With a Bang and a Whimper

Legitimate choice. Me, I'd be more like Bruce Moreland - otherwise known as TradeDollarNut - who not only goes big but is unafraid (nowadays) to connect his numismatic activities to his personal identity. He does the hobby a great service in this fashion, being a "regular" guy who enjoyed business success (he's an electrical contractor) who has an absolute passion for the coins. I bet, even after building record-setting subcollections, he still giggles when he gets to hold the right coin, and that makes the whole deal a bunch more accessible to a poor man like me.

 

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His Seated Dollars may be my favorite set ever assembled. I always find his comments on the high end coins to be enlightening given what he has accomplished and that he could be an active participant on any one of them.

 

MessyDesk: << This scant 36-lot auction was going to be the cornerstone sale of the entire series ...>>

There is a typo. MessyDesk meant to say a 63-lot auction. If any members of this forum would like to discuss any of the other 61 lots, I would be delighted to comment. I saw all of them.

As for Pogue IV being "the cornerstone sale," this is not clear and may not be true. After Pogue III, plans were changed and might not yet be finalized.

Baseball21: <<We may never know what bids were what as I don't expect SB to disclose what they did if anything during either of those nor do I think they have any obligation too. >>

There is much that probably will never be publicly disclosed.

Baseball21: << I completely agree with you that it is far more likely a result from them being only willing to sell those two for extraordinary prices than the market being cool on them. >>

Yes, the reserves for these two were extremely aggressive, way above wholesale and sharp retail levels. Before the sale, I was aware of people who would have been real bidders for both the 1822 and the 1804. They seemed to think that the starting bids, way before the sale, were the reserves, as did I. Indeed, many of us thought that the starting bid for each lot in Pogue IV, before online bids if any, was indicative of the respective reserve.

Once the announcement about secret reserves was made, bidders who I know were waiting to see what would happen and were concerned about the levels for these two coins.

Pogue Family Coin Collection Part 18 – Half Dollars and Bust Dollars Fare Well in 4th Auction

Marvelous Pogue Family Coin Collection, part 17: Importance of 4th Sale to Collectors who Cannot Afford the Coins

 

I like TDN's sets as well. And, yes, he does appear to still get a kick out of finding the right coin. I appreciate his openness as to what he owns--I just don't see myself ever being that open.

 

SuperDave: <<Legitimate choice. Me, I'd be more like Bruce Moreland - otherwise known as TradeDollarNut - who not only goes big but is unafraid (nowadays) to connect his numismatic activities to his personal identity. >>

OKBustChaser: <<I like TDN's sets as well. And, yes, he does appear to still get a kick out of finding the right coin. I appreciate his openness as to what he owns--I just don't see myself ever being that open.>>

I, too, am impressed by Bruce's candor and enthusiasm. As for the privacy issue, this really depends, in part, upon the personal life and personality of the respective collector. It would not make sense to draw a conclusion regarding whether all wealthy collectors should reveal themselves. There are many variables that relate to any one individual.

Over the years, I have quoted Bruce on many occasions in my articles and auction analyses. I am grateful for his cooperation. I am certain that he has tremendous enthusiasm for coins, and is often excited about particular pieces. He was beaming about his purchase of a 1795 dollar at the ANA Convention. Indisputably, he is a positive force within the coin community.

Most recently, he was a source regarding my article on million dollar silver dollars:

Million Dollar Coins, Part 2: U.S. Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars

http://www.coinweek.com/?s=Greg reynolds bruce morelan