Greysheet: LONG BEACH SHOW & AUCTION ON DECK

The Long Beach Expo gets underway this week, the first major coin show since the conclusion of the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The associated Heritage auction sale features the Jon Alan Boka collection of 1794 Large Cents. This offering of 58 different Sheldon varieties features many condition census large cents and especially interesting, impressive pedigrees. Leading the list of highlights is the famous S-48 Starred Reverse, graded PCGS VF35, which is the discovery coin tracing back 138 years ago to 1878. This numismatic treasure is the fifth-finest known of the variety, and the very coin discovered by Henry Chapman when the variety was still unknown. Sheldon stated in Penny Whimsy that “collectors mention it [this variety] with religious awe.” In terms of eye appeal, it is hard to look past the S-58 graded PCGS MS62BN. A pleasing even deep brown color, it is the only known true mint state example of the variety. Overall this collection is yet another in the line of recent stellar early copper collections to come onto the market. Elsewhere in the Heritage sale – which takes place over five live floor sessions and one online only session – are numerous additional noteworthy coins. A PCGS MS67RD 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent represents the pinnacle of this famous coin that is known by even non-coin aficionados. A pair of 1895 Morgan dollars, Carson City gold, and a pair of 1794 Flowing Hair half dollars draw attention as well. Lastly, a modern rarity, a 1964 “SMS” Kennedy half dollar graded PCGS MS67 is up for grabs. This enigmatic issue, which has been alternately certified Mint State and Specimen by both NGC and PCGS, is the rarest Kennedy half dollar known.

GOLD SLQ RELEASE DATE & MINTAGE ANNOUNCED
The second issue in the centennial gold coin series is slated to be released to the public by the U.S. Mint on September 8th at noon Eastern Standard Time. The 2016-W Standing Liberty Centennial Gold Coin is ¼ ounce .999 fine gold and features the Type One Standing Liberty quarter design of Hermon A. MacNeil. The mintage has been set at 100,000, which is 25,000 coins less than the first installment of the series, the gold Centennial Mercury dime. The release price will be set dependent on the gold spot price the day of release. It will be interesting to gauge the aftermarket for this issue, as demand was relatively cool in the weeks after the dime release. In fact, even though the gold dime sold out in a few hours, it was later revealed that the Mint had some in stock because of cancelled orders and returns. The following week the Mint will release the much anticipated 30th Anniversary Proof American Silver Eagle. For the first time ever, this coin will feature a lettered edge as opposed to a reeded edge.