Stewart Blay Collection Nears $5 Million

The Stewart Blay Collection continued to set records at GreatCollections in November, with almost $5 million in final bids for the finest sets of Flying Eagle cents, Indian cents, and Barber dimes ever assembled.

The coins were sold at GreatCollections on Nov. 12 and 19. Highlight realizations include the 1856 Flying Eagle cent graded PCGS MS-66 at $343,125, the 1877 Indian Cent graded PCGS MS-66+RD at $340,875, and the 1893-O Barber dime graded PCGS MS-68PL at $140,625. A duplicate 1955 doubled die Lincoln cent graded PCGS MS-65RD realized $123,750. These all realized all-time world records for the date and grade. The MS-65RD 1955 doubled die more than doubled the previous record set in 2001.

A total of 16,645 bids were received for the 673 graded coins on offer, realizing a total of $4,960,436.

The late Stewart Blay, a legendary numismatist and sculptor based in New York, assembled the award-winning collections over the past 50 years. Earlier this year, GreatCollections auctioned the Blay Lincoln Cent Collection for more than $7.7 million, also setting many world records.

“Serious collectors came out of the woodwork to bid and own part of the Stewart Blay Collection – several had not acquired a coin in years, as nothing of this quality had been on the market,” said Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections. “The realized prices confirm the numismatic community agreed with the superlative quality Stewart had assembled over his lifetime. The pedigree is one that will survive time – perhaps the most universally respected in the current generation of numismatists.”

Ian continued, “Sadly, Stewart passed away unexpectedly last Thanksgiving. We are so thankful to Stewart and his estate for entrusting us with this once-in-a-generation collection.”

Highlights and prices realized from the Stewart Blay Collection of Flying Eagle Cents:

• 1856 Flying Eagle cent, PCGS MS-66: $343,125

• 1858 Flying Eagle cent, Small Letters, PCGS MS-66: $59,062

Highlights and prices realized from the Stewart Blay Collection of Indian Cents:

• 1864 Indian cent “L” on Ribbon, PCGS MS-66+RD: $81,225

• 1868 Indian cent, PCGS MS-66+RD: $78,925

• 1877 Indian cent, PCGS MS-66+RD: $340,875

• 1884 Indian cent, PCGS MS-67RD: $81,562

Highlights and prices realized from the Stewart Blay Collection of Barber Dimes:

• 1893-O Barber dime, PCGS MS-68PL: $140,875

• 1907 Barber dime, PCGS PF-68: $87,187

• 1911 Barber dime, PCGS MS-68+: $81,562

A permanent record of the Stewart Blay Collection is available on the GreatCollections website. GreatCollections has plans to publish a book featuring the Blay collections.

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