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Christina Rees

Christina Rees

Director of Public Relations and Communications

CRees@HA.com
Steve Lansdale

Steve Lansdale

Senior Public Relations and Communications Specialist

SteveL@HA.com
Rhonda Reinhart

Rhonda Reinhart

Intelligent Collector Editor and Communications Specialist

RhondaR@HA.com
Jesse Hughey

Jesse Hughey

Public Relations Specialist

JesseH@ha.com

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Press Release - May 18, 2007

Gold Rarities Highlight Heritage Long Beach Signature Auction

Dallas, TX: The Official Auction of the May/June 2007 Long Beach Coin Expo will be held by Heritage Auction Galleries, May 31-June 1 in Long Beach. The auction contains magnificent selections of rarities from most series, and is especially rich in important gold coins. The auction will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Ave in Long Beach, California. Lots will be available for viewing May 29 through June 1. Visit HA.com for location and session details.

"The Long Beach Signature Auction," noted Heritage President Greg Rohan, "is high-lighted by The Diamond K Collection of California Fractional Gold, Part Two of The Cary & Cheryl Porter Collection of Classic Commemoratives, and The Utah Collection. Additionally, we have consignments from nearly 200 consignors, many of them significant."

"The exceptional gold rarities include many ranked as the finest known or of the highest Registry quality. Among the wonderful gold pieces in Long Beach are:

A pair of 1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal Fifty Dollars, both certified MS65 NGC

One of the more interesting items is a massive 1238-gram gold nugget from Australia, part of a specialized collection."

Long Beach highlights:

Lot 56: Condition Census 1796 No Pole Half Cent, NCS. XF Details.
The finest example Heritage has ever offered of the C-1, B-1a, R.6 variety.

Lot 175: 1894 Indian Cent, Doubled Date, MS65 Red NGC. Breen-2024, Snow-1
This is one of the most dramatic repunched dates in American numismatics.

Lot 491: 1914/3-S Buffalo Nickel Overdate, MS64 NGC, FS-014.89
One of the recently discovered rarities, overlooked until 1996 or 1997.

Lot 591: 1937-D Three-Legged Nickel, MS65 PCGS. FS-020.2.
The most famous late die state for 20th century American coinage, the Three-Legged 1937-D variety resulted from heavy die polishing that effaced one of the bison's forelegs.

Lot 623: 1891 Silver Proof Set, each PR66 NGC
Each of the four coins in this set have cameo contrast, are similarly toned, and nicely matched.

Lot 624: 1903 Proof Set, PR66 to PR68 NGC
An exquisite six-coin, well-matched 1903 proof set displaying beautiful original toning.

Lots 626-631: 7 coins, comprising the #1 PCGS Registry Set of 1936 Proof Coinage
Grades range from PR66 Red PCGS to Satin Finish PR68 PCGS.

Lot 762: 1919-D Dime, MS65 Full Bands NGC
High grade examples with Full Bands are difficult to come by, with only five certified finer.

Lot 785: 1927-S Dime, MS67 Full Bands NGC
One of the keys to the Mercury dime series, this is the only MS67 Full Bands certified by the two major services, with none finer.

Lot 866: 1815 Quarter, MS66 NGC
B-1 is the only known die pair, and Condition Census as only one coin certified finer.

Lot 1001: 1927-S Quarter, MS63 Full Head NGC
The 1927-S is the series key, especially in Full Head.

Lot 1346: 1852 Seated Dollar, MS62 NGC
After 1849's discovery of gold in California, the plentiful supplies of the gold made the relative price of silver rise, and they were melted as their melt value exceeded their face value. Only 2 certified finer.

Lot 1366: 1872-CC Seated Dollar, MS62 PCGS
Delivery of the 1872 new coin dies to the Carson City Mint was delayed when snowfall blocked the mountain passes.

Lot 1393: 1882 Trade Dollar, PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC
Secretary of the Treasury John Sherman ordered the cessation of Trade dollar coinage by February 22, 1878.

Lot 1484: 1884-S Silver Dollar MS64 NGC
The 1884-S is among the most difficult S-mint issues in the Morgan dollar series; only three certified finer.

Lot 1511: 1887-S Morgan Dollar MS65 Deep Mirror Prooflike PCGS
Ex: Jack Lee 2 and superlative thus.

Lot 1547: 1891 Dollar MS65 Deep Mirror Prooflike NGC
Gem Deep Mirror Prooflike coins - with a sharp strike, deeply mirrored prooflike surfaces, good luster, minimal abrasions, and overall Gem quality - are as rare as the proverbial hen's teeth; this is the only piece so graded at NGC, with none finer.

Lot 1602: 1896-O Silver Dollar MS64 PCGS
A Morgan dollar rarity near the top of the Condition Census numerically.

Lot 1603: 1897 Morgan Dollar MS67 PCGS
Among the finest 1897 Morgan dollars at either service.

Lot 1654: 1893 Morgan Dollar PR68 Cameo PCGS
This is the only PR68 Cameo certified by PCGS; one of the finest examples known.

Lot 1738: 1900 Lafayette Dollar MS67 NGC, DuVall 2-C
A wonderful example worthy of the finest collection, with none finer at either service.

Lot 1972: 1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal Fifty Dollar MS65 NGC
The octagonal fifties were popular at the time, though the $100 price meant that their popularity translated into few actual sales; only 645 pieces found buyers.

Lot 1973: 1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal Fifty Dollar MS65 NGC
Ex: Swiss America/Dr. Merritt. This immaculately preserved Gem is evenly toned in a lovely shade of deep greenish-gold, and is a wonderful example of this legendary commemorative.

Lot 2120: 1855 Gold Dollar MS65 PCGS
A rare opportunity to acquire this short-lived type in flashy Gem condition.

Lot 2147: 1804 14 Stars Quarter Eagle, MS61 PCGS
A late obverse die state, apparently only the second known along with the ANS coin.

Lot 2165: 1847-C Quarter Eagle, MS64 NGC
This is a remarkable coin with satiny luster, reflective fields, and sharp design definition.

Lot 2173: 1852-D Quarter Eagle MS61 PCGS. Variety 15-M
The 1 in the date is close to the bust, while the 2 is equidistant between the bust and the denticles. The 5 is noticeably slanted, and the 2 is much wider than the other three digits.

Lot 2189: 1859-D Quarter Eagle MS62 PCGS. Variety 21-M
This is a low mintage date with a production of just 2,244 coins, and the last quarter eagle ever coined at the Dahlonega Mint.

Lot 2307: 1889 Three Dollar Gold Piece MS66 PCGS
The denomination was discontinued in 1889; only two certified finer.

Lot 2308: 1854 Proof Three Dollar PR62 PCGS
From 1854 through 1858, the Mint did not accurately record the number of proof gold pieces struck each year, but the 1854's rarity shows in the certification figures: 3 in 62 with 4 finer. Ex: John Jay Pittman Collection

Lot 2333: 1844-D Half Eagle MS63 NGC. Variety 11-H. Medium Mintmark.
The only variety of this year known; Census: 2 in 63, 1 finer.

Lot 2399: 1904 Half Eagle PR65 Cameo PCGS
The Smithsonian 1904 proof five is considered a PR64 Cameo by specialists, as is the Eliasberg coin; the few Gems are pedigreed to famous collections such as Pittman and Bass.

Lot 2432: 1915 Indian Half Eagle MS65 PCGS
Not a single piece has received a higher grade by PCGS.

Lot 2438: 1801 Eagle, MS64 NGC, Breen-6843, Taraszka-25, BD-2
Researchers have determined that two obverse dies and two reverse dies were combined to create two varieties of the 1801 eagles; only four graded finer.

Lot 2457: 1871-CC Eagle $10 AU58 NGC
From the second year of production for the Carson City Mint.

Lot 2464: 1878-CC Ten Dollar AU55 NGC. Variety 1-A
The 1878-CC eagle is among the rarest Carson City tens in overall rarity; only four certified finer.

Lot 2502: 1907 Rolled Edge Ten, MS65 PCGS
Commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt to create new coinage designs, August Saint-Gaudens' creations for the eagles and double eagles are ranked among the most beautiful designs in the entire panorama of American coinage.

Lot 2505 1908 No Motto Eagle, MS66 NGC
Charles Barber and George T. Morgan retouched the master hub and die and made new working dies to better bring up the stars, date, and inscriptions, although still without the motto IN GOD WE TRUST that was added later in the year, per Congressional mandate.

Lot 2515: 1913 Ten Dollar Indian MS66 PCGS
A distinguished survivor, with only one coin certified finer by the two major grading services.

Lot 2531: 1850-O Double Eagle AU58 PCGS
This piece is tied for the finest example certified by PCGS.

Lot 2553: 1859-O Liberty Double Eagle, AU50 PCGS
The elusive nature of this coin begins with its minuscule mintage, only 9,100 pieces in pre-Civil War New Orleans.

Lot 2558: 1861-O Twenty Dollar, AU55 NGC
Three different governments produced these coins: the United States; the State of Louisiana; and the Confederacy.

Lot 2595: 1876-S Double Eagle, MS64 PCGS
The PCGS population is just 50, with only one finer piece!

Lot 2597: 1877 Double Eagle MS64 PCGS
The single finest at PCGS.

Lot 2611: 1883-S Double Eagle MS64 PCGS
No finer coin is known to either NGC or PCGS (4/07).

Lot 2635: 1891-CC Double Eagle, MS61 PCGS
In 1891, it fell to Carson City and Philadelphia to supply gold eagles and half eagles for the nation's commerce; only five certified finer.

Lot 2703: MCMVII Wire Rim High Relief MS65 PCGS
A splendid, instantly appealing Gem representative of this coveted single-year type.

Lot 2707: MCMVII Flat Rim High Relief MS66 PCGS
MS66 or finer High Relief examples are seldom offered.

Lot 2715: 1908-S Double Eagle MS66 PCGS
A magnificent example, with a mere five certified finer.

Lot 2719: 1909-D Double Eagle MS65 PCGS. Ex: Brahin
The mintage of 52,500 pieces is among the lowest in the Saint-Gaudens series.

Lot 2720: 1909-D Double Eagle MS65 NGC
Census: 5 in 65, 1 finer (4/07).

Lot 2733: 1911 Double Eagle MS65 PCGS
Very few high grade survivors are known today.

Lot 2769: 1916-S Double Eagle MS67 NGC
This marks only the third time that Heritage has offered an MS67 of this issue; none certified finer.

Lot 2772: 1921 Double Eagle MS64 PCGS
An absolute and condition rarity in the Saint-Gaudens series. Population: 3 in 64, 4 finer (4/07). Ex: Morse Collection

Lot 2781: 1923 Double Eagle MS66 PCGS. Ex: Dr. Steven Duckor.
With highly lustrous surfaces of bright orange-gold color and brilliant mint frost, this piece is tied for the finest example that PCGS has certified.

Lot 2803: 1926-D Double Eagle MS65 PCGS
The Denver Mint struck 481,000 double eagles in 1926, but most were melted in the 1930s.

Lot 2807: 1926-S Double Eagle MS65 PCGS
The 1926-S is a challenging date to locate in Gem or better condition; only 2 certified finer (4/07).

Lot 2819: 1929 Double Eagle MS65 PCGS
Among the most challenging of all Saint-Gaudens issues save for a handful of legendary rarities, a coin as appealing as it is elusive, with only five certified finer.

Lot 2820: 1931-D Double Eagle MS65 PCGS
An important end-of-the-series rarity, as most of the year's double eagles never left Treasury or bank vaults and were ultimately melted.

Lot 2825: 1852 Assay Office Fifty Dollar, 900 Thous. AU53 NGC. K-14, High R.5.
Remarkably few of these large-format gold coins have survived in mint condition.

Lot 2829: 1834 C. Bechtler Five Dollar, K-17, MS61 Plain Edge MS61 NGC.
When the weight of federal gold coins was reduced, the Bechtlers began issuing coinage with the new, reduced standard gold content. Well within the Condition Census, with a mere three certified finer (4/07).

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.