Gardner Collection Pick-Up by Electric Peak Collection

[CSJournals-migration]

The Eugene H. Gardner Collection (yeoldeone here on the NGC Registry) Part 1 sale at Heritage brings $19.6 million

 

The Gardner collection may be the finest collection of US silver coinage ever assembled. Roughly one third of it was sold this past Monday in NYC by Heritage. I was looking at the 1829 large cent as a potential upgrade, and of course, at the Liberty Seated Half Dimes. I came away with one coin: the 1864 half dime, NGC graded MS67 and CAC approved. Once I actually pay for it, it will be my most expensive coin, by a pretty good margin. I really wanted the very pretty 1873, but having gotten the 1864, I just could not justify another, even bigger purchase price.

 

I have not looked over specific results beyond the early copper and seated half dimes, but for them it seems that bidders were willing to open their wallets. Sure, many of the coins are pretty, and most are in the top grades of certified populations, but some prices seemed quite high. For example, a PCGS/CAC MS63 1840-O with Drapery coin that I think is not very attractive sold for over $30,000. Even the PCGS price guide lists it at only $12,000. But some others were more in line with price guides and recent auction results.

 

Mr. Gardner (yeoldeone) had two seated half dime sets in the registry. The #1 set was far and away better than my set will ever be. The #3 set had half as many coins as my #2 set, but almost as many points. Had he continued building that set, it may have rivaled the first. But I did notice that in at least one case, he had a better (higher graded) coin in the second set: The top set had a MS62 1846 key, while the second set had a MS63. Only the MS63 was sold, so I am wondering if there will be a chance for me to acquire the MS62!

 

As the tenses above suggest, the yeoldeone seated half dime sets have been removed from the competitive registry, leaving my set as the current #1. Some years from now I will complete that set (except, of course, for the unique 1870-S). It will be a very nice set, but never as good as what Mr. Gardner put together. And there may well be other very high quality sets out there. In any case, I plan to continue to enjoy the pursuit of the best I can get!

 

Here is the obverse pic of my latest acquisition. Enjoy it, and the pursuit of whatever you collect as well!

 

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[RichH]

Alan,

 

Let me be the 1st to congratulate you on your new acquisition and #1 set ranking, well deserved!

 

I viewed the Gardner half dimes on-line the other day and was amazed at the collection, great you were a successful bidder.

 

Rich

[Walkerfan]

Congrats on the beautiful, new, Gardner half dime win!!!

 

I just looked at your #1 registry set for the first time and it is STUNNING!!!

 

Keep up the GOOD work!!!

[hunter's gold]

Gorgeous toning on that half dime. Amazing #1 set.

[coinsbygary]

Hi Alan

 

Congratulations on your Gardner pick-up! The soft red, orange, yellow, green rainbow toning in the left field around the legend is particularly attractive. Like the others posting in this thread, I took the opportunity to view your entire set. Let me say that your set is nothing less than stunning by anyone's standards. That said, there is one coin in your set that captured my eyes more than the others and that was the 1873-S. That is one exceptionally beautiful coin combining darker toning with a strong strike and very nice contrast between the devices and the fields. It will be fun to follow your set as you add more coins and eventually complete it! All the best!

 

Gary

[Electric Peak]

Guys - Thanks for all the nice comments.

 

Gary - Yes, that 1873-S is actually my favorite so far, partly because it is a really beautiful coin, and partly because it was the least expensive one in the set despite the 10/2 combined NGC & PCGS population.