Who wants to look up some quick info in some PRINT auction catalogs (Heritage)

Aegis3 · October 15, 2008 11:06AM

I have some questions related to assay commissions medals appearing at auctions. I am interested in the information is the PRINTED catalogs, NOT online copies. The questions are simple and hopefully should not take much time if you have these catalogs. Thanks in advance.

Heritage Jan 2003: 10228. 1876 medal.
Is a weight listed?
Is there a photo?

Heritage Sept 2004: 9183. 1867 medal.
Is a weight listed?
Is there a photo?

Heritage Sept 2005: 630. 1876 medal.
Is a weight listed?
Is there a photo?
Is there any pedigree information?

Shamika · October 15, 2008 11:23AM

<< <i>ANR Jan 2004: 1695. 1973 medal.
Is a weight listed?
Is there a photo?
Is there any pedigree information? >>

Is weight listed? No, but it does mention that it is 57.1 mm diameter.
Is there a photo? Yes. It appears to be a life size image (black and white).
Is there any pedigree information? No.

Wish I could help you out with the other catalogs, but I've since disposed of them.

Aegis3 · October 15, 2008 11:26AM

Thanks!

coindeuce · October 15, 2008 12:00PM

I currently own lot 630 from Heritage auction 384. No weight given. The photo in the listing is very unkind. From the Robert Leach Collection of Washingtonia. BTW, Baker lists the weight of the copper 1877 A.C. medal as 302.3 grains.
Another 1876 A.C. medal appeared as lot 410 of Presidential Coin & Antique Sale #78 (6/7/08)Ex: Schuster, Patterson, Thompson. No weight given; B/W photo of both sides.
Here is a link to 308:10228 from Heritage January 2003. Also pedigreed, no weight given; photos in the link. I presume this matches the hardcopy catalog.

jonathanb · October 15, 2008 12:55PM

Coin Galleries/Stack's Dec 2007: 2538. 1898 medals.
Are weights listed? NO
Are there photo? YES, color

Coin Galleries/Stack's Dec 2007: 2539. 1972 medals.
Are weights listed? NO
Are there photo? YES, color
Is there pedigree information for the 1972 medal? NO

Presidential Coin & Antique Dec 2004: 507. 1899 medal.
Is there a photo? NO

WinLoseWin · October 15, 2008 3:57PM

Bowers & Ruddy May 1973 (around lot 637) No weights listed

Lot 636 = 1872 silver at $150 - no pics

Lot 637 = 1872 bronze Brilliant Finish at $250

Lot 638 = 1872 bronze Bronzed Finish at $125 - no pics

Lot 639 = 1872 Aluminum at $135

Also Lot 1090 = 1873 Bronzed Proof at $150 - no pics; Ex Boosel; Brand; Chapman
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Bowers & Ruddy Feb 1979 (around lot 2523) No weights listed; I don't have prices realized for this sale.

Lot 2523 = 1873 white metal Proof-50 - no pics

Lot 2524 = 1874 silver Proof-65 - pics

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If things work out, I might get a chance to check some of the other catalogs in a few days.

Aegis3 · October 16, 2008 10:34AM

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.

Coindeuce, is the information on your medal from the paper catalog or the online catalog? I like to differentiate in my notes medals plated in paper catalogs vs. those just imaged in the online version.

WinLoseWin · October 19, 2008 5:26AM

Steve Ivy's Trinity sale, Apr 1977 (around lot 1118)

Looks like just the one lot 1118 1860 copper Proof-60 at $70 - no pics or weight
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Also the following sale does not have lot numbers that high or any assay medals that I saw. Could it have been another year or month or company? There were two specialized Bowers auctions in April 1986 that each had extensive runs of assay medals. One had assay medals within 100 lots before lot 5163 though not right at it.
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Bowers & Merena June 1986 (around lot 5163)

Aegis3 · October 19, 2008 10:17AM

<< <i>Steve Ivy's Trinity sale, Apr 1977 (around lot 1118)

Looks like just the one lot 1118 1860 copper Proof-60 at $70 - no pics or weight
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Also the following sale does not have lot numbers that high or any assay medals that I saw. Could it have been another year or month or company? There were two specialized Bowers auctions in April 1986 that each had extensive runs of assay medals. One had assay medals within 100 lots before lot 5163 though not right at it.
---
Bowers & Merena June 1986 (around lot 5163) >>

Thanks again! A person with your library should hopefully get to post to these forums more often.

And you're right; I meant to say Sept 1986, the Princeton/Ingle sale. I have the Dreyfuss sale already. And Leidman also.

Julian, they're not your medals, right?

coindeuce · October 19, 2008 11:21AM

<< <i>Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.

Coindeuce, is the information on your medal from the paper catalog or the online catalog? I like to differentiate in my notes medals plated in paper catalogs vs. those just imaged in the online version. >>

For this thread, I had to refer to the online catalog. I believe I discarded the printed catalog before a move last December.

numisma · October 20, 2008 3:18AM

Coin Galleries Nov 1998. 1881 medal

The medal you are referring to was lot 2435, which realized $319 (including the juice). It is described as follows:

Annual Assay Medal, 1881. Coper bronzed, 33.8 mm. By George T. Morgan (obv.), Charles E. Barber (rv.). Julian AC-24. Rutherford B. Hayes head l. Old inactive verdigris in left field. Rv. Liberty and Justice with steam coining press, Latin Let not the State Receive Harm, from Cicero's Orations against Cataline. Deep mahogany red. About Uncirculated.

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Are you sure about the Bowers & Merena sale? I have that catalog, but no medals are listed. The sale I have is "The May 2006 Anaheim Auction," which was held on May 26, 2006.

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You asked about a few past B&M sales. I do have the September 1986 catalog, and possibly the others, although they may be in storage. The 9/86 catalog contained three Assay Commission medals, an AC-8, an AC-15, and a uniface 1914 Wilson medal (obv. only, apparently a die trial). Lot 5163 is the 1876 Washington piece, Baker-547 in AU. It is imaged in the catalog, but no weights or diameters are given. It sold for $248.

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Heritage January 2003 Medal. This one is still listed on the Heritage website with an image: LINK

1876 Assay Commission Medal, Brown Uncirculated. Bronze. Julian AC-15. Baker-347. Medium brown patina covers the obverse with more of a reddish-brown cast on the reverse. The fields are only moderately reflective, but this in large part is because of the rich patination seen throughout. Light porosity (mint-made) is seen over Washington's nose and there is a sizeable carbon spot located outside the wreath at 7 o'clock.
The importance of this particular issue of Assay medal is derived from efforts of Mint Director Henry Linderman, who sought to have a special reverse honoring the centennial of American independence added to the Trade Dollar for 1876. Mint Superintendent Pollock replied that a new reverse would cause problems for the Trade Dollar in the Orient and it would also require Congressional approval. A special centennial reverse was, however, added to the 1876 Assay medal, giving it a unique distinction among Assay medals.
Ex: Wayne Rich Collection (Bowers and Merena, 3/02), lot 3588; Leonard J. Torok Collection (Bowers and Merena, 9/98), lot 1229.

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Heritage September 2004 medal. Also on the Heritage website. LINK.. Here's the description from Heritage:

1867 MS Assay Commission Medal. Nickel or silver. AU55 Uncertified. Julian AC-3. Light wear is visible on the high points and the reflective surface is all but gone. A piece of metal has been removed, or has fallen away, from the obverse border at 8 o'clock exposing the interior of the planchet. This has the appearance of silver, however, the specific gravity of approximately 9.25 is much too low to be pure silver, yet is too high to be nickel. The specific gravity of nickel is 8.9 and that of coin silver is 10.25. (sold for $345)

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Also on the Heritage site. It sold for $747.50 to an eBay bidder. LINK. Here's the description:

1876 Assay Commission Medal PR63 NGC. Julian AC-15b, Baker-347, R.8. Bronze, 33mm. This well made mahogany toned piece has impressive mint shimmer across the moderately reflective fields. A few unimportant marks near the chin, and a tiny spot behind the ponytail. On the whole, however, this is a desirable, high quality example of this rare Centennial year U.S. Assay Medal.
From The Robert Leach Collection of Washingtonia.

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The Whitford sales should not be a problem. If you call Craig and ask him, he will likely be willing to fax you pages from the past sales. I have some Whitford catalogs, but not the ones you listed.

Aegis3 · October 21, 2008 10:32AM

Thanks Dennis, that 1881 description should allow me to match that medal if it appeared elsewhere.

The B&M 5-06 sale I had the lot wrong, it's 336. It's online but I need the information also from the print catalog.

(I consider print catalogs to be more permanent, and so I differentiate my listings with regards to medals plated in the print catalog, and those just in the online versions. We never know when auction companies will drop old online images or go belly up.)

WinLoseWin · October 21, 2008 6:24PM

Craig Whitford Apr 1993 (around lot 1580)

Just the one lot, 1580 1882 copper Choice Proof at $286 (on a 200-300 estimate) - has picture and 33mm; no weight

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Craig Whitford May 2002 (around lot 1132; the Morgan sale)

All from Morgan estate direct descendant of George T. Morgan

Lot 1132 1915 silver Choice Uncirculated 45mm edge engraved Leonard P. Morgan; original box at $11,812.50 (10,500 x the odd 12.5% fee) - has pictures both sides

Lot 1133 1918 - has picture of one side
Lot 1134 1919 - has picture of one side
Lot 1135 1920 - has picture of one side
Lot 1136 1921 - has picture of one side
Lot 1137 1922 - has picture of one side
Lot 1138 1922 - duplicate - no pictures
Lot 1139 1922 proposed medal electrotype shells - has pictures of each
Lot 1140 1923 - has picture of one side

(If you want anymore details on these, let me know.)

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Bowers & Merena June 1996 (around lot 2275)

Just the one lot, 2275 1867 copper (not bronzed) JK-AC-3 Select Proof at $220 (incudes the 10%) - has pictures; weight 333.7 grains
"From our sale of the Boyd, Brand & Ryder Collections, March 1990, Lot 46." at $247.50 (it was part of F.C.C. Boyd Estate)

I'm guessing you already have it, but just in case you don't, The Boyd, Brand & Ryder Collections auction had 59 assay medals from both the Brand and Boyd Estate.

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Bowers & Merena Sept 1998 (around lot 1229)

Just the one lot, 1229 1876 Proof-60 at $805 (on a 300-600 estimate) - has pictures; weight 341.3 grains; diameter 33.6mm

(This lot was in the Trade Dollar section with a description that explained the reverse design's ties to a suggested special reverse for the 1876 Trade Dollar.)

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WinLoseWin · November 2, 2008 10:44AM

"Bowers & Merena" May 2006: 336. 1870 medal.
Is a weight listed?
Is there a photo?

There is no photo in that catalog and no weight listed. It does show a pedigree to the Bowers & Merena November-December 2001 sale. That sale has pictures along with a weight of 331.1 grains and diameter of 33.4 mm (sold for $207 in 2001).

Don't have any of the 3 remaining Heritage catalogs listed.

Aegis3 · November 17, 2008 10:09AM

Let's put a ttt and another thank you in this thread. Especially given that Wednesday is very close now. Just the Heritage sales now. I thought they got sent to everyone but me. And that's still a lot of people. Or does this show how expendable auction catalogs are? (Perhaps there should be a thread on that....)

Quarternut · November 17, 2008 10:29AM

You can easily access the Heritage website to look up the lots from the last 8-10 years, complete with auction descriptions, pictures and prices realized.

Just go to the "Permanent Auction Archives" and search for what you want.

Link

QN

Aegis3 · November 17, 2008 11:07AM

<< <i>You can easily access the Heritage website to look up the lots from the last 8-10 years, complete with auction descriptions, pictures and prices realized.

Just go to the "Permanent Auction Archives" and search for what you want.

Link

QN >>

I've already done so; that's how I know about these listings. I value online photos and print photos differently, and note them differently, since I think that print photos will last longer than online photos.

Who wants to look up some quick info in some PRINT auction catalogs (Heritage)

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