Important Collections and Rarities Crossing the Block in Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Spring 2025 Showcase Auctions

Costa Mesa, CA—Stack’s Bowers Galleries is proud to announce that the Spring 2025 Showcase Auction is now open for viewing and presale bidding at the website. The sale features several important collections, many of which have been off the market for years.

Session 1 features more than 500 lots of specialized collections of medals and other numismatic Americana. This large and diverse offering is anchored by the Joe Foster, Richard August, and Scott Miller collections. It spans the panorama of medallic art from colonial times to the modern era. 

The sale will begin with the Historical Medals Collection of Joe Foster, a pioneering student of the medals of Nouvelle, France. This cabinet will be appreciated by advanced specialists in this series, not only for the rare and beautiful objects it contains but also for Foster's systemic approach to studying and ordering them. 

The Richard August Collection provides one of the most important and extensive collections of early American medals ever to cross the auction block. Mr. August was a fixture at many shows and auctions over many decades of collecting, and his expertise and connoisseurship are evident in the exceptional pieces in this sale. The Richard August Collection, including outstanding offerings of Betts medals and Washingtoniana, features a gold Washington Funeral medal, Libertas Americana medals in silver and bronze, a silver John Eager Howard at Cowpens medal (new to the census), the Kittanning medal from the Garrett Collection, and many others. The sale includes robust offerings of federal coins and exceptional paper money from the Richard August Collection. 

Well-known numismatic author Scott H. Miller consigned his collection of medallic art commemorating historical events produced by the American Numismatic Society. Miller wrote the authoritative reference on this extensive series, and we are proud to offer this notable cabinet of this once somewhat obscure series that, thanks to Scott’s scholarship, is now becoming less so.

“The authoritative descriptions and narratives for these incredibly historic items bring them to life. It is an area that I am proud to say Stack’s Bowers Galleries is known for,” said the firm’s president, Brian Kendrella. “The greatest collections of medals and other ‘numismatic Americana’ pass through our sales because of our team’s dedication to bringing this once niche area into the mainstream.”

The Spring 2025 Rarities Night session on Tuesday, April 1, presents an extraordinary array of noteworthy coins from the earliest days of the federal mint to modern issues. Featuring coins from many fantastic collections, the sale is anchored by coins from the Richard August, Barbaro Acres, Dr. Solomon, and Fritz collections. Many of the coins in these important holdings have been off the market for many years, sometimes decades. Highlights among the more than 250 Rarities Night lots include:

Lot 3003. 1793 Chain Cent. S-2. Rarity-4+. AMERICA, Without Periods. EF-40 (PCGS) CAC. A classic early type.

Lot 3010. 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. Proof-65+ (PCGS) CAC. CMQ. Eagle Eye Photo Seal. A historic and popular rarity.

Lot 3040. 1825/4/2 Capped Bust Quarter. B-3. Rarity-3. MS-62 (PCGS) GOLD CAC. CMQ-X. Only Gold CAC example.

Lot 3042. 1848 Liberty Seated Quarter. Proof-65 (NGC). Extremely rare.

Lot 3065. 1946-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. MS-67+ (PCGS) CAC. CMQ. Among the finest certified.

Lot 3071. 1796 Draped Bust Dollar. BB-62. Rarity-7+. Small Eagle, Small Date. AU-55 (PCGS) CAC. Newly discovered, finest of just four known.

Lot 3103. 1884 Trade Dollar. PCGS Proof-63 (PCGS). CMQ. The Farouk-Norweb Example.

Lot 3111. 1796 Quarter Eagle. No Stars. BD-2. AU-58 (NGC). Important first year type.

Lot 3118. 1862 Quarter Eagle. PCGS-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS) CAC. Ex Ullmer-Trumpeter. Among the finest known.

Lot 3142. 1827 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-5+. MS-64+ (PCGS). Extensively pedigreed to 1955.

Lot 3179. 1930-S Indian Head Eagle. MS-64 (PCGS). CMQ. Beautifully toned.

Lot 3205. 1898 Liberty Head Double Eagle. Proof-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS). A stunning Gem.

Lot 3218. 1913 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. Proof-66 (PCGS). Tied for finest graded at PCGS. 

Sessions 2 and 4 feature colonial and federal coins, with many lovely coins throughout these sessions. Great collector coins from the Richard August Collection are complemented by those from the Barbaro Acres, Veasal, Dr. Solomon, and Fritz collections, including high-grade issues in many different series. This selection from our continuing offerings of the old-time Barbaro Acres Collection features two-cent, three-cent, and three-dollar gold pieces. The Veasal Collection is a small but spectacular selection of nickels. At the same time, the Dr. Solomon Collection contains a broad selection of silver dollars and double eagles, including many absolute and conditional rarities throughout. The Fritz Collection also includes several important gold coins.

“As always, our world class team of numismatic and consignment specialists has done an exceptional job building and presenting this important auction. It is a numismatic event that will long be remembered for its incredible offerings,” Mr. Kendrella concluded.

Lot viewing opportunities are available in the firm’s Costa Mesa, CA headquarters, New York City Gallery, and at the Baltimore Convention Center from March 25 to 28 during the Whitman Expo. Complete information can be found at www.stacksbowers.com.