The Mickley-Hawn-Queller specimen, a Class I “Original” 1804 dollar – considered “The King of American Coins” – may set numismatic history as Heritage Auctions presents several high-value private collections as the official auctioneer of California’s Long Beach Expo June 13-18.
The multi-million dollar auction series exceeds 4,900 lots and includes one of the highest-valued, privately owned gatherings of U.S. type ever offered at a Long Beach event.
“This could be a record-setting Long Beach event, the likes of which numismatics has not seen in years,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. “It’s always a thrill to offer the world’s most famous coins alongside an already-stunning selection of private collections. That’s not even including a very special announcement Heritage will make during the event.”
The Mickley-Hawn-Queller specimen, a Class I “Original”, will cross the block during the week’s June 14 Premier evening session. For more than a century, the 1804 dollar has reigned as the “King” of U.S. coinage, a fitting title to bestow on a coin made for royalty. The U.S. Mint received orders to strike complete sets of proof coinage meant to serve as diplomatic gifts for sovereigns such as the Sultan of Muscat, the King of Siam and the Emperors of Cochin-China and Japan.
The specimen, encapsulated in a PCGS PR62 holder, most recently sold at auction in 2013, when it realized $3.87 million.
Long Beach 2018 introduces “An Important New York Collection,” an important selection of U.S. type. Also scheduled for the Premier session, the collection features 21 breath-taking lots:
- A national treasure: a 1793 With Periods Chain cent, MS65 Brown PCGS. CAC – a rare surviving example of the very first Federal type coin ever minted, and a specimen with impeccable provenance (Ex: Cleneay-Atwater-Eliasberg).
- A 1796 No Stars quarter eagle, BD-2, MS61 PCGS, a historic first-year condition rarity and an important one-year type.
- An 1870 Liberty Head twenty dollar, PR65 Ultra Cameo NGC. CAC – the second-finest known of just five or six survivors in collectors’ hands.
- The finest known Continental dollar: a 1776 EG FECIT Pewter Continental dollar, MS67 NGC, an astonishing coin whose origin has fascinated numismatists for more than 200 years.
- A 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar, B-1, BB-11, XF40 PCGS. CAC, displaying a sharp strike, full date and sharp stars.
- An 1805/4 Draped Bust half dollar, O-101, T-4, MS64 NGC. CAC, arguably the finest 1805 half dollar of any variety (Ex: “Col.” E.H.R. Green-Eric P. Newman-Oliver Jung)
- An 1804 Draped Bust quarter, Browning-1, MS65 NGC. CAC, the finest certified by NGC or PCGS (Ex: “Col.” E.H.R. Green, Jerome Kern)
- An 1840-C five dollar gold, MS64+ PCGS Secure. CAC, none finer at either service and the finest ever graded by PCGS.
Additional show-stopping coins include the finest certified 1873 Arrows Seated Half Dollar, MS66+, a breathtaking example of the few surviving Premium Gem specimens known to exist.
From The Reilly Cody Collection, a scarce BD-6 Variety 1795 Small Eagle Five, AU55, offers seasoned collectors the rare opportunity to own a piece from the final use of the blundered S Over D reverse die, which shows the final S in STATES punched over an errant D.
The auction also holds surprising offerings such as a group of artist Edwin Warren Sawyer’s 1913 Native American Portrait Galvanos. Offered across 18 individual lots, Sawyer’s iconic bronze medallic art remains highly respected as both artistic and historic achievements.
Heritage Auctions’ Long Beach Expo Auction opens for bidding May 25 at coins.HA.com. Lot preview begins June 9-11 at Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills, 9478 West Olympic Boulevard, and June 12-16 at the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 East Ocean Boulevard.
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