Six Rare Ephraim Brasher Colonial American Coin Silver Place Spoons. New York City, circa 1780; 9 inches long (each); 10.30 troy ounces (average 1.72 troy ounces each). Condition: Errant nicking and scratching, otherwise in overall good condition. The six large spoons each stamped to reverse terminals with double EB mark within square cartouches, engraved to terminals MW in period script. A one-time next-door neighbor of George Washington in New York's Cherry Hill neighborhood, Ephraim Brasher ranked among the notable New York gold and silver smiths. He was an assayer, gold regulator, and respected local politician. Note: The usage of the double EB mark with a square cartouche has been under discussion by academics as possibly relating to another early American silversmith. The present examples, like all Brasher spoons in this sale, are offered with a firm Brasher attribution as the marks use a serif with a distinct triangular point to the lowest arm of the E, typical of his two-letter mark and commensurate with that found on his most recognizable pieces including his Brasher Doubloons. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15058, realized $5040. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

Six Rare Ephraim Brasher Colonial American Coin Silver Place Spoons. New York City, circa 1780; 9 inches long (each); 10.30 troy ounces (average 1.72 troy ounces each). Condition: Errant nicking and scratching, otherwise in overall good condition. The six large spoons each stamped to reverse terminals with double EB mark within square cartouches, engraved to terminals MW in period script. A one-time next-door neighbor of George Washington in New York's Cherry Hill neighborhood, Ephraim Brasher ranked among the notable New York gold and silver smiths. He was an assayer, gold regulator, and respected local politician. Note: The usage of the double EB mark with a square cartouche has been under discussion by academics as possibly relating to another early American silversmith. The present examples, like all Brasher spoons in this sale, are offered with a firm Brasher attribution as the marks use a serif with a distinct triangular point to the lowest arm of the E, typical of his two-letter mark and commensurate with that found on his most recognizable pieces including his Brasher Doubloons. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15058, realized $5040. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

Six Rare Ephraim Brasher Colonial American Coin Silver Place Spoons. New York City, circa 1780; 9 inches long (each); 10.30 troy ounces (average 1.72 troy ounces each). Condition: Errant nicking and scratching, otherwise in overall good condition. The six large spoons each stamped to reverse terminals with double EB mark within square cartouches, engraved to terminals MW in period script. A one-time next-door neighbor of George Washington in New York's Cherry Hill neighborhood, Ephraim Brasher ranked among the notable New York gold and silver smiths. He was an assayer, gold regulator, and respected local politician. Note: The usage of the double EB mark with a square cartouche has been under discussion by academics as possibly relating to another early American silversmith. The present examples, like all Brasher spoons in this sale, are offered with a firm Brasher attribution as the marks use a serif with a distinct triangular point to the lowest arm of the E, typical of his two-letter mark and commensurate with that found on his most recognizable pieces including his Brasher Doubloons. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15058, realized $5040. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

A Rare Ephraim Brasher Colonial American Coin Silver Place Spoon. New York City, circa 1780; 9 inches long; 1.91 troy ounces. Condition: Errant nicking and scratching, otherwise in overall good condition. Spoon with engraved monogram HF in period script, double-stamped to reverse in square cartouches EB. Preceding Ephraim Brasher's well-documented foray into coinage production was his equally respected business of producing silver flatware and hollowware. Patrons including George Washington, the Van Rensselaer family, and other prominent early American families decorated their tables with his high-quality wares. A particularly overt display of wealth in the bullion-starved colonies, this large spoon (undoubtedly part of a larger table service) is of thicker gauge than the majority of flatware produced by his contemporaries. The bullion value of 1.91 troy ounces in coin silver was a little over $2.00 when this spoon was produced, not including any additional cost for craftsmanship. That represented nearly one-week's wages for the common laborer at the time who earned 44 cents per day, according to an 1885 Massachusetts wage report. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15057, realized $870. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

A Rare Ephraim Brasher Colonial American Coin Silver Place Spoon. New York City, circa 1780; 9 inches long; 1.91 troy ounces. Condition: Errant nicking and scratching, otherwise in overall good condition. Spoon with engraved monogram HF in period script, double-stamped to reverse in square cartouches EB. Preceding Ephraim Brasher's well-documented foray into coinage production was his equally respected business of producing silver flatware and hollowware. Patrons including George Washington, the Van Rensselaer family, and other prominent early American families decorated their tables with his high-quality wares. A particularly overt display of wealth in the bullion-starved colonies, this large spoon (undoubtedly part of a larger table service) is of thicker gauge than the majority of flatware produced by his contemporaries. The bullion value of 1.91 troy ounces in coin silver was a little over $2.00 when this spoon was produced, not including any additional cost for craftsmanship. That represented nearly one-week's wages for the common laborer at the time who earned 44 cents per day, according to an 1885 Massachusetts wage report. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15057, realized $870. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

A Rare Ephraim Brasher Colonial American Coin Silver Place Spoon. New York City, circa 1780; 9 inches long; 1.91 troy ounces. Condition: Errant nicking and scratching, otherwise in overall good condition. Spoon with engraved monogram HF in period script, double-stamped to reverse in square cartouches EB. Preceding Ephraim Brasher's well-documented foray into coinage production was his equally respected business of producing silver flatware and hollowware. Patrons including George Washington, the Van Rensselaer family, and other prominent early American families decorated their tables with his high-quality wares. A particularly overt display of wealth in the bullion-starved colonies, this large spoon (undoubtedly part of a larger table service) is of thicker gauge than the majority of flatware produced by his contemporaries. The bullion value of 1.91 troy ounces in coin silver was a little over $2.00 when this spoon was produced, not including any additional cost for craftsmanship. That represented nearly one-week's wages for the common laborer at the time who earned 44 cents per day, according to an 1885 Massachusetts wage report. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15057, realized $870. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1921 50C Missouri 2x4 AU58 NGC. The Mint set a precedent when it issued two varieties of the Missouri half dollar in 1921. Similar variants in subsequent years would attempt, in the words of Dave Bowers, "to exploit the numismatic market." With a distribution of 9,000 coins, these 2x4 representatives are scarcer than their Plain counterparts. Rich gunmetal-blue, crimson, and gold patina surrounds brilliant centers on the obverse. The reverse is minimally toned. Trace friction occurs over the highest points, including the coonskin cap and frontiersman's cheek. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15464, realized $420. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1936-D 50C Arkansas -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. Unc. Issued in celebration of the state's centennial in 1936, Arkansas half dollars had a wide variance in production totals between 1935 and 1939. Distribution across all mints ranged from 13,012 coins for the 1935-P to 2,104 coins for the 1939-P and 1939-D. This particular issue claims a distribution of 9,660 pieces. The surfaces are mostly brilliant, and luster is partly subdued by the noted cleaning. A few obverse contact marks are seen. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15496, realized $74. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1936 50C Cleveland MS65 NGC. A total of 50,000 coins were distributed to collectors (30 more were struck for assay purposes). Those that survive are apt to grade fractionally better than MS64. The population declines markedly in grades higher MS65. Both sides of this Gem display light golden patina with underlying brilliance more prominent on the reverse. Frosty with a single reeding mark of note on Moses Cleaveland's forehead. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15486, realized $109. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1936 50C Boone -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. Unc. The bicentennial of the birth of fabled American pioneer Daniel Boone was celebrated through the issuance of commemorative half dollars. Boone was born in 1734, so 1934 represents the actual anniversary, but production continued through 1938. Coins struck from 1935 through the final year of the series feature "1934 / PIONEER YEAR" in the right reverse field. Satiny silver surfaces are moderately subdued. However, the cleaning is not overly distracting. The strike is strong, and scattered ticks are mostly visible on Boone's portrait. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15484, realized $85. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.