Heritage Central States Auctions Net Over $10.5 Million Silverman Collection Leads List of Highlights

Dallas, TX -- Heritage’s Central States Signature Sale realized $9.8 million as the official auction of the April 2002 Central States Numismatic Society convention. The four-session sale was conducted April 25-27 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Internet-only Bullet Auction, Heritage’s largest ever with more than 2,500 lots, realized an additional $750,000.

The long-awaited Morris Silverman Collection of Silver Dollars stole the show at Central States. “The auction room was standing room-only Thursday night when the Silverman Collection came up for sale,” noted Greg Rohan, Heritage’s Executive VP. “The floor bidding was so intense that at times we felt as though the gavel would never fall on some of the key coins. The 1875-S/CC Trade Dollar in MS65 NGC, the discovery piece of a new die marriage of this popular overmintmark issue, realized an impressive $34,500 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?288006014). The Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb specimen of the fabled 1884 Trade Dollar traded hands for $138,000 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?288006007), and the Jack Lee example of the proof-only 1895 Morgan Dollar garnered $103,600 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?288006011). The 1884 Trade Dollar was graded PR63 by PCGS, and the 1895 Morgan Dollar PR68 by NGC. And an originally toned 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar with a Silver Plug realized $34,500 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?288006043). The coin, a Die State I example of the B-7, BB-18 die marriage, was certified AU50 by PCGS.”

“As impressive as the prices realized were for the Silverman Collection, one should not overlook the other anchor collections in our Central States Signature Sale,” stated Bob Korver, Heritage’s Director of Auctions. “We offered some fabulous Colonials in the Hudson Valley Collection, among which was an XF45 PCGS example of the Lord Baltimore Sixpence that traded hands for $10,350. A 1760 Hibernia-Voce Populi Farthing graded MS63 Brown PCGS auctioned for $8,913, and a 1783 Chalmers Short Worm Shilling changed ownership at $7,763 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?288097193). Certified at the AU55 level by PCGS, the latter coin is currently the finest known survivor of this important early Federal-era issue.”

Continued Rohan: “The Ted Clark Collection of Overdate Coins included an 1853/2 Liberty Double Eagle with Unc details, according to ANACS. That example is the plate coin in Walter Breen’s 1998 Encyclopedia, and it brought an impressive $9,200. We also sold several PCGS Registry Sets, including Steve Pascal’s collection of Franklin Half Dollars. His MS65 Full Bell Lines representative of the key date 1953-S sold for $8,970, which is the highest realized price that we have on record for a ‘53-S Half in this grade.”

“The Cardinal Collection provided additional Early Dollars for collectors who may not have found what they were looking for among the Silverman coins,” explained Korver. “An extremely rare B-10, BB-22 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar graded VF35 PCGS realized $13,800, and a lovely AU58 PCGS example of the B-7, BB-95 1798 Knob 9 Dollar elicited $18,400 from the successful bidder.”

Concluded Rohan: “A 1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar that sold as lot 5860 in the sale exceeded out expectations when the gavel fell at $120,750 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?288068001). The coin is beautifully toned and certified MS65 in a first generation PCGS holder. The current Coin Dealer Newsletter (CDN, commonly referred to as the “Greysheet”) bid for this issue in MS65 is only $77,000.”

Prices realized for all lots in the Central States Signature Sale and Bullet Auction can be viewed online at http://www.HeritageCoin.com.

Additional Highlights from the Silverman Collection

• 1838 Name Omitted Gobrecht Dollar, Judd-84 Restrike, Pollock-93, Die Alignment III, R.5-6, PR64 PCGS, realized $34,500.
  
• 1870-CC Seated Dollar MS63 NGC, realized $29,900.
  
• 1884-S Morgan Dollar MS63 PCGS, realized $54,050.
  
• 1896-O Morgan Dollar MS65 PCGS, realized $149,500.
  
• 1922 High Relief Peace Dollar Matte PR66 NGC, realized $51,750.

Additional Highlights

• 1857 Flying Eagle Cent PR65 Cameo PCGS, realized $36,455.
  
• 1873-CC Arrows Seated Quarter AU55 PCGS, realized $25,875.
  
• 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar MS65 NGC, realized $43,700.
  
• 1922 High Relief Peace Dollar PR25 PCGS, realized $10,638.
  
• 1880 Flowing Hair Stella, Judd-1657, Pollock-1857, R.6, PR66 Cameo PCGS, realized $166,750.
  
• 1795 Capped Bust Right, Small Eagle Half Eagle MS62 NGC, realized $48,300.
  
• 1796 Capped Bust Right Eagle MS61 PCGS, realized $41,400.
  
• 1838 Liberty Eagle MS63 PCGS, realized $63,250.
  
• 1907 High Relief Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle MS66 NGC, realized $39,100.