Feb 18-19, 2002, The Benson Collection Part 2, Sale 13
Lot 3300
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1937 PDS
Boone Half Dollar Set. Each is NGC graded MS-65. Frosty and white, with a few
marks on each coin. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $650-700.
Lot 3301
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1925-S
California Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-66. A well struck gem that is quite
reflective, and shows some gold toning near the edge. Free of distracting handling marks.
Estimated Value $900-1,100.
Lot 3302
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1954 PDS
Carver-Washington Half Dollar Set. Each coin is NGC graded MS-65. Frosty
luster on each, and no signs of toning. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $200-220.
Lot 3303
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1936
Cleveland Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Bright and lustrous.
Estimated
Value $100-115.
Lot 3304
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1936
Cleveland Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Bright luster and a couple of ticks
from perfection.
Estimated Value $100-115.
Lot 3305
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1936
Cleveland Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Satiny and bright, with a fingerprint
on the obverse.
Estimated Value $100-115.
Lot 3306
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1936
Cleveland Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Hazy gold toning over lustrous
fields.
Estimated Value $100-115.
Lot 3307
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1924
Huguenot-Walloon Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Hazy white in color, and
satiny.
Estimated Value $240-260.
Lot 3308
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1946 Iowa
Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-66. Bright and lustrous, without any surface
problems.
Estimated Value $80-90.
Lot 3309
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1946 Iowa
Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS-65. Frosty and lustrous, with just a touch of
toning, in an old green insert PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $60-80.
Lot 3310
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1921
Missouri Half Dollar, 2 x 4. NGC graded MS-65. Flashy, bright luster on both
sides, and with a decent strike. Here is one of the most difficult dates and varieties to
find in gem condition. No signs of toning on either side, and clean surfaces too.
Estimated Value $2,200-2,400.
Lot 3311
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1921
Missouri Half Dollar, no 2 x 4. PCGS graded MS-65. Strong luster for this
issue, with a good strike too, and nearly white in color save for a touch of gold
starting to form. Always in demand as one of the scarcer commemorative issues.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
Lot 3312
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1938 PDS
Oregon Trail Half Dollar Set. Each is NGC graded as follows: Philadelphia MS-65;
Denver MS-64 and San Francisco MS-66. Bright and untoned. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $450-500.
Lot 3313
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1926
Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Hazy and white, with good
luster and a typical strike for this issue. Minor contact marks, but still a clear gem.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,700.
Lot 3314
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1937 PDS
Texas Half Dollar Set. These are each NGC graded as follows: Philadelphia Mint
MS-64; Denver Mint MS-66 and San Francisco Mint MS-66. A frosty, untoned set that
boasts good surfaces and strikes. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $300-330.
Lot 3315
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1946
Booker T. Washington Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. Lovely toning and clean
surfaces too.
Estimated Value $25-UP.
Lot 3316
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1946-D
Booker T. Washington Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-67. One of only 20 graded this
high by NGC, with none graded higher! Bright luster, with a ring of vibrant gold at the
edges on both sides. Simply superb.
Estimated Value $400-450.
Lot 3317
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1946-S
Booker T. Washington Half Dollar. NGC graded MS-65. The holder incorrectly
identifies this as a 1946-D. Lightly toned over luster.
Estimated Value $25-UP.
Lot 3318
Commemorative Silver Coin, 1947 PDS
Booker T. Washington Half Dollar Set. Each is NGC graded as follows: Philadelphia
MS-65; Denver MS-66 and San Francisco MS-65. All are bright and lustrous, with no
signs of toning. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 3319
$2.50 Gold Classic Head, 1836.
Script 8. NGC graded MS-60. Well struck at the periphery, while the centers
show minor weakness. Frosty luster in the fields, and moderate handling marks on both
sides.
Estimated Value $1,300-1,500.
Lot 3320
$2.50 Gold Liberty, 1886.
PCGS graded MS-63. This one is sharply struck throughout, with good luster in
the fields and pleasing color. Minor handling ticks.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,200.
Lot 3321
$2.50 Gold Liberty, 1902.
PCGS graded MS-65. A flashy gem that has resplendent luster and a bold strike.
This one is housed in the old small style PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $950-1,050.
Lot 3322
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1908. PCGS
graded MS-64. First year of issue, and scarce any better. A few areas of trivial
weakness.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3323
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1908. PCGS
graded MS-63. A few stray marks in the fields. Good luster.
Estimated Value
$500-600.
Lot 3324
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1909. PCGS
graded MS-63. Well balanced for the grade.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 3325
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1910. NGC
graded MS-63. Subdued luster and typical for the grade.
Estimated Value $450-475.
Lot 3326
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1911. PCGS
graded MS-63. A choice coin in every way, with excellent surfaces and pleasing color.
Estimated Value $450-475.
Lot 3327
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1912. PCGS
graded MS-63. One tick on the cheek, but good luster and nice color.
Estimated
Value $450-475.
Lot 3328
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1913. PCGS
graded MS-63. Problem free surfaces and lovely color.
Estimated Value $450-475.
Lot 3329
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1915. NGC
graded MS-63. Lustrous and well struck. A few minor spots.
Estimated Value
$450-475.
Lot 3330
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1925-D.
PCGS graded MS-63. Splendid quality for the date and grade, with beautiful
luster and choice surfaces.
Estimated Value $500-550.
Lot 3331
$2.50 Gold Indian, 1927. NGC
graded MS-63. Flatly struck on the lower feathers, but lustrous and still very choice
and lustrous.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3332
$5 Gold Liberty, 1899. NGC
graded MS-64. Frosty mint color and minimal handling marks.
Estimated Value
$700-800.
Lot 3333
$5 Gold Liberty, 1900. NGC
graded MS-64. This one is very nice for the grade assigned, bold luster and well
struck too.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3334
$5 Gold Liberty, 1901-S. PCGS
graded MS-64. Blazing luster and well struck. In an old green insert holder.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3335
$5 Gold Liberty, 1903-S. NGC
graded MS-64. Scattered tick marks from full gem condition and lovely mint color
throughout.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3336
$5 Gold Indian, 1909-D. PCGS
graded MS-63. Decent luster and surfaces for the grade.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3337
$5 Gold Indian, 1909-D. NGC
graded MS-63. Sharply struck by the dies, with good luster and average surfaces.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3338
$5 Gold Indian, 1912. PCGS
graded MS-63. A slightly better date, this one has average surfaces.
Estimated
Value $750-800.
Lot 3339
$10 Gold Liberty, 1858. PCGS
graded MS-64. A classic rarity in all grades, and this piece has long been known
to be the Finest Known. Boasting full mint bloom, this coin possesses all the eye
appeal of a common date gem, but when one realizes that this is an 1858, the magnitude of
this phenomenal coin starts to come into focus. Mintages plunged to 2,521 for 1858, as
the United States economy followed the direction of the sinking Central America ship
downwards. Demand for coins fell, and production was greatly curtailed. Of the original
mintage, most were spent, lost or melted. Today, with the benefit of decades of auction
records and population reports, we can estimate that 20 to 30 are known in all grades.
One other example has been certified by NGC as MS-61, with all other known coins of this
date in circulated grades. At the very top of the grading scale resides this proud
specimen, with no hint of any competition.
Although PCGS reports 3 known as MS-64,
they are all this same coin, as is the NGC MS-64 reported. This coin was graded 14 years
ago and the owner felt it should grade higher, and in the last few years had resubmitted
it for grading. During this process, the reported number of MS-64 pieces has grown, and
the inserts have been submitted to PCGS to properly reflect only 1 coin as MS-64, and we
expect the future Population Reports to be adjusted accordingly.
Numismatically
discovered in 1972, a man walked in to the offices of Manfra, Tordella and Brookes and
sold the coin to Paul Nugget of that firm. The owner stated that the coin had been held
in a small chamois pouch since the time it was struck. This coin was then sold to Frank
Bohren, and after he passed away was offered in Auction '80 as lot 954 where it realized
$115,000. Soon after that auction, the coin was obtained by Andy Lustig, who sold it to
Warren Miller. Miller later sold his fabulous eagle collection through Heritage in
October of 1995, where this was lot 6309.
Any collector who demands the absolute
finest known coins would do well to purchase this famous rarity.
Estimated Value
$65,000-85,000.
Purchased over the counter in 1972 by Manfra, Tordella & Brookes
to Frank Bohren; Auction '80:954; unknown to Andy Lustig to Warren Miller privately,
Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc., 10-5-1995: 6309.
Lot 3340
$10 Gold Indian, 1926. NGC
graded MS-64. Excellent luster and typical of this issue. Clean surfaces save for one
contact mark in the left obverse field.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3341
$20 Gold Liberty, 1858-S.
PCGS graded AU-53. Nearly new in terms of condition, but with the usual tick
marks from handling.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 3342
$20 Gold Liberty, 1874-S. NGC
graded AU-58. Copious luster but with the usual handling marks too.
Estimated
Value $500-600.
Lot 3343
$20 Gold Liberty, 1904. NGC
graded MS-65. A classic gem example of this common date, great luster and surfaces
throughout.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,800.
Lot 3344
$20 Gold Liberty, 1906. PCGS
graded Proof 61. This coin is rare in any proof grade, Philadelphia coined just 94 in
proof, and perhaps half of those survive. This one boasts good cameo contrast between the
fields and devices, but shows numerous small contact marks, mostly in the mirror fields,
which account for the grade given by PCGS. While not the most beautiful example, it
certainly retains the proof surfaces and represents an affordable example of this rare
issue.
Estimated Value $4,500-5,000.
Lot 3345
$20 Gold Liberty, 1906-S. NGC
graded MS-64. Scattered minor ticks from gem, but far better than most of this date.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,800.
Lot 3346
$20 Gold Liberty, 1907-S. NGC
graded MS-64. A very nice coin for the grade assigned, and worth a look. Scarce this
nice, and the surfaces show very few marks indeed.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,800.
Lot 3347
$20 Gold St. Gaudens, 1908. No
motto. PCGS graded MS-66. Gleaming luster and a decent strike for this date.
In an old green insert PCGS holder. Superb fields and surfaces.
Estimated Value
$1,500-1,700.
Lot 3348
$20 Gold St. Gaudens, 1908. No
motto. PCGS graded MS-64. Mint fresh and nearly a gem.
Estimated Value
$375-425.
Lot 3349
$20 Gold St. Gaudens, 1922.
PCGS graded MS-64 Premium Quality. Bright luster and flashy. Better surfaces
than usual for this grade, and this one is housed in an old small PCGS holder.
Estimated Value $575-675.
Lot 3350
Medal, The American Arts Gold
Commemorative Series, 7 and one half ounces of gold. These gold medals are mint
state, as were issued each year from 1980 to 1985. Both a one ounce and half ounce
medal were struck for each of the five years, for a total of 10 medals. Such famous
people as Mark Twain, Louis Armstrong, Grant Wood, Robert Frost and Helen Hayes are
depicted on the one ounce coins, the half ounce coins include Marian Anderson, Willa
Cather, Flank Lloyd Wright, Alexander Calder and John Steinbeck. These are mounted in a
custom Capital Plastics holder and box. Lot of 10 coins.
Estimated Value
$2,000-2,200.