Simpson Patterns at ANA

MrEureka · September 8, 2026 10:00AM

In addition to a couple of major gold patterns from the Simpson Collection being sold for the first time (by Simpson) at the Heritage ANA auction, another dozen of the pieces he sold in earlier sales reappeared at the ANA sales. The results were more erratic than one might guess, so I’m sharing them. Probably no conclusions to be drawn. Just interesting.

J-521 PR62 Sold at ANA 21960, prior sale 38400 in the 4/21 Simpson Auction
J-1181 PR67CAM CAC 34160/48000 4/21
J-1219 PR65+CAC 20740/21600 2/21
J-1434 PR66BN 14030/13200 5/22
J-124C PR66+CAC 6710/7200 1/21
J-815 PR65+ 4148/3600 4/21
J-884 PR67RDCAM 20130/7800 1/21
J-1010 PR66RB 15860/19800 9/20
J-1442 PR66DCAM 39040/25200 1/22
J-1480 PR65RB 10980/12000 5/22
J-1570 PR65+CAMCAC 512400/456000 4/21
J-1068 PR66CAC 10370/5760 8/21

MEJ7070 · September 8, 2026 11:00AM

DCAMS appear to be more sought after, perhaps?

MrEureka · September 8, 2026 12:29PM

@MEJ7070 said:
DCAMS appear to be more sought after, perhaps?

Could be. It would only take one buyer to change the market.

WinLoseWin · September 8, 2026 2:57PM

That unique 1878 $5 gold (J-1570 PR65+CAMCAC 512400/456000 4/21) also had an auction appearance August 2024 where it set its record of $576,000, so the last sale was down from that.

Not certain whether the list is typical of pattern price fluctuations, but would not be surprised.

Patterns seems such a variable area in terms of designs, rarity, variety and demand. Unlike other series they are not often collected as a series. Some are as a subset or just individual pieces that catch a buyers attention.

Sometimes relative deals can be found when reappearing or you may have to pay up over earlier prices if you really want it and you may not get a chance again on high rarity examples. Though there is often another high rarity going to come along of a different issue. It is an interesting field with a lot of options.

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1B9DB9/1878-pattern-half-eagle-judd-1570-pollock-1764-unique-gold-reeded-edge-proof-65-cameo-pcgs-cac
.
.

MEJ7070 · September 8, 2026 4:29PM

@MrEureka said:

@MEJ7070 said:
DCAMS appear to be more sought after, perhaps?

Could be. It would only take one buyer to change the market.

Honestly I don’t know anything about the pattern registry world or how competitive it currently is at all …..but I know those DCAM points sure can get intensely competitive at auction in the type set realm.

MrEureka · September 9, 2026 5:00AM

@MEJ7070 said:

@MrEureka said:

@MEJ7070 said:
DCAMS appear to be more sought after, perhaps?

Could be. It would only take one buyer to change the market.

Honestly I don’t know anything about the pattern registry world or how competitive it currently is at all …..but I know those DCAM points sure can get intensely competitive at auction in the type set realm.

With perhaps one small exception , the pattern registry isn’t active enough for cameo points to be a major factor. And if it were, there’s no reason to think that they would be more important today than 5 years ago.

P0CKETCHANGE · September 9, 2026 5:20AM

The best way to never lose money collecting patterns is to never sell.

TallahasseeCoinClub · September 9, 2026 5:58AM

After Bobby Hughes left the pattern market, what dealer(s) filled the void he'd left behind?

MrEureka · September 9, 2026 8:39PM

@TallahasseeCoinClub said:
After Bobby Hughes left the pattern market, what dealer(s) filled the void he'd left behind?

There are probably about a dozen active pattern dealers, myself included, but nobody will ever fill Bobby’s shoes.

oreville · September 9, 2026 10:14PM

I was an active buyer in patterns over 10 years ago but with a narrow focus. Once I completed my 1942 cent pattern grading set as well as the 1964 International nickel quarter set I was done. I managed to get the 1942 patterns CAC stickered except for the raw ones.

I still have the complete Kenn Henderson (Inco Treasurer) proposed alternative metal set of 1964 quarters as well as the 1942 cent patterns in nearly all materials. @MrEureka had the nicest 1942 zinc plated steel cent pattern which he sold to me at Coinfest in CT nearly 20 years ago. Still have them all.

oreville · September 9, 2026 10:31PM

@TallahasseeCoinClub said:
After Bobby Hughes left the pattern market, what dealer(s) filled the void he'd left behind?

@TallahasseeCoinClub said:
After Bobby Hughes left the pattern market, what dealer(s) filled the void he'd left behind?

Bobby Hughes at Heritage then later on solo?

CaptHenway · September 10, 2026 6:08AM

@oreville said:
I was an active buyer in patterns over 10 years ago but with a narrow focus. Once I completed my 1942 cent pattern grading set as well as the 1964 International nickel quarter set I was done. I managed to get the 1942 patterns CAC stickered except for the raw ones.

I still have the complete Kenn Henderson (Inco Treasurer) proposed alternative metal set of 1964 quarters as well as the 1942 cent patterns in nearly all materials. @MrEureka had the nicest 1942 zinc plated steel cent pattern which he sold to me at Coinfest in CT nearly 20 years ago. Still have them all.

Let me see if I still have some correspondence from Kenn Henderson.

oreville · September 10, 2026 6:33AM

@CaptHenway said:

@oreville said:
I was an active buyer in patterns over 10 years ago but with a narrow focus. Once I completed my 1942 cent pattern grading set as well as the 1964 International nickel quarter set I was done. I managed to get the 1942 patterns CAC stickered except for the raw ones.

I still have the complete Kenn Henderson (Inco Treasurer) proposed alternative metal set of 1964 quarters as well as the 1942 cent patterns in nearly all materials. @MrEureka had the nicest 1942 zinc plated steel cent pattern which he sold to me at Coinfest in CT nearly 20 years ago. Still have them all.

Let me see if I still have some correspondence from Kenn Henderson.

Cool. As a kid living near Sterling Forest where International Nickel was once located in Sterling Forest NY, i felt a connection to the 1964 experimental quarters even though I disliked the elimination of our 90% silver coinage by 1966 in favor of clad coinage. I was 13 in 1966.

redraider · September 10, 2026 6:33AM

Im an active pattern collector as well, but with a narrow focus to one cent patterns from the 1850s-1890s. There are a few of us around.

Copperindian · September 10, 2026 7:08AM

@redraider said:
Im an active pattern collector as well, but with a narrow focus to one cent patterns from the 1850s-1890s. There are a few of us around.

Yes Jonathan - I just improved my 1858 PR 1C Short Set to #2 all time. That’s as high as I’ll go as #1 is out of reach.
Ken

redraider · September 10, 2026 7:57AM

@Copperindian said:

@redraider said:
Im an active pattern collector as well, but with a narrow focus to one cent patterns from the 1850s-1890s. There are a few of us around.

Yes Jonathan - I just improved my 1858 PR 1C Short Set to #2 all time. That’s as high as I’ll go as #1 is out of reach.
Ken

That is a great accomplishment! I love that set! Did you keep your small letters proof as part of this set?

Copperindian · September 10, 2026 8:14AM

@redraider: the one graded 65PR was sold with the FE PR set last year. I still think the one I have in there now is a PR, although it’s graded MS66. It has all the diagnostics:

What do you think? The head grader @ PCGS feels the denticles aren’t squared off enough; that was his sole rationale. Whatever; it’s a good thing the set permits the SL in MS for that slot.

tradedollarnut · September 10, 2026 9:42AM

The most common way to have a $1M pattern collection is to spend $2M

Elcontador · September 10, 2026 12:23PM

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
The best way to never lose money collecting patterns is to never sell.

Or never buy.

P0CKETCHANGE · September 10, 2026 12:24PM

@Elcontador said:
Or never buy.

Oh, but where’s the fun in that? 😉

oreville · September 10, 2026 12:52PM

@tradedollarnut said:
The most common way to have a $1M pattern collection is to spend $2M

LOL.

Some of us cannot help ourselves. This is why we need to do well in other areas of numismatics to compensate.

MrEureka · September 10, 2026 4:09PM

@tradedollarnut said:
The most common way to have a $1M pattern collection is to spend $2M

Isn’t that true of all rare coins?

tradedollarnut · September 10, 2026 4:13PM

Not in my experience

MrEureka · September 10, 2026 6:36PM

@tradedollarnut said:
Not in my experience

I’m confused. What’s not in your experience?

tradedollarnut · September 10, 2026 7:40PM

Having to spend $2M to have a million dollar collection

MrEureka · September 10, 2026 8:13PM

@tradedollarnut said:
Having to spend $2M to have a million dollar collection

This is getting to be an habit. Enjoy your nice Cabernet.

Simpson Patterns at ANA

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