The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 47, November 18, 2007, Article 18

LEGEND NUMISMATICS SELLS U.S. PATTERN COLLECTION

[I wasn't going to include this Associated Press story
because of the complete lack of specifics, but since
several readers forwarded it, it's at least worth mentioning.
Here are some excerpts.  -Editor]

"An anonymous buyer has paid more than $30 million for a
collection of rare U.S. prototype coins, some from the 1700s,
that never went into circulation, according to the dealer that
brokered the deal.

"The collection consists of about 1,000 coins that collectors
refer to as pattern coins — trial designs that never went into
production because the U.S. Mint chose other designs.

"'This collection is an incredible collection. ... These were
some of the first coins ever, ever struck by the United States
government,' said Laura Sperber, a partner in Legend Numismatics
of Lincroft, N.J., which brokered the deal.

"The coins span the period from 1792 to 1942. Highlights
include test designs for the first pennies made in 1792 and
six coins from 1872 that are often referred to as 'Amazonian'
patterns because the female figure portraying liberty is much
stronger and regal looking than earlier versions."

[The anonymity of the buyer and seller, and the spotty
coverage of the contents of the collection makes this an
article of little use to numismatists.  Hopefully the
numismatic press will follow up on this and learn a little
more.  -Editor]

George Fuld writes: "Someone who had such a large pattern
collection should not be anonymous."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[The New York Times mentioned this sale today in an article
about the increasing value and interest in collectibles of
all types. -Editor]

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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