Attractive Plated Harlan P. Smith Sale

Chapman, S.H. & H. CATALOGUE OF THE MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF COINS OF THE UNITED STATES FORMED BY THE LATE HARLAN P. SMITH, ESQ, NEW YORK CITY. Philadelphia: Davis & Harvey, May 8–11, 1906. 4to, original white cloth-backed gilt-lettered boards. (6), 138 pages; 2416 lots; 14 fine photographic plates. Original printed prices realized list laid in. Fine. Adams 81, rated A+ overall: “ ‘Non Vi.’ ‘Liber Natus.’ Outstanding gold: 1815, 1822 $5. MS 1802 25¢. 1849 ff proof sets. Excellent patterns. A landmark sale.” A very well-preserved copy of this most important sale of American coins, rich in all series but particularly notable for Smith’s superb collection of large cents and United States gold and silver coins. The sale also included a small but choice offering of ancient and foreign gold and silver coins. The Chapmans wrote in the preface: “The late Mr. Harlan P. Smith for a great many years was an ardent amateur collector of coins, and during the later period of his life engaged actively in dealing in them, but always endeavored to improve his own private cabinet, and collectors will here find a collection that takes rank with the finest that have ever been sold as regards completeness, rarity, and preservation.” Three plates depict colonials, three illustrate United States gold coins and three are of United States silver coins, two depict large cents (“All in magnificent preservation”), one is of half cents, one illustrates patterns and the final plate depicts ancient and foreign coins. Davis 195. Fanning, Ancient Coins in Early American Auctions, 14. Ex Charles Davis’s auction of October 30, 2010, lot 252 at an incredible $8500 hammer.