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Press Release - July 19, 2010

Duckor Collection of Barber Half Dollars in Heritage Boston ANA Auction Includes Finest Known 1901-S

Important Collections anchor major summer auction in America’s most important Colonial city, Aug. 8-15

DALLAS, TX – The single finest 1901-S Half Dollar known, MS67+ PCGS Secure Plus, CAC, is expected to bring $70,000+ as Lot 3202 of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Aug. 8-15 Boston Signature® ANA Coin Auction. This singular coin comes to auction courtesy of the Dr. and Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Half Dollar Collection, with a pedigree that extends all the way back to the San Francisco Mint, which originally sent the coin to S. Benton Emery.

“The 1901-S half dollar is one of several coins in the collection to have a pedigree that begins with the mint of origin,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. “We felt it appropriate to offer coins of an historic nature given the American historical relevance of the venue. Boston is a great American numismatic city and this auction deserves coins equal to that historical weight.”

Many Colonial coins are returning to Boston, the city where they were struck, among them several of the best examples of Massachusetts silver coinage.

“Several consignors contributed important Massachusetts silver to this auction, but special mention has to be made of Dwight Manley’s NE Silver Collection,” said Rohan. “The set is small but mighty, just five lots accounting for a million dollars in estimated value. Any one item would be a worthy highlight, but ‘first among equals’ is Lot 3002, his New England Shilling, Noe III-C, not dated but struck in 1652, graded AU50 by PCGS. It is one of the earliest silver coins struck by a British colony in North America, a wonderful historic artifact owned by numismatic luminaries including F.C.C. Boyd and John J. Ford, Jr. It is estimated at $300,000+.”

A groundbreaking Territorial offering is Lot 3692, an 1855 Kellogg & Co. Fifty Dollar gold coin, graded PR60 by PCGS. It is a new discovery, just the 14^th example known and the first major addition to the modern census of the proof 1855 Kellogg & Co. issue since 1987. It is estimated at $400,000+.

“After extensive research, we came to the conclusion that this 1855 Kellogg & Co. coin is not one of the 13 previously identified examples,” said Rohan. “These coins were struck in proof format, likely for presentation purposes, and examples made for circulation are unknown. This enigmatic but undoubtedly important lot is a remarkable opportunity for the dedicated Territorial gold collector.”

A 1931 Double Eagle, MS67 PCGS, Lot 3650, a highlight of the Dr. Brandon Smith Collection, formerly from the esteemed Phillip H. Morse Collection of Saint-Gaudens Coinage. It is estimated at $250,000+.

“By 1931, while double eagle gold coins were struck, they were not released to banks, and most of the 1931 issue was melted without ever having left government control,” said Rohan. “This Superb Gem is the single finest example known to NGC or PCGS out of just 100 to 120 pieces known. Needless to say, we’re thrilled to be offering this great American coin.”

Another gold highlight is Lot 3561, a 1907 Wire Rim Saint-Gaudens Ten Dollar Pattern, Judd-1902, PR62 NGC, one of the most prestigious pieces Heritage is offering as part of the Jarosi Collection. This unique pattern in gold has the same design as the famous Judd-1901 Wire Rim Saint-Gaudens ten dollar coins, but the edge is plain rather than lettered, which suggests that this is one of the earliest gold impressions of the Saint-Gaudens eagle design, possibly the earliest. It is estimated at $175,000+.

Lot 4490, one of the finest Mercury Dimes in existence, a 1916-D, MS67 Full Bands PCGS, CAC, is one of the principal American silver coinage offerings in the entire auction. It comes to auction via the Joshua II Collection of Mercury Dimes, the #1 All-Time Finest PCGS Registry Set for the series, from which the 1916-D is the lowest-mintage issue. It is estimated at $100,000+.

“This is a simply magnificent example,” said Rohan. “Not only is it a Superb Gem, it’s one of just six MS67 Full Bands coins certified by PCGS, with none finer, the best example the collector behind Joshua II – or anyone else, for that matter – could hope to acquire.”

Another extraordinary half dollar that collectors will not want to miss is the 1817/4 Half Dollar, O-102a, VF20 PCGS, Lot 3147, a cornerstone of the Witham Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars. This is only the fourth Heritage auction appearance of this extremely rare overdate variety in the last 15 years, and while it is not the rarest Overton variety of Bust half dollar, it is easily among the most famous rarities in the series, owing to its appearances in the famous Guide Book of United States Coins, which elevated it in the eyes of generalist collectors. It is estimated at $80,000+.

Other Featured Collections scheduled to appear in the auction include the R.K. Banister Collection, the Perry Creek Collection, the Dr. and Mrs. Claude Davis Collection, the Captain Randolph Junuh Collection, the Snake River Collection, the Caleb Louis Collection of U.S. Gold Type, the Durham Eagle Collection, the Joe Scialdone Collection, and Selections from The Bob Simpson Collection.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

Lot 3614, 1908-S Double Eagle, MS66 PCGS, CAC: Outstanding preservation for this low-mintage date. Formerly in the Duckor cabinet, offered here From the Personal Collection of David W. Akers, legendary gold coin expert who “wrote the books” on America’s standard gold denominations. Estimated at $70,000+.

Lot 3742, 1915 Panama-Pacific Half Dollar in Gold, Judd-1960, PR64 NGC: One of just two examples known, pedigreed to Olsen, King Farouk, Norweb, and most recently the Lemus Collection. From the Jarosi Collection. Estimated at $300,000+.

Lot 3653, 1932 Double Eagle MS66 PCGS: Another important representative of a heavily melted late-date Saint-Gaudens double eagle issue from the Dr. Brandon Smith Collection. Estimated at $120,000+.

Lot 3174, 1892-O Micro O Half Dollar, MS65 PCGS Secure: A stunning Gem example of this famous and enigmatic miniature-mintmark variety, a perennial collector favorite. From the Dr. and Mrs. Steven L. Duckor Half Dollar Collection. Estimated at $70,000+.

Heritage Auctions, founded by Steve Ivy and Jim Halperin, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

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