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How significant is the upcoming Duke's Creek collection of Dahlonega gold (Heritage Atlanta auction)
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I just got a letter from Heritage announcing the auction of the Duke's Creek collection of Dahlonega gold coins at the upcoming Atlanta ANA. Does anyone know how significant a collection this is? How does it compare to the Green Pond collection? How does it compare to the Three Rivers Collection? What dealer helped put together this collection? The pictures in the information that I received look pretty good. Does anyone have any insight?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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John
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Very significant for southern gold enthusiasts as it contains many of the finest knowns of the Dahlonega branch mint series.
How does it compare to the Green Pond collection?
The coins in the Green Pond collection contained far fewer finest knowns. Of the two complete collections, per Dahlonega specialists, the Duke's Creek collection is the more highly regarded of the two.
What dealer helped put together this collection?
The late Jack Hanc(h)ock and (not-late) Bob Harwell were primarily responsible. I believe Doug Winter was also involved to some degree.
How does it compare to the Three Rivers Collection?
Excellent question! Anyone with deep pockets can buy the finest MS coins available when they become available and create a collection like Duke's Creek. Where's the challenge in that? It takes an insightful, patient, and dedicated collector to appreciate southern gold enough to assemble a collection of circulated Dahlonega and New Orleans gold (mostly in XF-40), on a shoestring budget, and completely unbeknownst to his spouse. What an accomplishment!
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
<< <i>completely unbeknownst to his spouse >>
EXCELLENT!
<< <i>and completely unbeknownst to his spouse. What an accomplishment! >>
<< <i>John-- nice engine icon. Who makes it? >>
Great engine. GE/Snecma CFM56-7 from the Boeing 737NG. I could trade one of them to help fill in some big holes in my gold type set.
Link to GE
John
That made me laugh.
The Duke's Creek collection is presently owned by dealers.
The Three Rivers Collecton is owned by a "midwestern collector" who has a strong (emotional) tie to the Pittsbugh Steelers.
Oh, well - everyone has their flaws.
I will add you to the growing list (that includes Laura, BTW) of people who can expect to receive a Terrible Towel purchased in Detroit next week.
I always say: better to be a Seahawk fan in Vegas than a Steeler fan in Detroit!
I guess you were wrong here (TT sent!)
The Duke's Creek collection is presently owned by dealers.
Not so. I was wrong here. The collection was owned by a collector/investor, who bought the complete collection intact from dealers. The previous owner was the man who lovingly assembled the collection in the 1990's.
As for a recap of the auction, the coins, in general, sold for strong money. Some of the nicer and more original coins were among those in lower grade holders and sold for considerably less money. Three coins sold for over $100,000 (1855-D $1, 1861-D $1, and 1854-D $3) and quite a few in the $50-75,000 range). The previous record for highest auction price ever paid for a Dahlonega coin was the Duke's Creek duplicate 55-D $1, sold at the 2006 FUN sale. I had the opportunity to see that coin and despite the weak date, I found it far more appealing and original than the one sold in the Atlanta 2006 Signature Sale.
I expressed some doubt earlier that the fact that many of these finest known coins had been further upgraded should not influence the price. After all, "finest known" is "finest known", no matter what number is on the holder. Boy was I wrong!
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)