Steve Studer News Today

Contract Freighters Inc. employees and representatives of eight nonprofits helping make life better for residents of Joplin gathered Tuesday at the trucking company’s Joplin office for a holiday check presentation.

Nearly $28 Million in U.S. Coins, Paper Money Sold in Stack’s Bowers March Las Vegas Auction Las Vegas, The primary highlight of the auction was the U.S. Mint gold coin ever sold. Accompanying this piece was the finest known 1797 Draped Bust half dollar that also set a record as the most valuable U.S. Mint half dollar at nearly $1.7 million. These two pieces were sold in the firm’s Rarities Night session held on Thursday, March 25, which is sure to be remembered as a historic event in Am...

Important Collections of U.S. Coins, Paper Money Featured in Stack’s Bowers March 2021 Las Vegas Auction March 2021 Las Vegas Auction, the firm’s first Showcase event for Americana and United States coins and paper money of the year. The primary highlight of this auction is the magnificent  Virgil Brand and D. Brent Pogue collections. These two pieces will be sold in the firm’s Rarities Night session held on the evening of Thursday, March 25. In addition to these treasures, the Stack�...

In 1820, a quarter dollar was the typical cost for attending theatrical events and similar entertainments in New York City, events that today might cost tens or even hundreds of dollars. Alongside the half dollar, the quarter was a workhorse of everyday commerce and most examples that left the United States Mint wound up heavily worn within a few years. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is delighted to offer one of the most spectacular 1820 Capped Bust quarters in our March 2021 Las Vegas Auction. ...

The Proof 1870 quarter eagle is a tremendous rarity in all grades and only an estimated 10 to 12 survivors are known from a mintage of just 35 examples. Researcher John Dannreuther notes that the first delivery of 25 coins occurred on February 3, while the remaining 10 coins were delivered on June 1. The obverse die was used to strike both the 35 Proofs and the 4,520 circulation-strikes for the year, and very few coins exhibit strong cameo contrast. In addition, most examples are found in gra...

The Proof 1897 Indian cent is an underrated rarity among the late dates from this series. From a mintage of 1,938 pieces, 731 were intended for sale in conjunction with the year’s silver Proof sets, while the remaining 1,207 examples went into minor coin Proof sets. Today, the Proof 1897 cent is most often found in grades up to Proof-64, with many having been cleaned or mishandled over the past century. Gems are sold at auction only a couple of times per year, and those with any traces of Ca...

1787 Fugio from the Newman 13-X dies. This is an easy die marriage to attribute; the obverse is heavily clashed in the right field and the reverse is the workhorse die X with a prominent crack from 6 o’clock on the rim. This lovely near-Gem example offers incredibly silky luster and steely-brown patina with hints of tangerine luster in the protected areas. The superior technical quality is matched by tremendous eye appeal. Most Uncirculated Fugio coppers owe their preservation to a large cas...

  Shield nickels are a largely underappreciated series among 19th-century U.S. coinage. They represent America’s inaugural attempt at a nickel five-cent coin, a format that remains a staple in daily commerce to the present day. First introduced in 1866 upon the conclusion of the Civil War, the Shield nickel was issued for just 17 years but produced a tremendous amount of fascinating and rare varieties. We are thrilled to offer an incredibly rare FS-304, Misplaced Date variety of the 1867 R...

The 1905 Liberty Head half eagle is an underrated 20th-century issue that is desirable at all levels of preservation. A mintage of only 302,200 makes it scarcer than many late-date issues, representing a steep drop from the 392,000 Philadelphia strikes of 1904. While readily available in lower Mint State grades, the 1905 is seldom encountered finer than MS-65 and PCGS estimates just 55 distinct specimens survive in Gem and above. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is thrilled to offer an incredible ...