American Numismatic Rarities’ June 30th auction presentation of The Cardinal Collection of early dollars, and A Gentleman’s Collection of early gold.

ANR Sales Realizes Over $8 Million

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July 1, 2005: In the numismatic community, all eyes were focused on New York City for the American Numismatic Rarities’ June 30th auction presentation of The Cardinal Collection of early dollars, and A Gentleman’s Collection of early gold. Combined, the offerings realized $8.4 million for the 77 rarities crossing the block that night with two coins making the record book by crossing the million dollar mark.

The auction room was packed, making it clear that the evening’s event had been highly anticipated and that there would be fierce competition for many of the prizes to be sold. This proved to be the case as the first lot, a Mint State example of the Spanish Milled Dollar surprised the audience when it sold for $6,670, a grand sum for the type but only a hint at what would follow as the sale progressed. Lot 2, a silver Libertas Americana Medal brought over twice expectations and drew applause from the audience at $126,500, a landmark sum for an American silver medal which truly set the tone for the remainder of the sale. The United States silver dollars started off with a bang with the spectacular Mint State example of 1794, the finest graded by NGC, and one of precious few Mint State examples of this highly prized first year of issue. Opening at $500,000, the bidding grew steadily as enthusiasm and anticipation drove the price past the $1,000,000 mark, making it the 16th coin to cross that number at public auction. When the hammer fell, the coin had brought $1,150,000, again drawing applause from the audience! A few lots later, a lustrous Mint State 1795 Flowing Hair dollar brought $195,500, two lots later a gem 1795 example that was once part of the Jascha Heifetz collection brought $230,000, four lots later, a 1795 Draped Bust example sold for $126,500, immediately followed by a gem 1795 Draped Bust coin that surprised the audience at $322,000! Throughout the star-studded offering of dollars from the Cardinal Collection, five and six-figure sums were the norm when the hammer fell, with a half-dozen more lots crossing the $100,000 mark, the last of these being a deeply toned gem 1802 dollar that soared to $247,250!

Immediately following the silver dollars, A Gentleman’s Collection of early American gold coins opened for bidding. Though containing only 16 coins, they were all important rarities drawing equally enthusiastic participation from the audience. The second Lot, a fabulous gem example of the famous 1796 No Stars quarter eagle, graded MS-65 (PCGS), and considered comfortably the finest known example made history as the 17th U.S. Coin to cross the $1,000,000 mark at public auction when it sold for an impressive $1,380,000! The winning bidder made history, and the audience enthusiastically applauded his success at the sale! A very rare Mint State 1806/5 quarter eagle followed shortly thereafter, and realized $195,500. A superb gem Proof 1836 quarter eagle pedigreed to the Parmelee, Woodin, and Eliasberg collections generated aggressive bidding and rose to $247,500. A spectacular 1795 Small Eagle $5 gold graded MS-64 realized $218,500, followed immediately by another 1795 $5 with the rare Heraldic Reverse, graded MS-62, which brought $143,750. The offerings of the Half Eagle denomination closed with a rare 1830-dated example graded MS-64 which sold for $120,750 and nicely segued into the Eagles which began most impressively with a 1795 13 Leaf example graded MS-64 by PCGS. The coin was magnificent to behold, and the bidders were equally impressed as demonstrated by the aggressive competition which finally sold the coin for $414,000! The sale closed with an 1804 Eagle graded MS-63 by NGC, which finished the event nicely at $110,400.

American Numismatic Rarities is a team of professionals with over 250 years combined experience in numismatic auctions: Christine Karstedt, Q. David Bowers, Dr. Richard A. Bagg, John Pack, Frank Van Valen, John Kraljevich, and photographer Douglas Plasencia, among others. The next ANR event is scheduled for September in Beverly Hills, California and is now open for consignments. For more information about the auction or for details on how to consign to a future event, contact American Numismatic Rarities at Box 1804, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, 03894 or call 866-811-1804. The American Numismatic Rarities website, including full photos and text from all previous ANR sales, is available online at www.anrcoins.com.