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| 1776 CONTINENTAL DOLLAR
PEWTER – ‘EG FECIT’
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United States
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S$1 1776 PEWTER 'EG FECIT' CONTINENTAL
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NGC MS 65
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Pattern silver dollars were coined in various metals from these dies attributed to Elisha Gallaudet, whose initials appear on this specimen followed by the Latin FECIT (made it). Unfortunately, the infant United States had far more ambition than silver, so these coins were never produced for circulation. This amazing specimen is a very rare gem, and NGC has graded only two finer. It carries the NGC Star Designation indicating outstanding eye appeal.
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| 1794 SILVER DOLLAR
Ex: PARMALEE |
United States
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$1 1794 BB-1,B-1 PARMELEE
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NGC AU 55
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The coining of silver by the U. S. Mint was delayed while the coiner and assayer sought funds to post their hefty surety bonds. This was achieved in the fall of 1794, and a mere 2,000 silver dollars were coined with that date before Mint officers concluded that their existing presses were not good enough to continue striking such large coins. Only 1,758 examples were considered suitable for release, and this magnificent gem is among the finest of about 130 survivors. It is pedigreed to the famed collection of Lorin G. Parmalee, auctioned in 1890.
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| 1923 SILVER DOLLAR
MINT ERROR |
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STRUCK 1923 $1 DOUBLE FIRST STRIKE OFF CENTER
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NGC MINT ERROR MS 64
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In any manufacturing process errors will occur, but the U. S. Mint has always taken great pains to avoid their being released. Most seen are on small coins, and any silver dollar error is a real rarity. This Peace Dollar was struck twice, with the first impression plainly visible far below the second on the obverse and way above it on the reverse. That this very obvious error coin even escaped the mint is simply amazing, but on top of that it remains in lustrous, near gem condition. A unique and dramatic error, this is one for the record books.
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| 1864 QUARTER EAGLE
Ex: REED |
United States
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$2.5 1864 REED
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NGC MS 67
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Byron Reed amassed a fortune investing in Omaha, Nebraska real estate. Upon his death in 1891 he willed his vast coin collection to the people of Omaha, where much of it remains today at the Western Heritage Museum. Among the items de-accessioned in 1996 was this glorious quarter eagle, one of only 2,824 pieces struck for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint. A mere two examples have been certified as Mint State by NGC, the other grading just MS-61. This almost unbelievable coin was clearly preserved from the time of its minting, but for what original purpose has been lost.
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| 1844-O EAGLE
Ex: PARMALEE/SWEET |
United States
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$10 1844 O PARMALEE/SWEET
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NGC PF 65 ULTRA CAMEO
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Vintage gold proofs from any of the U. S. branch mints are exceedingly rare, and this dazzling gem coined at New Orleans is absolutely unique. It was unknown to numismatists until surfacing as part of the great Lorin G. Parmalee Collection, which was sold at auction in 1890. Later owners of renown included future U. S. Treasury Secretary William Woodin and Chicago beer baron Virgil Brand. It was thereafter off the market for decades, and more recently this coin became part of the impressive Sweet Collection. It displays superb Ultra Cameo contrast between brilliant fields and frosted devices.
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| 1854 DOUBLE EAGLE
Ex: HUMBERT/GARRETT |
United States
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$20 1854 KELLOGG & CO. ex HUMBERT GARRETT
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NGC SP 69
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While Congress dithered over whether to establish a branch mint in the Gold Rush boomtown of San Francisco, commercial assayers filled the need for coined money during the years 1849-55. Produced in imitation of the federal twenty-dollar piece, this coin instead bears the imprint of Kellogg & Co. of San Francisco, one of the most trusted of the minting firms. It is a presentation or specimen piece, one coined as a keepsake for federal assayer Augustus Humbert. Later it passed into the legendary collection of Baltimore’s Garrett Family. It was subsequently willed in 1942 to the Johns Hopkins University and de-accessioned by that institution in 1980.
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| 1851 FIFTY DOLLARS
AUGUSTUS HUMBERT
REEDED EDGE – “880 THOUS.” |
United States
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$50 1851 "880" REEDED AUGUSTUS HUMBERT
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NGC MS 65
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In place of the branch mint desired by Californians for San Francisco, they received a federal assay office manned by Augustus Humbert, who coined these gold “ingots” valued at $50. Of course, the pieces readily circulated as coins, despite their peculiar octagonal shape. The dies were by Albert Küner after models by Charles Cushing Wright. This variety has a gold fineness of .800, one of several standards employed at different times. The so-called “target” reverse design proved prophetic, as these large and heavy coins were a target for heavy gashes and dents. Nice examples are rare, and this glorious gem is the finest certified by NGC.
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| CHINA – 1989 GOLD 1500 YUAN
REPUBLIC ANNIVERSARY
SERIAL NUMBER 095 |
CHINA - COMMEMORATIVES
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G1500Y 1989 20oz CHINA REPUBLIC 40TH ANNIVERSARY #095
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NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO
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The Peoples Republic of China celebrated the 40th anniversary of its establishment with this magnificent gold commemorative. A mere 100 examples were struck in 20 ounces of .999 gold, all of them serially numbered on the edge. Chairman Mao Zedong is shown addressing his people on the obverse, and the reverse depicts the national emblem above a fireworks display. This superb proof is one of only eleven examples certified by NGC, and it displays beautiful Ultra Cameo contrast between its brilliant fields and frosted design elements.
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| GREAT BRITAIN
1893 FIVE POUNDS |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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5SOV 1893 G.britain
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NGC PF 67 ULTRA CAMEO
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The British Empire’s Queen Victoria reigned for so long that her coinage required several portraits depicting her at different stages in her life. Debuting in 1893 was G. W. de Saulle’s delightful bust of the elderly queen known to numismatists as the “Veiled Head.” In honor of the new design, the seldom coined gold five-pound piece, also known as five sovereigns, was produced. The reverse features Benedetto Pistrucci’s familiar depiction of St. George slaying the dragon. Of the proof edition, just 773 examples were coined. This superb specimen is the finest by several grades of only 19 pieces certified by NGC as Ultra Cameo.
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| ANCIENT GREECE
SYRACUSE (c.405-390 B.C.). SILVER DECADRACHM |
ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) SICILY, SYRACUSE c.405-370 BC (Euainetos)
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AR Decadrachm Sicily, Syracuse Gallatin RXVIII/FVIII quadriga/Arethusa
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NGC Ch XF Surface: 5/5 Surface: 5/5
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Silver decadrachms (ten-drachm coins) were among the largest ancient Greek silver coins. A variety of decadrachms were struck, but those generally thought to be the most beautiful were produced on the island of Sicily. By far the most influential of the Sicilian types is represented here. It shows a chariot in high action and the head of a goddess (Arethusa?) surrounded by four dolphins. This style of decadrachm was created by the engraver Euainetos, and then perpetuated by other gifted engravers at the Syracuse mint. The completeness, condition and beauty of the present example are unusually fine.
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| ANCIENT ROME
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS (A.D. 193-211). GOLD AUREUS |
ANCIENT - ROMAN EMPIRE (1st CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ROMAN EMPIRE Sept. Severus, AD 193-211
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AV Aureus rv Virtus hldg. Victory
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NGC Gem MS Surface: 5/5 Surface: 5/5
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Few Roman gold coins survive in such pristine condition as this aureus of the Emperor Septimius Severus, who came to power in the midst of a civil war in A.D. 193. He triumphed over three adversaries and established his own family dynasty that ruled virtually uninterrupted until A.D. 235. This aureus likely was struck in the first year of his rule, when he needed to assure the loyalty of his soldiers and to support the costs of civil war. The reverse shows the figure of Virtus, the personification of manliness, valor and bravery, a theme that would have resonated with the intended recipients of this coin.
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