2007 was a banner year for auctions hosted by R.M. Smythe & Co. with record prices achieved In 2007 R.M. Smythe hosted six major auctions and set record prices for historical autographs, currency, coins, stocks bonds and antiques
News-Antique.com - Jan 31,2008 - Photo caption - An uncut 18-Subject Sheet of $5 bills 1953 Legal Tender Notes. The presale estimate was $10,000 to $15,000 - Final Bid $37,000
Manhattan, New York - January 31, 2008 - R.M. Smythe & Co. held 6 auctions in 2007 offering historical autographs, currency, coins, stocks, bonds, antiques and even two cannons. While compiling a list of the more interesting lots that sold in 2007, the one unifying factor that fits all of the items listed is that collectors were looking for quality merchandise. This relentless search for quality became evident in heavy bidding activity resulting in final bids that in many cases far exceeded pre-auction estimates and set new auction records. Of particular note was the December 12-13 sale #275 of part 13 of the Schingoethe collection of obsolete currency, which saw many notes selling for up to 10 times their presale estimates, with 94% of the 1162 lots sold at the final gavel (See http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783436 ). Although interest in obsolete currency was very high, it represented just a small portion of the antique and collectible merchandise that saw very active bidding on the Smythe auction floor in 2007.
Here are realized prices on some of the more noteworthy lots sold by R.M. Smythe & Company in 2007. The listed lots include the sale#, the lot# and the final bid. In most cases the presale estimate is also listed. The realized price listed does not include the buyers premium. Detailed photos of each lot listed can be viewed by visiting the online catalog for the specified sale# and lot# at Smythe auctions. See:
http://www.smytheonline.com/prices_realized/index.php .
Sale #270 - Lot# 1136 - Final Bid $24,000
1838 Die Alignment III, Reeded Edge Judd-84 Brilliant Proof. As a type Gobrecht dollars are quite scarce, and when they are encountered, they are usually from the 1836 mintage of 1,600 pieces. The Restrike Pattern Gobrechts of 1838 (Judd-84) are considered to be R.5. This piece has dark slate gray toning, but when rotated under light, very attractive underlying hues of copper, gold, aqua, and blue can be seen. The proof flash is very visible under the layers of color. Fully struck up, which they are often not. The eagle's feathers are quite distinct. Although quite attractive, there are some of hairlines on the obverse fields adjacent to Liberty, below STATES, and below the eagle. Not perfect, but rare this nice.
Sale #270 - Lot#1219 - Final Bid $55,000
1911 Matte Proof NGC PR-66. There is no doubt that the double eagles designed by Augustus St. Gaudens are the most beautiful coins struck by the United States for general circulation. During this period of coinage history, the US Mint was experimenting on ways to make our coinage more artistic. One such way was the new process the Mint used to proof gold coins, resulting in what we now refer to as "matte proofs." They were not well received by the public, and the low mintages for gold proofs dropped further. The mintage for
