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The significance of pedigree

DentuckDentuck Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭
Q. David Bowers, in the forthcoming "Golden Anniversary Edition" of
Coins and Collectors, says this:

"The 1982 auction of the Eliasberg gold coins and two sales, 1986 and 1987,
of the copper, nickel, and silver collection, still echo in the halls of numismatics
today. Many coins have changed hands again, with the Eliasberg pedigree being
second to none in terms of desirability when attached to a particular specimen."

The question of the importance of pedigree/provenance comes up from time
to time here on the CU board. As I was reading through Bowers's manuscript,
this jumped out at me.


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    Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
    Great quote. I was not much of a collector during the great Eliasberg auctions, I was 7 or 8 (that's not to say that I did not put aside coins from time to time, but mostly from circulation.) I have always wanted a nice Eliasberg coin, hopefully someday I'll find a piece that fits my collection.
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    Billet7Billet7 Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭
    This is one of the main reasons I looked for a few nice affordable (relatively) examples from the recent Newman/Green sale. I bought 4.
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    TahoeDaleTahoeDale Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭
    What jumped out at me from the Bowers quote was the incorrect dates of the 2nd and 3rd sale--1986 and 1987.
    Both were 10 years later.

    But I attended the April 1997 sale and it was a real treasure to be there, view all the coins(raw), and bid in this monumental event.
    I even won a coin, and several years later, bought many more.
    TahoeDale
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    TahoeDaleTahoeDale Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭
    This reply reminded me of the bidding on the 1804 dollar, lot 2199 Class 1 "original" Proof 63. April,1997

    Q David Bowers took over the podium, and the bidding started at $500,000. When the bid was 1million, Bowers asked for the next bid, and he mistakenly jumped to 1.5 million.
    All in the room laughed, and Bowers apologized, indicating he was not used to the increments for over 1,000,000. ( as no one was at the time)
    The coin sold for 1,650,000, buyer was Greg Roberts for his customer --of all people, Dennis Rodman!

    We sure could have used a smart phone to capture this event.
    TahoeDale
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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,361 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think pedigrees are very cool, although I don't own any.

    I thought about bidding in the Green/Newman auction but the coin that I liked far exceeded what I thought ANY pedigree was worth for that issue. There was ONE other one in that sale that sold, in a very reasonable range, but it looked lackluster (just going by the image alone) hence the lower price.....maybe I should have taken a chance?

    I viewed the Eliasberg 1919 WLH 64 coin and had a chance to buy it a few years ago. I passed, b/c it had unattractive toning and a lot of little scuffs in the right facing field but the strike was one of the sharpest I'd ever seen. It sold quite low at 3500.

    I also have viewed the Eliasberg 1919-S WLH 65 coin, although I'd never had the opportunity to purchase it, and I was not impressed. I felt that it was over-graded by a point and lacked luster and also lacked a good enough strike.

    For some reason the Jules Riever pedigree seems to REALLY earn a hefty premium.

    I will get a pedigreed coin SOMEDAY, though, even if it's just a Nevada Silver Collection one. image

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    MGLICKERMGLICKER Posts: 7,995 ✭✭✭


    << <i>This is one of the main reasons I looked for a few nice affordable (relatively) examples from the recent Newman/Green sale. I bought 4. >>



    Bought 3 for mostly the same reason. More for the Green pedigree than even for Newman. Realizing that I am only the third owner in 100 years is a bonus.
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    << <i>This reply reminded me of the bidding on the 1804 dollar, lot 2199 Class 1 "original" Proof 63. April,1997

    Q David Bowers took over the podium, and the bidding started at $500,000. When the bid was 1million, Bowers asked for the next bid, and he mistakenly jumped to 1.5 million.
    All in the room laughed, and Bowers apologized, indicating he was not used to the increments for over 1,000,000. ( as no one was at the time)
    The coin sold for 1,650,000, buyer was Greg Roberts for his customer --of all people, Dennis Rodman!

    We sure could have used a smart phone to capture this event. >>



    Hang On... Dennis Rodman bought the Eliasberg 1804 $1?! Wow!
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    tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,709 ✭✭✭✭✭
    IIRC, he was the underbidder on the Eliasberg 1885 trade dollar to Jay Parrino
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    WildIdeaWildIdea Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Stupid question, but could a relative of Eliasberg be able to pedigree coins and ride the coattail of the original famous collector?
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    << <i>

    For some reason the Jules Riever pedigree seems to REALLY earn a hefty premium.

    >>



    I have not observed this... if anything, the collection has a reputation to be very overgraded.
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    BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,526 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>

    For some reason the Jules Riever pedigree seems to REALLY earn a hefty premium.

    >>



    I have not observed this... if anything, the collection has a reputation to be very overgraded. >>




    image and when I look at his collection I also see a ton of problem/messed with coins. I do realize that he wanted every die marriage and must have been aon a limited budget compared to the likes of Eliasberg etc and consequently took any example he could find of course being less picky the rarer it was (like we have a choice sometimes). I will shy away rom any coin marked with his pedigree knowing that it is probably messed with and/or low grade. >>



    you might want to temper that "any coin" refrain.

    Among his holdings that were sold by HA.com in 2006 were the finest-known (by far) 1830 LM-5 capped bust half dime (graded NGC MS-65 and stunning) and the finest known (only MS example, IIRC) 1833 LM-2 capped bust half dime...also a real looker!
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    291fifth291fifth Posts: 25,208 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My opinion is:

    Learn to grade and buy the coin and not the pedigree. The more common the coin the more this should be the rule.
    All glory is fleeting.

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