By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
Conway Anderson Bolt was a medical physician and distinguished determine within the Mid-Atlantic coin-collecting scene from the Forties till his passing on November 25, 1973. A resident of Marshville, North Carolina, he labored as a medical marketing consultant for the Union County Well being Division.
Bolt was one of many few collectors to have ever owned a 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, buying one in 1943. Bolt would promote it to fellow Tar Heel George O. Walton in 1946. In response to Harvey Stack, Walton and Stack’s performed a serious function within the curation of the Bolt Assortment.
Stack’s bought the majority of Bolt’s assortment at public sale from April 21-23, 1966, at the side of the Metropolitan New York Numismatic Conference held on the Park Sheraton Lodge at Seventh Avenue and 57th Road.
Bolt didn’t half with all of his numismatic holdings in 1966. Not consigned to the Stack’s sale was a group of department mint gold, which the Bolt property bought to World-Vast Coin Investments in 1974, and Bolt’s assortment of errors, which was bought by Pine Tree Public sale Firm at their 1975 G.E.N.A. sale November 20-22, 1975.
Conway’s 1849 Mormon $10 Gold Piece in “Strictly Nice” realized $11,000 ($107,360 in 2024 inflation-adjusted {dollars}) and was the sale’s prime earner. This coin, in accordance with Heritage Auctions, was bought by the Church of Latter Day Saints. 4 different personal and pioneer gold items are counted within the sale’s High 20.
Different highlights included Bolt’s 1879 Flowing Hair Stella, which bought for $6,000 ($58,600 adjusted), his 1796 Liberty Cap Quarter Eagle, With out Stars at $5,500 ($53,680 adjusted), and an 1886 Liberty Head Double Eagle in “Good Uncirculated” situation, which introduced $2,400 ($23,424 adjusted). The 1886 is among the collection’ hardest dates, and solely a handful of examples are recognized in Mint State. It’s extra possible that the Bolt coin would grade AU immediately.
The Bolt catalog contained no point out of half cents, which is surprising contemplating a largely full date set of huge cents, most famous in Very Nice to Further Nice was on supply. Famous as uncirculated have been Bolt’s 1812 Traditional Head Cent, S-290, which was plated and famous as having “floor porosity in entrance of the nostril; his 1816-1818 Traditional Head Cents, 1820 Matron Head Cent, Giant Date, 1831 Matron Head Cent, Giant Letters, 1833 Matron Head Cent, Small Letters, two 1835 Modified Matron Head Cents, Younger Heads (one with die break from 1 to ear); in addition to most of his late dates.
Bolt’s full set of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents in Mint State, plus duplicates and Proof points, bought for $6,300 ($61,488 adjusted).
Bolt’s 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent is described as “Good Uncirculated, Gem” and “one of many nicest examples now we have dealt with in a while.” No picture was supplied, so we’ll possible by no means understand how good this coin was, nevertheless it’s an excellent wager that it wouldn’t crack the situation census immediately. Different notable Lincolns have been his full set of Matte Proofs and his BU Pink 1914-D Lincoln Cent and 1922-D “Plain D”.
Session One coated Colonials, Coppers, Minors, and Minor Silver cash. Session Two featured gold, pioneer, and personal gold. Bolt’s Half {Dollars}, Patterns, and Paper Cash was coated in Session Three. For the federal points, Proof coinage was effectively represented.
The catalog cowl is printed on heavy paper inventory and contains a woodcut illustration of a Native American in opposition to a darkish teal background. The general structure is easy but elevated in comparison with the standard Stack’s catalog of the interval. The Bolt sale was a serious public sale that drew nationwide curiosity, and so copies of the catalog might be acquired on eBay and from numismatic booksellers. Examples in above-average situation with the Costs Realized pamphlet promote for about $15 to $20.
Almost each different web page is illustrated, however picture high quality is often too poor to permit for picture matching of cash. Just a few paper cash tons might be recognized primarily based on the be aware’s legible serial numbers. Detailed prose will not be current for many tons, and the catalogers present valuable little in the way in which of prior pedigree data, though, as Harvey Stack suggests, Bolt purchased many of those cash from his agency.
Choose Cash Retaining the Bolt Assortment Pedigree
Coin public sale gross sales performed through the Web Age enable for a lot simpler pedigree development. Sadly, many pedigrees from earlier than 2000 have been misplaced.
Of the two,128 tons within the Bolt sale, solely 11 might be present in Stack’s Bowers’ on-line archives, whereas 9 are referenced by Heritage. Many of the at the moment traceable Bolt cash are uncommon patterns and Talbot, Allum and Lee Coppers.
Talbot, Allum and Lee Copper Mules
Heaps 65 by 75 targeted on Talbot, Allum and Lee Cents, which included a pleasant grouping of mules. None of those are illustrated, however 4 examples nonetheless traceable to the Bolt sale have been bought by Laird U. Park and resold in Might 1976. All 4 reappeared at a 2018 Stack’s Bowers sale.
1794 Talbot / Birmingham Half Penny Mule
- PCGS MS65 #35678441: As “A Selection Pink and Iridescent Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 69 – $75; “The Laird U. Park Assortment,” Stack’s, Might 1976, Lot 69. As PCGS AU58 #35678442. Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 214 – $1,560.
1794 Talbot / Earl Howe Mule
- PCGS AU58 #35678442: As “About Uncirculated.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 72 – $30; “The Laird U. Park Assortment,” Stack’s, Might 1976, Lot 72. As PCGS AU58 #35678442. Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 214 – $660.
1795 Talbot / Blofield Cavalry Mule
- PCGS MS64BN #35678443: As “Good Pink and Iridescent Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 74 – $100; “The Laird U. Park Assortment,” Stack’s, Might 1976, Lot 74. As PCGS MS64BN #35678443. Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 216 – $3,600.
- PCGS MS65BN #35678444: As “Good Pink and Iridescent Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 75 – $105; “The Laird U. Park Assortment,” Stack’s, Might 1976, Lot 75. As PCGS MS65BN #35678444. Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 216 – $5,040.
Quarter Eagles
Bolt’s gold holdings have been fairly spectacular, however few retain their connection to the sale. One of many extra vital gold cash, a 1796 Capped Bust Proper, With out Stars Quarter Eagle in “Nice”, was listed as bought for $5,500. Harry W. Bass, Jr. bought the coin, which is famous as a VF20 with the sharpness of XF45 by Heritage Auctions, and World-Vast Coin Investments bought the piece two years earlier than they purchased the rest of Bolt’s gold holdings. We couldn’t positively establish this coin primarily based on obtainable on-line footage.
- VF20: As “Extraordinarily Nice and Extremely Properly Struck.” “The Dr. Conway Bolt Assortment, Stack’s, April 22, 1966, Lot 713 – $5,500; World-Vast Coin Investments, October 11, 1972; “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Assortment, Half III,” Bowers and Merena, Might 2000, Lot 80 – $24,150. Per Heritage: Sharpness of XF45 with heavy horizontal and vertical scratches.
Half Eagles & Half Eagle Patterns
1804 Capped Bust Proper Half Eagle. Personal Restrike. Judd-30
Struck in silver for a distinguished Nineteenth-century collector utilizing real U.S. half eagle dies. This piece bought for $300 on the Bolt sale.
- PCGS MS62 #45371843: As “Extraordinarily Nice, Stained.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 1607 – $300. As PCGS MS62 #45371843. “The Mocatta Assortment,” Stack’s Bowers, August 25, 2022, Lot 7235 – $26,400.
1811 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, Small 5
- NGC MS61 #3170782-004: As “Good Uncirculated.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 22, 1966, Lot 912 – $400; As NGC MS61 #3170782-004. “The Mulkin Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, October 23, 2009, Lot 1403 – $10,350.
1820 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, Sq. Base 2
- PCGS MS63 CAC #06698820: As “Good Uncirculated.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 918 – $1,600. PCGS MS63 CAC #06698820: “The A.J. Vanderbilt Assortment,” Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 10329 – $45,600.
1820 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, Curved Base 2, Small Letters
A uncommon selection with fewer than 15 recognized examples, the Bolt coin sits on the decrease finish of the situation census, with the Childs PCGS MS64 CAC CMQ being the undisputed best.
- PCGS MS61: As “Good Uncirculated.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 917 – $1,000; Stack’s, Might 1971, Lot 1384. As PCGS MS61. “The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Assortment, Half IV,” Bowers and Merena, November 2000, Lot 324.
1884 Liberty Head Half Eagle Sample, Copper. Judd-1736
- PCGS MS65BN #44160972: “The A.M. Smith Assortment,” M.H. Bolender, February 1936, Lot 32; M.H. Bolender, August 1938, Lot 173; Unknown intermediaries. As “Good Iridescent Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 1717 – $105. As NGC PF64BN #2058227-003. Heritage Auctions, January 2006, Lot 3716. “The Dr. Tory Prestera Assortment,” Stack’s, June 20, 2007, Lot 1583 – $39,100. As PCGS MS65BN #44160972. “The Bob R. Simpson Assortment, Half IX,” Heritage Auctions, August 22, 2022, Lot 3429 – $36,150.
Eagles and Eagle Patterns
1795 Capped Bust Eagle, Heraldic Eagle Reverse
- PCGS MS62: F.C.C. Boyd; “World Best Assortment (Boyd Assortment),” Abe Kosoff, January 1946, Lot 318; “The Dr. Conway Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 1966, Lot 893; Bowers and Merena, September 2001, Lot 253; Stack’s, June 2002, Lot 65. As PCGS MS62: “The Thomas H. Sebring Assortment,” American Numismatic Rarities, January 5, 2004, Lot 452 – Passed.
1797 Capped Bust Eagle Sample, in Copper
- Web VF20 (Bent): As “Nice and Considerably Bent.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 1606 – $270; “The Dr. Curtis R. Paxman Assortment,” Bowers and Ruddy, November 1974, Lot 1050; Stack’s, July 27, 2008, Lot 4151 – $63,250.
1804 Capped Bust Eagle Silver Die Trial
- PCGS PR64 #40273605: King Farouk; “The Palace Collections of Egypt,” Sotheby’s, February 1954, Lot 1708; “The Dr. Conway Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 32, 1966, Lot 1609 – $720; “The Eduard Kann Assortment,” Abner Kreisberg, September 1971, lot 700; unknown intermediaries. PCGS PR64 #40273605. “The Bob R. Simpson Assortment, Half III,” Heritage Auctions, January 20, 2021, Lot 3058 – $288,000; Heritage Auctions. January 11, 2024, Lot 4221 – $504,000.
1849 Sample Eagle, in Copper
- NGC MS61BN: Guttag Brothers, October 1927; “Colonel” E.H.R. Inexperienced; “The Palace Collections of Egypt (The Farouk Assortment)”, Sotheby’s, March 1954, Lot 1735a; “The Baldenhofer Assortment,” Stack’s, November 1955, Lot 1068. As “Extraordinarily Nice. Cleaned and Lacquered Years In the past.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 1966, Lot 1726 – $110. As NGC MS61. American Numismatic Rarities, June 21, 2006, Lot 1001 – $26,450; Stack’s, July 27, 2008, Lot 4165 – $18,400.
1867 Liberty Head Eagle Copper Die Trial, Judd-602
- PCGS PR60BN: As “Pretty Iridescent Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 23, 1966, Lot 1645 – $130. As PCGS PR60BN. “The Lynch Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2001, Lot 8345 – $2,760.
1884 Liberty Head Eagle Copper Sample, Judd-1737
- PCGS PR66RB #44156134: “The A.M. Smith Assortment,” M.H. Bolender, February 1936, Lot 33; unknown intermediaries. As “Good Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 21, 1966, Lot 1718 – $65. As PCGS PR65RB. Heritage Auctions, January 2006, Lot 3717; “The Dr. Tory Prestera Assortment,” Stack’s, June 20, 2007, Lot 1584 – $52,900. As PCGS PR66RB #44156134: “The Bob R. Simpson Assortment, Half VII,” Heritage Auctions, January 13, 2022, Lot 3865 – $48,000. Upgraded by one level. Simpson novelty insert. Copper and violet firming.
Double Eagles and Double Eagle Patterns
1865 Liberty Head Double Eagle Copper Die Trial, Judd-454
- PCGS PR66RB #31383358: As “Uncirculated Gem.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 23, 1966, Lot 1642 – $290; unknown intermediaries. As PCGS PR66RB #31383358. “The Bob R. Simpson Assortment, Half XI,” Heritage Auctions, January 11, 2024, Lot 4244 – $63,000. Swirling blue/inexperienced shade with coppery facilities. Best recognized.
1874 Liberty Head Double Eagle Copper Die Trial, Judd-1381
- PCGS PR60RB: As “Good Proof.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 23, 1966, Lot 1691 – $130. As PCGS PR60RB. “The Lynch Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2001, Lot 8376 – $6,612.50.
Paper Cash
Third Nationwide Financial institution of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania $50 Notice, Fr. #440.
- PMG Web 25 Very Nice #5012296-017: As “Nice.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 23, 1966, Lot 1871 – $385. As PMG Web 25 Very Nice #5012296-017. Heritage Auctions, January 4, 2018, Lot 21343 – $50,400.
1870 First Nationwide Gold Financial institution of San Francisco, California $50 Notice, Fr. #1160.
- PMG 10 Very Good #1995414-001: As “Very Good with a small piece of the be aware lacking above the 50.” “The Dr. Conway A. Bolt Assortment,” Stack’s, April 23, 1966, Lot 1932 – $700. As PMG 10 Very Good #1995414-001. Heritage Auctions, January 12, 2023, Lot 20272 – $192,000. Lacking space not current on be aware in its present state.
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