It May Not be the Ringling Brothers, but it's Our Greatest Show on Earth!

As this article posts, virtually all of the numismatic community will have either arrived or is in route to the greater Chicago area. The reason: it’s the big show! It may not be Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey but it is the greatest numismatic show on earth! It’s sort of like March Madness and Mardi Gras both wrapped up with a bow for Christmas. Those who arrived early have already conducted business in their hotel rooms, restaurants and other venues. Others are busy viewing the Heritage Chicago Signature Sale and Platinum Night lots and Stack’s Bowers ANA Rarities Night sale offerings.

There will be an impressive seven Heritage sessions including session number five, the eagerly awaited Platinum Night. In total over 7,400 coins will be brought to the auctioneer’s dais August 11-14 at the Chicago O’Hare Marriott Hotel.

Several prized NGC encapsulations could very easily knock on or break the million dollar benchmark. One such piece is the 1855-S Three Dollar Gold Princess graded NGC PF 64 Cameo. This unique orange-peeled beauty of a coin is pedigreed to the Golden Gate Collection and first surfaced in 1983. In 1984 this exquisite Princess was purchased by Jeff Garrett. Since his ownership the Princess has been in virtual seclusion. In the nearly three decades since its discovery, this ultra-rare and dazzling beauty has only appeared publicly for sale four times, most recently as a key figure in the Stack’s 69th Anniversary sale held in October 2004 realizing $276,000. A prestigious coin of this caliber will always stir emotions and is sure to extol exuberant bidding when it crosses the auction block. Regardless, the new custodian will surely have a prize in this iconic specimen.

Heritage Chicago Signature Sale Highlights August 11–14:

• 1792 J–2 Birch Cent NGC F 15 BN
• 1793 “AMERICA” Chain Cent NGC AU 53 BN
• 1926–S Buffalo Nickel NGC MS 65
• 1802 Draped Bust Half Dime NGC AU 50
• 1831 Capped Bust Dime NGC PF 66 Cameo
• 1855–S Arrows Liberty Seated Quarter NGC PF 64
• 1796 15 Stars Draped Bust Half Dollar NGC XF 45
• 1814 Capped Bust Half Dollar NGC MS 68
• 1839 No Drapery Liberty Seated Half Dollar NGC MS 67
• 1855–S Arrows Liberty Seated Half Dollar NGC PF 65
• 1895 Barber Half Dollar NGC PF 69 Cameo
• 1897 Barber Half Dollar NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo
• 1921–S Walking Liberty Half Dollar NGC MS 64
• 1892–S Morgan Dollar NGC MS 67
• 1893–S Morgan Dollar NGC MS 67
• 1895 Morgan Dollar NGC PF 65 Cameo
• 1855 Type II Gold Dollar NGC MS 66
• 1855–D Type II Gold Dollar NGC MS 64
• 1826/5 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle NGC AU 58
• 1831 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle NGC MS 66
• 1833 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1834 Classic Head Quarter Eagle NGC MS 66
• 1848 CAL. Liberty Head Quarter Eagle NGC AU 55
• 1855–S Three Dollar Princess NGC PF 64
• 1795 Small Eagle Draped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 63 PL
• 1798 Large Eagle Draped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1800 Draped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1806 Knobbed 6, 7x6 Stars Draped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 65
• 1812 Wide 5D Capped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 65
• 1813 Capped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 65
• 1834 Plain 4 Capped Head Half Eagle NGC MS 65
• 1834 Crosslet 4 Capped Head Half Eagle NGC MS 63
• 1834 Plain 4 Classic Head Half Eagle NGC MS 66 PL
• 1861 Liberty Half Eagle NGC MS 66
• 1860 Liberty Head Half Eagle NGC PF 64 Cameo
• 1865 Liberty Head Half Eagle NGC PF 65 Cameo
• 1796 Draped Bust Eagle NGC MS 62
• 1799 Large Stars Obverse Draped Bust Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1857–S Liberty $20 NGC MS 67
• 1864 Liberty $20 NGC MS 64
• 1890 Liberty $20 NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo
• 1907 High Relief, Wire Rim Saint-Gaudens $20 NGC MS 66
• 1908–S Saint-Gaudens $20 NGC MS 66
• 1908 Motto Saint-Gaudens $20 NGC PF 67
• 1852/1 Humbert $20 NGC AU 58

In true tag team fashion the ANA host Stack’s Bowers auction will overlap the Heritage offerings. Beginning August 13, the nine session marathon Stack’s Bowers event will run through the conclusion of the ANA on August 20! In total a mind-boggling 9,100 lots of US coins, currency and world issues will be seeking new homes. The scope of this material is amazing, from Ben Franklin-related currencies and financial items in the historic Poor Richard’s collection to superb rare and beautiful patterns, including a phenomenal run of 1872 Amazonian designs topped off by the 1872 Amazonian Half Eagle NGC PF 66. True numismatists and pattern lovers are sure to be excited participants when the NGC PF 64 BN 1877 Half Union, struck in copper, is announced at the auctioneer’s podium. In between, a superb array running the gamut from Half Cents through $50 gold slugs awaits the potential bidder. Please take a look at the following Stack’s Bowers highlights, which will be up for bid online as well as in person at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center August 13–20:

• 1793 Liberty Half Cent NGC MS 60 BN
• 1794 Liberty Cap Half Cent NGC AU 58
• 1794 Head of 94 Liberty Cap Cent NGC MS 62 BN
• 1856 Flying Eagle Cent NGC PF 64
• 1862 Indian Cent NGC PF 67
• 1914–D Lincoln Cent NGC MS 66 BN
• 1873 Three Cent Silver NGC PF 66 Ultra Cameo
• 1866 Shield Nickel Rays NGC PF 65 Cameo
• 1929–Buffalo Nickel NGC MS 67
• 1829 Capped Bust Half Dime NGC MS 67
• 1852– Liberty Seated Half Dime NGC MS 65 PL
• 1796 Draped Bust Dime NGC MS 65
• 1798 Large 8 Draped Bust Dime NGC MS 64
• 1805 4 Berries Draped Bust Dime NGC MS 66
• 1807 Draped Bust Dime NGC MS 65
• 1834 Large 4 Capped Bust Dime NGC PF 65
• 1835 Capped Bust Dime NGC PF 65
• 1855 Arrows Liberty Seated Dime NGC PF 67 Cameo
• 1859–O Liberty Seated Dime NGC MS 68
• 1871–CC Liberty Seated Dime NGC MS 62
• 1877 Twenty Cent Piece NGC PF 67 Cameo
• 1870–CC Liberty Seated Quarter NGC AU Details
• 1872–S Liberty Seated Quarter NGC MS 63
• 1795 Two Leaves Flowing Hair Dollar NGC MS 64
• 1797 10x6 Stars, Large Letters Draped Bust Silver Dollar NGC MS 65
• 1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar NGC MS 65
• 1836 J-58 Gobrecht Silver Dollar NGC PF 64
• 1865 Liberty Seated Dollar NGC PF 68
• 1869 Liberty Seated Dollar NGC PF 66 Ultra Cameo
• 1879–O Morgan Dollar NGC PF 66 Ultra Cameo
• 1895 Morgan Dollar NGC PF 68
• 1858–D Gold Dollar NGC MS 63
• 1796 No Stars Draped Bust Quarter Eagle NGC MS 60
• 1796 Stars Draped Bust Quarter Eagle NGC MS 63
• 1843–C Large Date Liberty Quarter Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1854–S Liberty Quarter Eagle NGC AU Details
• 1876 Liberty Quarter Eagle NGC MS 65
• 1897 Liberty Quarter Eagle NGC MS 68
• 1854–D Three Dollar Princess NGC AU 58
• 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella NGC PF 66 Cameo
• 1795 Small Eagle Draped Bust Half Eagle NGC MS 62
• 1860–D Liberty Half Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1795 13 Leaves Draped Bust Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1795 9 Leaves Draped Bust Eagle NGC AU 58
• 1796 Draped Bust Eagle NGC AU 58
• 1799 Large Stars Draped Bust Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1870–CC Liberty Eagle NGC AU 50
• 1871–CC Liberty Eagle NGC AU 58
• 1881–CC Liberty Eagle NGC MS 61
• 1914 Indian Eagle NGC PF 67
• 1920–S Indian Eagle NGC MS 64
• 1861–S Paquet Reverse Liberty $20 NGC AU Details
• 1866–S No Motto Liberty $20 NGC MS 61
• 1870–CC Liberty $20 NGC AU 53
• 1886 Liberty $20 NGC AU 58
• 1898 Liberty $20 NGC PF 66 Cameo
• 1921 Saint–Gaudens $20 NGC MS 61
• 1926–S Saint–Gaudens $20 NGC MS 65
• 1879 J-1639 Gilt Coiled Hair $4 Stella NGC PF 61
• 1850 Baldwin & Co $10 Horseman NGC MS 64
• 1849 Mormon Five Dollar Gold NGC AU 53
• 1860 Mormon Five Dollar Gold NGC AU 55
• 1872 J-1200 Amazonian Half Dollar Pattern NGC PF 66
• 1925 Norse-–merican Centennial Medal Gold NGC MS 67
• 1915–S Round Panama–Pacific $50 NGC MS 66
• 1915–S Octagonal Panama–Pacific $50 NGC MS 66

One thing is for certain, the fiber of the US economy has been driven to the brink. With no real resolution on debt ceiling limits, the potential fallout has wreaked havoc on the psyche and confidence of virtually every American. Major world events are also taking their toll and many are still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Much of the immediate effect has been directed towards precious metals. As I write this, there has been a virtual frenzy in overseas markets and gold has hit the afterburners soaring past the $1,800 level. Precisely one year ago on this date, gold was trading at $1,198 per oz. and silver at $18. In the one year, we have seen over a 50% run-up in the spot price of the yellow metal and silver has charged ahead over 125%. These factors, along with fears of further weakening in paper based assets, has drawn the rare coin and precious metals arena under a very bright spotlight. That is one of the reasons that both novice collectors and seasoned investors are now very keenly addressing rare coins as a solid and trustworthy portfolio diversification.

This is why the upcoming ANA convention is going to be a very important test, not only to gauge the stability of the present market, but for attendees and media to witness first-hand the accessibility and transparency that the certified rare coin market has become very famous for. Dealers that I’ve spoken to are still in search of high-grade problem free certified coins. Most have relayed to me that there is no problem in finding homes for coins in the $10K-$50K range at the present time. As well-known Florida dealer Ross Baldwin stated, “If it has all the bells and whistles, certified rare coins are finding a home immediately. Just last week I purchased a superb NGC MS 65 1913 $20 Saint–Gaudens and a savvy client immediately snapped it up. I’m happy for the sale but it’s very difficult to restock quality NGC material such as that.” Others I’ve talked to have shared a host of similar stories. That is why this Florida dealer and thousands more are on a quest in Chicago. Right now it is the “hunting season” to replenish the dealers’ lifeblood: quality certified coins. With over 16,000 coins coming up for auction and tens of thousands more available on the bourse, there should be plenty of bounty.

Jim Bisognani has written extensively on US coin market trends and values and was the market analyst and writer for a major pricing guide for many years. He currently resides in Southern California and frequently attends major coin shows and auctions.