Numismatists Take Note: Stack’s New York Americana Sale

Classic 1781 Libertas Americana Medal. (Courtesy of Stack's )

Mark your calendars, because Stack’s Rare Coins New York Americana Sale is set to take place January 26-27 at Stack’s auction gallery on 57th street.

“Coins are the most unerring and best preserved monuments of the ancient world and are historical records of supreme value, telling as they do of vanished cities long forgotten; giving portraits and names of rulers otherwise unknown, and standing as reflections of the time and country that issued them; that they reveal the religious belief of the ancient peoples and record the changing religious views of all the nations of the world during the last 2,500 years; that ancient and modern coins illustrate the history of art from its earliest stages of development to its highest excellence, thence to its gradual decline and almost total eclipse during the darkness and turmoil of the Middle Ages and to its rise since the dawn of the Renaissance; and in short, that coins are of the highest value to the historian, the student of comparative religion, the artist, the poet, the architect, and the man of letters,” wrote Harry Earl Montgomery in The Numasmatist in 1914.

The Americana Sale will feature over 3,000 lots of U.S. coins, paper money, medals, tokens, and Americana. Notable properties to be sold include the Clem Schettino Collection of New Jersey Coppers, items from the Museum of the Fur Trade, the Alan Bleviss Collection of Civil War Tokens, Part III, and medals from the personal collection of Charles E. Barber.

Descriptions of items of interest from Stack’s ensue.

The sales begin at 1 p.m. January 26 with American paper currency. An exceedingly rare California and Salt Lake Mail Line $10 note, a type that was not represented in the Ford Collection. Hawaiian paper money offers a rare and choice Lahainaluna Seminary scrip set, six pieces of currency that were intended to circulate locally as “tokens.” The average grade for these notes is Choice Extremely Fine.

U.S. half dimes begin with a spectacular 1792 half disme graded MS-64 by NGC, which is among the finest certified by NGC. This legendary coin exhibits dramatic visual quality rarely seen on even the handful of Mint State survivors. This piece features deep blue toning with enticing gold highlights that bathes both sides in the gunmetal splendor of antique silver.The half dime category also boasts several other heavyweights, including a 1797 16 Stars example in MS-66 (NGC), a lustrous and well struck coin from the collection of Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.

The second half of Session Two comprises United States Medals and Tokens, and begins with a nice offering of Betts Medals featuring an important silver 1602 Dutch-Spanish New World Rivalry Medal in Extremely Fine condition. Comitia Americana Medals showcase the classic 1781 Libertas Americana Medal in silver graded MS-62 by NGC. Over 20 lots of Indian Peace Medals are featured and include the famously rare 1801 Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. These large size struck shells were clearly worn for a lifetime or more, as the medal is considered only Very Good by our experts. With dents and bends and a separation from the original rim, this medal evokes a wonderful sense of history that other medals dubbed “higher quality” cannot attain.

Stack’s, offering expertise in United States, world, and ancient coins, tokens, medals, and paper money, began their numismatic auction sales in 1935. It holds today, the record for the most expensive single coin ever sold at auction, according to its Web Site.

At Stack’s, numismatic staff with years of experience seeks to provide a great service to buyers and sellers, with “quality presentation, unparalleled personal service, expert cataloguing, and competitive rates.”

In addition to holding live auctions, Stack’s offers online shopping, for coins and currency as well as expert books for collecting world coins for the interested collector. Buyers can also create their own “wanted list” of items through the Web Site to pinpoint potential sellers.

Stack’s Auction Gallery
110 W 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
[phone]

To learn more about numismatic sales at Stack’s, visit their website at www.stacks.com.