$10 Million Queller Family Collection to be Offered at Central States
In the period of
The Vice President of Heritage Auction Galleries, Leo Frese outlined: "This is an amazing collection. The quality of the individual coins and the completeness of the series - especially considering the number of ultra-rarities included - suggest that this is the finest collection of silver dollars ever assembled. It includes many incredible rarities, including the 1804 dollar, an 1870-S Seated dollar, and a Gem 1802 Proof dollar. No one else has accomplished such a feat in terms of both quality and scope."
"David Queller's Silver Dollar Collection represents four decades of dedicated collecting. He grew up during the 1930s, when it was attractive for him to sell copies of the Saturday Evening Post to his schoolteachers to clear a quarter-dollar profit. Hustling to earn more, he began to deliver the Sunday edition of the NY Daily News to his classmates during the wee hours, all for a one-dollar profit. His father offered to pay him two dollars to give up the scheme and get a proper night's sleep, but David already recognized the importance of earning in motivating saving. Understanding the importance of one dollar ultimately led to his creating the greatest collection of American silver dollars," he added.
His first Red Book David Queller purchased in 1954, however, he started collecting coins only in 1960s. Due to the fact that as a boy he didn't have enough experience to start collecting rare coins, stamps and cacheted envelopes represented the main passion.
Queller's first interest in collecting coins came along with half dollars, which he collected several decades and which later turned into one of the finest collections. The end of 1960s marked the expansion of his collection. Queller started collecting dollar coins and thus the Queller Family Collection of Silver Dollars turned into a family effort.
Throughout the four decades of accumulating half dollar and dollar coins, the collection achieved remarkable results, encompassing the following numismatic items and sets:
- Over 100 various Bust dollars, most of them having
different BB numbers
- Complete Seated dollars, almost all being in
- Complete Seated dollar Proofs (a lot of them being
from the Amon Carter Collection)
- Complete Trade dollars in
- Complete Morgan dollar Proofs
- Complete Peace dollars in
- 1804 $1, Class I, Mickley Specimen PR62 NGC.
"Without question, the star of the collection is the fantastic Queller-Hawn-Lilliendahl-Mickley 1804 Class I silver dollar. This 1804 Silver Dollar is one of the most storied and desirable of all American rarities. One of only fifteen total 1804 dollars known, it is one of only eight known Class I examples (of which only five are available to collectors). It also comes with an incredible pedigree, tracing back to Pennsylvanian Joseph J. Mickley, who acquired it about 1850; Mickley's collection started with his search for a cent from his 1799 birth year. W. Elliot Woodward auctioned Mickley’s Collection in 1867, and William A. Lilliendahl acquired the 1804 dollar. The next owner was William Sumner Appleton, who ultimately bequeathed it (and most of his collection) to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1903. The Society deaccessioned most of their numismatic items in 1970, and after a few years in a private Chicago Collection, Texan Reed Hawn acquired the Mickley Specimen. David Queller purchased the Reed Hawn 1804 dollar in 1993," said Frese.
It is well known among numismatics that there are no silver dollar coins that had been minted in 1804 and featuring the same year. According to mint records 19,570 minted silver dollars were dated 1803 or earlier. In reality the Class I 1804 silver dollars were struck whether in 1834 or 1835, all of them were formerly dubbed "Originals". These coins were to be used for various diplomatic purposes. The U.S. Mint issued the coins on behalf of the United States Department of State in order to serve well for the potential trade negotiations. Mint employees analyzed the old records and found that silver dollars and eagles were last time struck in 1804, so they prepared new dies but which included old dates. Thus the 1804 silver coins were made.
Coins that were formerly named Restrikes and today are
known as Class II and Class III coins were minted in the period between 1850s
and 1870s. The Mint issued these coins for sale to coin collectors.
Another extremely rare coin that spread throughout
1802 dollar, PR65 Cameo PCGS
"Another great rarity from the Queller Family Collection of United States Silver Dollar is his Proof 1802 Bust dollar; certified as a Gem Cameo Proof by PCGS, this incredible coin just screams quality. In today’s market, it will take a serious commitment to buy such a coin, imbued with rarity, quality, and eye appeal. This is unquestionably one of the greatest American numismatic treasures. This is an opportunity that cannot be ignored, as it is one of the finest early proofs prepared by the American Mint," said Frese.