Bluesheet: LOOKING AHEAD TO LONG BEACH & POGUE

With the FUN convention and related auctions in the rear-view mirror, the coin show circuit soon begins the first trek west of 2016 for the Long Beach Expo which takes place February 2nd through the 4th. There will be 400+ dealers on the bourse floor and an auction by Heritage which features over 2,400 lots of United States coins. One of the many highlight coins in the Long Beach auction is the second finest known 1943-S bronze (or “copper”) Lincoln cent, PCGS/CAC AU58, which is a duplicate from the Simpson collection. This offering presents an unprecedented opportunity for these famed pieces, because in this year’s FUN auction a PCGS AU55 — the third finest known — was sold which realized $211,500. Hence, two of the six known examples of this coin will have been available within the space of one month, while it normally takes multiple years for one to come available. Additionally, two other examples of the six have never been offered at public auction according to the roster of known examples. Another exciting coin to be offered in the Long Beach auction is the Eliasberg/Gardner 1892-O Barber half dollar, graded NGC/CAC MS68. This wonderful coin is tied with two others as the finest known of this date.

It is also not too early to begin discussion of the third installment of the D. Brent Pogue collection, which is to be sold by Stack’s Bowers and Sotheby’s on February 9th in New York City. Part 3 includes the collection’s half cents of 1793-97, large cents of 1793, capped bust dimes, a continuation of the capped bust half dollars from part 2, the three dollar gold set, and head left half eagles. As to be expected, some truly special pieces of our nation’s history will be crossing the auction block. Among them are: the ex-Missouri cabinet MS67RB 1794 half cent, the Atwater-Eliasberg MS67RB 1796 No Pole half cent, the Garrett MS65RB 1793 Chain cent, and the Norweb proof 1825 dime. There are five proof capped bust half dollars: 1825, 1827, 1832, 1833, 1836, an amazing offering in itself. The three dollar gold set is filled with rarities as well, starting with the finest known 1854-D, graded MS62. Incredible also is the MS68 1863, the shimmering 1871 graded MS67, and a wonderfully toned 1877 graded MS64+. Although all of 19 half eagles are highlights in their own right, the presence of two MS67 (one MS67+) 1807’s, and the ultra-rare 1815, graded MS65 and off the market since 1982.