The finest known 1792 Birch Cent MS65 NGC CAC will be offered in Heritage Auctions’ Jan. 7-10 Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Convention auctions at the Orange County Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2014.
"The spectacular color and prooflike surfaces of this coin make it a leading contender for the most desirable specimen of the Partrick 1792 pattern set," said Rohan. "The overall appearance of this carefully preserved coin is outstanding, and its importance cannot be overemphasized."
Smooth, prooflike surfaces highlight this coin, the epitome of the 1792 pattern coinage. LIBERTY is prominently centered above the portrait, the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement within the 1792 pattern series. The lettered edge bears the inscription TO BE ESTEEMED * BE USEFUL *, while BIRCH is inscribed on the neck truncation.
The Donald G. Partrick Collection of Extraordinary United States Colonials Part I is the finest gathering of colonial coinage ever to appear at auction, said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions.
"It rivals the collections of the greatest names in numismatic history. Donald Partrick’s lifelong passion for early American coins is evident in this extraordinary offering."
An unprecedented grouping of 12 different 1792 pattern coins will be offered (three more than the famous Parmelee and Garrett collections). Another significant highlight of this auction is one of only four original Confederate half dollars, the sole piece pedigreed to CSA president Jefferson Davis. A group of 12 Continental dollars, including two of only four known in silver, comprises another unmatched group of coins.
Another highlight of this auction is a 1792 Eagle-on-Globe Copper Quarter Dollar MS63 NGC CAC.
"This coin has appeared at auction a mere four times in the past 152 years, and was last offered publicly in 1890," said Rohan. "With one of the two known pieces closely held by the National Numismatic Collection, this is the sole example available to collectors. History suggests an opportunity of only once per generation to acquire one of the most prized patterns of 1792. This is that moment."
The 1792 Eagle-on-Globe quarter dollar patterns exhibit a number of stylistic differences from the other coinage of 1792. The cents, half dismes, and dismes all indicate their denomination, while this coin remains silent with regard to its value. The other 1792 patterns further bear the legend LIBERTY PARENT OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY (or its abbreviation), while this piece displays only LIBERTY. The quarter dollar pattern's eagle is markedly different from that of the half disme and disme, which clearly share a common source. The eagle here is a powerful bird exercising dominion over the earth, as opposed to the eagle of the half disme and disme, a scrawny, goose-necked creature (Cornelius Vermeule, in Numismatic Art in America, called it an "ailing barnyard fowl"). The engraver finely rendered the figure of Liberty on the quarter dollar pattern, with the hair gathered in a bun.
The Donald G. Partrick Collection of Extraordinary United States Colonials Part I, will debut on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2014, as part of Heritage Auctions' Jan. 7-10 Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Convention auctions at the Orange County Convention Center.
