Esm Large Cent Collection Realizes Over $4.6 Million At The Stack's Bowers Sale

PCGS - Santa ANA, CA - The incredible ESM Collection of United States Large Cents realized over $4.6 million in the Stack's Bowers Galleries August 2020 Las Vegas Auction, which was held during the same week as the PCGS Members Only Show at Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Offered as part of the firm's Rarities Night session on Thursday, August 6, this was perhaps the most highly anticipated selection from the legendary ESM Collection.


1793 Wreath Cent S-NC-3 Strawberry Leaf, PCGS VG10, Parmelle Collection.

Offered was a virtually complete set of large cents by Guide Book variety, spanning all issues from 1793 through the end of the type in 1857. Stack's Bowers Galleries has presented small cents and Half Cents from the ESM Collection over the past several years. However, the large cents were considered the collector's crowning achievement for its degree of completeness, quality, and overall rarity. Rarely has such an impressive offering of early, middle, and late dates been featured in a single sale, and the quality of the presentation attracted students of every Early American Copper series. (All prices include the buyer's fee.)

The sale was highlighted by the famous Parmelee 1793 NC-3 Strawberry Leaf Cent, which realized $660,000 in lot 1006. Graded PCGS VG10, it is the finest of just four known examples. Rare varieties continued to attract strong bids among the Flowing Hair and Liberty Cap types, with the Rarity-5 1794 S-48 Starred Reverse Cent earning $156,000 in lot 1010 and the Rarity-8 1795 NC-1 Jefferson Head Cent selling for $408,000 in lot 1017.

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