Heritage Presents Numismatic Signature Auction in Dallas!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc (HNAI) will hold its upcoming Signature Auction December 12-14, 2005 in their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

"This has been a phenomenal year for us," said Greg Rohan, President of HNAI, and I can't think of a more appropriate way to wrap it up than with a major Signature auction held right here at home."

"There are several important anchor consignments in this auction," said Rohan, "starting with the Frank Manthey Collection, a wonderful assemblage of U.S. Gold. Carefully assembled over the last ten years, Mr. Manthey used his keen eye for quality to put together a marvelous collection with an emphasis on early half eagles. Many of the coins in this collection are considered to be of premium quality, with several being among the finest known examples. A number of Mr. Manthey's coins have been off the market for the last decade, so this is an excellent opportunity for numismatists to improve their collections of these fascinating issues."

Highlights of the Frank Manthey Collection include:

• 1795 $5 Small Eagle MS62 PCGS.
• 1796/5 $5 Sm Eagle AU58 NGC.
• 1802/1 $5 MS64 PCGS.
• 1807 $5 Bust Right MS64 PCGS.
• 1811 $5 Tall 5 MS63 PCGS.
• 1818 $5 5D Over 50 MS64 NGC.
• 1820 $5 MS63 PCGS.
• 1833 $5 MS64 NGC.
• 1838-D $5 MS60 NGC.
• 1855-C $5 AU58 PCGS.
• 1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS63 NGC.

"The very private collector of the Meads Point Collection had an eye for American gold - or to be more specific, for Indian quarter eagles and Liberty double eagles," said Rohan. "He raised six children, so perhaps he can be excused for coming to coins relatively late in his life. But what a fascinating life this industrial designer led! He designed exhibits for the World's Fairs in New York City, Osaka, and Brussels. He served on the Board of the International College in Beirut when Lebanon was the most cosmopolitan country in the Middle East. He restored an old wooden sailboat that had been in the family since the 1920s - and which now resides in a museum in Rhode Island. He loved to travel and by most measures was considered worldly, yet nothing pleased him as much as quietly reading about history. His love of history is reflected in his outstanding numismatic collection."

Highlights of the Meads Point Collection include:

• 1871-CC $20 AU55 NGC.
• 1872-CC $20 MS61 NGC.
• 1872-CC $20 MS61 NGC.
• 1873-CC $20 AU58 NGC.
• 1911-D $2 1/2 MS63 NGC.

"Henry Luhrs was a student of history and a passionate collector in wide variety of areas," Rohan said. "Active from the 1930s until 1960, Mr. Luhrs purchased from the most famous dealers of his day, and sought usual and unusual items of quality. Like many collectors of his day, the late Mr. Luhrs collected to hold and to appreciate, and never to sell - so many of these coins have been off the market for 45 to 75 years. Mr. Luhrs' Collection spans American numismatics, from his 1793 Liberty Cap Cent to dozens of Proof-67 Mercury, Washington, and Walking Liberty pieces; from more than 100 double eagles to more than 250 silver commemoratives (many MS66). I should mention that Heritage will be auctioning the multi-million dollar Henry Luhrs & Lincoln Library Collection of manuscripts, autographs, rare books, and Americana - one of the most significant and extensive to be auctioned in years - in Dallas on February 20, 2006, so interested bidders will want to visit HeritageGalleries.com in the coming months for more details.

Highlights of the Henry Luhrs Collection include:

• 1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Two Leaves AU53 NGC.
• 1851-O $20 AU55 NGC.
• 1878-CC $20 AU53 NGC.
• 1922 50C Grant with Star MS65 PCGS.
• 1936 50C PR66 NGC.

"Part One of Phillip Morse's amazing collection of the coinage designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens was sold in our "Palm Beach" auction on November 3 - in Dallas Texas, thanks to Hurricane Wilma - for an astounding $19.2 million," said Rohan, "establishing multiple world-records. We are pleased to offer additional selections and duplicates from his collections in this current auction. Whether you were one of the lucky bidders who managed to add a part of Mr. Morse's collection to your own in November, or whether you missed that history-making event, you'll want to be a part of this auction, as the Morse collection features some of the finest coins it's ever been our privilege to handle."

Highlights of the Phillip H. Morse Collection of Saint-Gaudens Coinage, Part II include:

• 1911 $20 PR68 NGC.
• 1913 $20 PR67 NGC.
• 1915 $20 PR65 NGC.
• 1924-D $20 MS65 NGC.
• 1925-D $20 MS65 NGC.
• 1927-S $20 MS66 NGC.
• 1930-S $20 MS66 PCGS.
• 1931-D $20 MS65 PCGS.

"Albert Willis, like so many other numismatists, started collecting stamps and coins as a child during the 1950s and 1960s," Rohan said. "And like so many others, he lapsed while college and starting a family became higher priorities, and then rejoined the hobby when time and finances permitted. By the 1980s, Mr. Willis was pursuing high quality coins, following the goal of obtaining the best grade he could find for the money. His second foray into numismatics was more sophisticated from the start, and he especially preferred earlier material such as Large Cents and Bust Halves, but he didn't shy from more classic series like Trade dollars, or even completing attractive modern series such as his Peace Dollars. He purchased by mail order from many dealers, and was a regular buyer in Heritage's auctions. We are proud to offer the collection of this dedicated numismatist."

Highlights of the Albert E. Willis Collection include:

• 1836 50C Reeded Edge PR62 PCGS.
• 1860 50C MS66 NGC.
• 1874 T$1 PR67 NGC.
• 1875-CC T$1 MS65 NGC.
• 1878 $3 MS65 PCGS.
• 1925-S $1 MS65 NGC.

Additional auction highlights include:

• 1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Two Leaves MS62 PCGS.
• 1795 $5 Small Eagle MS61 NGC.
• 1800 1C MS65 Brown PCGS.
• 1800 $1 MS63 PCGS.
• 1801 $1 MS63 NGC.
• 1804 25C MS62 PCGS.
• 1836/1336 50C Lettered Edge PR64 Cameo PCGS.
• 1865 $1 PR67 NGC.
• 1878 $10 PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC.
• 1883 $3 PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS.
• 1885 $1 PR68 Cameo NGC.
• 1905-S 50C MS67 NGC.
• 1909-S 1C MS67 Red NGC.

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

To purchase a catalog for any Heritage Auction, please contact Nicole Jewell at Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc., 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX, 75219 or visit HeritageCoins.com to order by credit card.

For additional Heritage press releases, please visit http://www.heritagecoins.com/common/info/press/default.php.