Superlative Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles Highlight Long Beach

Heritage to Offer Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection

Dallas, TX: A marvelous selection of the double eagles of Augustus Saint-Gaudens will be offered by Heritage Auction Galleries at their February Long Beach Signature auction, the official auction of the Long Beach Coin Expo. The auction will be held February 14-17, 2007.

Todd Imhof, Vice President of Heritage Auction Galleries, is especially impressed with the quality of the examples in the Brown Collection. "These coins have precisely the appearance that appeals most to collectors, both in the rarities included and the more common dates. Matt Brown clearly had a superior eye when it came to beauty."

While the Brown Collection demonstrates an incredibly high level of numismatic sophistication, their beginnings in rare coins were far more humble. Susan Brown, who met Matt at the University of Oklahoma, recalls exactly how her late husband's interest in numismatics blossomed, or as she fondly recalls, "How this mess got started. Starting in the 1970s, we spent decades saving spare change. If a coin made it into a pocket, it went into a jar until Matt had time for a more thorough inspection. Afterwards, the best pieces were put aside in one of his well-worn golf socks; fortunately, he was an avid golfer as well, so we had almost unlimited coin storage."

"For those who might think that Matt was a very optimistic collector, searching for rarities during the 1970s," added Imhof, "perhaps he was guided by his luck at golf: five holes-in-one! If anyone could find a rare coin in circulation, it would have been Matt! From these simple beginnings grew a hobby, an intellectual pursuit, and an investment that appealed to Matt & Susan (both CPAs). As his hobby grew, so did his pursuit of numismatic knowledge, until books and magazines filled the house. After the Millennium, he began to pursue sophisticated rarities in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series, and he became a friend before his tragic illness."

Besides sharing their love of rare coins, Matt & Susan were passionate about University of Oklahoma football, and held season tickets for decades. As Susan explained, "On any given Saturday, if we weren't sitting together in Owen Stadium, Matt was on the golf course or at a coin show. As he insisted upon spending the entire day at every coin show, I didn't always accompany him, but I enthusiastically supported his passion. Matt died in April 2006, and his collecting habits made a lasting impression on our son Spencer and daughter Angie -- there are still a few jars of coins scattered around the house which remind us of this wonderful man and hobby!"

Highlights from the Susan and Matt Brown Collection:

1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim MS64 PCGS
A sharply detailed wire rim High Relief.

1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim MS63 PCGS
These pieces with the flat rim are considerably scarcer than the wire rim coins

1908 $20 Motto MS65 PCGS
Common in lower grades, the 1908 is seldom encountered as a full Gem.

1908-S $20 MS64 PCGS
A low-mintage issue that is one of the true rarities in the Saint-Gaudens series, with just 22,000 examples coined in San Francisco during the year.

1909 $20 MS65 PCGS
This is one of the top certified examples of the ‘perfect' date variety.

1909-D $20 MS64 PCGS
A frosty and sharply struck specimen for the collector who appreciates attractive coins.

1912 $20 MS65 PCGS
This is the first date to feature 48 stars on the obverse, after the admission of New Mexico and Arizona as the 47th and 48th states, respectively.

1915 $20 MS65 PCGS
Just 152,000 of these pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the year, and none have been certified finer.

1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS
One of the important rarities in the series, after much of the 558,000 mintage was melted in the 1930s.

1924-D $20 MS64 PCGS. Ex: Brahin.
A stunning near-Gem, with frosty luster and amazing coloration; PCGS has certified only seven finer.

1924-S $20 MS64 PCGS. Ex: Park Avenue Collection
Sharply struck and fully lustrous with rich honey-gold color, highlighted by light olive toning.

1925-D $20 MS64 PCGS
Another date whose rarity is established by the melting pots during the late 1930s.

1925-S $20 MS63 PCGS
Fewer than 1,000 pieces survive in all grades.

1926-D $20 MS64 PCGS
Since few were issued before melting, most known examples are in lower Mint State grades.

1929 $20 MS65 PCGS
After many common Philadelphia issues from 1922 through 1928, the 1929 double eagle begins a final string of rare dates through the end of the series in 1933. Only five certified finer.

1930-S $20 MS64 PCGS
David Akers considers the 1930-S to be the sixth rarest date of the series overall.

1931 $20 MS64 PCGS. Ex: Park Avenue Collection.
This sharp near-Gem is highly lustrous with frosty yellow-gold surfaces enhanced by faint pink and olive toning.

1931-D $20 MS64 PCGS
One of the six rare issues that complete the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series.

Images, descriptions, and prices realized from all of Heritage's previous auctions are available in the Permanent Auction Archives at the Heritage website, www.HA.com.

To reserve a copy of the catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.