Auction Details
Session One
The first session of the February Pre-Long Beach auction commences with American Colonials, Half Cents, and Large Cents. Included are a splendid run of early date Half Cents from The Ken Seachman Collection, including die varieties a collection more extensive than many such sets offered in recent years. Also a few Proofs from the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s, plus, in the Large Cents, a generous assortment of 1793 dated pieces including all three main "Types": Chain, Wreath, and Liberty Cap, plus numerous issues in the Coronet (1816-39) period by die variety. We offer two of the earliest American Colonial issues, a nice Oak Tree Shilling and a very sharp certified Pine Tree Shilling, among other pieces.
Session Two
Session two of the sale includes many, many Flying Eagle, Indian, and Lincoln cents, including rarities like 1856, 1877, 1909-S VDB, along with a variety of Proofs of all three Types. In the nickel series, again, several outstanding Proofs, various late-date Jefferson varieties such as 1943 Doubled Dies, the ever-popular 1937-D 3-legged Buffalo Nickels. Topping the list of exciting Three-cent Nickel coins, a nearly complete date run of PCGS certified Mint States, including some of the rarities in the 1880s such as the almost-impossible to find 1885 (a number of which are included).
Session Three
Session three features Silver Dollars and Gold Coinage. There is literally something for just about everyone in the silver dollar category from Bust to Seated, Trade, Morgan and Peace Dollars. Mention can be made of a couple of very elusive Mint State 65 Trade Dollars which will whet anyone's appetite, along with a generous assortment of Proof-only issues from the 1880s. Among Morgan and Peace $1 issues, everything from colorfully toned common dates in frosty Uncirculated to many semi-key and key issues like 1879-CC, 1889-CC, and 1893-O. The Peach Set the current and all time No. 1 Gold Type Set in the PCGS Registry kicks off a fabulous Gold section, which also includes spectacular rarities in all denominations. Of particular note is the ever elusive 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella in PCGS graded Proof 66 Deep Cameo, and a nice run of Proof Indian Quarter Eagles (1908 to 1915). Other extraordinary representatives include multiple lots of Matte Proofs of the various Indian and Saint-Gaudens styles, earlier mirror-finish Proofs, key dates such as 1795 Half Eagles, finest knowns in the realm of Mint State 67 and 68 quality, some nice Territorial gold and California Fractional gold coins. In other words, an almost heart-stopping variety of great coins, the true connoisseur pieces of American numismatics!
Session Four
In Session four, we reverse direction and pick up the remaining silver denominations from Half Dimes to Quarter Dollars, Half Dollars to Pattern coinage, and a variety of oddities and curiosities. Here, the session starts off like a skyrocket with a stunning About Uncirculated 1792 Half Disme (pronounced "Diz-me" by many collectors), a coin that is considered America very first silver coin issue. The story has it that none other than President George Washington supplied the silver to manufacture these! The variety and scope of this session should please every collector, young or old, advanced or just dipping ones toe in the water for the first time. We ought not forget to point to several highly demanding 1877 Pattern half dollars consigned to the Pattern section. These as experienced numismatists know, are the créme de la créme of Pattern coinage!
Session Five
The last session commences Tuesday night at 6 o'clock with a fresh run of Ancient Coinage, with selections included from The Kurt A. Oster Collection. Part III of The Russian Classics Collection follows, with some of the finest coins from Tsarist Russia many assembled from some of the biggest auctions of the 20th century, including Hermitage Duplicates, 1977 Swiss Bank Russland (the Soderman collection), Virgil Brand, Tostoi, Heibig, Fuchs and Irving Goodman. The sale concludes with runs of World Gold and World Crowns & Minors, including more fresh coins from The Kurt A. Oster Collection.