Lot Number 5
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1806 Large Stars, Pt. 6, Stem - O.110, T-10 R.6 PCGS AU 50
Ex Dr. Gerald Schertz and Charles De Olden. The Overton, Munson, Pugh and Schertz coins have been variously listed as “finest known.” Each is plated at p.305 of Tompkins. I’ve seen and handled all of them. Here is what I’ve learned. NGC refused to grade the Overton coin when I submitted it in 1993. It has AU detail but was cleaned. Don Parsley gave it a net grade of XF 45. Paul Munson’s discovery coin came from Dean Oaks (@$200!) in August 1965. It has AU detail but was cleaned. It is plated in Overton’s 1970 2nd Edition. Richard Pugh’s coin passed to Charlton Meyer in 1990 and was subsequently graded by PCGS as XF 45. It is plated in Overton’s 3rd, 4th and 5th Editions. The Schertz coin is offered here. Jerry acquired it in April 1987 from Paul Kagin who graded the (raw) coin “AU/UNC.” PCGS landed on XF 45 before I offered the coin in MB 23, Feb. 1999, lot 194. Charles De Olden picked it up for $8,470. Nine years later it realized $19,550 at Heritage’s Jan. 2008 FUN Show sale of De Olden’s coins, still in a PCGS XF 45 holder. Bidders suspected the coin would “upgrade.” It eventually did, after acquiring a CAC sticker. This is its first auction appearance dressed in an AU wrapper. Deep grey toning subdues the coin’s considerable luster. The smooth surfaces are a delight. The strike and die state are standard: weakness at the lowest drapery lines and clouds opposite; a magnificent “elephant trunk” die break joins the rim to Liberty’s nose. The coin may be the most important offering in this sale. Est. $13,000 and up.