FUN 2025 Live Auction - - - and What Is Up With All The Bust Halves

lilolme

First, the following stuff is still 'in-work' so changes could happen.

It appears that the FUN show 2025 will have a ive auction of the Col Steven K. Ellsworth collection of large cents (or part of). This appears to have been recently changed (last several weeks?) to a live auction on Jan 9 (Thur.) 2025. I had talked to Mr Ellsworth at a show and got the below preview lot listing (no write ups but had listing and pedigrees...). Initially showing up under the 'regular' Heritage FUN show auction (as noted on cover), it now has it own listing. Maybe those wanting a live auction will attend this auction to support further live auctions or maybe not?

Here is the preview catalog cover and the listing link to HA. Also Mr Ellsworth pointed me to the Abbey cent and I noted the pedigree. I recall a pedigree thread and asking if pedigrees could bring more $$$. It appears this one is a case of Yes.
Note: I looked at Stacks website but did not find the FUN listing.

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Link to HA listing:
https://coins.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?dept=1909&mode=live&auction_name=1369

And link to the Abbey cent listing:
https://coins.ha.com/itm/large-cents/1799-s-189-r2-xf45-pcgs-cac-approved-pcgs-36140-/p/1369-11006.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515

Abbey cent pedigree listed:
Ex "a countryman" for $2-C. Rogers circa 1845 ($25)-Lorenzo H. Abbey, W. Elliot Woodward 10/1864:628 ($32.50)-Robert B. Chambers, W. Elliot Woodward 2/1866:575 ($27)-Colin Lightbody, Edward Cogan 12/1866:553 ($45)-Mortimer L. Mackenzie, Edward Cogan 6/23/1869:636 ($55)-E. Harrison Sanford, Edward Cogan 11/1874:260 ($67.50)-Richard B. Winsor, S. H. & H. Chapman 12/16/1895:863 ($125)-George H. Earle, Jr., Henry Chapman 6/25/1912:3415 ($85)-Clarence C. Bement, Henry Chapman 5/29/1916:308 ($160)-Fred E. Joy-B. Max Mehl-Colonel E. H. R. Green-B. G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.)-Stack's (privately)-Oscar J. Pearl, Numismatic Gallery 1944 FPL, lot 139 ($900)-Harry J. Stein-Max L. Kaplan-C. Douglas Smith 1952-Thomas P. Warfield (privately via John J. Ford, Jr., of New Netherlands Coin Co.) 2/17/1953 ($1150)-Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Bowers & Merena 5/20/1996:510 ($46,200)-Walter J. Husak, Heritage Auctions 2/15/2008:2192 ($161,000)-COL Steven K. Ellsworth.

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Bust Halves???
So it seems like there have been a lot of bust halves auctioned recently (this year, 2024). I don't know if these FUN auction bust halves include another set or partial sets but they are almost like (not quite) Morgan dollars with hundreds listed . What is going on - sets, popularity, other?

Link to HA Halves listing and screen shot of how many (bust halves 629 plus 41 reeded). This has been growing and not sure if this is the final tally as it is still in-work (TBD).

https://coins.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?si=2&dept=1909&live_state=5318~5319~5320~5322~5321~5324&auction_name=1380&coin_category=2514&mode=live&page=25~1&ic4=Refine-CoinCategory-102615

Pnies20

People are striking while the proverbial iron is hot.

Lots of people with lots of pretty coins seeing this as the best time to sell.

lilolme

Yes, that is what I was wondering with my 'popularity' comment / question. 670 lots is to many for me to lot view. Others have much more lot viewing endurance than I do. This would require some preliminary scope narrowing before. It will be a little interesting to see how many are in Platinum nights versus the regular FUN auction vs the internet only. Kind of a value thing. But 670 lots in the regular auction (which they won't all be) would take 5 plus hours or so (unless there is a lot of bidding). The popularity / hot iron thing, kind of works the opposite way for me - want to take a slow approach and see if it comes down and including prices with it. Don't know.

Pnies20

@lilolme a lot of folks thought that the vast amount of bust halves for sale in the ANA auctions (heritage, Downey mailbid) wouldn’t be able to be digested by the market and there would be some deals.

There were zero “deals”

I anticipate the more eye appealing coins in the auction will be close to on par with the ANA auctions. The last auction saw a mad rush for the AU58 CAC coins due to Everyman set needs. So those would again perform strongest imo. We’ll see.

lilolme

Agree with that assessment. And am thinking the same, that similar bust halves in this FUN will get the similar strong results. Just surprised to see so many bust halves show up here. But still kind of difficult to buy at that level (for me) - - - unless it is something that one really desires or 'the buy' for a set. Might be entertaining to watch also. At least I have picked up a couple and then a couple more for the mini-type set (so close now but....ugh).

Walkerguy21D

_ It appears that the FUN show 2025 will have a ive auction of the Col Steven K. Ellsworth collection of large cents (or part of). _

My word, how big was the Colonel’s collection!? He’s been selling and/or auctioning off pieces of it for years.

I acquired this one at least 5 years ago, and his extensive set of Sheldon 1796 cents I believe were auctioned earlier, as well as his half cents.

Pnies20

@Walkerguy21D said:
_ It appears that the FUN show 2025 will have a ive auction of the Col Steven K. Ellsworth collection of large cents (or part of). _

My word, how big was the Colonel’s collection!? He’s been selling and/or auctioning off pieces of it for years.

I acquired this one at least 5 years ago, and his extensive set of Sheldon 1796 cents I believe were auctioned earlier, well as his half cents.

Wow! I didn’t know he was selling. Has to be massive

lilolme

@Walkerguy21D said:
_ It appears that the FUN show 2025 will have a ive auction of the Col Steven K. Ellsworth collection of large cents (or part of). _

My word, how big was the Colonel’s collection!? He’s been selling and/or auctioning off pieces of it for years.

I acquired this one at least 5 years ago, and his extensive set of Sheldon 1796 cents I believe were auctioned earlier, well as his half cents.

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He seemed easy to talk to and if I understood correctly and recall correctly (a bigger IF), then this is going to be a three part sale. Early, Mid and Late dates I would assume. A even bigger if was FUN, ANA and then FUN (but don't quote that).

While talking to him a younger kid (and dad) came up and said he really liked large cents (or was it half cents). He had a large display of them. The kid had a Red book and the Col. signed it (he does those sections for the red book I believe).

Pnies20

@lilolme said:

@Walkerguy21D said:
_ It appears that the FUN show 2025 will have a ive auction of the Col Steven K. Ellsworth collection of large cents (or part of). _

My word, how big was the Colonel’s collection!? He’s been selling and/or auctioning off pieces of it for years.

I acquired this one at least 5 years ago, and his extensive set of Sheldon 1796 cents I believe were auctioned earlier, well as his half cents.

.
He seemed easy to talk to and if I understood correctly and recall correctly (a bigger IF), then this is going to be a three part sale. Early, Mid and Late dates I would assume. A even bigger if was FUN, ANA and then FUN (but don't quote that).

While talking to him a younger kid (and dad) came up and said he really liked large cents (or was it half cents). He had a large display of them. The kid had a Red book and the Col. signed it (he does those sections for the red book I believe).

He’s from the Nashville area and is at all the really small rural shows in Tennessee.

Every time I talk to him, he’s got people and young kids coming to talk to him about all his copper.