5 minute read
Legendary Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection Hits the Auction Block for Good Causes
ON THE COVER
Th is rare 1866 Liberty Head Double Eagle With Motto, graded PCGS PR67DCAM, is a seven-fi gure treasure. Th is single-fi nest-known specimen was recently acquired by U.S. Coins of Houston, Texas.
Pg 40 - PCGS Coin of the Issue 7 18
27 21 48
11 29 62
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez shares some of the highlights from a famous collection that is now up for bids, with proceeds benefi ting many amazing charities. 11 Out of the Woodwork: Important Coins Are Coming Out of Hiding
Mark Ferguson reveals some of the most famous coins that have emerged from cabinets and collections with shrouded pasts. 18 Low Ball Sets Within the PCGS Set Registry
Sanjay Gandhi dishes on some of the most popular and challenging low ball coin sets on the PCGS Registry Set. 21 Star Lord Appears
Peter Anthony tells the tale of Song Jiang, a fi gure from China’s great literary history and one who has taken a place on the nation’s coinage. 27 Collector Spotlight: Christopher Lane
Low ball collecting just isn’t the same without Christopher Lane, a collector whose passion for low-grade coins registers high on the numismatic scale. 29 Young Numismatist Digs History on Mexican Coins
Meet 17-year-old South Texan Jacob Gonzalez, a collector whose passions thrive on Mexico’s rich coinage history. 48 The Lowdown on Low Ball Coins
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez dives deep on low ball coins, which off er collectors an entirely diff erent set of challenges and opportunities than many typically encounter on the PCGS Set Registry. 62 The Full Date 1855-D Gold Dollar
Doug Winter explains the great rarity and value behind the 1855-D Gold Dollar, a coin notorious for carrying a weakly struck date and seldomly seen with a complete strike.
31 From the PCGS Grading Room 35 Auction Highlights 37 PCGS Around the World 38 Noteworthy Notes 40 PCGS Coin of the Issue
44 PCGS Grading Standards 55 Market Matters 56 Market Movers & Shakers 59 Coin Market Fundamentals 64 Show Schedule & Advertising Index
Legendary
Good Causes
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez
Th e Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection as it greeted guests from 2001 through 2022 at the American Numismatic Association Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Courtesy of the American Numismatic Association/Robert B. Kelley.
One of the largest collections of coins ever off ered for public display has made its round to the auction block, bringing with it a slew of rare and even unique collectibles once thought untouchable by the private collecting community. Off ered for sale is the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, a numismatic cabinet of unparalleled signifi cance and history encompassing over 300 gold coins and more than 100 pattern pieces dating back to the late 1700s. It was assembled by the late Dallas oil baron and beloved philanthropist Harry W. Bass, who died in 1998 at the age of 71. He bequeathed his massive collection to the American Numismatic Association Money Museum, where it was on exhibit for more than two decades and lured collectors and tourists from all over the nation.
However, trustees of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation are hoping to further support many Dallas-area charities that were close to Bass’ heart and decided the time was right to liquidate the collection to raise more funds for a variety of causes. Th e collection could realize as much as $60 million or more. Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Executive Director David Calhoun remarked on the lasting impact the sale of this
Some Some of of the the many many highlights from the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection include the 1829 Large highlights from the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection include the 1829 Large Size Size Capped Capped Bust Bust Half Eagle graded PCGS PR66+, 1795 9 Leaves Draped Bust Eagle in PCGS MS64, and 1907 Extremely High Relief Inverted Edge Letters Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle boasting a PCGS grade of PR69. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
collection will have on the community his organization serves.
“Th e sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection is going to positively impact countless lives in the Dallas area – the place that Harry called home for so many years and was so close to his heart. Th e proceeds from the sale of the Harry W. Bass Collection will provide tens of millions of dollars to Dallasarea 501(c)(3) organizations that support research, education, health, civics, the arts, science, and so many other causes that enrich the lives of Texans.”
Th e Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation chose Professional Coin Grading Service to grade and encapsulate the coins and Heritage Auctions to facilitate their sale. “Th is is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to add to their collections a number of unique and extremely rare coins that were until recently thought virtually untouchable by private collectors,” remarked PCGS President Stephanie Sabin. “Among the outstanding rarities to be auctioned is the 1870-S $3 Indian Princess, a coin that was noted as a unique strike according to the superintendent of the San Francisco Mint at the time. We are thrilled to encapsulate this treasure and all the others hailing from the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Our encapsulation of these coins will protect their legacy and value for generations to come.” Th e unique 1870-S $3 Indian Princess is graded PCGS SP50. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
Th e 1870-S $3 Indian Princess, a unique rarity graded PCGS SP50, is the undisputed star of the cabinet. Th e inclusion of this coin provides for the only complete collection of $3 gold, which is a cornerstone of the Harry W. Bass, Jr.
