Heritage Auctions will sell the stunning Donald G Patrick Collection of Extraordinary United States Colonials on January 7-10 as part of the Florida United Numismatists Convention auction.
 The collection contains one of the largest series of the 1792 pattern coins |
"This series of auctions is unprecedented in numismatics," said Jim Halperin, co-founder of Heritage Auctions. "This is an incredible grouping of coins, the likes of which we won't see again."
"The name of Donald Groves Partrick is well known to colonial collectors and his cabinet is second to none in the field," said Mark Borckardt, senior cataloger for Heritage Auctions. "His collection also includes an unparalleled assemblage of 1792 U.S. Mint patterns and coinage of the Confederacy."
Most anticipated among the lots featured in the collection is a series of 12 US Mint patterns from 1792 (the year the mint first issues coins following the Coinage Act). It is perhaps the largest collection of the pattern coins, with the Smithsonian holding just seven examples.
The coins show a mixture of designs, materials and denominations, showing the experiments undertaken as the nation prepared to issue its first coinage.
In August this year, Heritage Auctions sold a 1792 Silver Centre cent pattern for a record $1.9m.
Also included are 12 1776 Continental dollars, issued to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and designed by Benjamin Franklin. The collection features two of the four known silver examples.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb selection of rare coins for sale.
