Rare 1825 Half Eagle Highlights Mocatta Collection

The finest known proof 1825/4/1 half eagle from the Mocatta Collection will star in Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction Aug. 22-26, hosted at Griffin Studios in Costa Mesa, Calif. The coin will be offered as part of the Mocatta Collection of U.S. Gold Rarities.

Graded PF-67 Cameo by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and awarded a CAC sticker for superior quality, the Capped Head Left $5 gold piece boasts a provenance stretching back to before 1864 and has been held privately off the market since the early 1970s. It is first traced to the collection of George F. Seavey, formed before 1864, which was purchased en bloc by Lorin G. Parmelee in 1873. It appeared in Lot 957 of the June 1890 sale of the Parmelee Collection where it sold for $40, or just eight times the face value.

Over the next hundred years, this coin passed through a litany of legendary cabinets including those of Waldo Newcomer, Colonel E.H.R. Green and even Louis E Eliasberg, Sr., himself. Stack’s had the pleasure of offering this piece twice during this period including its 1944 sale of the Bell Collection and their 1947 H.R. Lee sale – on behalf of Eliasberg. It was last offered publicly in Sotheby’s 1954 sale of the collection belonging to King Farouk of Egypt. This specimen was acquired for the Mocatta Collection circa 1973 and has been held privately since.

Among the three known examples, the Mocatta specimen is the only one currently in private hands, and it ranks as the finest. The other two survivors include the example in the Harry Bass Core Collection (graded PF-64+, as per John Dannreuther) and another in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution (graded PF-66, also per Dannreuther).

This proof half eagle is accompanied by numerous other world-class treasures. The gold dollars are highlighted by a PF-64 Deep Cameo (PCGS) CAC 1855, which is one of the finest of only about eight known. The iconic 1796 No Stars quarter eagle is represented by an AU-58 (PCGS) example that is on the cusp of the Condition Census. The popular $3 gold series is highlighted by a lovely PF-65 Cameo (PCGS) CAC 1876, while the 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella is represented by a PF-65 (PCGS) CAC specimen.

Also included among the half eagles is an MS-62 (PCGS) CAC 1829 Small Size $5, which ranks among the finest of only about 10 known. The $10 eagles are marked by rarities across three centuries of production including an AU-55 (PCGS) 1797 Heraldic Eagle $10, a visually appealing PF-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS) 1864 (just two graded finer) and impressive representatives from both 1907 “pattern” issues including a MS-66 (PCGS) Rolled Rim and a MS-64 (PCGS) CAC Wire Rim.

The double eagle denomination is highlighted by two proof examples including a PF-65 Deep Cameo (PCGS) CAC 1887 (only three graded finer) and a Satin PF-63 (PCGS) 1914 from a mintage of just 70 coins. Pattern enthusiasts will be thrilled by the rare 1804 Judd-30 Private Restrike $5 graded MS-62 (PCGS) and the 1808 Judd-40 Private Restrike $5 graded MS-63 (PCGS).

The Mocatta name is well recognized in numismatic circles. Coins from this firm were first exhibited publicly in August 1976 at the 85th Annual American Numismatic Association Convention in New York, N.Y. During that same 1976 convention, Stack’s featured a specialized group from Mocatta in its auction. This marked the beginning of a relationship that would span more than 45 years and culminate in the present offering.

The Mocatta Collection will be presented in the Rarities Night session of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction, which will be hosted at Griffin Studios in Costa Mesa, CA from Aug 22 through 26, 2022. For more information about the collection or the sale, email Info@StacksBowers.com or call (800) 566-2580.