Only 1839/8 Proof Eagle Available in this Lifetime?

Zoins

1839/8 Overdate Liberty Head Eagle - PCGS PR62 - Marc Emory Specimen

There are only 3 1839/8 proof overdate coins. One is in the Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection (owned by us all) and one is in the Tyrant collection, leaving this one as the only one potentially available now.

The specimen was purchased in 1982 by Marc Emory, now Heritage Director of European Operations.

Who will end up with this magnificent coin?

Marc Emory said:
The morning after I arrived at the FUN show in Orlando in early January 1982, I called my European contacts as a matter of routine. To my astonishment, one of them said he had seen a nice trio of 1839 U.S. gold coins in high grade. I asked HOW high? They said 'extremely fine,' which in those days, was a very imprecise grade, indeed. I was excited as the same contact had brokered the sale to me of a proof 1839 quarter eagle and an 1839 proof No Drapery half dollar just a few weeks earlier. I consulted with my CEO [at New England Rare Coin Galleries], Jim Halperin, and asked him if he thought, as I did, that we might be talking about the first known complete set of 1839 proof gold. He said we couldn't afford to risk losing the deal.

I turned right around from the warm Florida weather and flew back to Boston, got some winter clothes, ran back to the airport and caught a plane to Europe. Sure enough, it was an 1839 gold proof set. I trembled, as the feared European reception to my interest was forthcoming. I asked how much the trio cost, and the predictable response was, 'how much will you pay for them?' I didn't dare play with these people, as they were no beginners, even if they didn't quite understand the importance of what they were offering me. I asked them if they were aware that these coins were significantly better than just 'extremely fine.' They gave me a sly smile and nodded.

I came up with a figure I hoped would satisfy them, and still leave us a margin when selling them in the U.S. Worse yet, I had to leave my offer while it was 'being considered,' which in Europe often means, 'we are going to offer the group to other Americans; you only get them if your offer is highest, and we reserve the right to tell them what you offered.'

ricko

And what is 'the rest of the story'.....???? Beautiful gold coin. Cheers, RickO

Crypto

@ricko said:
And what is 'the rest of the story'.....???? Beautiful gold coin. Cheers, RickO

Haven't seen a Paul Harvey reference in a few years. Thanks for the trip down memory lane