Legend Rare Coin Auctions to Offer The Konstantine Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars

Fabulous collection features many condition-census and finest-known examples

Legend Rare Coin Auctions today announces with great honor and pride that the Kontantine Collection of Capped Bust Half Dollars will be auctioned in Regency Auction 28, on September 26, 2018, the official auction of the PCGS Members Show. Anchoring the firm’s second two-day Regency Auction, this world-class collection was very carefully assembled by a very astute specialist collector over several years. The Konstanine Collection includes many finest-known or high condition census pieces, many pedigreed to some of the greatest collections ever assembled. The composition for the Registry Set is made up of the 73 major varieties of Capped Bust half dollar listed in A Guide Book of United States Coins, struck from 1807 to 1836, when the Lettered Edge type was discontinued.

In the introduction to the collection, Legend wrote of the Capped Bust series and the Konstantine Collection in particular: In all of American Numismatics, the Capped Bust half dollar is one of the most popular series to collect and has delighted collectors for ages. Looking at the series, there is a lot to like. It combines a beautiful, charming design, large size, precious metal content, and a history that goes back to where America began to “grow up.” Because of their place in a larger economic sense, Capped Bust half dollars, perhaps more than any other 19th-century type, is widely available to collectors in all qualities, making them a wonderful specialty whether your budget allows for six-figure purchases, or a more modest three figures. There are attractive coins in all ranges where you can build a collection that will be both meaningful to you as the collector, and impressive for even the unacquainted to enjoy.

The Konstantine Collection currently ranks as the #1 PCGS Registry Set of the Red Book listed varieties, an assemblage of 73 different coins, and is 100% complete. To be #1, you know that the coins are going to be high grade, and the collector was diligent in buying not just high-grade coins, but high quality for the grade as well. As you read the descriptions, you will find coins pedigreed to other great collections of the past: Eliasberg, Norweb, Pogue, Gardner, Newman, Link, and others. It becomes apparent as you review each of the coins in the collection, that the collector carefully selected coins that would appeal to a very wide range of collectors, with wonderful quality coins that will fit in nearly every budget. Once the hammer falls on the final lot, the Konstantine Collection will rightly join its place among the great collections of Capped Bust half dollars.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions is proud and honored to offer this amazing collection in Regency Auction 28. It is the hope of the consignor and Legend Rare Coin Auctions that each of these 73 coins finds itself in another world-class collection. Whether you are interested in just a single, magnificent gem for a type set, an interesting representative of a date, or need that condition census Overton variety for your specialized die variety set, there is no doubt that the Konstatine Collection will have something for you.

“We are very excited to sell this world-class collection,” exclaims senior numismatist, Greg Cohen, who cataloged the collection. “There are several varieties that are listed that are major rarities in the collection, difficult to locate in any grade; completing this set can be a Herculean task. While the majority of the coins are Mint State, there are a number of coins that are circulated, making this a true collector’s set”

Of the major varieties that are rarities in the series, regardless of condition, the following stand out:

• 1807 O-111B. The Bearded Goddess. PCGS AU53 CAC
• 1812/1 O-101A. Large 8. PCGS AU50
• 1815/2 O-101A. PCGS MS63
• 1817/4 O-102. PCGS VF35 Ex Pogue
• 1830 O-114. Large Letters Reverse. PCGS XF45

 
“There are many coins that may be described as ‘irreplaceable,’” Cohen continued. “While some of the coins are known primarily to serious students of the series, there are many coins that are considered among the finest or the finest for the variety. TThose coins, while not necessarily rare in the absolute sense, are extremely so in the condition that are contained in the Konstatine Collection and are fabulous coins for collectors of high-grade type to include in their sets. The coins that fall into this category, you can clearly tell, were selected with care to include only very eye appealing coins.”

Among these highlights are:

• 1807 O-114. Large Stars. PCGS MS65 CAC
• 1808 O-103. PCGS MS67 CAC
• 1814 O-103. PCGS MS66+ CAC
• 1824/1 O-101. PCGS MS64+ CAC
• 1830 O-106. Small 0. PCGS MS65+ CAC
• 1836 O-104A. PCGS MS65 CAC

 
Highlights of the Konstantine Collection will be on display at Legend’s table at the upcoming American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money, August 13-18, Tables 523, 525, 527. Highlights will also be on display at the September Long Beach Expo, September 5-8, Table 601. The entire collection will be available for viewing in Legend’s offices by appointment only. For more information about this collection, call or email 732-935-1168, info@legendauctions.com.

Consignments are still being sought for this important numismatic event, but space is limited. Contact a consignment specialist today.

Legend Rare Coin Auctions is a boutique auction company specializing in the finest and rarest U.S. coins. Founded in 2012 by Laura Sperber, the owner and president of Legend Numismatics, the premier rare coin retail firm, LRCA was, from the outset designed to be a different kind of rare coin auction firm. LRCA’s staff of numismatic auction industry veterans includes Julie Abrams, president; Greg Cohen, senior numismatist; and Jessica Berkman, consignment coordinator. The firm’s Regency Auctions serve as the official auction for the PCGS Members’ Shows, held 4-5 times per year; the firm also conducts monthly Premier Sessions auctions. Since its founding, LRCA has sold many important collections, resulting in world-record prices, including the Coronet Collection of Morgan Dollars (#1 all-time PCGS set); the David Hall—Bob Simpson Collection of Liberty Head Eagles; the Sunnywood-Simpson Collection of Morgan Dollars; the Phil Flannagan Collection of Territorial Gold, Toned Dollars, and 1795 coins; duplicates from the Gerald Forsythe Collections of Buffalo Nickels and Mercury Dimes; the Bob Simpson Collection of Standard Silver Patterns; the Northern Lights Collection of Monster Toned Morgan Dollars; the Crow River Collections of Indian Head $10s and Peace Dollars; the P.F.M Collection (former #6 PCGS Set of Morgan Dollars with varieties); and the Oak Crest Collection of Carson City $5 gold. The firm also set the record for #2 highest APR in 2016 with the sale of Bob Simpson’s duplicate 1879 $20 “Quintuple Stella” which realized $1,880,000.

To consign to an upcoming auction, contact Julie Abrams (julie@legendauctions.com), Greg Cohen (greg@legendauctions.com), or Jessica Berkman (jessica@legendauctions.com).