Seated Dollars in this sale. Wow!!!

 

That nearly complete run of late date toned proofs are fantastic. I don't know if the blast white cameo proofs (1870, 1872) are part of the same group, but they seem out of place given their totally different (but still superb) look.

 

They would make an excellent addition to my collection. Alas, I don't have the resources to match by tastes!

 

EVP

 

[Sunnywood]

EVP,

 

Glad you like those seated dollar proofs !!! They are very pretty, especially for the assigned grades. The 1870 and 1872 cameo proofs are definitely not from the same group though !!! Of course, I much prefer the colorful toned coins in the sale (the 1859 thru 1867 proofs are the best). The 1867 looks really awesome, but the coolest coin is definitely the 1865 With Motto transitional dollar !!!

 

Sunnywood

 

[Oldtrader3]

Quickly scanning the gold section of the auction, there seems to be a fair representation of half-eagles and eagles, with few after 1900 Liberty half-eagles. The Liberty $20's are well represented. Also, there is a good selection higher quality branch mint Saints (for a change). Too bad that I don't have much money at this moment. I will find some way to acquire at least one nice Saint.

[Guest]

The Eliasberg 1855-0 quarter is a neat coin as it is the only real gem known of this date. There are some schlocky lower MS pieces around that have problems and you could even question if most are truly mint state. This one was saved and puts the rest of the survivors to shame. A date that I always considered grossly overrated in circ (like the 55-s) and even in lower mint state grades. But ANY superb gem "O" mint quarter is a major rarity. Most 66's today don't make the grade of superb. A 66 coin from 1989 would likely be that type of quality. To my recollection I only know of the following 6 pieces:

 

41-0, 42-0, 54-0, 55-0, 91-0 (2). There are two of the 1891-0. The James Stack Collection had a marvelous proof-like gem and Eliasberg has an NGC MS 68. I included the 54-0 out of Eliasberg since it did grade NGC 67 but I didn't feel the coin was truly superb. It's possible that this 55-0 is the finest condition surviving

"O" mint no motto mint seated quarter. The 91-0 came 31 years after the final 60-0

was made and no doubt more of them were saved even despite it's low mintage.

 

Superb and gem "O" mint seated quarters as well as the early "S" mints are one of the last untapped frontiers of 19th century coinage.

 

roadrunner

[Endgame]

Roadrunner,

Again I enjoy your enthusiasm for the Liberty Seated series. As to the 1855 O quarter, it is a great coin (and extremely rare as you pointed out) but I would be surprised if it eclipsed the 1997 auction price. Of course, there could be a healthy reserve under it which may force the price a bit.

[Tradedollarnut]

I'd be surprised if it breaks $80k - just because the Eliasberg stuff tends not quite to make it to the price realized in 97. The NGC MS67 1795 Draped Bust dollar for example.

[Guest]

I would concur with TDN that most of the Eliasberg stuff is usually not making it back to the '97 price level. I'd think the $60K would be a strong price for the coin

now. Even mid 50's. If the owner is tired of the coin after 5 years or needs the money it might sell reasonable. I would think the old Gene would be setting his sights on this coin. More than likely a hefty reserve will be on the coin. Too bad this had to be an arrows type coin too which inflates the price quite a bit. If just a regular no-motto "O" mint it would be affordable to more people, including me.

 

roadrunner

[bigd5]

Most of the "rarities" coins are usually out of my league, so I don't get all gaga over these auctions. Kind of a "can't afford 'em, don't look at 'em" kind of attitude. There is a healthy selection of Buffalo nickels to take a peak at though.

[EVillageProwler]

I think it's a good idea to look at as much material as you can, if the ones that you feel are out of your price or interest range.

 

It's a good way to get free knowledge!

 

EVP

 

[keithdagen]

I agree -- looking at expensive, well-struck coins in higher grades is a great way to learn about nuances of the coin you may not see at lower, circulated, grades. And the really cool expensive coins have great write-ups with a ton of info.

 

Next time TDN asks a trivia question about his 1884 TD proof, I have this catalog for research.

[EVillageProwler]

Next time TDN asks a trivia question about his 1884 TD proof, I have this catalog for research.

 

The reason why TDN doesn't post any trivia questions anymore is because he's all out of information. I have it on good authority that the real brains behind the outfit are the G&L show...

 

Unless, of course, TDN wants to prove us wrong!

 

 

EVP

 

[keithdagen]

I've been anonymously threatened that the information in the Bowers catalog is just rehashed material and out of date. Surely, there can't be too many changes in the last 10 years that would have affected these pieces...