The George F. Scanlon Collection of U.S. Coins

27 Min Read
The George F. Scanlon Collection of United States Coins.
The George F. Scanlon Collection of United States Coins. Image: Stack’s.

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The George F. Scanlon Collection of United States Coins was sold by New York numismatic firm Stack’s at a live auction held October 24-27, 1973. The sale’s five sessions grossed $1,093,890 – a then-record price realized for a single collection.

George F. Scanlon. Image: Stack's. Colorized by CoinWeek.
George F. Scanlon. Image: Stack’s. Colorized by CoinWeek.

Scanlon was born in Norwich, New York on March 1, 1898, and graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Scanlon worked for different financial firms on Wall Street and served on the boards of several lumber and sugar companies.

According to Harvey Stack, Scanlon was a Stack’s customer for more than 50 years. But in the 1973 Stack’s catalog, the firm asserted that Scanlon built his impressive collection in 10 years after being brought to the hobby by one of his grandchildren.

Whatever the length of his collecting career, Scanlon’s collection would be nearly unapproachable today. It covered every U.S. coin denomination and was especially strong in Proofs, including complete silver sets from 1858 to 1915.

The sale was comprised of 2,797 lots. Some lots sold for less than $50, but most sold for several hundred dollars to just under $1,000. Of the 20 most expensive coins in the sale, slightly more than half are 19th-century Proofs.

Scanlon Collection Top 20 Prices Realized. Image: CoinWeek.
Image: CoinWeek.

Scanlon’s 1879 Flowing Hair Stella was the sale’s highlight, realizing $13,750. Scanlon’s 1886 Liberty Head Double Eagle in “About Uncirculated” condition brought $10,500. The 1886 is one of the series’ toughest dates and an AU example today would likely sell for $125,000 or more. The Scanlon sale presented two opportunities to buy an 1895 Morgan Dollar Proof: one was sold as part of a complete Proof Set, while the other example brought $5,500.

The George F. Scanlon Collection of United States Coins.
The George F. Scanlon Collection of United States Coins. Image: Stack’s.

The catalog cover art is printed on heavy paper stock and wraps around the front and back. The design is dominated by an aqua green upper portion on which the sale title, date, and Stack’s logo is printed. Below is a greyscale collage of various motifs from classic United States coinage.

Original copies of the catalog are occasionally offered for sale online. Examples in above-average condition with the Prices Realized pamphlet sell for about $20. Nearly every page is illustrated, but image quality and lot descriptions are not up to current standards and the identification of specific coins will prove difficult. Stack’s offers little in the way of prior pedigree in the catalog, even though Scanlon likely bought many of these coins from the firm.

Select Coins Retaining the Scanlon Collection Pedigree

Archived online internet sales allow for much easier pedigree construction. Unfortunately, researchers have a much more difficult time trying to match coins to sales that occurred earlier than 2000. Of the 2,797 lots in the Scanlon sale, only 53 can be found in Stack’s Bowers’ online archives, and only a dozen are referenced by Heritage Auctions.

The largest concentration of known Scanlon coins was a group of Walking Liberty Half Dollars purchased by the Naples Bay collector that reappeared at a Stack’s Bowers auction in November 2020. These typically fell in the “Choice Uncirculated” category. From the 1973 sale to the November 2020 sale, some of these coins performed well, while others didn’t. Other named collections with direct links to Scanlon coins were the A.J. Vanderbilt Collection (Stack’s Bowers, March 2018) and the Franklin West Collection (Stack’s, June 2010). A grouping of half dollars emerged together as a consignment to Stack’s October 18, 2006 auction.

Half Cents

1804 Draped Bust Half Cent

1804 Draped Bust Half Cent, Crosslet 4, No Stems. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
1804 Draped Bust Half Cent, Crosslet 4, No Stems. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
  • PCGS MS64BN #27394760: “The RT. Davis Collection,” Stack’s, February 1968, Lot 4. As “Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 7 – $350; The R. Tettenhorst Collection; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society. As PCGS MS64BN #27394760. “The Missouri Cabinet,” Goldberg Auctions, January 2014, Lot 76 – $4,830. Missouri Cabinet Collection on insert; “The Star Mountain Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 25, 2018, Lot 3045 – $4,080.

1848 Braided Hair Half Cent Proof

1848 Braided Hair Half Cent Proof, Original. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
1848 Braided Hair Half Cent Proof, Original. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
  • PCGS PR65BN CAC #25511656: New England Coin Co., January 1966, Lot 16; Stack’s, May 1968, Lot 156. As “Brilliant Proof.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 30 – $950; “Auction ’80,” Stack’s, August 1980, Lot 1031; Anthony Terranova; Kagin’s, 1981 Fixed Price List; “The Herman Halpern Collection,” Stack’s, March 1986, Lot 813; “The Andrew M. Hain Collection,” Stack’s, January 2002, Lot 712; Superior Galleries, June 2002, Lot 2399. As PCGS PR65BN CAC #25511656. Heritage Auctions, May 12, 2015, Lot 98013 – $39,950.

1849 Braided Hair Half Cent Proof

  • PCGS PR63RB: As “Brilliant Proof.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 31 – $875. As PCGS PR63RB. “The Lynch Collection,” Heritage Auctions, August 8, 2001, Lot 5155 – $4,600. B-1. First restrike.

Large Cents

1845 Braided Hair Cent, N-7

1845 Braided Hair Cent, N-7. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1845 Braided Hair Cent, N-7. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
  • PCGS Unc. Details – Scratch #32915607:  As Uncirculated Red with Iridescence… Probably the finest known.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 121 – $160; “The Robinson S. Brown, Jr. Collection,” Superior, September 1986, Lot 1004; McCawley and Grellman, January 1992, Lot 276; “The J.R. Frankenfield Collection,” Superior, February 2001, Lot 1299. As PCGS Unc. Details – Scratch #32915607. “The Twin Leaf Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, March 30, 2016, Lot 11032 – $2,115.

Three-Cent Silvers

1861 Three-Cent Silver

1861 Three-Cent Silver. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1861 Three-Cent Silver. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
  • “MS61”: As “Brilliant Uncirculated with iridescent toning.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 367 – $115; As “MS61.” “The Franklin West Collection,” Stack’s, June 15, 2010, Lot 70 – $253.

Nickels

1937-D Buffalo Nickel, 3-Legged

  • PCGS MS62 #29617244: As “Brilliant Uncirculated with deep golden toning.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 529 – $260; As PCGS MS62 #29617244. Stack’s Bowers, June 2014, Lot 1298 – $2,115.
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Dimes

1874 Liberty Seated Dime

  • PCGS MS65 CAC #14618502: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 744 – $360. As PCGS MS65 CAC #14618502. “The A.J. Vanderbilt Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 10102 – $3,120.

1904 Barber Dime

  • PCGS MS65: As “Brilliant Uncirculated, Lightly Toned.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 845 – $45. As PCGS MS65. “The Franklin West Collection,” Stack’s, June 15, 2010, Lot 236 – $1,035. Blue and gold toning on both sides. 

1909-D Barber Dime

1909-D Barber Dime. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
1909-D Barber Dime. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.

Scanlon’s 1909-D Barber Dime is one of the finest known, having upgraded from PCGS MS66 to MS66+ in 2010 between auction appearances. The coin’s iridescent toning was present in 1973.

  • PCGS MS66+ CAC #06643836: As Brilliant Uncirculated with Deep Iridescent Toning. “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 868 – $110. As PCGS MS66. “The Franklin West Collection,” Stack’s, June 15, 2010, Lot 238 – $4,025. As PCGS MS66+ CAC #06643836. Heritage Auctions, January 5, 2011, Lot 3358 – $7,187.50. Upgraded one-half point; Heritage Auctions, September 18, 2020, Lot 3108 – $6,900.

Quarters

1846 Liberty Seated Quarter

1846 Liberty Seated Quarter. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1846 Liberty Seated Quarter. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
  • PCGS AU58 #15749054: As “Brilliant Uncirculated – delicately toned.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 976 – $280; As PCGS AU58 #15749054. “The A.J. Vanderbilt Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 10147 – $900.

1928 Standing Liberty Quarter

  • PCGS MS62 #40434171: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1191 – $65; As PCGS MS62 #40434171. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11265 – $264.

1930-S Standing Liberty Quarter

  • PCGS MS64 #40434172: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1198 – $60; As PCGS MS62 #40434171. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11265 – $312.

Half Dollars

1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Square Base 2 (Overton-105)

1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Overton-105. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Overton-105. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
  • NGC MS65 #3265681-004: As “Brilliant Uncirculated”. “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1396 – $340. As “Gem Brilliant Uncirculated.” Stack’s, October 18, 2006, Lot 1065 – $6,900. As NGC MS65 #3265681-004. “The Classic Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 28, 2010, Lot 867 – $7,187.50.

1822 Capped Bust Half Dollar Proof

The George F. Scanlon Collection of United States Coins. Lot 1385. 1822 Capped Bust Half Dollar Proof.
Image: Stack’s.
  • “Brilliant Proof”: Robert A. Arnel Collection, Stack’s, January 1967, Lot 359; “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1385 – $1,500.

1842 Liberty Seated Half Dollar, Reverse of 1842

  • PCGS MS62 CAC #50177078: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1429 – $170. “The Robison Collection,” Stack’s, February 1982, Lot 1616; “The Albert W. Savage Sale,” Stack’s, October 1997, Lot 678. As PCGS MS62 CAC #50177078. “The Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part IV,” Heritage Auctions, October 28, 2015, Lot 98643 – $2,173.75.

1894 Barber Half Dollar

  • Very Choice Brilliant Proof: As “Brilliant Proof.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1564 – $350. As “Very Choice Brilliant Proof.” Stack’s, October 18, 2006, Lot 1318 – $2,530.

1896-S Barber Half Dollar

1896-S Barber Half Dollar. Image: Stack's Bowers.
1896-S Barber Half Dollar. Image: Stack’s Bowers.

Scanlon acquired this Brilliant Uncirculated 1896-S Barber Half Dollar from Stack’s April 1969 sale of the R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection. Listed as “Probably one of the ‘finest known’” in the catalog, we now know that this is not the case. The Miles-Scanlon half has a horizontal mark to the right of Liberty’s mouth and “subtle hairlines.”

  • Brilliant Uncirculated: “The R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection,” Stack’s, April 10-12, 1969, Lot 1420 – $360; “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1575 – $525; Stack’s, October 18, 2006, Lot 1328 – $2,300.

1902 Barber Half Dollar

  • Gem Brilliant Proof: As “Brilliant Proof.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1595 – $380. As “Gem Brilliant Proof.” Stack’s, October 18, 2006, Lot 1346 – $3,450.

1910-S Barber Half Dollar

  • “Very Choice Brilliant Uncirculated”: As “Brilliant Uncirculated Gem.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1631 – $450; As “Very Choice Brilliant Uncirculated.” Stack’s, October 18, 2006, Lot 1376 – $5,175.

1913 Barber Half Dollar

1913 Barber Half Dollar Proof. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1913 Barber Half Dollar Proof. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.

This 1913 Barber Proof has golden brown sports and streaks that made it easy to trace to a September 2017 Heritage sale, even though the cataloger omitted any reference to the coin’s earlier pedigree.

  • NGC PF66CAM CAC #1824459-004: “Brilliant Proof.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1640 – $350; As “Gem Brilliant Proof.” Stack’s, October 18, 2006, Lot 1383 – $1,955; As NGC PF66CAM CAC #1824459-004. Heritage Auctions, September 7, 2017, Lot 3504 – $3,600.

1916-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, RPM FS-501

  • PCGS MS64 #40434103: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1652 – $150; As PCGS MS64 #40434103. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5234 – $1,080. Streaks and speckled of brown toning.

1917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Reverse Mintmark

  • PCGS AU58 CAC #40434106: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1656 – $230; As PCGS AU58 CAC #40434106. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11360 – $930.

1917-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Reverse Mintmark

  • PCGS MS62 #40434107: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The Robert A. Arnel Collection,” Stack’s, January 1967, Lot 424; “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1658 – $170; As PCGS AU58 CAC #40434106. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11360 – $930.
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1918 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS AU58 #40434108: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1659 – $200; As PCGS AU58 #40434108. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11363 – $456.

1918-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS63 #40434109: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1660 – $230; As PCGS MS63 #40434109. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5237 – $2,040.

1919 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS64 #40434111: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1662 – $525. Described as having full frosty mint bloom and a nearly gem strike; As PCGS MS64 #40434111. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5239 – $4,800.

1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS63 CAC #40434112: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” Stack’s, April 1971, Lot 161; “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1663 – $650; As PCGS MS63 CAC #40434112. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5240 – $15,600.

1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS62 #40434113: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1665 – $110; As PCGS MS62 #40434113. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11367 – $600.

1920-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS64 CAC #40434114: “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1666 – $575; As PCGS MS64 CAC #40434114. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5241 – $8,400.

1921 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS62 #40434116: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1668 – $900; As PCGS MS62 #40434116. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5242 – $6,600.

1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS62 #40434117: Stack’s, October 1970, Lot 542. As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1669 – $1,250; As PCGS MS62 #40434117. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5240 – $8,700.

1923-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS64 CAC #40434118: “The Robert A. Arnel Collection,” Stack’s, January 1967, Lot 432; As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1671 – $500; As PCGS MS64 CAC #40434118. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5244 – $8,400. Creamy apricot color.

1929-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS MS65 #40434120: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1675 – $150; As PCGS MS65 #40434120. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 12, 2020, Lot 5245 – $2,280.

1933-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  • PCGS AU58 #40434121: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1676 – $130; As PCGS AU58 #40434121. “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 17, 2020, Lot 11371 – $660. Creamy champagne color.

Silver Dollars

1798 Draped Bust Dollar, Heraldic Eagle

1798 Draped Bust Dollar, BB-114. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1798 Draped Bust Dollar, BB-114. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
  • NGC AU58 #1871266-019: English Cabinet; “The Charles Jay Collection,” October 1967, Lot 166; As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 1717 – $2,250; As NGC AU58 #1871266-019. “The Warren Miller Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 6, 2013, Lot 2108 – $13,000 Reserve Not Met. MILLER COLLECTION on insert; Stack’s Bowers, March 2014, Lot 4035 – $14,100.

Gold Quarter Eagles

1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle

1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.

This condition rarity was off of the market for 45 years before turning up the Stack’s Bowers’ March 2018 A.J. Vanderbilt sale. The extended absence was a good thing, as the coin did not undergo the chemical processing that was typical for 19th-century gold coins that cycled through the market in the intervening years. PCGS graded the coin MS61 at some point in the early 2000s and CAC stickered it.

The coin brought $800 at the Scanlon sale, which adjusted for inflation comes out to $5,911. Today’s market participants are much more familiar with the scarcity of Mint State branch mint gold due to the easy accessibility of online auction records, population reports, and the research work of Doug Winter and others. When “old friends” like these emerge from the past, the astute take notice.

  • PCGS MS61 CAC #14983218: As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2057 – $800. As PCGS MS61 CAC #14983218. “The A.J. Vanderbilt Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 10305 – $28,800.

1857-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle

  • “Choice About Uncirculated”: As “About Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2079 – $800. “The Goshen Collections,” Stack’s, February 2, 1978, Lot 1052. As “Choice About Uncirculated.” Stack’s, January 19, 2005, Lot 3175 – $7,475.

1890 Liberty Head Quarter Eagle

Unfortunately this coin went from “Brilliant Uncirculated” with satiny surfaces to “Unc. Details – Cleaning” since its 1973 auction appearance, resulting in a 90% decrease in value when inflation is taken into consideration.

  • PCGS Unc. Details – Cleaning:  As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2141 – $950; Stack’s, March 1982, Lot 1068; Stack’s, June 1983, Lot 90;  Stack’s Bowers, June 30, 2012, Lot 5867 – $511.13.

Three-Dollar Gold Coins

1861 Three-Dollar Gold Coin

1861 Three Dollar Gold Coin. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1861 Three-Dollar Gold Coin. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
  • PCGS MS61 #44132914: “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2209 – $800. As PCGS MS61 #44132914. “The Huberman Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, April 5, 2022, Lot 3093 – $12,000.
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1886 Three-Dollar Gold Coin Proof

  • PCGS PR61 #44146473: As Brilliant Proof. “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2240 – $700. As PCGS PR61 #44146473. “The Huberman Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, April 5, 2022, Lot 3120 – $9,000.

Gold Half Eagles

1870 Liberty Head Half Eagle Proof

Scanlon’s 1870 Liberty Head Half Eagle Proof was listed as the finest known of the issue. 1870 Half Eagle Proofs are rare, with perhaps 10 or so known. To date, PCGS has certified three at the Proof 64 level (one with Cameo), while NGC reports two at Proof 66 Cameo.

  • PCGS PR64: As “Brilliant Proof.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2334 – $4,400. Offered as the “Finest Known.” As PCGS PR64. “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection,” Heritage Auctions, January 2014, Lot 5461.

1897-O Liberty Head Eagle

  • PCGS Unc. Details – Cleaning #34379550:  As “Brilliant Uncirculated.” “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2558 – $240; As PCGS Unc. Details – Cleaning #34379550. “The A.J. Vanderbilt Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 10379 – $960.

Gold Eagles

1797 Capped Bust Eagle, Small Eagle

1797 Capped Cap Gold Eagle, BD-1. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1797 Capped Cap Gold Eagle, BD-1. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.

Scanlon acquired his 1797 Capped Bust Eagle, Small Eagle (BD-1) in 1970 from Stack’s J. Stanley Seeman sale. In the Scanlon catalog, the coin is described as being “a splendid About Uncirculated example” with “Proof-like surface[s] with delicate orange toning.” The coin brought $4,250 ($31,405 in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars). In Stack’s Bowers’ November 2020 “Naples Bay Collection” sale, the coin carried a PCGS AU55 grade – just out of contention for the condition census of this important early gold issue. It sold for just over $100,000.

  • PCGS AU55 #40434652: “The J. Stanley Seeman Estate Collection,” Stack’s, February 1970, Lot 864; “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2445 – $4,250; “The Naples Bay Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 13, 2020, Lot 9192 – $102,000.

1872 Liberty Head Eagle Proof

1872 Liberty Head Eagle Proof. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.
1872 Liberty Head Eagle Proof. Image: Heritage Auctions / CoinWeek.

Scanlon’s 1872 Liberty Head Eagle Proof is a rare Proof issue in which no more than a dozen coins likely exist. This example can be traced back to Stack’s H.R. Lee (Eliasberg duplicates) sale of 1947, and possibly back to the Atwater sale of B. Max Mehl from the year before. Used as the plate coin for Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins, 1722-1989 (1989), this specific example is identified by the irregular-shaped lint mark in the left obverse field between star 4 and the nose. In the Scanlon sale, the piece brought $6,500, which, when adjusted for inflation, is about the same price the coin brought at Heritage’s June 2012 sale.

  • PCGS PR64DCAM #16543007: “The William Cutler Atwater Collection,” B. Max Mehl, June 1946; “The H.R. Lee Collection,” Stack’s, October 1947, Lot 1527; J.F. Bell (as Jacob Shapiro); “Memorable Collection,” Numismatic Gallery, March 1948, Lot 571; “The J.F. Bell Collection, Part II,” Rarcoa, April 1963, Lot 384; “The Charles Jay Collection,” Stack’s, October 1967, Lot 320. As “Brilliant Proof”. “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2495 – $6,500; “Auction ’86,” Paramount, July 1986, Lot 1942; “The Buddy Ebsen Collection,” Superior Galleries, May 1987, Lot 2704; Stack’s Bowers, November 2011, Lot 9707. As PCGS PR64DCAM #16543007. Heritage Auctions, June 1, 2012, Lot 5163 – $48,875.

Gold Double Eagles

1869 Liberty Head Double Eagle Proof

  • Impaired Proof: “The Nicholson Family Collection,” Stack’s, June 1967, Lot 230; “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2647 – $900; Stack’s, October 2001, Lot 1013; Stack’s, March 2002, Lot 1191.

1897-S Liberty Head Double Eagle

1897-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. Image: Stack's Bowers / CoinWeek.
1897-S Liberty Head Double Eagle. Image: Stack’s Bowers / CoinWeek.
  • PCGS MS62 CAC #14618378: “The George F. Scanlon Collection,” Stack’s, October 1973, Lot 2710 – $210. As PCGS MS62 CAC #14618378. “The A.J. Vanderbilt Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 10413 – $1,680.

 

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Contents
Select Coins Retaining the Scanlon Collection PedigreeHalf Cents1804 Draped Bust Half Cent1848 Braided Hair Half Cent Proof1849 Braided Hair Half Cent ProofLarge Cents1845 Braided Hair Cent, N-7Three-Cent Silvers1861 Three-Cent SilverNickels1937-D Buffalo Nickel, 3-LeggedDimes1874 Liberty Seated Dime1904 Barber Dime1909-D Barber DimeQuarters1846 Liberty Seated Quarter1928 Standing Liberty Quarter1930-S Standing Liberty QuarterHalf Dollars1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Square Base 2 (Overton-105)1822 Capped Bust Half Dollar Proof1842 Liberty Seated Half Dollar, Reverse of 18421894 Barber Half Dollar1896-S Barber Half Dollar1902 Barber Half Dollar1910-S Barber Half Dollar1913 Barber Half Dollar1916-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, RPM FS-5011917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Reverse Mintmark1917-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Reverse Mintmark1918 Walking Liberty Half Dollar1918-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar1919 Walking Liberty Half Dollar1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar1920-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar1921 Walking Liberty Half Dollar1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar1923-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar1929-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar1933-S Walking Liberty Half DollarSilver Dollars1798 Draped Bust Dollar, Heraldic EagleGold Quarter Eagles1850-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle1857-D Liberty Head Quarter Eagle1890 Liberty Head Quarter EagleThree-Dollar Gold Coins1861 Three-Dollar Gold Coin1886 Three-Dollar Gold Coin ProofGold Half Eagles1870 Liberty Head Half Eagle Proof1897-O Liberty Head EagleGold Eagles1797 Capped Bust Eagle, Small Eagle1872 Liberty Head Eagle ProofGold Double Eagles1869 Liberty Head Double Eagle Proof1897-S Liberty Head Double Eagle
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