The most exceptional specimen of a piece that was originally hailed as "the most beautiful of all Pioneer gold coins, and one of the rarest" will be the focal point of a fresh collection when it is offered at Heritage's FUN US Coins Auction on January 10th–14th.
Fort Worth coins dealer B. Max Mehl praises the 1855 Kellogg & Co. Fifty Dollar PR64 Cameo PCGS. CAC. Kagin-4, High R.6, of which only 14 examples are known to collectors, none higher than the example up for auction in the first major auction of the year. This beauty has been rated the best since its 1909 public offering.
There is no trace of the initial mintage or circulation of the 1855 Kellogg $50. Until his death in 1886, Kellogg's descendants preserved three specimens. The superb coin on display at FUN was one of at least six examples that Augustus Humbert owned until his death in 1873.
The 1792 Half Disme, Judd-7, Pollock-7, R.4, MS62 NGC that will be sold at FUN is one of just around 185 known specimens, suggesting a possible survival rate of just 12-13%. It is perhaps the most important issue in American coinage.
The first official coins of the United States were struck with silver deposited by Thomas Jefferson, who gave the Mint $75 worth of silver. The Mint produced 1,500 of these rare coins.
David T. Miller's collection includes a beautiful 1893-S Morgan Dollar, MS63, the rarest and most sought-after issue in the Morgan dollar series due to its low mintage of 100,000 coins and low survival rate, especially in Mint State.
The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad bankruptcy and stock market crash of 1893 affected silver supply and the government's silver coinage policy. Combined with the San Francisco Mint's restricted capacity and resources, a coin that would ultimately become the Morgan dollar series' rarest was created.
Miller also has a magnificent 1889-CC Dollar MS64 Deep Mirror Prooflike PCGS. CAC. Carson City Mint coins are famous in American coin collecting due to its Western origin, limited mintage, and high attrition. The 1889-CC Morgan dollar is a superb illustration of the Mint's heritage and appeal, its rarity revealing its restricted output.
Its 350,000-coin mintage was due to the political and economic climate. After 1885-89 closure, the Carson City Mint reopened in 1889. As many as 325,000 of the 350,000 coins minted may have been melted, leaving 11,000 to 15,000 survivors in all grades, including 1,250 to 2,000 Mint State coins. Upper-level Deep Mirror Prooflike samples are scarce on the market.
The auction will feature jewels from famous collections, including the Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XI. An 1877 Half Union, Judd-1549, Pollock-1722, R.7, PR67 Brown PCGS, the sole non-gilt example in private hands, and an 1877 Half Union, Judd-1547, Pollock-1720, R.7, Gilt, PR65 PCGS are among the collection's best. CAC with the third-highest rating.
The consignor of this collection was drawn to the history and romance of the early US gold rushes. Without Federal minutes, industrious entrepreneurs created private coinage from gold dush and nuggets, many of which had unique designs. The Old Pioneer Collection contains the following FUN lots:
The lone Pattern for the King of Siam Proof set is an 1804 Ten Dollar, Judd-34, Pollock-46, High R.7, PR64 PCGS, one of four known. One of the most intriguing American numismatic gems is the King of Siam Proof Set, according to the consignor. Along with the 1804 Proof Eagle, these amazing diplomatic sets featured a famous 1804 Dollar.