| Home | Latest News | Active Sales | Active Auction | Past Auctions | Other Stuff | Contact Sheridan |
| Lot # | Date | Variety | Rarity | Grade | Description | Number of Bids | High Bid | Maximum Bid | Total Price | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1807 Bearded Goddess | O.111b | R.4+ | PCGS XF 45 | The first of many important coins in the Scorzafava Collection, among the 10 finest known of this charismatic issue. Bill Fivaz consigned the coin to Bowers & Merena for its July 2003 ANA auction, where it brought $4,600. It thereafter passed into the legendary collection of Roger Solomon. I offered the coin in my August 2011 Sale of 50 “Selected Rarities” from the Solomon Collection. The late John Gervasoni, dba Scorpio Monetary of Trenton, N.J., won lot 27 @ $9,082. Dr. Charles Link (who often reminds me that he was “shutout” in the Solomon sale) later acquired the coin via private treaty. During the March 2016 Baltimore Show Scorzafava was jubilant when Dr. Link agreed to part with his prize for $11,250. The coin is charming. These remarks are from the Solomon catalog. A true Bearded Goddess, with the hallmark die break extending through the eye and headband, into the cap. There are a good number of slabbed O.111a 1807s masquerading as O.111b. A “beard” is not enough; the die break must reach Liberty’s cap…. Luster enlivens the stars, legend and most devices. The toning is a pleasant mix of grey and gold, though somewhat irregular on portions of the reverse. There are minor scuffs around ST of states in the legend. No other marks deserve mention. Estimate: $10,000 to $15,000 | 1 |
$8,000
Reserve met |
$10,000 | $8,800 |
|
| 2 | 1807 Lg. Stars 50/20 | O.112 | R.1 | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Ex Steve Nomura. Last offered in MB 39, August 2014, lot 85, bringing $4,544. Rose iridescence over silky grey surfaces. I give this one an “A” for eye appeal. Luster was a problem in the inaugural year of the capped bust series. Not here. The cartwheel is strong and complete, obverse and reverse. If we must quibble, the eagle’s head is weakly struck, not unusual for an 1807. Steve Nomura acquired this beauty from your cataloguer as NGC AU 58. The NGC label accompanies. I share Keith Davignon’s recent comment, “… wouldn’t be surprised to see it back in a 58 holder someday. ”Estimate: $4,000 to $5,000 | 13 |
$5,600
Reserve met |
$5,803 | $6,160 |
|
| 3 | 1807 Small Stars | O.113a | R.2 | PCGS AU 50 | Ex Tom Sears, acquired from your cataloguer in June 2015. Struck on a slightly oversized planchet, as are a fair number of this die pair. Top flight surfaces! Luster abounds, more than enough to consider and justify an upgrade. Gentle wisps of rose and gold toning augment the eye appeal. I’d wager that storage in a kraft envelope is a part of this coin’s 218-year history. Estimate: $4,000 to $4,500 | 2 |
$3,600
Reserve met |
$3,800 | $3,960 |
|
| 4 | 1807 Large Stars | O.114 | R.3 | PCGS AU 58 | A high grade, exquisitely-toned example. This is the Dr. Charles Link coin, offered in MB 42, Jan. 2016, lot 9. Scorzafava fought off a half dozen bidders with 5-figure bids, prevailing at $17,050. Dr. Link had plucked the coin from Dave Olmstead’s inventory during the July 2012 ANA Convention in Philadelphia, paying $11,950. The coin is struck from an early state of the dies and features nearly full luster. Traces of friction are confined to Liberty's chin, neck and the top of the eagle's left wing. Bold luster along with delicate rose and gold toning boost the eye appeal to atmospheric levels. The surfaces are virtually free of contact marks. PCGS Registry Set collectors may view this offering as the most important in the sale. Estimate: $14,000 to $17,000 | 2 |
$11,500
Reserve met |
$11,500 | $12,650 |
|
| 5 | 1808 | O.102a | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 | Vibrant luster is the calling card of this brilliant 1808. Flecks of russet toning at the peripheries suggest album storage, followed by a careful dipping. The otherwise smooth, uncleaned surfaces are distinguished solely by clash marks and a hallmark obverse die break extending from 6 to 12 o’clock. A nifty coin for the date collector. I note that the PCGS Price Guide suggests $6,000 for the assigned grade. Somewhat generous, I’d say. Estimate: $3,500 to $4,000 | 3 |
$3,200
Reserve met |
$4,750 | $3,520 |
|
| 6 | 1808 | O.108 | R.3 | PCGS MS 62 | Ex Louis Eliasberg A special coin on several counts. The Eliasberg provenance, of course, triggers immediate interest. (Shouldn’t every bust half collector have an “Eliasberg” coin?) Herrman places it at #3 in the Condition Census but offers no record of a higher grade example appearing at auction. Perhaps more important is the impressive strike. Liberty’s curls and drapery folds are fully struck. The same goes for the eagle’s claws and feathers. All thirteen stars strut center points. Unbroken luster flows across the surfaces. The coin is lightly toned with minimal signs of contact. In all, a very special 1808. This was lot 1703 in the April 1997 Eliasberg B&M sale. Dr. Charles Link consigned the coin to MB 53, Jan. 2022, lot 67. Scorzafava prevailed at $5,940. The Eliasberg-Link provenance appears on the PCGS label. Estimate: $5,500 to $6,500 | 5 |
$5,300
Reserve met |
$6,363 | $5,830 |
|
| 7 | 1809 | O.103 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | Superb eye-appeal. I could find no signs of friction on this remarkable 1809. Full luster, pale gold toning and an impressive strike set the coin apart from similarly graded 1809s. The coin is essentially without faults. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,500 | 14 |
$4,600
Reserve met |
$5,400 | $5,060 |
|
| 8 | 1809 | O.105 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58+ CAC | If you attended the Norweb or Pittman sales you are familiar with the toning that graces this lovely 1809 – iridescent shades of blue, rose and gold, likely imparted by storge in tissue paper or kraft envelopes. The left wing is flat at the top but the strike is well above average for the marriage. The 1809 O.105 is a common die pair yet a condition rarity, particularly when well struck. An MS 63 appeared in The Scotsman’s Nov. 2021 auction; the Pittman collection featured a very nice NGC MS 61. The Davignon collection also has an AU 58+. The Scorzafava coin is probably tied for 4th finest known. Estimate: $3,500 to $4,500 | 13 |
$5,600
Reserve met |
$5,600 | $6,160 |
|
| 9 | 1809 | O.106 | R.2 | PCGS MS 62 | Ex Keith Davignon via MB 45, lot 4, August 2017 @ $4,675. Earlier in the collection of Dr. Charles Link. The outrageous toning will draw interest from collectors who seek toned beauties. Shades of iridescent green, rose and indigo sear the eye. Cartwheel luster rolls beneath the fabulous toning. No marks deserve mention. Intermediate to late die state, with a defining crack through stars 1-7 and the usual softness in the left wing. Estimate: $4,000 to $5,000 | 15 |
$6,650
Reserve met |
$7,800 | $7,315 |
|
| 10 | 1809 III Edge | O.107 | R.2 | PCGS MS 61 | From Heritage’s January 2017 FUN Show Sale, lot 4202, at $4,935, where described, in part: The surfaces have a reflective, semi-prooflike sheen and the strike is sharp except at stars 5 to 7 and the top fold of Liberty's cap. The reverse displays similar reflective fields…. The wing detail and feathers are razor-sharp. Mottled shades of reddish-gold, blue, lilac, and olive-green combine with bright mint luster for a delightful, colorful patina. Examination with a loupe reveals a couple of distracting hairlines (under the toning) alongside stars 6-7 and down Liberty’s cap to her cheek. Still, a very pretty coin! Estimate: $3,000 to $4,000 | 20 |
$5,400
Reserve met |
$10,500 | $5,940 |
|
| 11 | 1809 | O.111 Prime | R.4 | PCGS AU 58 | Early die state, with all devices exquisitely detailed. I’ve not seen a sharper strike on this die pair. Abundant luster and immaculate surfaces are highlighted by a blush of rose toning. Just a trace of friction on the high points. A “+” designation may lie in the coin’s future. Ex Dr. Charles Link, noted on the PCGS insert. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,500 | 7 |
$3,900
Reserve met |
$4,100 | $4,290 |
|
| 12 | 1812/1 Large 8 | O.101 | R.5 | PCGS VF 35 | A classic rarity of the capped bust series. It surfaced some years ago in an NGC XF 40 capsule when a dealer stopped by my table. He intended to consign it for auction with Heritage. I made him an offer he could not refuse and sent the coin to PCGS for crossover. It was docked 5 grading points, probably because of softness in the obverse portrait (typical of the die pair). Scorzafava spotted the coin in my case at the next show and took it home. The light to medium grey surfaces are remarkably free of contact marks or abrasions. Hints of luster survive in protected areas. This handsome coin will be a centerpiece in the collection of its next owner. The NGC label accompanies. Estimate: $10,000 to $13,000 | 1 |
$8,000
Reserve met |
$11,250 | $8,800 |
|
| 13 | 1812/1 Small 8 | O.102a | R.2 | PCGS MS 61 | Ex Dale Friend Fresh, glittering luster illuminates this gorgeous overdate. Eye-appeal was Dale Friend’s watchword. No exception here, despite the modest (for a “Friend” coin) PCGS grade. Splashes of light gold toning accent the predominantly white surfaces. Great strike for the marriage, with sharply impressed devices. PCGS was a bit harsh with this one; it could easily be in a 62 holder. Estimate: $3,750 to $4,500 | 11 |
$6,038
Reserve met |
$10,300 | $6,642 |
|
| 14 | 1813 | O.103 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | I purchased this coin, described as “Choice Brilliant Uncirculated,” at Stack’s 67th Anniversary Sale of David Queller’s collection in October 2002. (The Queller auction tag accompanies the lot.) Steve Nomura added the coin to his magnificent collection at the ensuing 2003 FUN Show. Steve consigned it to my Aug. 2013 Chicago ANA Mail Bid Sale 37, lot 14, where it brought $3,080. It appeared again in MB 43, lot 22, at the August 2016 Anaheim ANA show, where Scorzafava acquired it for $3,300. The coin is lovely. The lustrous surfaces are encased in a gossamer blanket of pastel gold toning. Luster breaks are confined to Liberty’s cheek, breast and the tips of a few wing feathers. Estimate: $2,750 to $3,500 | 1 |
$2,500
Reserve met |
$2,500 | $2,750 |
|
| 15 | 1813 | O.104 | R.4 | PCGS AU 58 | A scarce marriage and condition rarity. Probably tied for 3rd finest known with the Rex and Cindy Phillips (“Southeast Kansas Collection”) example, also PCGS AU 58, offered by Heritage in August 2017 (lot 4932 @ $5,523). The Overton Collection houses an NGC MS 63; Keith Davignon owns the No.1 CC coin, PCGS MS 65. The NGC graded MS 61 (ex-Davignon) that I sold in 2015 is inferior, not a true UNC. Dr. Link won this coin at the April 2010 sale of Don Frederick’s notable collection (lot 2951 of the Heritage sale). It is brilliant with full cartwheel luster. A swath of pale russet toning dances through stars 8-13. Scorzafava purchased the coin from Dr. Link in a private transaction. Estimate: $5,000 to $6,000 | 6 |
$7,300
Reserve met |
$7,550 | $8,030 |
|
| 16 | 1813 | O.110 | R.3 | PCGS MS 62 | Heavy clash marks and drawn stars come with the territory on this noteworthy die pair. Golden toning (kraft envelope?), bold luster, mark-free surfaces and exceptional eye-appeal would suit an MS 63 designation. The coin comes with an impressive provenance. Keith Davignon purchased it in January 2011 at Heritage’s sale of Troy Nelson’s (“Allgood”) Collection. (Lot 3626 @ $3,737.) Some years later Dr. Charles Link persuaded Keith to part with it. Dr. Link had the coin reholdered to include the O.110 attribution and memorialize its provenance. Scorzafava acquired it directly from Dr. Link. Estimate: $3,250 to $4,000 | 9 |
$3,900
Reserve met |
$4,850 | $4,290 |
|
| 17 | 1814 | O.102 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | A diaphanous veil of gold toning embraces the obverse. The reverse is brilliant with lavish luster. Liberty’s curls, the eagle’s feathers and claws are sharply impressed. The surfaces display only faint clash marks. This date is a “killer” to find in AU 58. The CAC sticker is a nice bonus. From MB 45, lot 72, August 2017. Estimate: $2,750 to $3,500 | 16 |
$3,580
Reserve met |
$3,750 | $3,938 |
|
| 18 | 1814 E over A | O.108a | R.1 | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Worn and broken dies, rumpled surfaces and engraver errors are enticements to collectors of bust coinage. They provide us with insight into the trials, tribulations and (lack of) sophistication that visited the Philadelphia Mint in its early days. Here is a wonderful, original remnant from that era. The coin deserves an AU 58 designation. Luster, while not vibrant, is complete. Contact marks are all but absent. The natural grey patina is highlighted by subtle, iridescent flashes of gold, aqua and turquoise. In short, a coin for the numismatic connoisseur, comparable to the similarly graded Jules Reiver/Keith Davignon specimen offered in MB 45, lot 14, August 2017. That coin brought $6,655. It popped up again in Heritage’s January 2021 FUN Show sale, bringing $6,600. Estimate: $5,000 to $6,500 | 2 |
$4,700
Reserve met |
$4,700 | $5,170 |
|
| 19 | 1815/2 | O.101a | R.1 | PCGS AU 50 | A pretty coin! Well struck for the issue, with deep, gunmetal grey and antique auburn toning. The stars showcase iridescent hues of cobalt blue while the legend is encased in gold. Even wear, free of surface distractions and just enough luster to support the AU designation. I won’t belabor you with reminders of the importance of properly graded AU examples of this key date. Estimate: $8,000 to $10,000 | 1 |
$7,500
Reserve met |
$7,500 | $8,250 |
|
| 20 | 181.7 Punctuated Date | O.103 | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 | The versicolored obverse is as pretty as the photo suggests. The reverse toning is more subtle. Both sides are blessed with cartwheel luster. Smooth surfaces befit the grade. High grade examples of this Red Book variety are in high demand, chased by date, die variety and – especially – PCGS Registry Set collectors. Scorzafava found the coin some years ago in the bourse case of Phil and Ray Hinkelman. Estimate: $3,500 to $4,500 | 7 |
$4,250
Reserve met |
$5,400 | $4,675 |
|
| 21 | 1818 | O.105 | R.4+ | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Ex Tim Osborne and Paul Gerrie Tim Osborne spotted this coin in a January 1999 Stack’s sale. Twenty-three years later he consigned it to MB 54 (lot 28) where Paul Gerrie prevailed at $2,096. When health issues dictated the sale of Gerrie’s fabulous collection last year, Heritage buried the coin in its Internet session (lot 7262). Scorzafava entered a winning bid of $1,620. His unexpected death occurred August 31, 2024, before he could take possession of the coin. Overton assigned and R.3 rarity rating. Prices escalated when the BHNC published its revised ratings, putting the O.105 at R.4+ and the O.105a at R.5. This example sits comfortably among the top 10 of the die pair. The luster and surfaces befit an AU 58, even MS 62, designation. The coin is brilliant save for a thin toning streak at the front of Liberty’s cap. Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500 | 7 |
$2,200
Reserve met |
$2,800 | $2,420 |
|
| 22 | 1819/8 Small 9 | O.101 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | The silver-grey centers are framed by a ring of pastel gold through the stars and legend. Luster rolls undisturbed through the fields and across the devices. High rims, complete dentils and decently struck devices complete the picture. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,250 | 9 |
$2,800
Reserve met |
$2,800 | $3,080 |
|
| 23 | 1819 | O.114 | R.2 | PCGS MS 62 | Auburn and gold toning with iridescent splashes of turquoise. Eye-appeal earned this one a mint state designation despite a bit of cabinet friction. Acquired from the Hinkelmans shortly after it appeared in Heritage’s January 2016 FUN Show sale, lot 4003. Earlier in the collections of two bust half notables, author Edgar Souders and long-time student of the series, David Kahn. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,000 | 2 |
$2,900
Reserve met |
$3,000 | $3,190 |
|
| 24 | 1819 | O.115 | R.3 | PCGS AU 55 | Flashy cartwheel luster, obverse and reverse. Pastel copper toning through the stars and legend. Sharply struck throughout. A high-end AU 55. Ex Tom Hartl collection; last offered in MB 40, lot 48, January 2015. Estimate: $1,700 to $2,250 | 17 |
$2,402
Reserve met |
$2,460 | $2,642 |
|
| 25 | 1820/19 Sq. Base 2 | O.101 | R.1 | PCGS MS 61 CAC | This lovely piece was a highlight of my November 1999 MB 24, lot 197. It was then in an NGC MS 61 capsule. I wrote, Silver-grey toning highlighted by a swath of pastel gold, likely from storage in a kraft envelope. Perfect centering and a sharp, balanced strike…. There is a thin chatter mark on Liberty’s neck and chin, from contact with another coin. Dr. Tom Sears added the coin to his #1 Registry Set collection sometime after 1999 and sold it to Scorzafava in a private transaction. Keith Davignon offered this pithy comment when he saw the coin, “Super coin for the grade; tough to find in strict unc.” Tough indeed! Check Herrman’s AMBPR. The only mint state 101s to appear at auction in the last 10 years are the Friend, Link, Newman and Pogue coins, all gems, grading MS 64 or 65. Estimate: $7,000 to $7,500 | 12 |
$8,806
Reserve met |
$8,900 | $9,687 |
|
| 26 | 1820 Sm. Dt., Curl 2 | O.103 | R.1 | PCGS OGH AU 53 | Ex Keith Davignon. Keith Davignon spotted this splendid coin at the 1994 ANA Convention in Detroit. Twenty years later he consigned it to MB 39. The Hinkelmans, enamored of its glorious toning, were the winners of lot 24 at $1,783. They sold the coin to another noted collector, Bill Graves. Graves eventually passed it to Scorzafava. This is a highly lustrous example of a coveted Red Book variety. The sparkling gold patina is showcased by a thread of electric blue through the dentils. The strike is first rate. No marks deserve mention. Housed in an older PCGS green-label holder, it may be due for upgrade. Estimate: $1,800 to $2,250 | 5 |
$1,850
Reserve met |
$1,850 | $2,035 |
|
| 27 | 1820 Sq. 2, Lg. Date | O.105 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | Rich antique blue, crimson and gold toning ala old-time collections such as Garrett, Norweb, Pittman et al. The iridescent colors are especially prominent under pinpointed halogen light. Luster abounds. Traces of friction and minuscule contact marks prevented a mint state designation. Acquired privately from Bill Graves. Estimate: $3,000 to $3,500 | 1 |
$2,400
Reserve met |
$2,400 | $2,640 |
|
| 28 | 1820 Sq. 2, Lg. Dt., No Knob | O.108 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 | Blue and gold album toning through the stars; silver grey centers, awash in luster. Well struck, as are a good portion of this low mintage date. This completes an offering of 4 distinct Red Book varieties of the year from the Scorzafava collection, an uncommon opportunity. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,000 | 2 |
$2,500
Reserve met |
$2,801 | $2,750 |
|
| 29 | 1821 | O.103 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | It took $2,753 for Scorzafava to take home this dazzling 1821 when offered in August 2015, MB 41, lot 39. Enticing pastel orange and gold toning blankets each side, a bit lighter on the reverse. Bold luster befits a mint state coin. I note a whisper of friction on the cheek. The razor-sharp strike and smooth surfaces heighten the coin’s eye-appeal and will please the most fastidious collectors. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,000 | 16 |
$3,500
Reserve met |
$3,500 | $3,850 |
|
| 30 | 1821 | O.105 | R.1 | PCGS MS 62 | Caky luster and unmarked surfaces signify an original coin. This beauty comes with fully struck devices and iridescent album toning through the stars and legend. A perfect coin for your uncirculated type or date set. Ex-David Kahn. Estimate: $3,000 to $3,500 | 1 |
$2,500
Reserve met |
$2,500 | $2,750 |
|
| 31 | 1821 | O.106a | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | Faint rub in the left obverse field, otherwise mint state. Beautifully impressed with full luster. The coin never saw circulation. Ex Dr. Charles Link, noted on the PCGS label. It brought $2,350 when offered by Legend in its October 2015 sale. I acquired it sometime thereafter. Scorzafava plucked it from my fixed price list (paying $2,450) in March 2023. Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500 | 2 |
$2,100
Reserve met |
$3,000 | $2,310 |
|
| 32 | 1821 | O.107 | R.2 | PCGS MS 62+ CAC | The parade of luscious 1821s concludes with this stunning piece from the George Hamilton collection. Heritage presented Hamilton’s bust halves in two parts, at the August 2016 ANA Convention in Anaheim and at its October 2016 Dallas sale. Hamilton was a steady customer and winning bidder of top quality coins in my auctions and private sales in the 1980s. He acquired this coin during the February 1989 Washington/Baltimore show when it was offered by Vintage Auctions as NGC MS 62. The Hinkelmans spotted it at Heritage’s October 2016 Dallas sale and took it home at $2,468. It was crossed and upgraded at PCGS, approved by CAC, then sold privately to Scorzafava. The coin is without faults. The strike, luster, surfaces and antique toning bespeak originality. Here is a very special 1821! Estimate: $3,000 to $3,500 | 22 |
$4,725
Reserve met |
$4,825 | $5,198 |
|
| 33 | 1822/1 | O.102 | R.4 | PCGS AU 53 | This is Chris Merrill’s spectacularly toned coin. It took $5,520 to bring it home at Heritage’s February 2018 sale, lot 4628. Do not confuse the rare O.102, offered here, with the deadly common “1822/1” O.101. I use quotation marks because the O.101, quoting Steve Herrman, “…is NOT an overdate,” citing exhaustive discussions among BHNC members, dating back to the 1970s. The O.102 “overdate” has also been questioned: what is that line/dot connecting the base and inner curl of the broad-based second 2? The coin is sharply struck with unmistakable indicia of prooflike surfaces, especially the reverse. The peripheral toning is electric! The lustrous centers are pale silver and gold, yielding breathtaking eye-appeal. Die state enthusiasts will note a spiderweb-thin die break from the rim at star 3 to Liberty’s chin, qualifying the coin as “O.102a” with a suggested rarity of R.5. Estimate: $4,000 to $5,500 | 6 |
$6,200
Reserve met |
$6,400 | $6,820 |
|
| 34 | 1822 | O.110 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 | A white coin with flashy luster and hints of prooflike surfaces. Early die state with crisply struck devices. Minor handling marks and traces of friction in the fields. Purchased from Dave Kahn. Estimate: $1,600 to $2,100 | 2 |
$1,250
Reserve met |
$1,550 | $1,375 |
|
| 35 | 1823 Broken 3 | O.101 | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 | Last appearing in Heritage’s March 2016 sale, lot 3946, bringing $4,583. The coin is brilliant, untoned and features strong cartwheel luster. Wispy hairlines, while unobtrusive, kept the coin from an AU 58 capsule. An effort to upgrade the coin may explain the change in PCGS cert numbers since 2016. The demand for high-grade broken 3s is unabated. Check auction prices and bid accordingly. Estimate: $3,000 and up | 0 |
$0
|
$0 | Not Sold |
|
| 36 | 1823 Patched 3 | O.101a | R.1 | PCGS MS 62 | Ex Steve Nomura. The third time this dazzling coin has appeared in my auctions. Steve Nomura prevailed in July 1994 when it was offered in MB 12, lot 177, then in an NGC MS 63 capsule and tied for #4 in the Condition Census. Steve accepted an unexpected (and undeserved!) downgrade to MS 62 when he submitted the coin to PCGS. In August 2015 he consigned his notable Red Book set of Capped Bust Halves to MB 41. This was lot 43 in the sale. A bidding frenzy ensued, with Scorzafava coming out on top at $6,050. The coin is untoned with blinding luster. The strike and surfaces befit NGC’s assessment of MS 63. The NGC label accompanies the lot. Be not shy with your bids! Estimate: $4,750 to $5,750 | 5 |
$5,200
Reserve met |
$5,600 | $5,720 |
|
| 37 | 1823 Ugly 3 | O.110a | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | A crust of antique grey and golden-brown toning signals originality but also subdues the caky underlying luster. An uncertain tradeoff. The coin brought $5,405 in the Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach Sale of June 2017, lot 881, where it earned this terse send-off, “Even grey toning.” The coin is well struck with virtually mark-free surfaces. You will have to strain to see any signs of wear. Estimate: $4,500 to $5,500 | 1 |
$4,200
Reserve met |
$4,444 | $4,620 |
|
| 38 | 1824/1 | O.101a | R.1 | PCGS AU 55 | Richly toned in shades of brown, auburn and gold. The reverse is exceptionally nice. Luster supports the grade. The blunt strike suggests a late state of the dies. A private acquisition from Ray and Phil Hinkelman. Estimate: $850 to $1,100 | 10 |
$1,200
Reserve met |
$1,200 | $1,320 |
|
| 39 | 1824 | O.115 | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Classic “grey dirt” with a magnificent halo of sunset colors. Original to the core. Luster runs deep and unbroken. The coin cries for an AU 58 -- or better -- designation. Estimate: $800 to $1,100 | 38 |
$2,750
Reserve met |
$2,750 | $3,025 |
|
| 40 | 1826 | O.114 | R.4 | PCGS AU 55 | Here is a seriously scarce R.4 die marriage. Splendid antique grey toning, flooded with underlying luster. Unquestionably nicer than either of Don Frederick’s pair of AUs, offered by Heritage in 2010. This is a tough die pair in all grades; the opportunity to acquire an AU example demands consideration. Scorzafava prevailed at $1,045 when the coin appeared in MB 46, lot 56, January 2018. Estimate: $1,000 to $1,400 | 4 |
$1,050
Reserve met |
$1,600 | $1,155 |
|
| 41 | 1826 | O.115 | R.4+ | PCGS AU 58 | Pastel gold throughout, flanked by iridescent splashes of turquoise at the peripheries. Luster emboldens the attractive toning. Well struck, reasonably early die state. I “grew up” hunting for this die pair and the 1826 O.103, the only R.5s of the year. Both have suffered modest demotions, to R.4+ and R.5- respectively. Still, they remain the keys to completing a die variety set of the year. Both are notoriously difficult to find in high-grade. Estimate: $1,800 to $2,500 | 32 |
$5,015
Reserve met |
$5,015 | $5,516 |
|
| 42 | 1828 Sm. Letters Reverse | O.119 | R.3 | PCGS MS 63 CAC | Ex George Hamilton. This prize is from Heritage’s sale of the Hamilton collection (Part 2) in September 2016. Lot 4055 was then housed in an old green label PCGS holder. The rarity (in high grade) and quality of this Red Book variety (the only small letters reverse of the year) fomented a bidding storm. Scorzafava brought it home with a winning bid of $7,931. The PCGS label had an incorrect code. To qualify for Registry Set listing it had to be reholdered. Thus the current cert number differs from 2016. Scrumptious antique toning graces this museum-quality coin. Bold luster, a first-rate strike and impeccable surfaces complete the picture. The coin, no doubt, is among the 10 or so finest known of its ilk. Estimate: $6,500 to $8,000 | 3 |
$8,187
Reserve met |
$9,100 | $9,006 |
|
| 43 | 1828 Sq. 2, Sm. 8s, Lg. Lets | O.116 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | Another coin for the connoisseur. For nearly two centuries an ancient steel-grey patina has stood guard over the coin’s still undisturbed mint luster. Contact marks are all but absent, assuring us the coin never saw circulation. From Legend’s October 2014 sale, lot 39, where it brought $1,469. Estimate: $1,300 to $1,600 | 7 |
$1,750
Reserve met |
$2,500 | $1,925 |
|
| 44 | 1829 | O.106 | R.5- | PCGS AU 55 | Medium chestnut-brown toning, the reverse lighter. Subdued luster throughout. Unmarked surfaces. AU R.5s, I’ve often remarked, are caviar for advanced collectors. Scorzafava found this one in the Hinkelman’s bourse case some time ago and understood it to be from the fabled collection of Elton Dosier. My notes from 1997, the year Elton died, indicate that he had an uncirculated example of this rarity. Perhaps this coin was a duplicate. Estimate: $900 to $1,200 | 11 |
$1,350
Reserve met |
$1,455 | $1,485 |
|
| 45 | 1829 | O.109a | R.4+ | PCGS AU 58 CAC | As bright and lustrous as the day it departed the coining chamber. Minimal signs of handling with a whisper of rub on the cheek. Probably deserves a + designation. Minor striking weakness in the central devices but better than most of the issue. Easily a “top-10” coin, perhaps in the top-5. This is the coin’s first appearance at auction. Dave Kahn discovered it and sold it to Scorzafava in a private transaction. Estimate: $1,800 to $2,500 | 9 |
$3,400
Reserve met |
$3,500 | $3,740 |
|
| 46 | 1830 Small 0 | O.102 | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 Gold CAC | The third time this lovely coin has appeared in my auctions. Scorzafava corralled it in MB 46, January 2018, where lot 73 brought $1,243. I offered this description: Subtle rainbow hues grace the smooth, lustrous surfaces. The balanced strike comes with high rims and a complete set of dentils. The eye-appeal of the coin clearly attracted CAC. Here is a nifty coin for your date or type set. The coin was lot 85 in my March 2005 sale, MB 30. My estimate is pure speculation. Gold CAC coins have a market unto themselves! Estimate: $1,000 and up | 19 |
$6,420
Reserve met |
$6,420 | $7,062 |
|
| 47 | 1830 Medium 0 | O.119 | R.1 | PCGS MS 62 | Note my use of Al Overton’s description, “Medium 0.” The PCGS label indicates “Small 0.” The coin presents itself with dramatic, original iridescent toning. I agreed with Heritage’s characterization, … luminous and satiny with lemon-gold, sea-green, and lavender-gray toning. I was the happy buyer of the coin at its August 2017 Denver ANA sale, lot 5025, passing it to Scorzafava in October that year. The coin continues to earn an A+ for eye-appeal! Estimate: $1,700 to $2,200 | 6 |
$1,750
Reserve met |
$2,200 | $1,925 |
|
| 48 | 1832 Lg. Letters | O.101 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | A longstanding Red Book variety. The die pair is common, even in higher grades. This example, however, is a cut above the usual “choice AU.” Make that 2 cuts above! Or 3. Caky luster is ensconced in a blanket of original, antique grey toning. A connoisseur’s delight! Without the rub on Liberty’s cheek, the coin would jump to MS 63 or better. A PQ coin that will take a PQ bid to bring home. From Heritage’s March 2016 sale, lot 3959. Estimate: $1,000 to $1,500 | 15 |
$1,661
Reserve met |
$2,345 | $1,827 |
|
| 49 | 1836 | O.110 | R.1 | PCGS | An archetypical “grey dirt” bust half-dollar. The silver-grey patina fails to subdue the coin’s booming mint luster. We’d expect a grade of MS 62 today; I find no friction on the high points. Stray handling marks require a loupe to see. Estimate: $1,000 to $1,300 | 13 |
$1,700
Reserve met |
$2,200 | $1,870 |
|
| 50 | 1836 50/00 | O.116 | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 | Flamboyant, original toning immediately grabs the eye. The reverse more subdued. The surfaces are near-perfect save for a primordial hairline in the left obverse field, emanating from star 6. This Red Book favorite was Dr. Tom Sears’ set-piece until he passed it to Scorzafava. Estimate: $1,500 to $2,000 | 1 |
$1,300
Reserve met |
$1,500 | $1,430 |
|
| 51 | 1806 Pt. 6 w/ Stem | O.118a, T-24, 2/6 | R.3 | PCGS AU 53 CAC | Ex Steve Nomura. From Steve Nomura’s superb set of Draped Bust half-dollars, 1801-1807 (including the R.7+ 1806 Knob 6, No Stem). It was lot 8 in my January 2023 MB Sale 55, bringing $5,140. The latest state of these dies (T-2/6). Prominent die breaks and chipping of the reverse die explain internal cuds across cloud 7, under OF. Despite a terminal die state, the central devices are generally well struck. Some weakness appears at the lowest part of the eagle’s left wing, extending into the shield. Luster, toning and eye-appeal are first rate! CAC is notoriously stingy in awarding stickers to flowing hair and draped bust half-dollars. I doubt there was a moment’s hesitation when this lovely coin arrived in Bedminster. From Heritage’s sale of the Eagle One Collection, June 2016, lot 4503 @ $5,052. A marvelous coin for your date or type set. Estimate: $4,000 to $5,000 | 2 |
$4,400
Reserve met |
$6,100 | $4,840 |
|
| 52 | 1806 E/A | O.124 | R.5+ | PCGS VF 20 CAC | This wholesome example emerged in the fall of 2017. It was identified, graded and sold to the consignor by the Columbia, MD numismatic firm, Coast to Coast Coins. This is its auction debut. The E over A die pair was discovered between the publication of Al Overton’s 1st and 2nd editions (1967/1970) and carried an R.8 rarity rating until Don Parsley issued his 1990 revision (3rd ed.), when just over a dozen pieces were known. It is a sad fact that most examples are scratched, damaged or improperly cleaned. Low grades are the norm. Tompkins indicates an R.6 rarity rating and lists a Condition Census of six coins, grading from XF 40 to VF 20. (The Charlton Meyer coin has AU detail but is marred by pitted surfaces.) This coin shows uniform wear and natural toning. The surfaces are remarkably free of marks. Striking weakness in the eagle’s head, left wing, the motto and a few clouds are hallmarks of the variety. Only 2 or 3 decent examples have been offered over the past dozen years. Estimate: $4,000 to $5,000 | 7 |
$5,025
Reserve met |
$5,025 | $5,528 |
|
| 53 | 1808 | O.110a | R.4 | PCGS XF 40 | Silver-grey toning with soft luster in the fields, livelier through the stars and legend. Heavy obverse die breaks. The reverse die, showing its age, saddled the eagle with soft feathers. The O.110 is the key to completing a die variety set of 1808s. This late die state may deserve an R.5 rarity rating. Estimate: $500 to $700 | 11 |
$825
Reserve met |
$875 | $908 |
|
| 54 | 1809 XXX Edge | O.108a | R.4 | PCGS VF 30 CAC | Forget the edge variety for a moment, the `09-108a has its own following among die variety collectors. It is a very sticky R.4 marriage, with a Condition Census extending down to AU 50, perhaps XF 45. This charming, CAC approved, VF 30 served time in commerce and came away unscathed. The toning is old and original. The strike is soft, as usual. A lovely coin for those seeking this grade level. From the Kings Park Collection. Estimate: $600 to $850 | 13 |
$875
Reserve met |
$875 | $963 |
|
| 55 | 1811/10 Punctuated Date | O.101 | R.1 | CAC MS 63 | The sharply impressed centers are without a hint of friction. Luster rolls undisturbed across the fields and devices. Pale amber toning boosts the eye-appeal. Under my halogen light I see flashes of iridescent aqua and gold. It may be nitpicking to note weak dentils and soft left-hand stars. This coin brought $10,800 in Stack’s/Bower’s March 2021 sale (lot 4086) and $9,988 when offered in the Rarities section of Stack’s/Bowers/Sotheby’s February 2016 sale (lot 127, part of the renowned Richard Jewell Collection). Who were the stewards of this pristine coin over the past 200+ years? I wish we knew. Estimate: $7,500 to $9,500 | 1 |
$6,300
Reserve met |
$6,300 | $6,930 |
|
| 56 | 1811/10 Punctuated Date | O.101 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | It took $5,340 to capture this gorgeous 1811/10 in January 2024, then in an NGC AU 58 capsule (MB 53, lot 63). The coveted early die state is crisply impressed. The strike, “dot” between 81, and portions of the effaced 0 are as bold as any I’ve seen. Fiery orange toning is highlighted by a circle of aqua and turquoise iridescence. In all, a simply spectacular coin! Estimate: $4,500 to $5,500 | 1 |
$4,200
Reserve met |
$4,200 | $4,620 |
|
| 57 | 1811 Sm. 8 | O.110a | R.1 | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Album toning flanks the moderately lustrous centers. Later die state, with the eagle’s feathers not fully impressed and a die break above UNITED. Heritage extolled the colorful toning when offering this coin (as O.110) in December 2019, part of the Spring Creek Collection. Lot 3802 brought $1,800. Estimate: $1,300 to $1,800 | 4 |
$1,550
Reserve met |
$1,650 | $1,705 |
|
| 58 | 1812 | O.106 | R.3 | NGC AU 55 | Golden toning at the rims tells of album storage. Subtle shades of blue and turquoise envelop the centers. Luster abounds. A morass of die breaks crisscross the dies. Only a mother – and die-hard bust half collectors – could love this magnificently rumpled product of the early Mint. The consignor visited my home in February 2002 and was thrilled to adopt this orphan. Estimate: $900 to $1,200 | 7 |
$1,060
Reserve met |
$1,060 | $1,166 |
|
| 59 | 1813 | O.102 | R.3 | PCGS AU 53 | An electric blue arc fills the dentils from star 5 to star 10. Shimmering gold is the dominant color elsewhere. Luster matches that of most AU 55s. I wonder if PCGS was offended by the weak obverse rims. (The obverse die had endured a lengthy tour on the 1813 50/UNI O.101.) This is a pretty coin from a die pair that Al Overton considered R.4. It brought $1,100 when Heritage offered it in September 2023. Estimate: $800 to $1,100 | 21 |
$1,510
Reserve met |
$1,510 | $1,661 |
|
| 60 | 1813 | O.103 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | Steel-grey with sizzling luster. Faint rub on the cheek. Virtually no contact marks. A die break connects the bases of D and S in the legend. Clashed dies come with the territory, especially on early dates in the Capped Bust series. Estimate: $2,000 to $2,700 | 1 |
$1,800
Reserve met |
$1,800 | $1,980 |
|
| 61 | 1814 E/A | O.108 Prime | R.? | PCGS XF 45 | A RARE, near prime example. No obverse die breaks, only a thin break under ITED to S on the reverse. The coin offers a good deal more than its recondite die state. The rich toning is of ancient origin, smacking of storage in a leather pouch. Luster dances through the stars, legend and in protected areas. Weakness around the eagle’s head is de riguer for this popular Red Book variety. Estimate: $1,400 to $2,000 | 8 |
$1,600
Reserve met |
$1,800 | $1,760 |
|
| 62 | 181.7 Punctuated Date | O.103 | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 | A crust of pale grey toning blossomed over the decades. The strike is generally balanced, though some weakness shows in the eagle’s claws and neck. Just the right dose of luster for the choice AU designation. An ever-popular variety. Estimate: $3,200 to $4,000 | 2 |
$2,900
Reserve met |
$3,200 | $3,190 |
|
| 63 | 181.7 Punctuated Date | O.103 | R.2 | PCGS OGH XF 45 CAC | A third offering of this variety. (See lots 20 and 62.) Bold luster; even wear on the devices. Silver centers with a ring of gold through the stars and legend. Smooth surfaces, interrupted only by a few clash marks. Estimate: $1,500 to $2,000 | 11 |
$1,850
Reserve met |
$2,951 | $2,035 |
|
| 64 | 1817 Single Leaf | O.106a | R.3 | PCGS AU 50 CAC | From the Kings Park Collection, offered in MB 55, lot 75, January 2023, bringing $3,000. Colors galore on this CAC approved Red Book variety. The luster, strike and eye appeal far exceed our expectations of an AU 50. Look carefully at the detail in Liberty’s curls and the eagle’s wings. Remarkable! This is the more common of the recognized trio of single leaves, 1812, 1814 and 1817. But in this condition? Estimate: $2,300 to $2,700 | 1 |
$2,000
Reserve met |
$2,500 | $2,200 |
|
| 65 | 1817 | O.110 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 | Ex Doug Noblet. Formerly in the Doug Noblet Collection. Offered in MB 49, lot 31, August 2019. Soft grey toning with golden highlights. Dots on the right wing are toning spots. Complete, sharp dentils and 13 stars with center-points are a plus. A thin hairline between stars 3 and 4 is a minor distraction. Estimate: $1,400 to $1,800 | 1 |
$1,250
Reserve met |
$1,300 | $1,375 |
|
| 66 | 1817 | O.113 | R.2 | PCGS OGH MS 62 | A delicate veil of gold paints the surfaces of this intensely lustrous 1817. High rims, full dentils and 13 stars with center points add to the coin’s appeal. The surfaces are immaculate save for a hairline at star 4 and a familiar grouping of three dots near stars 1-2, imparted at the Mint by the ejection mechanism. Expect competition for this beauty! Estimate: $2,500 to $3,000 | 6 |
$3,400
Reserve met |
$3,400 | $3,740 |
|
| 67 | 1818/7 Small 8 | O.102a | R.2 | PCGS MS 61 | An original crust of antique grey and gold toning cavorts with iridescent flashes of aqua and crimson through the stars and legend. This is a connoisseur’s coin, with full, caky luster. The sole impediments, denying the coin a choice uncirculated designation, are remnants of adjustment marks at the tip of Liberty’s bust, extending into the dentils. Exceptional eye-appeal for an “MS 61.” The coin brought $6,600 when Stack’s/Bowers offered it in April 2022, lot 2095. Estimate: $4,800 to $5,500 | 1 |
$3,700
Reserve met |
$4,200 | $4,070 |
|
| 68 | 1818 | O.104a | R.3 | PCGS AU 50 | Gunmetal grey with rose highlights. Enough luster to support a “55.” An NGC AU 50 of this variety and die state brought $852 in April 2023 (Heritage, lot 53180). That coin would not hold a candle to this beautifully toned example. The trio of impressive obverse die breaks is a bonus. Estimate: $800 to $1,200 | 23 |
$1,725
Reserve met |
$1,800 | $1,898 |
|
| 69 | 1818 | O.110 | R.4 | NGC AU 50 | Intense, almost garish, steel-blue iridescence encases most of the stars and legend, tapering to gold at the right-side peripheries. Soft luster underlies the vibrant toning. This and the upcoming O.115a are keys to completing a die variety set of 1818s. Each is a very sticky R.4. The O.110 shares a reverse die with the common O.106, leading to frequent misattributions. Estimate: $850 to $1,150 | 18 |
$1,250
Reserve met |
$1,250 | $1,375 |
|
| 70 | 1818 | O.115a | R.4 | PCGS AU 50 | A beautifully toned, high-grade example of this charismatic rarity. Tim Osborne acquired it from David Kahn in 2012. Tim consigned it to MB 54, lot 29, August 2022. Fierce competition ensued, ending with John Torres’ (The Tower Collection) winning bid of $6,765. The heavy, bisecting obverse die break mimics damage and has led more than one cataloguer astray. High grade pieces are rare. Herrman posts a Condition Census that includes but one mint state coin, with an AU 53 at #5. Here is a pretty AU. For once the obverse is the favored side, blessed with a halo of iridescent turquoise toning. Estimate: $4,000 to $5,000 | 13 |
$7,450
Reserve met |
$7,500 | $8,195 |
|
| 71 | 1820 Sq. 2, Lg. Date | O.104 | R.3? | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Cartwheel luster rolls under the grey-gold patina, only slightly subdued by the coins’ short-term tour in circulation. Auction prices continue to belie the recently assigned R.3 rarity rating. The CAC approved AU 55 in my FUN Sale this year (MB 59, lot 12) brought $6,710. This offering is a slightly earlier die state, lacking the die break through RI to right wing tip. The PCGS label notes its distinguished Peterson provenance. Be not shy with your bids. This die pair is RARE in high-grade. From the Kings Park Collection. Estimate: $4,500 to $5,500 | 3 |
$4,700
Reserve met |
$5,000 | $5,170 |
|
| 72 | 1820 No Serifs | O.107 | R.5 | PCGS XF 40 | An established rarity. This was Stew Witham’s set piece, with provenance noted on the PGCS label. Stew co-founded the Bust Half Nut Club circa 1966 and held membership #1. The coin is a beautiful XF, with antique toning that favors russet and orange hues. Luster sparkles in protected areas, notably the stars and the eagle’s feathers. It brought $7,475 when Heritage sold the Witham coins, including his 1817/4, in August 2010 (lot 4878). The coin next appeared in Heritage’s sale of The Founding Fathers Collection, December 2021. Inexplicably, it was interred in the Internet session, without description (lot 91244). It did not go unnoticed by savvy collectors, including our consignor. It brought $14,400. The quality and illustrious pedigree of the coin are drawing cards of the first order. Estimate: $11,000 to $15,000 | 2 |
$11,500
Reserve met |
$12,000 | $12,650 |
|
| 73 | 1821 | O.102 | R.3 | PCGS MS 61 | Sharply impressed with blinding luster that will have you reaching for your sunglasses. Only a couple of contact marks on the reverse. The obverse is immaculate. The eye-appeal is exceptional for the grade. Last seen in an NGC MS 61 holder, Heritage lot 4136, October 2016 @ $2,233. Estimate: $2,000 to $2,500 | 2 |
$1,900
Reserve met |
$2,350 | $2,090 |
|
| 74 | 1821 | O.103a | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | A museum piece. At least that is what the toning and eye-appeal suggest. In fact, Richard Pugh plucked the coin from a bourse case at one of the Long Beach shows in 1990. Our consignor was ready when it was offered as lot 1137 in Superior’s June 1992 sale of the Pugh Collection. Superior recognized the quality of the coin, “Delightful natural color atop glistening surfaces.” It is all of that – and more. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,500 | 9 |
$4,800
Reserve met |
$4,800 | $5,280 |
|
| 75 | 1821 | O.106 | R.1 | PCGS AU 53+ | Splashes of iridescent color dot the surfaces, more pronounced on the obverse. Luster and generally smooth surfaces support the + designation. From the collection of Ethan Levine. Estimate: $600 to $800 | 17 |
$875
Reserve met |
$1,000 | $963 |
|
| 76 | 1821 | O.106 | R.1 | PCGS AU 50 | The last of 8 high-grade 1821s in the sale. (See also lots 29-32.) Magnificent toning and a healthy dose of luster leave me wondering why PCGS assigned such a modest grade to the coin. The surfaces are free of distractions. The eye-appeal is top drawer. Estimate: $500 to $800 | 11 |
$1,022
Reserve met |
$1,100 | $1,124 |
|
| 77 | 1822 | O.105 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 | Ex Russ Logan. Another coin with boisterous luster and exceptional eye-appeal. A gloss of russet toning frames the brilliant, lightly toned centers. This was Russ Logan’s set piece, lot 2400 in Bowers & Merena’s November 2002 sale of his collection. Russ acquired it August 31, 1997 from his friend, BHNC clubmate and venerable cherry-picker Charles “Chuck” Erb. Estimate: $1,400 to $1,800 | 9 |
$2,655
Reserve met |
$2,655 | $2,921 |
|
| 78 | 1822 | O.106a | R.2 | PCGS AU 55 | A rainbow of iridescent album toning graces the stars and legend. Luster is spot-on for the choice AU designation. High rims and crisply impressed dentils contribute to the eye-appeal. Estimate: $650 to $850 | 15 |
$1,400
Reserve met |
$1,501 | $1,540 |
|
| 79 | 1822 Button Cap | O.107 | R.3 | PCGS AU 53 | Richly toned. The obverse with a variety of iridescent colors, the reverse shimmering with a patina of gold. Not yet a Red Book staple, the “button cap” variety has nonetheless made its way to want-lists of many collectors. This is a top-quality coin -- among many -- located by the late David Pike, dba Liberty Rare Coins, for his client John Torres (The Towers Collection). More recently in the collection of Ethan Levine. Estimate: $600 to $800 | 16 |
$1,600
Reserve met |
$1,600 | $1,760 |
|
| 80 | 1822 | O.112 | R.4+ | PCGS "Rattler" AU 55 | Circles of copper toning frame the ancient silver patina on this original coin. No one has tried to “improve” it. The BHNC recently nominated this die pair as the scarcest of the year, displacing the 1822 O.103. High grade examples are rare. Russ Logan’s PCGS AU 55 brought $1,265 back in 2002. The smaller, mid-1980s PCGS capsules have developed their own following. From the collection of Ethan Levine. Estimate: $1,200 to $1,500 | 8 |
$1,300
Reserve met |
$1,878 | $1,430 |
|
| 81 | 1823 Patched 3 | O.102 | R.4 | PCGS AU 58 | Ex Dr. Charles Link, Keith Davignon and Paul Gerrie. One of the most important coins in the sale. Paul Gerrie acquired it (for $8,470) in my auction of selections from Keith Davignon’s world class collection, MB 49, August 2019, lot 54, outbidding several collectors with advanced collections. The 1823 O.102 has the same obverse as the O.101a. Both, of course, are “Patched 3s.” They are in a different league when it comes to rarity. Herrman’s AMBPR lists only two AU 58s appearing at auction over the past 18 years: this coin and John Torres’ piece (lot 81 in my August 2017 MB 45 @ $6,000). The O.102 die marriage is distinctly rare in all grades, scandalously so in high grade. AU examples with strong eye appeal may be counted on the fingers of one hand and you won’t need all your fingers. This lovely example displays cartwheel luster under an original blanket of antique toning. The surfaces are uncommonly smooth save for an inconsequential tick near Liberty’s mouth. For die variety collectors this is a r-a-r-e opportunity. Keith acquired the coin at the January 2010 FUN Show in a trade with Dr. Link, giving up his finest known 1808 O.110 R.5. Estimate: $6,000 to $8,000 | 1 |
$5,900
Reserve met |
$7,000 | $6,490 |
|
| 82 | 1825 | O.104 | R.4 | PCGS AU 55 | Ex Troy Nelson and John Torres. Untoned with dazzling luster. The `25-104 is a VERY tough R.4. This coin’s smooth surfaces suggest a higher grade. Both dies saw prior use, the obverse on the O.102, the reverse on the 1824 O.115. Drawn stars and a slightly soft impression steered PCGS away from an AU 58 designation. Troy Nelson (“Allgood Collection”) consigned the coin to Heritage’s January 2011 sale where it appeared in an Internet session, unattributed (lot 10790). John Torres acquired it in October 2012. Estimate: $1,000 to $1,500 | 17 |
$1,500
Reserve met |
$1,700 | $1,650 |
|
| 83 | 1826 | O.104 | R.6? | PCGS MS 62 | Terminal die state, with a panoply of die breaks, obverse and reverse, the last from star 12 to curl. The centers are decently struck despite the late die state. The brilliant surfaces are mark-free. Vibrant luster oozes from every cranny. Students of the series once posited an R.6 rarity rating for the die state. Last offered in Stack’s/Bowers’ October 2018 Baltimore sale, lot 502. Estimate: $ 1,300 to $1,600 | 1 |
$1,100
Reserve met |
$1,200 | $1,210 |
|
| 84 | 1827 Sq. Base 2 | O.115 | R.3 | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Ex John Torres. Treat this fabulous coin as a choice AU 58 or you won’t see the finish line. I’ve no idea what PCGS was thinking or why CAC did not apply a gold sticker. The coin is richly toned with full, caky luster. A trace of friction may be seen on the cheek with your loupe and a dash of imagination. If the coin were “raw” I’d grade it 58 out of fright but hope for Mint State at the grading services. John Torres added it to his die variety collection in December 2013. Estimate: $1,000 to $1,500 | 7 |
$1,113
Reserve met |
$1,400 | $1,224 |
|
| 85 | 1827 Sq. Base 2 | O.131 | R.2 | PCGS AU 50 CAC | Friction confined to the high points. Luster rolls undisturbed across the fields. This original coin charmed CAC and will do the same for aficionados of grey dirt. Estimate: $550 to $750 | 1 |
$500
Reserve met |
$500 | $550 |
|
| 86 | 1827 Sq. Base 2 | O.141 | R.3 | PCGS AU 55 CAC | Ex John Torres. The strike is a tad blunt. All else nears perfection. The toning is lovely, colorful and bespeaks originality. The surfaces are ultra-smooth and luster is everything you hope for in a choice AU coin. John Torres found this one in The Goldberg’s June 2014 pre-Long Beach sale, lot 598. A PQ example! Estimate: $800 to $1,100 | 8 |
$1,101
Reserve met |
$1,320 | $1,211 |
|
| 87 | 1828 | O.123a | R.5+ | PCGS VF 35 | Are you assembling a die variety set of 1828s? Here is the stopper, the only R.5+ of the year. This evenly worn example sports a glossy coat of dark mahogany toning. A careful search discloses nothing untoward under the toning. Herrman’s latest edition of AMBPR identifies a fair number of auction offerings. I dare say that a majority of those listed, late or early die states, are qualified by descriptors we shun: cleaned, nicks, scratched, surfaces marks, hairlines, tooling, damage, artificial toning and so on. Here is respite from that parade of horribles. PCGS suggests a value of $2,800 for the variety at this grade level. Perhaps generous. Perhaps not. Estimate: $2,000 and up | 6 |
$2,550
Reserve met |
$2,728 | $2,805 |
|
| 88 | 1829 | O.105 Prime | R.1 | PCGS MS 63 CAC | Ex Dr. Charles Link and Lance Keigwin. I labeled the coin “a scrumptious MS 63” when it appeared in my August 2016 Anaheim ANA Sale, MB 43, lot 65. Lance Keigwin was the winner at $2,860. It had two prior auction appearances while clothed in an NGC MS 64 capsule. Heritage offered it in February 2009 and, again, in July 2012, where Dr. Link prevailed at $2,530. He crossed it to its current PCGS MS 63 holder. Intense luster dances beneath the pastel gold toning. Very early die state, scarce as such. The central devices are razor sharp. Only stars 8 and 9 lack center points. This is a regal coin, looking for a home in an important collection. The NGC label accompanies. Estimate: $2,400 to $3,000 | 7 |
$2,650
Reserve met |
$2,750 | $2,915 |
|
| 89 | 1829 | O.118 | R.5 | PCGS XF 40 | Long dormant, this die pair awoke with an R.5 rarity rating after intense study by the BHNC, a far cry from Al Overton’s suggestion of R.1. Its rarity is reflected by a pair of XF 45s offered in MB 47 (lot 95, 8/18 @ $1,650) and MB 56 (lot 73, 8/23 @ $2,420). Here is a wholesome example, nicely toned with modest wear and an engaging dose of luster. Problem-free surfaces. Off the market since 2002, the coin was encapsulated for the first time this year, now making its inaugural appearance at auction. Estimate: $1,200 to $1,500 | 2 |
$1,050
Reserve met |
$1,250 | $1,155 |
|
| 90 | 1830 Small 0 | O.107 | R.2 | PCGS OGH AU 50 | Classic album toning at the peripheries. Bold luster throughout. A late consignment, there was no time to seek a near-certain upgrade. The coin will happily speak for itself in its current holder, with an old green PCGS label. From the Ethan Levine collection. Estimate: $500 to $650 | 12 |
$725
Reserve met |
$825 | $798 |
|
| 91 | 1830 Medium 0 | O.119 | R.1 | PCGS AU 50+ | Ex Robison. Ellis Robison was a noted collector of US copper, silver and gold coins. His magnificent collection was sold by Stack’s in series of 3 sales, the half-dollars appearing in February 1982. They included a pair of proofs, 1830 and 1831, along with mint state examples of an 1811/10 O.102, the 1813 50/UNI and 1823 Broken 3. The coin here offered is from that sale. The Robison provenance is noted on the PCGS label. The coin is gorgeous. Album toning surrounds the brilliant centers. The coin retains most of its original luster. The PCGS label says, “Small 0.” Overton preferred a “Medium 0” designation. From the collection of Ethan Levine. Estimate: $550 to $800 | 22 |
$985
Reserve met |
$985 | $1,084 |
|
| 92 | 1830 Large 0 | O.123 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 | Brilliant with a nifty band of copper toning through the right-side peripheries. Luster befits the grade. Formerly in the collection of Lance Keigwin. Estimate: $750 to $950 | 2 |
$725
Reserve met |
$725 | $798 |
|
| 93 | 1831 | O.102 | R.1 | PCGS XF 45 CAC | Deep, iridescent blue, turquoise and russet toning will harvest the eyes of those chasing bust halves with outrageous color. An ever-expanding group, I should add. Luster glimmers under the toning. Estimate: $300 to $500 | 13 |
$1,205
Reserve met |
$1,401 | $1,326 |
|
| 94 | 1832 Sm. Lets., No Tail Feathers | O.120a | R.3 | PCGS AU 55 | A shroud of gold encases the coin, the obverse framed by a circle of electric blue. Nearly full cartwheel luster contributes to the eye-appeal. Aggressive lapping of the reverse die removed the eagle’s tail feathers. The obverse die is twice bisected by horizontal cracks. This die pair makes for lively discussion among those with interest in our early coinage. Last offered in Stack’s/Bowers March 2020 Baltimore sale, lot 21785, bringing $384, a belated Christmas present for the buyer. Estimate: $400 to $600 | 24 |
$1,305
Reserve met |
$1,401 | $1,436 |
|
| 95 | 1833 | O.101 | R.1 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | Fiery orange, mimicking embers in a nighttime campfire. Luster and iridescence coalesce, never allowing the admiring eye to stray. An enchanting 1833, likely to engender runaway bidding! Formerly in the Kings Park Collection. Estimate: $1,200 and up | 3 |
$1,150
Reserve met |
$1,300 | $1,265 |
|
| 96 | 1833 | O.101 | R.1 | PCGS XF 40 | A modestly graded example with superb album toning. Luster cavorts through the stars, legend and good portions of the fields. Softly impressed on the reverse. The eye-appeal is adequate compensation. From the Ethan Levine Collection. Estimate: $250 to $350 | 4 |
$379
Reserve met |
$450 | $417 |
|
| 97 | 1835 | O.104 | R.4- | PCGS XF 45 | Ex Overton. In 1993 I was retained by Don Parsley to sell the Overton Collection. He and wife Bonnie inherited the collection from her father, Al Overton, in 1972. NGC graded most of the coins and I sold the collection intact to a single buyer. He still owns the collection and has continued to add to and improve it. The 1835 O.104 here offered is among the coins supplanted by a finer example. Some years back he consigned to me a few of the coins that had been “improved.” They were still in their NGC holders, noting the Overton provenance. I sold them privately to various collectors. This coin popped up in its original NGC AU 50 holder in Heritage’s January 2025 sale of John Torres’ “Towers Collection,” lot 3603. John acquired it in April 2016. The coin sold for $900. It was thereafter crossed to PCGS as XF 45. The Overton provenance is preserved on the PCGS label. The coin retains most of its mint luster and enjoys the glamour imparted by album storage. It was lightly wiped, perhaps explaining its demotion to XF 45. Still, a pretty coin with a wonderful history – and a scarce die marriage to boot! From the Ethan Levine Collection. Estimate: Priceless! | 28 |
$951
Reserve met |
$951 | $1,046 |
|
| 98 | 1835 | O.109 | R.2 | NGC AU 58 PL | A stunning coin. The PL designation is rarely seen on bust coinage. The coin is brilliant, untoned. Faint rub on the cheek confirms AU status. The central devices are exquisitely detailed. Only the motto shows weakness, a distinguishing feature of the die pair. There is no indication that the coin ever saw circulation. A few signs of handling are seen with a lens, nothing of concern. Contact marks are entirely absent. The blurry line on the photo of the reverse, 50 C across claws, is a smudge on the slab, not the coin. No record of this important coin appearing at auction was found. From the collection of Ethan Levine. Estimate: $2,000 and up | 4 |
$3,300
Reserve met |
$3,800 | $3,630 |
|
| 99 | 1836 Beaded Border | O.106a | R.2 | PCGS MC 64+ CAC | Ex Dr. Charles Link and Paul Gerrie. Virtual perfection! Frosty mint luster coats this near gem coin. Colorful iridescent toning accents stars 8-13 and the adjoining field. Despite a later die state, the central devices are sharply impressed. Note, especially, Liberty’s curls and the eagle’s feathers and claws. The coin vies with the Overton Plate coin and two others for finest know of this important variety. The reverse die, with beads rather than elongated dentils, appears on the crushed lettered edge proofs of 1833, 1834 and 1835. The Link provenance appears on the PCGS label. We may assume that Paul Gerrie acquired the coin from Dr. Link in a private transaction. It last appeared in Heritage’s August 2024 sale of the Gerrie Collection. Please ignore scuffs on the PCGS holder: back of cap, obverse; through UNITED, reverse. Estimate: $5,000 and up | 4 |
$7,300
Reserve met |
$9,100 | $8,030 |
|
| 100 | 1836 Bar Dot | O.112 | R.2 | PCGS AU 58 CAC | Ex Meyer Fiery orange toning safeguards the fully lustrous surfaces. Flashes of iridescent gemstones punctuate the reverse. This was Charlton Meyer’s set-piece for nearly 30 years. He acquired it in October 1979 at Jerry Cohen’s and Abner Kreisberg’s “Quality Sales” auction, lot 430. I offered the coin in July 2008 during the Baltimore ANA Convention. My notes on the coin, written while preparing an appraisal of the Meyer Collection, include this cryptic comment, “AU 58 or better, sunset toning.” A wonderful coin for color enthusiasts – and a fitting close to the sale. From the Kings Park Collection. Estimate: $1,200 to $1,600 | 23 |
$2,507
Reserve met |
$2,507 | $2,758 |
|
Sheridan Downey, Numismatist
4400 Keller Ave.,
Suite 140, PMB 398
Oakland, California 94605
sdowney3@aol.com
(510) 479-1585
©2025 Sheridan Downey
