Eric P. Newman Collection, Part I

1836 P2C Two Cents, Judd-52, Pollock-55, R.6, PR64+ NGC. CAC. Design. The obverse features a small eagle with outstretched wings standing on a cloud, with the peripheral legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and 1836 below. The reverse bears the denomination TWO CENTS surrounded by a laurel wreath. Struck in billon with a plain edge. Commentary. The billon composition is an alloy of copper and silver, and this piece contains 87% copper and 13% silver, weighing 4.1 grams, per the NGC label. About two dozen examples of Judd-52 are known along with others that are cataloged as Judd-53 with a reeded edge. Physical Description. A bold strike is evident with blue and iridescent toning around the obverse border, accenting the golden-brown surfaces. The underlying surfaces are fully lustrous. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3908, realized $18800.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1836 P2C Two Cents, Judd-52, Pollock-55, R.6, PR64+ NGC. CAC. Design. The obverse features a small eagle with outstretched wings standing on a cloud, with the peripheral legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and 1836 below. The reverse bears the denomination TWO CENTS surrounded by a laurel wreath. Struck in billon with a plain edge. Commentary. The billon composition is an alloy of copper and silver, and this piece contains 87% copper and 13% silver, weighing 4.1 grams, per the NGC label. About two dozen examples of Judd-52 are known along with others that are cataloged as Judd-53 with a reeded edge. Physical Description. A bold strike is evident with blue and iridescent toning around the obverse border, accenting the golden-brown surfaces. The underlying surfaces are fully lustrous. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3908, realized $18800.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 $1 PR65 NGC. High R.6 as a proof. The 8 and 4 each show delicate repunching on this rare proof silver dollar. The 8 was initially entered low and too close to the 1. Aside from the date, the obverse die is well made with no engraving blunders, and no die cracks or clash marks. The reverse die is similarly crisp and well-made with a few vertical shield lines encroaching on the horizontal crossbars. Only 24,500 business strikes and a small number of proofs were minted during the year, and survivors are rare, whether Mint State or proof. We offered the Pittman-Kaufman specimen in January 2008, and included a roster of 14 known proofs, recording just two pieces that are finer than this example, and one other graded the same as this example from the Newman Collection that represents a 15th proof example. Mint State 1845 Seated Liberty dollars are also rare, with perhaps fewer than three dozen examples known. The obverse of this Gem proof exhibits wisps of champagne and pale blue toning over fully mirrored fields and lustrous devices. The reverse is light silver-gray with hints of blue and pale gold toning. A splendid example showing trivial hairlines and contact marks that limit the grade. The strike is bold including full star center lines on the obverse and sharp leaf venation on the reverse. The hair and facial details are sharp and the eagle's plumage is bold. This piece is a borderline Cameo proof with exceptional eye appeal. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3906, realized $41125.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 $1 PR65 NGC. High R.6 as a proof. The 8 and 4 each show delicate repunching on this rare proof silver dollar. The 8 was initially entered low and too close to the 1. Aside from the date, the obverse die is well made with no engraving blunders, and no die cracks or clash marks. The reverse die is similarly crisp and well-made with a few vertical shield lines encroaching on the horizontal crossbars. Only 24,500 business strikes and a small number of proofs were minted during the year, and survivors are rare, whether Mint State or proof. We offered the Pittman-Kaufman specimen in January 2008, and included a roster of 14 known proofs, recording just two pieces that are finer than this example, and one other graded the same as this example from the Newman Collection that represents a 15th proof example. Mint State 1845 Seated Liberty dollars are also rare, with perhaps fewer than three dozen examples known. The obverse of this Gem proof exhibits wisps of champagne and pale blue toning over fully mirrored fields and lustrous devices. The reverse is light silver-gray with hints of blue and pale gold toning. A splendid example showing trivial hairlines and contact marks that limit the grade. The strike is bold including full star center lines on the obverse and sharp leaf venation on the reverse. The hair and facial details are sharp and the eagle's plumage is bold. This piece is a borderline Cameo proof with exceptional eye appeal. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3906, realized $41125.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 50C PR65 NGC. R.7 as a proof. Unlike the smaller silver proofs, there is no date repunching on the half dollar, although an oblong die chip appears below the left side of the 8. A few other raised die chips are noted on the obverse of this Gem proof. The 84 appear to touch. Several of the vertical shield lines on the reverse extend into the horizontal crossbars. The reverse has a delicate die crack from the bottom right serif of F in HALF that extends into the field below the adjacent D. Just above the crack is a faint die line that connects those letters. The same dies were used for all the 1845 proof half dollars. We reoffered the Kaufman 1845 proof half dollar in our January 2013 FUN Signature sale, where we presented an updated roster of five known proofs, including one in the Smithsonian Institution. The Newman Collection example is a sixth proof, and second finest known behind the Premium Gem Pittman-Kaufman specimen. The 1845 proof half dollars include the PR66 NGC Pittman specimen; the PR65 NGC Newman example that is offered here; the PR64 NGC specimen from our May 2008 sale; the PR63 PCGS Eliasberg specimen; a proof specimen in the Smithsonian Institution; and a proof example in the July 1978 New England Rare Coins Auctions sale. The Queller and Byers half dollar collections both lacked proofs of this issue. The beautiful Gem Newman example has rich peripheral violet and blue toning around light silver at the center of the obverse, with similar blue, violet, and champagne toning around rich reddish-orange on the reverse. Both sides are sharply detailed with fully mirrored fields and satin devices. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3905, realized $35250.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 50C PR65 NGC. R.7 as a proof. Unlike the smaller silver proofs, there is no date repunching on the half dollar, although an oblong die chip appears below the left side of the 8. A few other raised die chips are noted on the obverse of this Gem proof. The 84 appear to touch. Several of the vertical shield lines on the reverse extend into the horizontal crossbars. The reverse has a delicate die crack from the bottom right serif of F in HALF that extends into the field below the adjacent D. Just above the crack is a faint die line that connects those letters. The same dies were used for all the 1845 proof half dollars. We reoffered the Kaufman 1845 proof half dollar in our January 2013 FUN Signature sale, where we presented an updated roster of five known proofs, including one in the Smithsonian Institution. The Newman Collection example is a sixth proof, and second finest known behind the Premium Gem Pittman-Kaufman specimen. The 1845 proof half dollars include the PR66 NGC Pittman specimen; the PR65 NGC Newman example that is offered here; the PR64 NGC specimen from our May 2008 sale; the PR63 PCGS Eliasberg specimen; a proof specimen in the Smithsonian Institution; and a proof example in the July 1978 New England Rare Coins Auctions sale. The Queller and Byers half dollar collections both lacked proofs of this issue. The beautiful Gem Newman example has rich peripheral violet and blue toning around light silver at the center of the obverse, with similar blue, violet, and champagne toning around rich reddish-orange on the reverse. Both sides are sharply detailed with fully mirrored fields and satin devices. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3905, realized $35250.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 25C PR64 NGC. CAC. High R.7 as a proof. Like all other known proof 1845 quarters, this piece has the date (845) heavily repunched to the right with the original digits left of the final position. Every vertical shield line on the reverse extends into the horizontal crossbars, most nearly reaching the top of the shield. There are no die cracks, clash marks, or other die anomalies on this example. We published a roster of four known proof 1845 quarters in our February 2012 auction, including one in the Smithsonian Institution. The Newman example was unrecorded in that roster and represents a fifth known example. The present offering is the third of four privately held 1845 quarters that have appeared in our auctions. No other auction firm, past or present, has handled more than one specimen. The known specimens include the PR66 NGC Pittman-Kaufman coin that appeared in our January 2008 and January 2009 sales; the PR65 NGC Eliasberg specimen that appeared in a January 1999 Bowers and Merena sale; the present PR64 NGC Eric P. Newman example; the PR64 NGC Earle-Ryder specimen that we sold in February 2012; and a proof example in the Smithsonian Institution. This spectacular near-Gem exhibits faint hairlines that limit the grade, with light ivory surfaces and powder-blue peripheral toning on the obverse, and deep blue patina with splashes of champagne on the reverse. The design elements are boldly detailed as expected. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3904, realized $30550.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 25C PR64 NGC. CAC. High R.7 as a proof. Like all other known proof 1845 quarters, this piece has the date (845) heavily repunched to the right with the original digits left of the final position. Every vertical shield line on the reverse extends into the horizontal crossbars, most nearly reaching the top of the shield. There are no die cracks, clash marks, or other die anomalies on this example. We published a roster of four known proof 1845 quarters in our February 2012 auction, including one in the Smithsonian Institution. The Newman example was unrecorded in that roster and represents a fifth known example. The present offering is the third of four privately held 1845 quarters that have appeared in our auctions. No other auction firm, past or present, has handled more than one specimen. The known specimens include the PR66 NGC Pittman-Kaufman coin that appeared in our January 2008 and January 2009 sales; the PR65 NGC Eliasberg specimen that appeared in a January 1999 Bowers and Merena sale; the present PR64 NGC Eric P. Newman example; the PR64 NGC Earle-Ryder specimen that we sold in February 2012; and a proof example in the Smithsonian Institution. This spectacular near-Gem exhibits faint hairlines that limit the grade, with light ivory surfaces and powder-blue peripheral toning on the obverse, and deep blue patina with splashes of champagne on the reverse. The design elements are boldly detailed as expected. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3904, realized $30550.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 10C PR65 NGC. CAC. Fortin-109, R.7. All proof 1845 dimes appear to be from the same die pair, with a high date showing a slight downward slope from left to right. There is no indication of repunching of the 1, with clear doubling of 845. Tiny die chips are visible at the points of stars 3 through 6, and star 13. The top surface of the digits are blunt, a characteristic identical to other known proofs. In our January 2008 sale of the Kaufman Collection, we presented a roster of six known 1845 proof dimes. Since that time, one other example certified PR61 PCGS appeared in our March 2009 sale; this piece from the Newman Collection is an eighth known proof that is tied for fourth finest. This lovely Gem exhibits full mirrored fields around satin devices with cobalt-blue and iridescent toning over its ivory surfaces. A few trivial lint marks include one on Liberty's left forearm (to the viewer's right) just above the drapery, and another in the left obverse field. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3903, realized $19975.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.

1845 10C PR65 NGC. CAC. Fortin-109, R.7. All proof 1845 dimes appear to be from the same die pair, with a high date showing a slight downward slope from left to right. There is no indication of repunching of the 1, with clear doubling of 845. Tiny die chips are visible at the points of stars 3 through 6, and star 13. The top surface of the digits are blunt, a characteristic identical to other known proofs. In our January 2008 sale of the Kaufman Collection, we presented a roster of six known 1845 proof dimes. Since that time, one other example certified PR61 PCGS appeared in our March 2009 sale; this piece from the Newman Collection is an eighth known proof that is tied for fourth finest. This lovely Gem exhibits full mirrored fields around satin devices with cobalt-blue and iridescent toning over its ivory surfaces. A few trivial lint marks include one on Liberty's left forearm (to the viewer's right) just above the drapery, and another in the left obverse field. From The Eric P. Newman Collection.

From Newman I (Heritage Auctions, 4/2013), lot 3903, realized $19975.00. Image and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions, https://ha.com.