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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;CircCam, post: 4305642, member: 85675&quot;]<b>Ex-David Queller/Mass. Historical Society - 1810 50c Pickup </b></p><p><br /></p><p>David Queller (1921-2014) was a passionate collector of US coinage, probably most famous for his acquisition of the 1804 “Reed-Hawn” Draped Bust Dollar, known as “The King of American Coins” and one of 15 known examples for $475k in 1993 and its subsequent sale for $3.7m at Heritage Auctions in 2008. (NGC’s article on the history of that coin and Queller <a href="https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/971/Queller-family-collection/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/971/Queller-family-collection/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, and a 2008 video interview with Mr. Queller by Heritage <a href="https://youtu.be/rqsokg4G1o0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://youtu.be/rqsokg4G1o0" rel="nofollow">here</a>.) He was urged to keep bidding at the time by his son, and the collaborative efforts of his family members in his numismatic pursuits led to what became the Queller Family Collection.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095482[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095483[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I came across this bust half and loved it for its own sake immediately, but as I was intrigued by the flip I started digging and was able to find and order physical copies of both the 2002 Stacks catalog and the 1971 catalog pictured below with written descriptions of the coin after discovering the footnote in the first catalog revealing the prior auction sale.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095485[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095506[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095492[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>While “magnificent iridescent toning” is accurate, I found it humorous that the 1971 description graded the coin “Brilliant Uncirculated” and in the same line notes rub on the high points.&nbsp; The coin is clearly circulated, but as this was prior to the ANA standards being established I can only wonder at the reason behind that one (perhaps someone here will be kind enough to elaborate.)</p><p><br /></p><p>While reading that 1971 catalog I found that the coin was listed under <b>Properties of the Massachusetts Historical Society</b>, the same that put the John Quincy Adams Foreign &amp; Ancient Coin collection in NYC up for auction with Stacks two months prior that same year as well as a Part II auction in September 1971.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095498[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095505[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The collection was augmented substantially by his son, Charles Adams and passed on in the family until 1913 when it was given to the society.&nbsp; Several individuals donated US coins to them over the decades and as this coin is very common, the trail naturally runs dry there. Still, it is fun to imagine how it got there and I had a blast doing the research and learning about its history as well as Mr. Queller and his numismatic achievements.&nbsp; Yet another facet of our hobby to be enjoyed.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095503[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1095502[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Sources:</p><p><br /></p><p>Heritage Auctions</p><p><a href="https://coins.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/-10-million-queller-family-collection-of-united-states-silver-dollars-1794-1935-to-be-offered-at-central-states-auction.s?releaseId=1472" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://coins.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/-10-million-queller-family-collection-of-united-states-silver-dollars-1794-1935-to-be-offered-at-central-states-auction.s?releaseId=1472" rel="nofollow">https://coins.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/-10-million-queller-family-collection-of-united-states-silver-dollars-1794-1935-to-be-offered-at-central-states-auction.s?releaseId=1472</a></p><p>CoinWorld</p><p><a href="https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/pattern-coin-collector-david-queller-dies-at-90.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/pattern-coin-collector-david-queller-dies-at-90.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/pattern-coin-collector-david-queller-dies-at-90.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>NGC</p><p><a href="https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/971/Queller-family-collection/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/971/Queller-family-collection/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/971/Queller-family-collection/</a></p><p><br /></p><p>MassHist.org</p><p><a href="http://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/index.php/view/DCA06pR12" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/index.php/view/DCA06pR12" rel="nofollow">http://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/index.php/view/DCA06pR12</a></p><p><br /></p><p>PCGS</p><p><a href="https://www.pcgs.com/news/part-seven-the-ana-publishes-grading-standards-1977" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.pcgs.com/news/part-seven-the-ana-publishes-grading-standards-1977" rel="nofollow">https://www.pcgs.com/news/part-seven-the-ana-publishes-grading-standards-1977</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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