Lot 1069: 1902 Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal

1902 Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal. By George Hampden Lovett. Gold. Prooflike Mint State.

51.1 mm. 802.7 grains, fineness unknown. Obv: Sailing ship foundering in storm, House of Refuge on shore dispatches rescuers in life boat while others fire a lifeline from a Lyle Gun on the beach. Rev: Oak wreath at border, inscription VITA FELICIBUS AUSIS SERVATA above, center inscribed to the recipient PRESENTED TO / CAPTAIN A. POTJER / OF S.S. POTSDAM IN RECOGNITION / OF HIS HUMANITY AND SEAMANSHIP / IN RESCUING THE OFFICERS AND / CREW OF THE FOUNDERING / BARK "BISHOP BRUN" / IN A HIGH CROSS SEA. MID- / ATLANTIC OCEAN / JUNE 25, 1902. Deeply mirrored in the fields, this beautiful bright medium golden specimen exhibits only the typical light handling marks for an awarded example. While we have handled a few gold medals of this type in recent years, they are clearly far rarer than their silver and bronze counterparts.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1902 Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York Medal. By George Hampden Lovett. Gold. Prooflike Mint State.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-RELPN/1902-life-saving-benevolent-association-of-new-york-medal-by-george-hampden-lovett-gold-prooflike-mint-state)

Lot 1073: 1919 Carnegie Hero Fund Medal

1919 Carnegie Hero Fund Medal. Bronze. Mint State.

76.2 mm. Obv: Frock-coated Andrew Carnegie bust to the right, inscriptions CARNEGIE HERO FUND above and ESTABLISHED APRIL 15TH 1904 below. Rev: Outline map of North America, arms of old Canada (four provinces), Newfoundland (then a separate Crown Colony) and the U.S. around a cartouche inscribed to the recipient ROBERT W. JACQUES / WHO SAVED / HAROLD R. EDER / FROM DROWNING / LAKETON, PA. / JULY 27, 1919.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1919 Carnegie Hero Fund Medal. Bronze. Mint State.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-RELQF/1919-carnegie-hero-fund-medal-bronze-mint-state)

Lot 1215: Bar Copper

Rare Choice Mint State Bar Copper
The Harlan P. Smith Specimen

Undated (ca. 1785) Bar Copper. W-8520. Rarity-4. MS-64 BN (PCGS).

Here is a fascinating example of this classic early federal era type, with superior quality, outstanding eye appeal, and a famous provenance. It was offered as lot 46 in S.H. and H. Chapman's May 1906 sale of the Harlan P. Smith Collection, where it was cataloged as: "Uncirculated. Partly bright red. Rare." While we suspect that this coin may have mellowed a bit in the 100+ years since its appearance in that sale, plenty of vivid pinkish-orange mint color remains on the reverse within the protected areas between the bars.

One of the most eagerly sought numismatic items from the colonial and early federal era of United States history, the Bar copper is also one of the most enigmatic. We are not sure by whom or under what circumstances these pieces were produced. We are reasonably sure, however, that this type was struck circa 1785, as evidenced by an entry in the November 12, 1785, issue of the New Jersey Gazette ...

To read the complete lot description, see:
Undated (ca. 1785) Bar Copper. W-8520. Rarity-4. MS-64 BN (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-REN3Z/undated-ca-1785-bar-copper-w-8520-rarity-4-ms-64-bn-pcgs)

Lot 2479: 1813 Half Eagle

This piece is traceable back more than 42 years to our (Stack's) sale of October 1979 and is now, once again, available to collectors in the modern numismatic market. As a series, the Capped Head Left half eagles struck from 1813 to 1834 are among the most elusive in all of U.S. numismatics. Most examples are from the first year, 1813, having been set aside by the contemporary public due to the novelty of the design. Most other dates and varieties are rare, if not non-collectable, since rising gold prices resulted in the wholesale destruction of pre-1834 U.S. gold coins through the mid 1830s. At the Choice Mint State level, the 1813 half eagle remains considerably scarce and is eagerly pursued by collectors.

Provenance: From our (Stack's) sale of October 1979, lot 110; our sale of the Naples Bay Collection, November 2020 Auction, lot 9177.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1813 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-2. MS-63 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-REUIV/1813-capped-head-left-half-eagle-bd-1-rarity-2-ms-63-pcgs)

Lot 2528: 1801 Eagle

The 1801 BD-2 variety represents the only use of this obverse die and the first of two uses of this reverse die. The large, thin obverse stars are diagnostic of this die marriage, as the BD-1 pairing of this issue has large, thick stars. The obverse and reverse dies of this variety proved unusually hardy by the standards of the early eagle series, both striking 30,000 to 40,000 coins in this pairing and the reverse going on to produce an additional 7,500 to 10,000 coins in the 1803 BD-3 marriage.

John W. Dannreuther (2006) estimates that only 600 to 800 coins are extant from the 1801 BD-2 dies, the vast majority of which are in higher AU and low end Mint State grade up through MS-62. This variety becomes a notable rarity at the Choice Uncirculated level. The present near-Gem represents a significant opportunity, and is fit for a world-class cabinet or Registry Set.

PCGS Population (both die varieties of the issue): 37; 4 finer (MS-65 finest).

To read the complete lot description, see:
1801 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-2, Taraszka-25. Rarity-2. MS-64 (PCGS).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-REV01/1801-capped-bust-right-eagle-bd-2-taraszka-25-rarity-2-ms-64-pcgs)

Lot 3165: 1973 CIA Honorable Service Medal

1973 Central Intelligence Agency Honorable Service Medal. Bronze. Mint State.

74 mm. Obv: CIA shield with inscriptions CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY above, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on a ribbon below. Rev: Demi wreath to left with inscription FOR / HONORABLE / SERVICE above a ribbon inscribed to the recipient ISABEL M. PETERSON / 1953-1973. Edge: MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE 1527. Embedded in a 100 mm x 100 mm x 32 mm Lucite desk ornament/paperweight.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1973 Central Intelligence Agency Honorable Service Medal. Bronze. Mint State.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-RFRVE/1973-central-intelligence-agency-honorable-service-medal-bronze-mint-state)

Lot 3174: 1971 Western Reserve Numismatic Club Countermark

1971 Western Reserve Numismatic Club Countermark on a 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-63 (NGC).

According to the article, "Western Reserve Numismatic Club Counterstamps", one 1921 Morgan dollar was countermarked for each member of the club at the time, somewhere on the order of 50 to 100 pieces, but the exact number is unknown. The majority are Philadelphia Mint coins, as here, but a few Denver and San Francisco pieces are also known.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1971 Western Reserve Numismatic Club Countermark on a 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-63 (NGC).(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-RFRX7/1971-western-reserve-numismatic-club-countermark-on-a-1921-morgan-silver-dollar-ms-63-ngc)