The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-22
HALF EAGLE BRINGS $3.50.
Some Remarkable Prizes Realized at
a Coin Sale.
CPhiladeIphia Public Ledger.)

/ philadelphia Public Jedger)
Fourteen thousand dollars were paid
for rare gold and silver coins of the
United States at an auction sale con-
Quoted by S. H. Chapman yesterday at
| the salesroon1S of Davis & Harvey, 1112
Walnut street. Many record prices
were obtained, and the total sales for
the day-S13, 941. Severe the largest
ever realized at one days sale of coins
in America. Many collectors declared
| that the sale was the most remarkable
| in their experience,
Cold, silver and copper coins collected
by David S. Wilson of Pittsburg, now
dead, went under the auctiOneer's ham,
mer Only one-half of the ,254 sets was
disposed of. 1t is probable that the
grand total of prices offered by all bid
ders will be the largest recorded at a
sale of coins.
Wilson's collection was considered
one of the finest ever offered at auc-
ton. 1t contained many complete sets
of the regular government issues, and
the collection of gold coins was one of
the most valuable in the United States.
1t included more than 600 pieces of
gold, making it equal the previous
largest collection, which was offered at
the Cleneay sale in 1890, and surpasS-
ing in number the Smith collection,
sold last year. Although it lacked the
two greatest rarities, the 1915 and 1922
half eagles, ii cxcelled by its greater
number of coins of other dates and de-
nominations.
Banner prices for individual coins
were obtained for three half eagles.
One, Of 1919 coinage, brought $3.50. 1t
was bought by Mr.. Lowe of New York.
Coins of this character are not in cir
culation, and only nine are known to
exist.
c. F. Durham of Chicago paid $3.50
for half eagle of 1928 coinage, OF
which only four specimens are known.
Mr.. Durham also paid $340 for an 1927
half eagle, which has not more than
two duplicates.
Durham was the youngest collector
in the room. He is a son of w. f.
Durham, who at the Smith saI in this
city last May paid 81. 165 for half
eagle of 1922 coinage.
Another record price obtained for a
half eagle was 1895 for a coin of 1929.
A similar gold piece sold last May for
s240 A half eagle of 1882 brought $3.50;
one of 1921, 5000: 1877, $3.50; 1924, S115,
and 1895 and 1925, 800.
Rare gold proofs, containing COM
piete or nearly complete sets of gold
pieces. coined between 1860 and 1905
were bid to fancy prices. A complete
set of six pieces of 1850, including $50,
SO, s., SO, $3.50 and 81, was sold for
sf10 The 1853 set brought $500; 1864.
s210; 1865, 1920; 1866, s145; 1857. $195;
1868, $3.50: 1869, $40; 1870, s176; 1871,
sis5; 1872, s175; 1873, $40, and 1874, s165.
For a collection of gold pieces of
1875 of which only twenty sets were
struck. $3.50 was bid, Notwithstanding
the fact that the set lacked the $50 and
$40 pieces. 1t consisted of So, S. $3.50
and 81, the last three denominations
being struck only in the Philadelphia
mint
Cold proof sets OF 1878, 1881, 1856, 1857,
1888 and 1889 brought prices ranging
from s1S5 to $3.50.
Eagles from 1875 TO 1889 coinage
ranged in price from $40 to $50. An
eagle of 1893, with small stars. brought
the highest price, s72. Another of 1871
was purchased for s47.50 and one of
1904 for S45.
Quarter eagles were auctioned off at
handsome figures. A coin of 1894 sold
for $3.50 The sum of $3.50 was paid for
quarter eagles of 1887 and 1926 coinage.
The 1875, 1902, 1904, 1905. 1906 and 1921
pieces ranged in valuation from 5000
to SIS. The last two brought the high
est figure. A gold dollar struck in the
San Francisco mint in 1870 brought $50
and a silver dollar of 1895 was bid to
$3.50. The best price obtained for