Collect what you like, my observations from the pre-FUN auctions

[EVillageProwler]

I've been going through the Superior and Bowers pre-Fun auction catalogs, and conversing with friends... It seems that there's a huge difference of opinion regarding how excited one should get.

 

Two buddies of mine aren't interested at all in the Superior material, while two others are (as am I). One buddy is even thinking of ditching his family for several hours to do lot viewing the weekend of the 4th. (He'll be in Ft. Myers already.)

 

Of the other two, one is even going to ignore Superior altogether and just focus on Bowers (and Heritage).

 

As an aside, I noticed that the Milwaukee Collection (Superior) material were slabbed by NGC/NCS. That's quite a surprise to me, since I always believed that West Coast dealers prefer PCGS.

 

EVP

 

[Gunsmoke]

EVP, how about a little more detail about these shows, what each has to offer, why you're excited but your friends aren't, etc. I'm sure that many people have a great deal of knowledge about shows, but there are some of us that are new and would appreciate a primer of sorts when you discuss them.

 

Thanks.

[EVillageProwler]

I can say a little bit more, but I have to be careful because I don't wish to direct attention to the stuff that my friends and I are gunning for... (Hope y'all understand!)

 

Essentially, the highlight of the Superior auction is a mixed grade old-time collection (Milwaukee) with lots of fresh circ material.

 

The Bowers auction is a Rarities Sale, and has mostly higher-end material.

 

That's not to say that the Superior Elite Sale doesn't have higher-end material, and the Bowers Rarities Sale doesn't have modestly priced material.

 

EVP

 

[Gunsmoke]

Your want-list is safe with me. Thanks for the additional info.

[michael]

from what i have heard and/or the buzz is

 

is that the fun auctions most all of the coins are really nothing to get overly excited about most all are not nice coins

 

i am sure no doubt there is some nice , great coins but this is more the great exception rather than the rule

 

sincerely michael

 

 

[jtryka]

I was looking through the Heritage catalog, and they do have an impressive array of Saints, especially the rarer dates, including (2) 08-S, (1) 09-D,(4) 13-S, (2) 20-S, (1) 21, (3) 22-S, (2) 24-D, (5) 24-S, (2) 25-D, (2) 26-D, (2) 26-S, (1) 27-S, (3) 29, (1) 30-S, (1) 31, (1) 31-D, and (2) 32. A pretty impressive group, even though we can bicker about the grades/appearances, these are just coins that you don't see very often.

[EVillageProwler]

Michael,

 

I've heard that buzz too, but I discount that for a couple of reasons: one, many folks like ligher grade material and don't appreciate as much the problem-free mid-grade circ material; two, it all depends on what you like.

 

A bunch of really awesome, nicely toned Seated Dollar proofs go on sale in the Bowers Rarities Sale. And, there are key dates galore in the various auctions. And, let's not forget the totally fabulous run of 5-cent nickels in that same sale. Finally, there's a large run of old-time circ-to-low-UNC Seated coins in the Superior Sale. These coins are likely to have wonderful old-time album and envelope toning.

 

Perhaps you're correct in saying that *most* of the coins are nothing too exciting, but even 20 coins of interest per person would be a tiny percentage and yet may exceed the budget of most of us.

 

Imagine if you're into, say earlier 20th Century coinage? Chasing twenty specimens and getting all of them would be quite a feat!

 

EVP

 

[Tradedollarnut]

Can you imagine sitting through all the sessions of all three auctions? My brain would be numb - as well as my arse!

 

But seriously - how big is too big for an auction? Of course, it does create opportunities. At Long Beach I got a twenty cent pattern for less than half of what I was willing to pay - simply because the coin was in the last 50 or so lots of an absolutely grueling sale!

[IrishMike]

Michael, a MS66 1956 Flyer, a ms68 1861 IHC, a ms68 1899 IHC and a ms 66 1877 IHC, what's not to get excited about?

[Guest]

Like TDN, I'm going to wait until later in the auctions hoping something might slip through. So for that reason I'm just passing on the Superior sale. Everyone will be primed and loaded for the first sale. The Superior lots have still not been posted on the web site so I don't have a clue as to what's in it except for some Coin World ads that showed nothing I was interested in. I'm also still smarting from the Superior ANA sale where every decent lot I was interested in did not sell due to a high reserve price. I can do without the same at FUN. So for me it will be B&M and Heritage. I doubt that nice coins will be going cheap at the end of the Heritage sale but I'm willing to give 'em a try.

 

I will not be wading through tons of lots but will pick out a few top quality pieces and concentrate on those.

 

roadrunner

 

 

[Sunnywood]

As an aside, I noticed that the Milwaukee Collection (Superior) material were slabbed by NGC/NCS. That's quite a surprise to me, since I always believed that West Coast dealers prefer PCGS.

 

EVP, remember Superior is owned by Sil DiGenova & Tangible ... and I think (in my opinion) Sil has always resented the whole PCGS supremacy thing. He is not part of the Bowers/Hall/Goldberg/Manley insiders group, and has always been a bit of a maverick.

 

P.S. Everyone please bid on my consignments in the Bowers Sale !!! Yes, that would be the group of proof seated dollars 1859 - 1867 including the J-434 pattern !!!! There are at least two upgrade coins there. (And the cataloguers obviously agreed with that !!) They were favorable in describing these coins, although they talked down and almost ignored my two fabulous MS67 lib nickels in the Sale

 

Sunnywood

 

 

[IrishMike]

Sunnywood, great looking Liberty Nickels. I didn't get the impression they were talking them down.

[Sunnywood]

Mike,

 

Thanks for your encouraging post !! I'm glad to hear the cataloguing of the two nickels made a good impression on you !! The 1912-D is so pretty in person, with gorgeous color & luster, but they made it sound like the strike is awful (it's a typical weak Denver issue strike, but probably still better than average for the date !!) ...

 

The cool thing is, both coins are NGC MS67, and PCGS hasn't done any 67's for those dates ... so they are definitely condition census, if not contenders for the coveted title of finest known. I probably should have put them in PCGS MS66 holders first, those seem to sell better than NGC MS67's !!

 

Auction cataloguing can be frustrating sometimes ... I wish I could write my own lot descriptions, even if just to describe the numismatic aspects of the coin, without making any reference to the quality of the present specimen.

 

Sunnywood

[EVillageProwler]

Auction cataloguing can be frustrating sometimes ... I wish I could write my own lot descriptions, even if just to describe the numismatic aspects of the coin, without making any reference to the quality of the present specimen.

 

The chief cataloger for the Goldbergs for bust coinage is the consignor of the San Marino collection of Early Dollars (Goldberg, 9/02). I'm sure no matter how fair in the cataloging Jim tried to be, in the end his love for his own coins has to show through somehow... (To be fair, I can't point out a single instance where I felt Jim Matthews was too high on his coins.)

 

EVP

 

[EVillageProwler]

Superior is the unbelievable. I can't believe Steve Deeds is allowing his good auction house to go down the toilet like this!

 

Check this lot out: 1851 original dollar.

 

It is, or was, slabbed by NGC as AU58. The cataloger felt it may be MS61 or MS62. Online, they have it listed as a raw MS63 specimen. I find that to be highly questionable professional ethics.

 

BTW, I think the coin looks like garbage from the scan...

 

EVP

 

[keithdagen]

EVP,

 

That's a complete crock, but after looking through the lots, like you, I found enough cool items to really pique my interest.

[bigd5]

"Graded ultra conservatively by NGC, the cataloger suggests this may well be considered a 61 or 62 quality coin, or certainly the value thereof. NGC holder 1647727-001."

 

With that description, they list the coin as raw, and ms/63. I would say that is nothing short of bizarre. The NGC assigned grade isn't given, and if the quality should be "considered 61, or 62", then who gave it a 63 for the catalog?

 

Good thing I can't afford that coin

[Chippewa]

Re the 1851 Seated Dollar. The comments make no sense. It looks like a cataloging error. If not, it is very deceptive.

 

I found lots of items in all three sales to get excited about. The branch mint Gold dollars in the Heritage sale are wonderful, but at the prices they will bring, I think one or two will be my limit. In silver coinage I am more a type-set collector than a series specialist, but it looks like there are a lot of very pretty coins in the Superior sale.

 

None of the sales have any really exciting silver commemoratives, in my humble opinion. I do not even like the MS68 Bay Bridge in the Heritage sale.

 

I think you would have to have a pretty immense budget to feel you didn't have enough to bid on in these sales. As usual, I will just put in internet bids and take my chances.

 

Good luck to all the bidders on the board.

[bigd5]

For anyone looking for higher grade Buffalo nickels, the Bowers Rarities sale sure does have some tougher date pieces available.

[Guest]

I'm editing my earlier post. There are some fabulous looking

"Benson-like" seated coins in the Superior session that I will have to look into further. And these coins range the whole spectrum from fabulous looking AU50's right up to MS/PF67's. After looking at the 3 sales I'd say that Superior will have more lots in my area of interest than the other 2. I was informed by a friend that the since the owner of many of those original coins has passed on, that the usual reserve game may not be in effect.

 

roadrunner