Buzz loud before Boston ANA

By Steve Roach
First published in Aug. 9, 2010, Coin World

The buzz before the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Boston, Aug. 10 to 14, is fantastic, and enough rarities are being offered in the related auctions to get any collector's blood pumping.

In more than a week of auctions, more than 10,000 lots will be offered, testing the depth of the current market and the reach of collectors and investors to go after top rarities. Three major auctions highlight the week.

At the Bowers and Merena Rarities auction, scheduled before the ANA convention, top lots include a bright 1794 Flowing Hair dollar, graded Mint State 64, consigned by the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation, which recently made news for purchasing a Professional Coin Grading Service Specimen 66 example of the same coin in a private transaction for a reported $7,850,000. The foundation also consigned several other key 1794 coins to the sale.

Other top lots offered by Bowers and Merena in its auction include an 1870-S Seated Liberty dollar in Extremely Fine 40, and some fantastic patterns including two wildly impressive gilt 1877 $50 half unions.

Stack's also is hosting a pre-ANA auction that includes some great pattern coins, at least three rare Matte Proof Saint-Gaudens double eagles and a 1794 Flowing Hair dollar in Fine.

Heritage Auction Galleries is hosting the official auction of ANA and is offering the Dwight Manley Collection of early Massachusetts silver – described by Heritage as a "Registry masterpiece" – which includes an About Uncirculated New England shilling (pictured right) and magnificent examples of the 1652 Pine Tree, Oak Tree and Willow Tree shillings.

A choice group of Gobrecht dollars and an amazing set of Barber half dollars will be offered in the Heritage auction and there are plenty of rare key-date Saint-Gaudens double eagles to satisfy the market's appetite, and continuing the trend, a Very Fine 25 1794 Flowing Hair dollar.

The auctions will offer thousands of other lots in nearly all sectors of the market, high to low, rewarding collectors who have been saving their collecting budgets for this once-a-year smorgasbord.