Results Set Record for the Firm's Highest Grossing Auction Sale in its 90+ Year History.
Patterns (1803) Values
The Patterns (1803) series of Pattern Coinage in the U.S. Coins contains 2 distinct entries.
History and Overview
In 1803 the Philadelphia Mint continued to be the only federal coinage facility. Recent years had not been easy for the Mint, as there had been disruptions due to yellow fever epidemics, shortages of metal, and other problems, not to overlook occasional resistance from members of Congress who sought to abolish the Mint, in favor of having coinage performed by private contract.
Although pattern coins and trial strikings may have been made in 1803, no record of them survives today.2 The piece listed below is of a different nature—made outside of the Mint at a later date, although from an 1803 die.
Collecting Perspective
The unique “pattern” of this year is a restrike from dies not necessarily correctly matched, although the variety has not been examined to confirm this. It is in the category of a private restrike, among many such pieces listed in the present text.
Greysheet News
While reviewing the initial results in various categories of recent auctions, my initial take is that the sales were moderate to strong.
More than 300 lots, consisting of high quality Walking Liberty half dollars from the Mack C. Chase Collection are set to cross the auction block as part of Stack's Bowers Galleries' November Showcase Auction, the official auction of the Whitman Expo.





