(Irvine, California) – A 1907 Rolled Edge Indian Eagle, a gorgeous and conditionally rare representative of this classic issue in the 20th century gold series, will be offered in Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money® at the Los Angeles Convention Center and online, August 5-8, 2009, with lot viewing August 1- 8.
The auction will also spotlight one of the most important California Gold Rush-era coins produced in San Francisco, the unique Kellogg and Company specimen $20 territorial gold piece personally owned by former U.S. Assayer Augustus Humbert.
Listed in the auction catalog as 1907 Judd-1903 (Judd-1775), Pollock-1997, Rarity-5, Rolled Edge, it is described as "a bright, satiny piece" with a strike that is "characteristic of the issue, meaning that it is bold-to-sharp elsewhere yet noticeably soft in the center of the obverse." The example boasts a Condition Census MS-67 Grade from NGC with a combined PCGS and NGC Population of just 6, 0 finer.
"This is one of only 42 potential examples to have survived the melting of the issue at the Philadelphia Mint, and three of these survivors are known to be in the Smithsonian Institution," said Steve Deeds, President of Bowers and Merena (www.BowersandMerena.com).
"It is very infrequent for any of these remaining specimens to appear at auction, so we fully appreciate how special it is to be able to present coin this coin to our bidding audience."
The unique specimen striking of the 1854 Kellogg & Co. $20 Gold coin is graded PCGS Specimen-69 and is described in the auction catalog as "possessed of awe-inspiring eye appeal" with a strike that "is 100 percent complete over all the elements of the design."
"This is the single most important twenty-dollar gold piece issued by Kellogg & Co.," said Deeds. "It was struck on February 9, 1854, and given by John Glover Kellogg to Augustus Humbert, his friend and future business partner. It later was a highlight of the legendary Garrett Collection at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for decades."
The auction also includes other rare or even unique United States proof and pattern coins with impressive numismatic pedigrees.
Other highlights of the auction are:
- The only confirmed proof 1876-CC Seated Dime, Type I reverse, certified PCGS Proof-66 Branch Mint;
- 1893-CC Morgan Dollar VAM-2, PCGS Proof-65, a Class I Branch Mint proof in the Morgan Dollar series;
- 1796 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle. BD-3, HBCC-3003. Rarity-5+. Stars Obverse. MS-63 by NGC;
- The unique matte proof 1909 Indian Half Eagle from the Gaston DiBello and Ed Trompeter collections, graded NGC Proof-67;
- 1795 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-3, HBCC-3033, Miller-2. Rarity-3+. MS-63 (PCGS).
"The annual ANA conventions are among the most important numismatic events in the world, and we want to offer collectors and dealers a wide range of outstanding coins and bank notes as part of the ANA’s Official Auction," said Deeds.
Additional highlights in the Bowers and Merena Auctions Los Angeles sale include:
- 1864 Indian Head Cent, Snow-PR3 L on ribbon, PCGS Proof-64 RD;
- 1796 Quarter Dollar, PCGS MS-64;
- 1853 Seated Liberty Quarter with arrows and rays, NGC Proof-65 Cameo;
- 1834 Capped Bust Half Dollar restrike, crushed lettered edge, NGC Proof-67;
- 1863 Seated Liberty Dollar, NGC Proof-68 Cameo;
- 1889-CC Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS-64 CAC;
- 1895-S Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS-66 DMPL;
- 1896 Morgan Dollar, NGC Proof-69 Ultra Cameo;
- 1829 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle, the only known dies, BD-1, HBCC-3026, Rarity 4+, NGC MS-65;
- 1862 $3 gold, NGC Proof-66 Ultra Cameo;
- 1810 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle, large date, large 5, BD-4, HBCC-3117, Miller-109, Rarity 2, NGC MS-65;
- 1909 $5, NGC Proof-67;
- 1909-O Indian Half Eagle, NGC MS-65;
- 1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-1, HBCC-3169, Taraszka-1. Rarity-3+. 13 Leaves, MS-64 (NGC);
- 1804 Capped Bust Right Eagle, crosslet 4, BD-1, HBCC-3201, Taraszka-31, Rarity 4+, NGC MS-63;
- 1908 $10 with motto, NGC Proof-67;
- 1870-CC $20, NGC VF-20;
- 1874 Liberty Double Eagle, NGC Proof-64 (star) Ultra Cameo;
- 1875 Liberty Double Eagle, PCGS Proof-63 CAC;
- 1911 $20, NGC Proof-66;
- 1912 $20, NGC Proof-67;
- 1925-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, NGC MS-66;
- 1931 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, PCGS MS-65;
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 round, PCGS MS-64;
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 octagonal, PCGS MS-64.
Highlights of the bank note section of the auction include a 1928 $5,000 Federal Reserve Note (Fr. 2220-F), graded PMG Very Fine-30, and an 1870 $100 Gold National Bank Note, San Francisco Charter #1741, The First National Gold Bank (Fr. 1162), graded PMG Fine 12 Net.
Pre-auction bids are welcome at www.BowersandMerena.com; by e-mail at auction@BowersandMerena.com; by phone at (800) 458-4646 in the U.S. and 1-949-253-0916 outside the U.S.; by fax at 1-949-253-4091; and by postal mail addressed to Bowers and Merena, Los Angeles ANA 2009, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614.
Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots and bid in-person at the live auction in Los Angeles in August, or live online through the Bowers and Merena web site where a complete auction and lot viewing schedule is available.
The ANA World’s Fair of Money, August 5 – 9 in the Los Angeles Convention Center West Hall A, features more than 1,000 dealers, a Museum Showcase with a special exhibit of national treasures from the Smithsonian Institution, mints from around the world and a variety of educational programs and family activities. For more information, visit www.WorldsFairofMoney.com.
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About Bowers and Merena Auctions
Bowers and Merena Auctions was founded in 1983 and has grown to become the world’s preeminent numismatic auctioneer with more than half a billion dollars in rare coin and currency sales. They have been awarded the prestigious honor of Official Auctioneer for the 2009 American Numismatic Association Conventions in Portland and Los Angeles, in addition to their continued service as Official Auctioneer of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Conventions three times every year.
Bowers and Merena has handled four of the five most valuable United States coin collections ever sold, including the Louis E. Eliasberg Sr. Collection, the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection, the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, and the Norweb Collection. In 2008, Bowers and Merena Auctions acquired Ponterio & Associates, Inc., which now serves as Bowers and Merena’s auction division for world and ancient coins and currency. Bowers and Merena Rare Coin Galleries offers direct buying and selling of exceptional quality gold and silver rare coins.
For more information about Bowers and Merena’s Official Auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention in June, call 800.458.4646. For media inquiries, ask for President Steve Deeds. Complete prices realized for all past auctions are available at www.bowersandmerena.com.
