Stack’s Bowers Galleries Announces Record Year in 2024

In the auction category, total prices realized set a new firm record of $275.6 million for the year! Several items crossed the million dollar mark and, in fact, Stack’s Bowers Galleries was the only firm to sell any million dollar coins from February through December, five in total. In addition, the company was selected to bring to market several special offerings on behalf of the United States Mint and The Royal Mint. View the 2024 Year in Review video.

At the top of the prices realized list for 2024 was the newly discovered Undated (1652) Massachusetts silver threepence graded EF-45 (PCGS) CMQ-X. After heated competition, this piece set a record for any non-gold U.S. coin struck before the founding of the United States Mint when it sold for $2,520,000 in the November Showcase auction held in conjunction with the Whitman Expo. One of only of two known and the only example available to collectors, the threepence in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale represented the first auction offering of the type in more than 150 years.

Also sold in the November Showcase event was the finest certified 1870-CC Liberty Head double eagle, a legendary Carson City rarity that is currently unknown in Mint State. This coin, off the market since 1986, was graded AU-55 (PCGS) CMQ and realized $1,440,000. In the same auction, an exquisite 1850 Baldwin & Co. $10 graded MS-63+ (PCGS) CAC CMQ, held privately since 1988, crossed the block at $1,260,000.

In September the firm hosted its first European auction on site in Denmark with Part I of the L. E. Bruun Collection, the most valuable collection of world coins ever to be assembled. Showcased was a rarity from Denmark, a 1496 Hans Noble graded NGC AU-55, unique in private hands, which soared to €1,200,000 (approximately $1,243,866).

Rounding out the list of seven figure items was the landmark 1825/4/1 Capped Head Left half eagle pedigreed to the Bass Collection. Graded Proof-62 (PCGS) CMQ, the coin realized $1,080,000, $450,000 more than it brought less than two years ago.

Prices realized achievements continued in all numismatic areas, including the following highlights:

In the Numismatic Americana category, the extraordinary John Stewart at Stony Point medal in bronze graded MS-62 (PCGS), the key to the entire Comitia Americana series, brought $900,000. Among U.S. paper money offerings, a magnificent 1934 Light Green Seal Fr. 2231-B $10,000 Federal Reserve Note PCGS MS-64 sold for $240,000. In the Ancient coins category, an exceptional Kaulonia AR Stater, ca. 525-500 B.C. graded NGC AU★, brought $36,000. Asian coins were led by the remarkable Gold K'uping Tael Pattern, CD (1907) PCGS SP-61from China which exceeded presale estimates at $720,000. A highly important group of nine Russian Government of Olonets proofs, including the front and back proofs for the 1, 5, 10, 25 & 100 Rubles graded PMG Choice Very Fine 35 to About Uncirculated 53 EPQ,went through the roof at $300,000. In the fairly new category of Physical Cryptocurrency, an incredibly rare Series 2 Casascius 5 Bitcoin MS-66 (PCGS) sold for an amazing $360,000.

Members of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries team were recognized by several revered numismatic organizations in 2024. Ronald J. Gillio was presented the Harvey G. Stack Lifetime Achievement Award at the Professional Numismatist Guild’s annual meeting. This prestigious award is presented to someone who has shown extraordinary devotion to numismatics and significantly contributed to the hobby or profession. Ronald J. Gillio and Christine Karstedt were inducted into the PCGS CoinFacts Coin Dealer Hall of Fame. This group honors coin dealers past and present who have shaped the coin hobby through their dedication, expertise, innovation, and commitment to making “the hobby of kings” something millions can enjoy.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries was honored with numerous 2024 Numismatic Literary Guild Awards for its contributions across various media. Since the NLG’s establishment in 1968, Stack’s Bowers Galleries and its predecessor firms have won more Auction Catalog of the Year awards than any other firm, dozens of Book of the Year honors across multiple categories, as well as a variety of website and media awards. These awards attest to the firm’s legacy of informative and enduring contributions to the literature, knowledge and culture of the hobby. In August 2024, NLG presented Stack’s Bowers Galleries with the following awards:

Best U.S. Coins Auction Catalog – The Sydney F. Martin Collection Part IV.

Best Exonumia/Americana or Numismatic Literature Auction Catalog – The Richard Margolis Collection Part I.

Best Paper Money (U.S. or World) Auction Catalog – The London Chelsea Collection of People’s Bank Banknotes 1948-1980.

Best Numismatic Social Media Account – Instagram.

The David Lisot Memorial Video Award – The L. E. Bruun Collection: The Most Valuable Collection of World Coins to Ever Come to Market.

Best Book for U.S. Paper Money – U.S. Treasury Notes 1812-1865: An Illustrated History, author Nicholas Bruyer, published by Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

Also in 2024, the firm continued its legacy of contributing to numismatic literature with Paper Dreams in the Golden State: A History of California Through Its Paper Money, a new book by Dennis Hengeveld. Dennis is a renowned authority in rare paper money and world coins, and Stack’s Bowers Galleries was thrilled to welcome him and his firm, World Banknote Auctions, to the team in 2024.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ worldwide presence continued to grow in 2024 with the opening of a new office in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. This location will provide enhanced service to European clientele and manage the continuing sales of the L. E. Bruun Collection, the world’s finest private collection of Scandinavian coinage and the world’s most valuable collection of international coins ever to be sold.

In February 2024, Stack’s Bowers Galleries announced their latest customer service program – secure, insured storage through the SBG Vault. A concern at the forefront for many experienced collectors is the safe-keeping of their rare coins, paper money and precious metals. SBG Vault clients enjoy numerous benefits and a no-cost or low-cost fee structure.

The firm’s Professional Numismatist Program (PNP), a one week all-expense paid seminar, was launched in summer 2023 and continued in the summer of 2024. Hosted in the Costa Mesa, California headquarters and led by renowned numismatist Devin Hipp, the mission statement of this fun and educational event is to provide practical tools and build professional connections for the next generation of young adult numismatists. Covered topics include advanced coin grading, wholesale trading and valuation, bullion trading, introduction to world numismatics, cataloging, and auctioneering. Applications for the class of 2025 will be available soon.

Looking forward to 2025, the list of extraordinary events planned by the Stack’s Bowers Galleries team continues to grow. In a few weeks, their newest full-service gallery will be opening in Miami, Florida. The expert team to staff the gallery is now being assembled – interested parties should contact MSchimel@StacksBowers.com. Soon to be available as a consumer service will be the firm’s trademarked Coins in Motion technology. On the auction front, 2025 will feature continued offerings of the Richard Margolis Collection in January and additional presentations from the L. E. Bruun Collection, with Part II scheduled to be held in Zurich, Switzerland in March. In addition, the firm has been selected to auction the Richard August Collection, with the inaugural offering from this remarkable cabinet featured in the January 2025 NYINC Auction. For more information on Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctions and numismatic programs, please visit StacksBowers.com or email Info@StacksBowers.com. To consign to a Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction call 800-458-4646 or email Consign@StacksBowers.com.