On May 25, 2006, Stack's of New York City offered "The Phoenix Collection" at auction - it was an auction comprised soley of classic-era US Commemorative coins (and a few Norse medals!). It had a dedicated catalog for the collection of nearly 800 US Commemorative coins - with multiples of nearly every issue! (I think "The Phoenix Hoard" would have been a more fitting title for the auction!
)
The Phoenix Collection Auction - Catalog Cover - Front
The Phoenix Collection Auction - Catalog Cover - Back
The source of the large volume of coins was described as: "The lots offered below originate in an old-established collection." No name was given for the owner of the collection - I've wondered if it was the inventory of a retired coin dealer who wished to proceed anonymously?
The coins offered were generally uncirculated examples, though a few circulated coins were included. For example, the five Lafayette Memorial Dollars included ranged in grade from Very Fine (1) to About Unirculated (4).
Most, but not all, of the coin types are illustrated (in color) by a coin from the collection. Here's an example of a typical catalog page - this one for the 1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar (aka the "Roanoke"):
1937 Roanoke Colony Memorial Half Dollar Catalog Page
A few things stood out for me about the Auction/Collection:
- The coins were offered as "raw" examples, described via adjectival grading (i.e., Very Fine, Brilliant Uncirculated, Gem Brilliant Uncirculated, etc.) vs. encapsulated by a third party and numerically graded (i.e., VF-25, MS-60, MS-65, etc.).
The auction definitely took place in the "Grading Era" so it was a bit unusual to find such a large collection of non-third-party-graded coins offered. Maybe it would have been cost-prohibitive relative to the value of most coins?
- No
Isabella Quarter was included in the offering.
- There was just one Alabama Statehood Centennial half dollar listed (Plain variety).
- The collection included 70 lots of 1936 Arkansas Statehood Centennial, Robinson type half dollars - 132 total pieces. About half of the lots were for individual coins with the balance split between two-and three-coin lots (mostly three coins).
- The 1934 Maryland Tercentenary Half Dollar appears to have been a favorite. The auction included 150 lots of the Maryland coin, most described as "Gem Brilliant Uncirculated," comprising 413 total coins! (Most lots featured two or three examples.)
- The Texas Independence Centennial coin program was also very well represented, with 87 1935 P/D/S sets offered, plus several lots of 1934 coins, two 1936-D examples, three 1936-S coins and one 1937 P/D/S set.
- The collection included an abundance (144 pieces!) of 1936 York County, ME Tercentenary half dollars; all were uncirculated, ranging from Brilliant Uncirculated to Superb Gem Brilliant Uncirculated.
- From the images and lot descriptions, the Collection generally consisted of BU coins - there were few toned coins.
IMO, interest in the Phoenix Collection is derived from the sheer volume of its offerings vs. particular
stand our coins. The Collection featured many nice coins, but none that rose to the [i]spectacular[i] level.
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including a number about other collections/auctions, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 05/15/2024 12:17 pm
