More than 100 Orange County California bank notes from the collection of the late William ("Willie") Pannier will be among the highlights of the pre-Long Beach Expo auction to be conducted by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins and Collectibles (www.GoldbergCoins.com) in Beverly Hills, California, January 31 – February 2, 2011.
"These historic, Southern California large and small-size notes have been off the market for decades in his collection. There are several unique and serial number one examples," said Larry Goldberg, partner with his cousin, Ira, in the auction firm.
Among the highlights is the only known $10 Red Seal from Orange County. The auction also includes Pannier’s U.S. and world coins and his 34-ounce gold nugget now nicknamed, "The Fullerton Boulder."
Pannier, who died in August at the age of 66, was the long-time owner of Fullerton Coin & Stamp Company, the oldest coin and stamp store in Orange County California. Well-known collector and real estate developer Dwight Manley worked at the shop on weekends as a teenager, and considers Pannier a beloved numismatic mentor.
Pannier began collecting silver certificate notes in the late 1960s and then became interested in Orange County currency, according to his brother David.
"We were second generation Orange County residents. Orange County was in our roots. Some of the notes were displayed at the store, but he kept the more pricey things at home. He always tried to upgrade the notes or get a lower serial number for his collection," David Pannier recalled.
Highlights of the Orange County California bank notes in the Goldberg’s auction include:
- The First National Bank of Fullerton, 1882 $10 Value Back, graded PCGS Currency VF30, the finest of only three known Value Backs from the entire county;
- The Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Santa Ana, 1902 $20 Date Back, PCGS Currency VF20PPQ, one of only four known from the bank;
- The First National Bank of La Habra, 1902 $10 Plain Back, PCGS Currency VG10, one of only two known from the town;
- The National Bank of Orange, 1902 $10 Date Back, PCGS Currency Very Choice New 64, the finest known large size note from this bank;
- The Placentia National Bank of Placentia, 1902 $10 Plain Back, PCGS Currency VF25, one of only seven notes known from the town;
- First National Trust & Savings Bank of Fullerton, 1902 $10 Plain Back, PCGS Currency F12, one of only four known large size notes from this bank;
- The First National Bank of Santa Ana, 1902 $10 Red Seal, PCGS Currency VG10, unique, the only known Red Seal from Orange County California;
- The First National Bank of Garden Grove, 1902 $5 Plain Back, PCGS Currency F15, one of only 10 large size notes known from the town;
- The First National Bank of Santa Ana, 1929 $10 Type 1, PCGS Currency VF20, the only known serial number 1 on a Santa Ana note;
- The First National Bank of Tustin, 1929 $10 Type I, PCGS Currency VF20;
- The First National Bank of Olive, 1929 $10 Type 1, PCGS Currency VF30PPQ, one of the two finest of nine small-sized notes known from the town;
- Oilfields National Bank of Brea, 1929 $5 Type 2, PCGS Currency Choice About New 58PPQ;
- and an uncut, six-subject, serial number 1 sheet of Anaheim First National Bank 1929 $20 Type 1 notes, PCGS Currency About New 58 PPQ.
David Pannier remembers his thoughts the first time he saw the huge gold nugget that his brother purchased about eight years ago: "My God! You can’t put that in a necklace!"
The impressive nugget was displayed at the coin store for years, but when Willie Pannier became ill early in 2010 he took it home and used it as a paper weight, according to his brother. "He liked to look at it and admire it."
"This is the largest gold nugget we’ve ever offered for sale in our 50 years in numismatics. It weighs 34.705 ounces," said Larry Goldberg.
The Fullerton Coin & Stamp Co. opened in 1961 and will mark its 50th year in 2011. William Pannier bought the store in 1976. After he died of cancer in August, Manley acquired the store and reopened it.
"There was only one Willie. He was a very special, one-of-a-kind person who transcended from another era. I brought him to the American Numismatic Association for the first time in 2003 to attend the renaming of the library in my honor. He was an important part of many people’s lives including mine and my children’s. We will always love him," said Manley.
Lot viewing for the auction will be conducted January 24 – February 2, 2011 at the Beverly Hills, California offices of Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, 350 South Beverly Dr., Suite 350. The auction will be conducted at the Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills Hotel, 1150 South Beverly Dr., January 31 – February 2.
For additional information about the collection and other coin and bank note items in the auction, contact Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles by phone at (800) 978-2646, by email at info@GoldbergCoins.com or visit online at www.GoldbergCoins.com.
