DOYLE NEW YORK AUCTION OF COINS, BANK NOTES, STAMPS AND MEDALS ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 TOTALS $2.35 MILLION

Including Property from the Estate of a Prominent New York Collector

Featuring Gold Bars and Coins Recovered from the S.S. Central America

S.S. CENTRAL AMERICA
Doyle New York was pleased to present a rare offering of thirty lots of gold coins and bars recovered from the S.S. Central America, often referred to as the Ship of Gold. She was one of the principal vessels that sailed between Panama and the eastern coast of the United States in the 1850s transporting vast quantities of gold from California. A 280-foot-long sidewheel steamer, she sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in September 1857 during a fierce hurricane. Over four hundred souls were lost, and the ship slipped to the ocean bed some 8,000 feet below with a fortune of gold on board. This remarkable treasure included thousands of 1857 $20 Libertys minted in San Francisco and tons of gold bars produced by the assayers of the Gold Rush era. The wreck was discovered in 1988 by a group of scientists, and her precious cargo was recovered, including most of the gold coins and assayer marked bars, many still in mint condition. Highlights recovered from the S.S. Central America included a Kellogg and Humbert 66.59 ounce gold ingot and a Harris, Marchand & Co. 32.45 ounce gold ingot, that each sold for $90,000.

NEXT AUCTION OF COINS, BANK NOTES AND POSTAGE STAMPS
Spring 2008

CONSIGNMENTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED
To have your property evaluated for possible consignment in the Spring 2008 auction of Coins, Bank Notes and Postage Stamps, please contact:

Norman Scrivener or Gerry Hughes, 212-427-4141, ext. 273, Coins@DoyleNewYork.com

CATALOGUE
Subscriptions Department, 212-427-4141, ext. 257, subscriptions@DoyleNewYork.com
View the September 18, 2007 catalogue

MEDIA CONTACT
Louis LeB. Webre, Vice President, Marketing and Media, 212-427-4141, ext 232, louis@DoyleNewYork.com
Images and interviews are available upon request.

Lot 1215
1915 S Panama-Pacific $50 Gold Round
Incredible Mint State 66 Gem example of this beautiful design by Robert Aiken, showing Minerva, patron goddess of Athens, on the obverse, with the reverse dominated by the 'Wise Old Owl' of Antiquity. Lustrous, warm reddish-gold color with wonderful eye appeal. The rarer of the two designs, with only 483 examples minted, this coin will attract strong bidding interest.
NGC MS 66.
Estimate:$100,000-150,000
Sold for $162,000

Lot 1245
1855 Wass, Molitor & Co., 50 Dollars Gold
Brilliant Uncirculated , Mint State example of this historic coin. Beautiful honey golden color with only minor surface abrasion so typical of the issue, noticeable rim nick at 3 o'clock. Overall a highly desirable piece that will attract spirited bidding.
NGC MS 60.
Estimate: $50,000-75,000
Sold for $132,000

 
Lot 1216
1915 S Panama-Pacific $50 Gold, Round
Gorgeous Mint State 65 coin with strong honey-golden lustre and traces of reddish hues. With a limited mintage of only 483 coins.
NGC MS 65.
Estimate: $75,000-100,000
Sold for $108,000

Lot 1248
Kellogg and Humbert 66.59 Ounce Gold Ingot
Kellogg and Humbert, San Francisco, Serial No. 459, 66.59 ounces, .811 Fine, value (1857) $1,116.37. CAGB-429. Showing Kellogg and Humbert Assayers company stamp within a frame. The assayers took cuts from lower right corner of face and upper right corner of back. Bright olive-gold with attractive lustre and virtually rust free. An impressive ingot from perhaps the most famous of all the California private assayers, Kellogg and Humbert, who played a major role in the history of the Gold Rush, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from PSA/DNA Authentication Services.
Estimate: $100,000-150,000
Sold for $90,000

Lot 1250
Harris, Marchand & Co., 32.45 Ounce Gold Ingot
Harris, Marchand & Co., Sacramento and Maryville, Serial No. 6502, 32.45 ounce, .907 Fine, Value (1857) $608.41. CAGB-123. Showing semicircular Harris, Marchand & Co. stamp above the circular all-seeing eye logo of Marchand Essayeur. Assay chips were taken at top left. Bright and lustrous yellow-gold appeal, with some minor but attractive rust marks on reverse. The firm was established in October 1855 by the two European immigrant proprietors, their success and recognition was well chronicled on the West Coast yet no ingots were know prior to the recovery of the S.S. Central America treasure.
Recovered from the S.S. Central America
Estimate: $30,000-40,000
Sold for $90,000

Lot 1113
1804 $10 Capped Bust Crosslet 4
Choice Brilliant Uncirculated example, one of only 3,757 minted, deep yellow gold with reddish highlights and strong details. A highly attractive coin rating high amongst the census.
NGC MS 62.
Estimate: $50,000-75,000
Sold for $84,000

Lot 1217
1915 S Panama-Pacific, $50 Gold, Octagonal
Beautiful Mint State 64 specimen showing dolphins on the outer rim which are absent from the round typr. Limited to sales of only 645 pieces, no doubt due to the shape and weight, the balance were eventually melted. This example offers a deep honey lustre with faint reddish under tones, the details present the workmanship in great form.
Estimate: $60,000-80,000
Sold for $78,000

 
Lot 1241
1851 Augustus Humbert, 50 D C Gold, 887 Thous, 50 on Reverse
Lettered Edge. Handsome Almost Uncirculated piece with beautiful orange-red patina both on the obverse and reverse, some typical edge bruising. Of the few known this makes an attractive entry level example.
PCGS AU 53.
Estimate: $50,000-75,000
Sold for $66,000

Lot 1251
Justh and Hunter 20.93 Ounce Gold Ingot
Justh and Hunter, San Francisco and Marysville, Serial No. 4280, 20.93 ounce, .907 Fine, value (1857) $392.42. CAGB-333. Having never produced any coins this company was virtually unknown among numismatists until the discovery and salvage of ingots from the S.S. Central America. Of moderate size, displaying the company stamp on the upper portion and with two small assay chips removed from top left and bottom right at reverse. Bright orange-yellow gold, free of any rusting.
Estimate: $20,000-30,000
Sold for $66,000

 
Lot 1246
1855 Wass, Molitor & Co., 50 Dollars Gold
Extremely Fine example of bright yellow-gold with attractive reddish highlights, usual scattered marks as seen on these heavy duty coins. A pleasing example of this popular issue.
PCGS XF 45.
Estimate: $40,000-50,000
Sold for $54,000

Lot 1088
1854 D $3 Indian
Attractive Almost Uncirculated example of this limited mintage coin, one of only 1,120 pieces from the Denver Mint. Elusive in all grades this is an important offering for the gold specialist.
NGC AU 58.
Estimate: $30,000-40,000
Sold for $51,000

Lot 1094
1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella
A highly important coin which is elusive in all grades. Even with mount removed the designation "Impaired Proof" this example is attractive with pale coloration, showing the Barber design head on obverse and the large star and dual denominations on reverse.
NGC Impaired Proof.
Estimate: $20,000-30,000
Sold for $46,800

Lot 1244
1852 United States Assay Office $50 Gold, 900 Thous
Significant Almost Uncirculated example from the newly reorganized company, USAOG. Strong golden lustre with small amounts of reddish patina, with some heavier rim marks the overall surface nicks are surprisingly minimal, a true gem of these prized Gold Rush pieces.
NGC AU 55.
Estimate: $20,000-30,000
Sold for $45,000

Lot 1095
1798 $5 Capped Bust, Heraldic Eagle
Classified as Large 8, 14 Stars, this choice example shows pale attractive patina with faint surface marks. Condition census places this coin at the high end of the scale.
NGC AU 58.
Estimate: $15,000-20,000
Sold for $43,200