The Dallas anchor collections are the Lucy Collection of Proof Liberty Nickels, and the first offering of the Jack Lee Estate, his coins from Inventory (additional Jack Lee rarities will be offered in several future auctions).
PCGS-Certified Highlights from Heritage’s October 2008 Dallas Signature® Auction:
Lot 333: 1867 5C Rays PR65 PCGS. CAC.
While this issue's original mintage remains in dispute (mostly between one-two dozen), and the number of survivors is uncertain, what is certain is that this is the rarest and most costly issue of the series. PCGS has graded a mere three finer examples (9/08).
Lot 922: 1846 50C Medium Date PR65 PCGS. CAC.
When we recently cataloged the Pittman-Kaufman coin, we stated it was the only certified PR65 example, and probably the finest known. Since then, the present specimen has also been certified by PCGS. We believe the two pieces are virtually tied for finest known honors.
Lot 1157: Nine-Piece 1868 Proof Set, All PCGS and CAC Certified
Grades range from PR60 to PR65, with CAC Green and Gold stickers.
Lot 1311: 1887/6-O $1 MS65 PCGS. VAM-3, A Top 100 Variety.
In 1887, the Philadelphia Mint produced multiple overdated dies for Morgan dollars; while one pair stayed in Philadelphia, the other was shipped to New Orleans; this is the single finest survivor known, and the only MS65 example certified by either NGC or PCGS (8/08).
Lot 1443: 1895-O $1 MS63 PCGS.
The advent of Registry collecting has inspired a new emphasis on the Morgan dollar series in high grades, and this change has spurred dramatic growth in the demand for this issue.
Lot 1860: 1855 G$1 MS66 PCGS. CAC.
Intense luster joins forces with pristine surface quality on this straw-gold Premium Gem gold dollar. As of (9/08), PCGS has certified 13 pieces at the MS66 level, with only four coins deemed finer.
Lot 1916: 1839-O $2.50 MS64 PCGS. CAC.
This amazing coin is the only New Orleans Classic Head gold issue, and none have been certified finer.
Lot 2038: 1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, R.3, PR64 Cameo PCGS.
This new coinage idea resulted from the plan of John A. Kasson, the U.S. envoy and minister to Austria, to ease the burden of conducting business between America and five prominent European nations: Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Lot 2171: 1888 $5 PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS.
Garrett and Guth opine that only 25 to 30 separate coins are known today; this is the single finest certified at PCGS.
Lot 2201: 1799 $10 Small Stars Obverse MS61 PCGS. Irregular Date, Breen-6840, Taraszka-20, BD-8, R.5.
The Irregular Date obverse die is identified by the unusual placement of the digits, with the 1 far below the curl and the final 9 nearly touching the drapery. Every other 1799 obverse die has the 1 closer to the curl, or the two digits equally spaced from the curl and drapery.
Lot 2418: 1895 $20 PR64 Cameo PCGS.
In January 1895, the U.S. government nearly ran out of gold. The $100 million gold reserve, backing for paper money, had dribbled down to the less than 8 million in the Sub-Treasury of New York. J.P. Morgan and a consortium of New York bankers deposited more than $8 million dollars in gold coins, averting federal bankruptcy and a panic. None have been certified finer.
Lot 2441: 1908-S $20 MS65 PCGS.
In 1908, all three active mints--Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco--struck Saint-Gaudens double eagles, but San Francisco's output was nominal: a mere 22,000 coins, all With Motto.
Lot 2442: 1908-S $20 MS65 PCGS.
Though it is not the lowest-mintage Saint-Gaudens twenty released to circulation (the High Relief 1907 issue claims that honor), the 1908-S shows a minuscule production of 22,000 pieces. PCGS has certified only 14 finer examples (9/08).
Lot 2444: 1908-S $20 MS66 PCGS.
The 1908-S has been a significant rarity ever since its creation; perhaps the reason for the paltry 22,000 pieces minted in 1908 may be explained by the two million minted in 1907. Only three have been certified finer (9/08).
Lot 2486: 1920-S $20 MS64 PCGS.
A prized rarity in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series, the 1920-S holds a unique historical position in that assemblage, reflecting the changed commercial role of the $20 after WWI. The current population reports from NGC and PCGS reflect a combined total of 25 examples in MS64, with only six finer.
Lot 2502: 1926-D $20 MS63 PCGS.
An attractive example of one of the key dates in the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series.
Lot 2512: 1932 $20 MS63 PCGS.
The mintage of slightly over 1.1 million pieces, like that of numerous late Saint issues, was rendered meaningless by the meltings and gold recall.
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