Goldberg's Sale Captures Nearly $3 Million

Wow, summer seems to have somehow slipped past all too rapidly. As I write this, it is Labor Day, the last official holiday of this great season. Amazingly, it was only four short weeks ago that we were all embroiled in the excitement and media coverage surrounding the eventful ANA World’s Fair of Money. Now that September is upon us, to the collective glee of most parents with school age children, classroom bells reprise their toll, beckoning youngsters back to halls of learning. While the moans of previously vacationing youth are audible throughout the country, the coin caravan motors on, making a beeline to the West Coast. The final destination for the numismatic brethren is the Long Beach Expo, running September 4-6.

Prior to setting up at the famed Long Beach Convention Center, a stop for many dealers and collectors was the City of Angels, to take in the traditional Pre-Long Beach Sale by the Goldberg’s, at the firm’s office and auction facilities. The always-compelling and collector-friendly venue got underway on August 31 and concluded on September 2. All told, a diverse and appealing array of Colonial and US Federal issues as well as an exciting mix of ancients and world coins, was made available to prospective buyers. The firm’s affable auction manager and lead auctioneer, Jason Villarreal, took time out from calling lots between sessions 2 and 3 to assess the sales strengths with me on Labor Day. According to Jason, although there were no real marquee coins or powerhouse collections included in their “early fall classic” sale, the attendance and online participation and results were very good. “Quality still attracts attention and generates affirmative action.”

After reviewing the sales catalog and results, I concur with the learned Villarreal’s assessment, the market activity and appetite has been and continues to be solid for the good, problem-free collector coins; some bargains can, of course, be had when exploring any catalog with due diligence. Yet for the most part, key date, scarce and desirable type coins in high grade and those which have a combination of pedigree and exemplary toning, are still commanding prices above what the average market expectations would be. (As an example, there were several 1876 Centennial Liberty Seated Proof coins that exhibited phenomenal eye appeal and would make the great foundation of a superb year set.) This sale afforded collectors and dealers the opportunity to acquire numerous offerings in the highly competitive low-to-mid-four figure price range.

Two top sale and NGC highlights from the Goldberg sessions featured early and desirable silver Dollars. Setting the tone, an enigmatic 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar graded NGC MS 61 commanded a powerful $67,563. The coin was truly an exemplary example. With lustrous, semi-prooflike surfaces, the coin was sharply struck and revealed minimal adjustment marks; it was certainly an exciting acquisition for the new owner. The other highlight also from 1795, the Draped Bust variety Silver Dollar Sm Eagle reverse graded NGC MS 64 PL roared to an impressive $223,250. This delightful and totally original "silver cartwheel" also caused quite the commotion when she was announced during the Labor Day session. According to Villarreal, “There was spirited bidding on this lot on the floor! It opened at $140K and shot all the way up to $190K. In short order, there were floor participants, several phone bidders, and absentee bids. Ultimately, it was sold to an excited floor bidder in the room.” Other collector-friendly NGC highlights at the Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach sale:

• 1837 Large Cent NGC PF 63 BN $36,425
• 1850 Large Cent NGC MS 66 RD $9,106
• 1876 Twenty Cent Piece NGC PF 66 $4,935
• 1876 Liberty Seated Quarter NGC PF 66 Cameo $6,463
• 1826 Capped Bust Half Dollar NGC MS 66 $12,338
• 1876 Liberty Seated Half Dollar NGC PF 65 $4,956
• 1954-D Franklin Half Dollar NGC MS 67 FBL $4,484
• 1900 Morgan Dollar NGC MS 67 $6,195
• 1845/1845-O VP-002 Liberty Eagle NGC MS 60 $16,520
• 1850 Liberty $20 NGC AU 58 $9,145

As this article posts, the final installment of the Long Beach Expo’s brand for 2014 is well underway. The host auctioneer, Heritage, is offering up some tantalizing and historic lots for numismatists in all areas of expertise and budget during their nearly 4,500 lot US Coins Signature auction, running September 4-6. The highlight of the sale, no doubt, is the historic 1792 J-1 Silver Center Cent pedigreed Bushnell-Parmalee-Green-Norweb, and now--perhaps you! This, the first coin type struck at the US Mint facility, is graded NGC MS 61 BN

Other superb NGC representatives at the Heritage Long Beach Signature sale include:

• 1892 Barber Quarter NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo
• 1833 Capped Bust Half Dollar NGC MS 67
• 1872-CC Liberty Seated Dollar NGC MS 61
• 1880 Trade Dollar NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo
• 1895 Morgan Dollar NGC PF 64 Cameo
• 1860 Type III Gold Dollar NGC PF 67 Cameo
• 1911-D Indian Quarter Eagle NGC MS 65
• 1899 Liberty $10 NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo
• 1857-S Liberty $20 Ex: SS Central America NGC MS 67
• 1907 High Relief, Wire Rim Saint-Gaudens $20 NGC PF 68
• 1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar NGC MS 67
• 1915-S Octagonal Panama-Pacific $50 NGC MS 64
• 1851 880 Thous Lettered Edge Humbert $50 NGC MS 61

If you are in Southern California, be sure to make a stop in Long Beach. I hope to see you on the bourse.

Until next time, happy collecting!

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.