OVERTON BUST HALF COLLECTION MERKIN SALE

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V20 2017 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 20, Number 2, January 8, 2017, Article 10

Numismatists are diving into the Newman Numismatic Portal and making new discoveries and connections. Here's an excerpt from an article by Dave Perkins in the January 1, 2017 issue of the JR Newsletter, an electronic publication of the John Reich Collectors Society. -Editor

The Lester Merkin June 15, 1974 Mail Auction Sale of THE AL C. OVERTON REFERENCE COLLECTION OF BUST HALF DOLLAR VARIETIES

Overton Bust Half Dollar Collection Merkin Sale

While many Bust Half Nut Club members, Numismatists, and early half dollar collectors may be aware of this June 1974 Mail Auction Sale, I was not. I was excited when I came across this sale while having fun searching the Newman Portal over the holidays. For those who did or didn’t know about this sale and don’t own a copy you can find a scan of the catalog in the Newman Portal archives at https://www.archive.org/stream/alcovertonrefere
1974lest#page/n0/mode/2up

The cover page for the sale states that it is the “Mail Auction Sale” of THE AL C. OVERTON REFERENCE COLLECTION OF BUST HALF DOLLAR VARIETIES. The closing date for the sale was Saturday, June 15, 1974. This sale took place after the first two editions of the Overton book had been published. The introduction by Lester Merkin on page 3 of the catalog reads,

THE AL C. OVERTON REFERENCE COLLECTION OF BUST HALF DOLLAR VARIETIES

The collection of bust half dollars being offered here was acquired over many years by Al Overton in order to aid in his compilations of the recognized references “Early Half Dollar Die Varieties”, first edition (1967) and the revised edition (1970). In order to complete the references, Al estimated that over ten thousand lettered edge half dollars were closely examined, checked and compared.

I invite stories comments on this sale and article. Is there anyone that was around 42 years ago and remembers this sale? Or has a souvenir or story from it?

[Despite the sale title and Lester Merkin’s introduction, I don’t believe this was Overton’s primary half dollar collection as the main collection was eventually sold by Sheridan Downey.] Comments on this subject are also welcome.

To read the complete JR Newsletter issue, see:
JR Newsletter: 1 January 2017 (325) (http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=74a0e3c37d154d935bdeb2daf&id=297048ff65&e=9b1d009ea9)

For more information on the John Reich Collectors Society (JRCS), see: http://www.jrcs.org/