NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s and Stack’s Bowers Galleries will present the spectacular D. Brent Pogue Collection of masterpieces of United States coinage – the most valuable coin collection in private hands – across a series of seven auctions beginning 19 May 2015 at Sotheby’s New York headquarters. The overall collection, which consists of more than 650 individual coins, is expected to achieve well in excess of $200 million: more than any other series of rare coin auctions in history.
The core of the collection showcases perfectly-preserved examples of the coins produced during the early years of the American Republic, from 1792 to the 1830s. The most historic and sought after United States coins were made during this time, when small mintages and crude production facilities at the Philadelphia Mint made the survival of any high-quality coins unlikely. Each steel die used to strike coins in this era was painstakingly produced by hand, creating variations that are prized by collectors – many of which can be found throughout the D. Brent Pogue Collection in their finest-known states of preservation.
D. Brent Pogue – assisted by his father Mack Pogue, a noted real estate developer – has for nearly 35 years sought out the finest known examples from this period. Brent was a connoisseur from the beginning, and over three decades he has brought together an ‘all-star’ lineup of the finest coins available, from the greatest collections ever assembled. The Pogues’ pursuit of the most valuable American coins has made this family nothing short of legendary in the numismatic field.
Sotheby’s and Stacks Bowers Galleries’ auctions of the Pogue Collection is highlighted by more than 20 coins estimated to achieve $1 million or more, making this sales series a landmark event in the world of numismatics. The collection is led by two examples of the coveted 1804 Silver Dollar – America’s most famous coin, and the pinnacle of coin collecting – including the finest known specimen (estimate $8/10 million). The inaugural auction in May 2015 is led by The 1797 Half Dollar – the most valuable half dollar in existence (left, estimate $1.2/1.75 million).
“The D. Brent Pogue Collection is a once-in-a-lifetime offering, featuring some of the most historic and notable coins known to exist,” said Brian Kendrella, Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ president. “The American economy was founded on these coins, with each piece an artifact from the first chapter of American history. By partnering with Sotheby’s, we hope to give collectors all over the world the opportunity to own these national treasures.”
David Redden, Sotheby’s Vice Chairman, commented: “To have the world’s most valuable private coin collection available for viewing and sale in our galleries is a huge privilege and a great responsibility. Sotheby’s and Stacks Bowers have worked fruitfully together in the past, notably on the sales of the 1933 Gold Double Eagle for $7.6 million and the Dallas Bank Collection. The D. Brent Pogue Collection will be a thrilling addition to that auction history.”
“The sale of my collection is bittersweet, but I feel now is the time to pass the torch to a new generation of custodians, who can appreciate the legacy of these great American coins,” said respected owner D. Brent Pogue. “These coins conjure up many fond memories, and I hope the new owners will enjoy them as much as I have.”
MAY 2015 AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
The first sale of the Pogue Collection will offer more than 100 pieces representing some of the earliest coins produced by the United States Mint, including: half dimes (silver five cent pieces), dimes, quarters, half dollars, and quarter eagles (two-and-a-half dollar gold pieces). Highlights of this initial offering include:
The 1797 Half Dollar
Estimate $1.2–1.75 Million
This coin is considered the most beautiful and best-preserved example of a design used for only two years, and is the most valuable half dollar in existence. Even well-worn, a 1797 half dollar would be highly sought after – at such a high grade, the present coin represents an incredible offering.
The 1808 Quarter Eagle
(Two and a Half Dollar Gold Piece)
Estimate $1–1.5 Million
Worth $2.50 when made in 1808, this gold coin is expected to achieve more than 500,000 times its face value. This design is the rarest among all U.S. gold coins, made only in 1808, and the Pogue Collection offers by far the finest surviving example.
The 1796 Quarter Dollar
Estimate $750,000–1 Million
This 1796 is one of the finest-known examples of the very first American quarter dollar. Extremely rare in any grade, this piece is a superb Mint State example.
FUTURE SALE HIGHLIGHTS
The Most Famous United States Coin:
The 1804 Silver Dollar
Estimate $8–10 Million
The famous 1804 Silver Dollar is considered the “King of American Coins”. It was first struck not in 1804, but in 1834, when a small number were minted as diplomatic gifts. The Pogue Collection example was given to the Sultan of Muscat in 1835, and is the finest surviving example of this legendary coin.
The 1822 Half Eagle
(Five Dollar Gold Piece).
Unique in Private Hands
Estimate $8–10 Million
Though three examples of this $5 gold coin are known, the other two are both locked away in the collection of the Smithsonian, leaving this as the only example still available to collectors. Considered the most-desirable U.S. gold coin in private hands, it set a world record the last time it sold in 1982.
The 1794 Silver Dollar
Estimate $3–5 Million
A historical prize, the D. Brent Pogue 1794 dollar is one of the finest-known examples of the very first U.S. dollar ever struck. A legendary rarity, nearly all surviving specimens from the very small original mintage are well-worn, making this Mint State example a spectacular offering for collectors.
