The Waldorf-Astoria in New York will be the site of the auction of Part IV of the Eugene H. Gardner Collection of US Coins! This final installment of four unreserved Heritage auctions of this collection will be held on Wednesday, October 28.
This auction is devoted to Gene Gardner's duplicates, upgrades, and specialty pieces that were not part of his core sets. At one point, many of these coins were the premier coins in his main set until he found a better example. Of course, a duplicate in the eyes of Gene Gardner is nearly always a showpiece coin for other numismatists.
This is literally an auction for everyone, with more than 1000 lots from half cents and large cents to Trade dollars and commemorative silver. Even a few gold pieces are in this auction, including a complete set of Indian Head quarter eagles - a passing fancy, perhaps, to Gene Gardner (who specialized in the silver series), but as always the coins are lovely examples in high grades.
With a few exceptions, the coins in the collection are sold exactly as Gene held them - often in the same holders they occupied when purchased. Previous auctions of The Eugene H. Gardner Collection have realized over $47 million, already ranking the Gardner pedigree among the elite numismatic collections of all time - certainly in terms of prices realized, but more importantly for the sheer scope, completeness, and extraordinary quality of the coins presented.
Here are just a few examples of the many highlights of this auction:
- An 1871-CC Seated quarter in AU55 PCGS, CAC, the sole finest non-Mint State example and Gene Gardner's "back-up coin" to the MS65 PCGS example sold in Part I
- An 1850 half dime, PR65 NGC, tied for the finest graded of this elusive early proof Seated half dime issue and one of perhaps a dozen proofs that exist, Ex: Pittman/Kaufman
- A 1796 JR-6 dime, MS64 Prooflike NGC, Ex: Bareford, Whitney, and Price, a coin of impeccable quality and provenance
- A rare 1837 quarter, Browning-5, in MS65 NGC, CAC, Ex: Eliasberg. Not only the finest of the variety, but double-struck far off-center on the reverse.
- An 1873-CC Arrows quarter, AU55 PCGS, with only two finer examples known of this key Carson City issue
- A 1795 Flowing Hair half, O-104, T-24, graded MS61 NHC, a condition census example
- An 1844 Seated half, PR62 NGC, one of two certified proofs of this early Seated issue at both services combined. Gene Gardner had the other coin, too - a miraculous PR65 PCGS that sold in Part I
- An 1842 Seated dollar, PR62 PCGS, one of 8 to 10 proofs known and the former Pittman coin
As with the previous Gardner auctions, Heritage will offer interest-free payment terms. Please email Heritage Auction for details and instructions on how to implement this option.
This auction is open for bidding now at www.HA.com/coins.
