Dallas, TX – The Official Auctions of the FUN 2009 Convention in Orlando began on Wednesday, Jan. 7, and spectacular results have already been posted in Heritage’s first Pattern Night session featuring The Lemus Collection – Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Containing 465 different Patterns, the collection was so extensive that it warranted a special catalog, and posted prices realized totaling $8,361,219. The Lemus Patterns were followed by a further session of patterns from the holdings of more than 600 consignors participating in Heritage’s FUN auctions, which brought in an additional $650,000. As additional sessions take place in Heritage’s $50 million, 15,000+ lot auction, results will be posted on its Web site (www.HA.com).
"We expected FUN 2009 to be amazing," said Heritage President Greg Rohan, "and so far we’re thrilled. We’re just incredibly excited about the coins and notes we’re bringing to the eager buyers in Orlando.
FUN started just days after we presented our $7 million auction of Ancient and World Coins at the New York International Numismatic Convention. FUN is the world’s largest coin show, and Heritage is the world’s largest numismatic auctioneer; these events are always exciting!"
Featured Lemus-Queller rarities at FUN included:
Lot 1500: 1792 Pattern Cent, Judd-1, Pollock-1, High R.6, VF30 NGC. Realized: $253,000.
With a design most likely by Henry Voight, the patterns of 1792 are the rarest series of patterns ever struck, and each is a classic of U.S. coinage in its own right. This exclusive series includes the silver center cent, Birch cent (two varieties), half disme, disme, and the Eagle on Globe quarter. Of these five issues, only the half disme and disme ever circulated. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Lot 1501: 1792 Birch Cent, Judd-5, Pollock-6, R.8, Fair 2 NGC. Realized: $86,250
On the obverse Liberty faces right, and the name BIRCH is seen on the truncation of her neck; most likely designed by William Russell Birch. Struck in copper with a lettered edge reading TO BE ESTEEMED BE USEFUL. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Lot 1503: 1794 Half Dime, Judd-15, Pollock-19, R.8, AU55 NGC. Realized: $74,750.
This is one of the two known examples of Pollock-19. The 1794 half dime was the first coin of this denomination struck at the U.S. Mint, because the famous 1792 issue was actually struck in John Harper’s cellar before the Mint was built. Possibly Ex: Joseph Mickley; Col. Mendes I. Cohen; Jules Fonrobert; Auction ’85; From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
This is the variety with Die Alignment III (the center of Liberty’s head opposite the N in ONE) and C. GOBRECHT F. removed from the base; on the reverse, after a coin turn the eagle flies level in a starless field. Struck in silver with a plain edge, this is the finest Judd-85 that has been certified (even though numerically tied with another PR66). From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
With Die Alignment III (the center of Liberty’s head opposite the N in ONE); on the reverse, after a coin turn the eagle flies level in a starless field. Struck in silver with a plain edge. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Lot 1824: 1872 Quarter Dollar, Judd-1195, Pollock-1335, Low R.7, PR66 Cameo NGC. Realized: $80,500.
William Barber’s Amazonian design with Liberty seated, facing left, her right hand touching the head of a spread-wing eagle, sword in left hand. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Many students of U.S. pattern coinage consider the Amazonian design to be the most beautiful ever created for a coin. This is the numerically finest certified at either service, and the only Cameo certified (11/08). From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Barber’s Liberty Head is sometimes called the Sailor Head design in a field of 13 stars arranged with seven left and six right. USPatterns.com conclusively lists this example as ex: Farouk and also unique. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Lot 1887: 1877 Fifty Dollar, Judd-1547, Pollock-1720, Low R.7, PR65 Gilt NGC. Realized: $207,000.
William Barber’s Large Liberty Head design shows Liberty facing left, with a coronet bearing her name. The Large Head shows the tip of the coronet between stars 5 and 6 while the Small Head has the tip below star 6, and the date is considerably closer to the bust truncation on the Large Head. With the two unique gold half unions in the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collections, the copper pieces (gilt or not) never fail to inspire intense bidding competition. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Lot 1888: 1877 Fifty Dollar, Judd-1549, Pollock-1722, R.7, PR67 Brown NGC. Realized: $575,000.
William Barber’s Small Liberty Head design is one of the rarest and most cherished in American numismatics. The Half Union patterns are the subject of much research regarding their unusual legal history. With beautiful iridescent surfaces, no finer specimen could exist. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Another pattern collector favorite, the Schoolgirl design is always avidly pursued. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Lot 1928: 1879 Flowing Hair Four Dollar, Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, R.3, PR61 NGC. Realized: $92,000.
The Charles Barber design features the head of Liberty on the obverse, with her hair flowing down below her neck. Struck in gold (standard alloy, despite the inscription) with a reeded edge, the 1879 Flowing Hair stella is the most popular and widely collected pattern issue. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
The obverse features George T. Morgan’s Coiled Hair design, with Liberty’s hair braided, and her hair band reading LIBERTY. Struck in aluminum with a reeded edge. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
The Charles Barber design, struck in copper with a reeded edge; compared to the 1879 date, the 1880 is markedly smaller and shifted, nearly touching the lowest hair curls and well separated from the denticles. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Struck in aluminum, gilt, with a reeded edge. When compared to the obverse of the 1879 Flowing Hair stellas, the 1880 date is markedly smaller and shifted, nearly touching the lowest hair curls and well separated from the denticles. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
The Shield Earring design of George T. Morgan has long been a collector favorite, and the specimens struck in silver with a reeded edge, and in such high grade, are collector favorites. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
One of only two known specimens; struck in gold as the regular silver-issue, but lacking the normal S mintmark. These extremely rare patterns were clearly clandestine strikes, produced at the Philadelphia Mint before mintmark punches were applied to the working dies. They were possibly created for Treasury Secretary William Gibbs McAdoo (a coin collector)! From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
The letters in LIBERTY on this pattern are heavy and slightly further from the rim than on the regular issue, closer to Liberty’s foot. The reverse is also similar to the regular issue, but it lacks the AW monogram (for designer Adolph A. Weinman) behind the eagle, to the right of the rock, which was placed on the regular issues. Only two or three examples are known of this extremely rare pattern. From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two.
Additional Patterns From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two
Lot 1502: 1792 Half Disme, Judd-7, Pollock-7, R.4–Repaired–NCS. AU Details. Realized: $41,688.
Lot 1506: 1818 One Cent, Judd-45, Pollock-6210, R.8, PR64 NGC. Realized: $34,500.
Lot 1507: 1827 Quarter Dollar, Judd-48, Pollock-49, High R.7, PR63 Silver-Plated NGC. Realized: $32,200.
Lot 1509: 1836 Half Dollar, Judd-57, Pollock-60, Low R.7 as Proof, PR65 NGC. Realized: $69,000.
Lot 1510: 1836 Gobrecht Dollar Name Below Base, Judd-58 Restrike, Pollock-61, R.6(?), PR62 NGC. Realized: $41,688.
Lot 1519: 1838 Seated Liberty Half Dollar, Judd-80 Restrike, Pollock-87, High R.7, PR65 NGC. Realized: $29,900.
Lot 1523: 1839 Half Dollar, Judd-97 Restrike, Pollock-107, High R.7, PR64 NGC. Realized: $27,600
Lot 1526: 1839 Half Dollar, Judd-100 Restrike, Pollock-110, R.8, PR63 NGC. Realized: $63,250.
Lot 1528: 1839 Half Dollar, Judd-103 Restrike, Pollock-115, R.8, PR66 Brown NGC. Realized: $69,000.
Lot 1534: (ca. 1850) Twenty Dollar, Judd-126, Pollock-148, R.8, PR62 NGC. Realized: $57,500.
Lot 1540: 1852 Gold Dollar, Judd-146, Pollock-174, Low R.7, PR65 NGC. Realized: $25,300.
Lot 1612: 1863 Dollar, Judd-345, Pollock-417, Low R.7, PR66 Star Cameo NGC. Realized: $54,625.
Lot 1617: 1864/1858 Indian/Flying Eagle Cent, Judd-362, Pollock-428, R.8, PR65 Cameo NGC. Realized: $74,750.
Lot 1785: 1870 Dollar, Judd-1021, Pollock-1156, R.8, PR67 Cameo NGC. Realized: $54,625.
Lot 1826: 1872 Dollar, Judd-1210, Pollock-1350, R.8, PR65 Brown NGC. Realized: $57,500.
Lot 1864: 1875 Twenty Dollar, Judd-1448, Pollock-1593, High R.7, PR66 Brown NGC. Realized: $54,625.
Lot 1865: 1876 Sailor Head Dollar, Judd-1458, Pollock-1608, Likely Unique, PR66 Red and Brown NGC. Realized: $74,750.
Lot 1866: 1876 Sailor Head Dollar, Judd-1460, Pollock-1610, R.7, PR65 Red Cameo NGC. Realized: $57,500.
Lot 1868: 1876 Twenty Dollar, Judd-1493, Pollock-1646, High R.7, PR66 Red and Brown NGC. Realized: $69,000
Lot 1869: 1877 Sailor Head Half Dollar, Judd-1502, Pollock-1655, Low R.7, PR66 Brown NGC. Realized: $29,900.
Lot 1880: 1877 Half Dollar, Judd-1528, Pollock-1696, High R.7, PR65 Cameo PCGS. Realized: $43,125.
Lot 1881: 1877 Half Dollar, Judd-1535, Pollock-1703, R.8, PR65 PCGS. Realized: $46,000.
Lot 1883: 1877 Half Dollar, Judd-1539, Pollock-1708, R.8, PR65 Red NGC. Realized: $27,600.
Lot 1884: 1877 Half Dollar, Judd-1539A, Pollock-1707, R.8, PR65 NGC. Realized: $46,000.
Lot 1886: 1877 Sailor Head Dollar, Judd-1542, Pollock-1715, R.7, PR66 Red and Brown PCGS. Realized: $25,300.
Lot 1895: 1878 Morgan Dollar, Judd-1565, Pollock-1732, High R.7, PR65 Red NGC. Realized: $40,250.
Lot 1917: 1879 Schoolgirl Dollar, Judd-1609, Pollock-1805, Low R.7, PR63 Brown NGC. Realized: $37,375.
Lot 1939: 1880 Coiled Hair Four Dollar, Judd-1661, Pollock-1861, Low R.7, PR64 Red and Brown NGC. Realized: $51,750.
Lot 1946: 1882 Shield Earring Half Dollar, Judd-1700, Pollock-1902, Low R.7, PR64 Cameo NGC. Realized: $27,600.
Lot 1947: 1882 Shield Earring Dollar, Judd-1703, Pollock-1905, High R.7, PR66 Star Red and Brown Cameo NGC. Realized: $51,750.
Lot 1963: 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Judd-1992, formerly Judd-1797, Pollock-2053, Low R.7, PR58 NGC. Realized: $37,375.
For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.
To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.
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