As we enter the final week before our offering of The D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part I, I continue with my reminiscences about coins in the Pogue Collection. It has been my pleasure in these days before our inaugural auction of this incredible collection, to once again make the acquaintance of some lovely coins that Stack’s had the honor of presenting in the past.
Among half dimes can be found a Gem 1796 LM-1 “LIKERTY” variety. This coin was once in the R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection and was sold by Stack’s in Part 1 of our offering of that fine collection in May of 1969. In that catalog, Norman Stack described it, in part: “This magnificent specimen, with all devices in minute detail, should bring a record price.”
Two memorable early 19th century coins offered in Part I of the Pogue Collection trace their provenance to Stack’s October 1981 sale of the Harold Bareford Collection. A Mint State 1802 JR-4 dime, the eventual plate coin in Early United States Dimes, was described by Mr. Bareford as “the finest specimen offered or that I have seen.” Bareford, well known for his taste for quality, also once owned the Mint State-64 Browning-1 1804 quarter dollar, offered as lot 1052 in our upcoming Pogue Collection sale.
There are even a couple of coins that take me back over 60 years to the early days of my numismatic career. In 1954 Stack’s sold a couple of collections that were to become very desirable “pedigree names” to later collectors. Lot 1072 in the Pogue catalog offers a key date 1823/2 quarter dollar that traces its history to our November 1954 Anderson-Dupont Collection sale. From that auction it entered one of the most well-known name collections in American numismatics, that of Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb. In addition, from the memorable year of 1954, I have had the pleasure of “re-viewing” what is perhaps the finest known 1806/5 quarter eagle. This amazing Mint State-62 example traces its provenance to Stack’s April 1954 Davis-Graves Collection sale.
There are numerous other rarities in our Pogue Collection Part I that I remember from the past. Of course, because of Brent’s high standards and connoisseurship, every coin in the collection is memorable. The sale next week of Part I of this unique collection exemplifies how carefully Brent worked to meet his own standards. Now he is sharing the fruits of his hard work with the numismatic community.
My personal advice to the reader of this article: if you love early American coins and possess the funds to purchase one or more of the quality items contained in the D. Brent Pogue Collection, don’t miss this opportunity. I invite you to view the coins and bid, and possibly own one of these numismatic treasures. I wish you good luck.
