Something for Everyone at Stack’s Bowers’ Baltimore Auction

A wide variety of intriguing and rare lots will cross the block when Stack’s Bowers Galleries presents its official auction of the Whitman Coins & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore Nov. 13-16.

A highlight of the auction offers will be The E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers. Described as “one of the most substantial collections of New Jersey coppers ever formed,” the collection includes more than 240 different coins, representing 110 separate die varieties, as cataloged by Dr. Edward Maris in his 1881 Coins of New Jersey.

According to Stack’s Bowers, this is the largest offering of die varieties since the 2003 John J. Ford Jr. Collection sale and the third-largest number of die varieties ever offered, trailing just Ford and the Garrett Collection (sold in 1980 with 114 different varieties) but surpassing Maris’ own collection (sold in 1886, 109 varieties), the Jacob Spiro Collection (1955, 109 varieties), Dr. Thomas Hall (1909, 100 varieties), Frederick Taylor (1987, 99 varieties) and others.

The E Pluribus Unum Collection includes eight different coins Dr. Maris illustrated on the famous photographic plate that accompanied his legendary 1881 monograph. These Maris Plate coins are among the most desirable to enthusiasts of New Jersey coppers, who place as high a premium on provenance as they do on superb condition.

Several dozen of the coins are of Condition Census quality, and many of the varieties are extraordinarily rare in any grade, including Maris 8 1/2-C (three known), Maris 9-G (seven known), Maris 10-gg (four known), Maris 21 1/2-R (three known), Maris 23 1/2-R (three known), Maris 24-Q (five known), Maris 66-u (five known), Maris 81-ll (three known), and the famous Maris 83-ii (nine known).

Overstrikes and errors were a focus of the E Pluribus Unum Collection, and it contains 25 different Maris 56-n struck on top of other early coppers like Machin’s Mills halfpence, Vermont coppers and Nova Constellatio coppers. Many overstrikes of other varieties are also included, as are major errors like double strikes, brockages and a unique uniface strike of Maris Reverse.

Another area of excitement will be the sale of Washingtonia from the Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, featuring the Collection of William Spohn Baker, who pioneered a system for arranging the medals that served collectors of this niche area for over a century. While Baker died in 1897, he amassed a collection of more than 1,000 portrait engravings and about 1,100 medals. The medals collection will be offered in its entirety

Another item of note will be the infamous “NE” Pine Tree Shilling. From 1652, this shilling has an infamous counterstamp that has captured specialists’ attention for nearly 150 years.

For paper money collectors, the sale will feature fresh-to-the-market notes across several genres including National Currency and large and small type notes.

Great large type rarities like the Fr.212f 1865 $500 Interest Bearing Note and Fr.150 1863 $50 Legal Tender Note will be offered, along with National Currency notes that are being presented at auction for the very first time. Among those is a 1902 $10 Red Seal from the Farmers National Bank of Kingfisher, Territory of Oklahoma, as well as a newly discovered serial number 1 1902 $10 Plain Back from the First National Bank of Rosebud, Montana (the first note to come forward from the bank). Small size specialists will be treated to a new-to-the-census Choice Uncirculated 1928 $500 Gold certificate that has resided in the same collection for more than 40 years.

For more information or to request a catalog, call Stack’s at (800) 458-4646 or visit StacksBowers.com.