John W. McCloskey Collection of US Coins Showcase Auction #63177

John H. McCloskey was a founding member of the John Reich Collectors Society and author of Federal Half Dimes.  When Heritage advertised that his collection was up for sale, I was very excited to participate.  There were not many trouble free coins being offered.  Most had been cleaned and several were whizzed.  Some had scratches and several were bent.  Nevertheless, they all told a story and among the offerings were very late die states and interesting cuds.

I short listed the roughly 250 half dimes and dimes to 25 that I tracked on a want list and then 4 that I intended to put the lumber behind.

Lot 45038 - 1831 h10c LM-3 R.4 Good 4 NGC - This coin was plated on page 187 and I planned to go to $200.  It hammered for $750.

Lot 45048 - 1832 h10c LM-8.2 R.3 Cleaned AU details NGC - This is an important remarriage that I needed and I intended to go to $200.  It hammered for $220.  Had I bid higher, I still my have lost this lot as I was being matched every time after $150.

Lot 45233 - 1833 10c JR-1 VF30 NGC - This was an attractive trouble free coin that would fill a nice hole in my collection.  I was planning to go to $150.  I stretched to $190 and it hammered for $200.

Lot 45244 - 1834 10c JR-6 R.2 VG10 CAC - This was an attractive trouble free coin that I felt would be underappreciated with a very late die state.  I planned to go to $100 and stretched to win this lot at $120.

Lot 45246 - 1835 10c JR-2 High R.3 - Bent NGC Details VG. - Dramatic and rare cud.  Considered a terminal die state.  This was not on my short list, but on my original 25.  The bidding started out sluggish with only a few bidders and I through my hat in the ring at about the $50 mark.  I won this lot at $90 which is certainly a fair price, but an unusual fit in my collection.

I was disappointed to get shut out of the half dimes, but happy for a couple of new acquisitions.