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Legend Numismatics Adds Proof 1804 Gold and Silver $10 Eagles To Impressive List of Rare Coin Transactions July 26, 2010 at 7:46 AM One of the three known proof 1804 Eagles made on behalf of President Andrew Jackson and a rare 1804 Eagle silver pattern have been acquired by Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, New Jersey and sold to a Texas collector. Both coins will be publicly displayed together for the first time at the upcoming American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money convention in Boston, August 10 – 14, 2010. "The 1804 proof gold Eagle is a classic American rarity and the silver pattern is an amazing companion to it. Both coins are now part of the incredible collection being assembled by Bob R. Simpson of Texas, a connoisseur of numismatic quality and rarity, and a long-time client and friend," said Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics (www.LegendCoin.com) The gold 1804 $10 (Judd-33), graded NGC PF65 Ultra Cameo, was obtained by Legend from a private collector with the assistance of John Albanese of Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC). The silver 1804 $10 (Judd-34), graded NGC PF64, was purchased from Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers in Irvine, California. Graded NGC PF65 Ultra Cameo, this 1804 proof Eagle (Judd-33) was recently acquired and sold by Legend Numismatics, and now will be displayed at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Boston, August 10 – 14, 2010. (Photo credit: Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) The coins will be displayed at the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation booth (#704) at the ANA convention (www.WorldsFairOfMoney.com). "It's beyond incredible to see these two coins side-by-side. A silver proof 1804 $10 redefines 'coolness' in my book, and I've handled an awful lot of world-class rarities. The gold 1804 $10 is so sharply struck it looks like a medal, and it's one of the most beautiful coins I have ever seen," said Sperber. This rare 1804 proof silver pattern Eagle, graded NGC PF64 (Judd-34), was recently acquired and sold by Legend Numismatics, and will be displayed at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Boston, August 10 – 14, 2010. (Photo credit: Rare Coin Wholesalers) The purchase and sale prices were not disclosed for these transactions. The 1804 gold proof Eagle made national headlines in 2007 when it was sold for $5 million, a record price at the time for a certified, encapsulated U.S. gold coin. Although dated 1804, the coins were struck in 1834 or 1835 with the gold Eagle intended for use in overseas diplomatic gift presentation sets presented on behalf of President Jackson. The pedigree of this coin includes such famous collectors as Waldo Newcomer, former U.S. Treasury Secretary William H. Woodin and Col. E.H.R. Green. It was displayed at the opening reception for the Smithsonian Legendary Coins and Currency exhibit in 2005. "The preparation of diplomatic presentation sets of United States coins circa 1834-35 prompted the minting of this proof-only edition. As no ten-dollar pieces had been issued since 1804, the Mint Director requested and received several proof examples from dies back-dated to 1804 but prepared for this occasion using technology of the 1830s," explained David W. Lange, NGC Research Director. The 1804 gold Eagle and 1804 silver Eagle are listed in the standard reference book, United States Pattern Coins (10th edition) by J. Hewitt Judd, M.D. The gold coin is described on the book's rarity scale as R8 (two to three examples known) and the silver pattern as H7 (four to six known). "Mr. Simpson's patterns collection is unparalleled. Over the years, we've helped him assemble a collection that includes such famous rarities as the Amazonian set, a marvelous example of the 1792 silver-center cent (Judd-1) and two quintuple Stellas. His gold Bickford $10 will be displayed as one of the highlights in the Museum Showcase area at the ANA convention in Boston," said Sperber. Related posts: King of Eagles Soars – Record $5 Million for 1804 Proof Eagle Legend Numismatics Mid October Rare Coin Market Report Legend Numismatics acquires the Denali Collection of Patterns and more..   Unique Plain Edge 1907 $10 pattern – believed the only Saint-Gaudens coin actually seen by the artist – at Boston ANA auction July 26, 2010 at 4:08 AM Historic pattern struck just before the artist's death for his approval The only known Plain Edge 1907 ten dollar coin with Wire Rim, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens – and likely the only example of his coinage that he ever saw – is among the most historically important pieces in Heritage's upcoming U.S. Coin auction. It will be offered on Aug. 11, as part of the Official Auction of the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in Boston, MA. "At the turn of the 20th century, Augustus Saint-Gaudens was one of America's most prominent artists," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "In 1905, during Theodore Roosevelt's second term, Roosevelt convinced Saint-Gaudens to redesign the two largest American gold coins: the ten dollar, or eagle, and the twenty dollar, or double eagle. The results made Saint-Gaudens one of the most famous American coinage artists and secured his lasting fame." The coinage designs would be the artist's final masterpieces. In July 1907, when Saint-Gaudens was going through the last stage of his terminal cancer, two early examples of the ten dollar coin were struck. The edges of these two coins were plain; later Wire Rim 1907 ten dollar coins have an edge design of 46 stars. "The two Plain Edge coins were patterns, made to see how the coins looked," said Rohan. "They were the coinage equivalent of an artist's proof. After the two Plain Edge coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, they were split up." One was sent to Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou, who forwarded it to the President, while the other was sent to Saint-Gaudens at his studio in New Hampshire. This was the only time Saint-Gaudens would see his work in coin form. He died on August 3, 1907, before further work could be done on either denomination. Archived letters show that the coin Roosevelt saw was eventually sent back to the Mint, while the Saint-Gaudens coin disappears from the record. This coin's history is largely unknown, and it is impossible to say with certainty whether it was sent to Roosevelt or Saint-Gaudens, but it is a coin of tremendous importance regardless of the answer. Either it was sent to President Roosevelt, whose dedication to coinage redesign had been vital to the whole project; or it went to Saint-Gaudens, the artist who had spent more than two years bringing the President's ambition to life. "With the Roosevelt specimen being returned to the Mint, it seems more likely that this is the coin Saint-Gaudens saw," said Rohan. "The possibility is remarkably poignant: a great artist, just days away from death, gets a glimpse of his last major work. This could be the only Saint-Gaudens gold coin that he ever held." The Plain Edge 1907 Wire Rim ten dollar is an important milestone in the history of both coinage and American art. It is listed as Judd-1902 or Pollock-1996 in the standard references and is the only example of the two that is known to have survived. The piece is certified as PR62 by NGC, a coin authentication and grading service. Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world's third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com. Related posts: 1907 Rolled Edge Indian Eagle and Pedigreed Kellogg $20 Highlight B&M Auction PCGS Confirms Lettered-Edge Sac and Plain-Edge Jefferson Dollars The Original Plain Edge Coin – 1797 Half Cent