May 18, 2011 |
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On Memorial Day 1911, Theodore Roosevelt presided over the dedication of a bronze monument at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark, NJ. The life size statue, entitled “Seated Lincoln”, was the work of Gutzon Borglum, an American sculptor best known as the creator of Mt Rushmore. One hundred years later, on May 21
st in Breinigsville, PA, a one thousand and five troy ounce pure silver statue cast from Borglum’s original “Seated Lincoln” maquette will be offered as a featured lot at the Golden Fantasy, Silver Dreams Americana Auction conducted by The Renaissance Auction Group.
Cast in 1990 at the Maiden Foundry in Sandy, Oregon and released by the Liberty Mint in cooperation with Silversmiths Group USA and the Borglum Foundation, the sculpture depicts President Lincoln lost in contemplation upon hearing the news of the casualties suffered at the Battle of Gettysburg. Fifty-six statues were produced in the numbered limited edition. Gutzon Borglum believed the original “Seated Lincoln” to be the finest example of his work.
Another historic artifact to be sold at the auction event is an eighteen troy ounce gold disc salvaged from the Santa Margarita shipwreck by Mel Fisher’s Treasure Salver’s Inc. The round amalgam, recently assayed and determined to be fifty-one percent gold and forty-three percent silver, found its way to the floor of the Gulf of Mexico in 1622 when the Santa Margarita sank in a violent storm while returning to Spain with a full cargo of New World treasure.
Significant examples of American coinage complete the gold and silver portion of the Golden Fantasy, Silver Dreams Americana Auction. A full set of Morgan Carson City Mint Silver Dollars including the key 1889, 1891 and 1893 dates will be offered in individual lots. Twenty- four Peace silver dollars in MS63 state represent all dates and mint marks issued in that numismatic series. Thirteen Liberty Head Double Eagle twenty dollar gold coins and three of the St. Gaudens variant will cross the auction block along with ten, five and two and a half dollar gold pieces. Canadian Maple Leafs, a South African Krugerrand, a five dollar American Eagle, a one hundred troy ounce .999 fine silver bar and two Congressional American Arts .999 fine medal sets containing five and two and a half troy ounces of pure gold respectively are the standout bullion lots included in the auction catalog. In all, more than fifty gold and one thousand silver coins including certified, brilliant uncirculated and uncirculated examples will cross the block in two hundred lots.
The gold, silver and coins are part of a single collection assembled over fifty years by an advanced collector of Americana and precious metals. The Renaissance Auction Group, based in Reading PA, has been contracted to design and produce multiple auction events in order to disperse the collection in a considered manner. The initial event in the Golden Fantasy, Silver Dreams Americana Auction series will begin at 11 am on May 21
st at the Holiday Inn Lehigh Valley Conference Center in Breinigsville. Contact information is listed below.
Contact: Bill Howze
Contact Number: 610-370-2879
