GOODRICH, Mich. – Silver coins and vintage firearms were “red hot” in demand at Legacy Auction Services, with the majority of lots coming from a lone estate, in this small town (pop. 1,860) just southeast of Flint.

Business was brisk at James Jacobs accommodating auction barn, conveniently adjacent to The B. Hive Antique Mall, as coinage, currency and firearms quickly passed through the auction block during the six-hour sale.

Jacobs was assisted by Jerry Gown, from Hammertime Auctions, at the late February sale a little north of the town of Goodrich.

Opening up the coinage and currency part of the auction was a non-numismatic one-pound .999 silver bar, embossed to appear as a $1,000 bill. Nestled into a special covered case, the bidding rapidly rose to a close of $625. Closely followed, was a pair of similar half-pound .999 silver rounds were presented; one which had the design of an 1878 Morgan silver dollar, the other a Walking Liberty design. Sold with choice out, the winning bidder took both pieces for $250 each.

Next, an American Eagle gold and silver proof program was brought to the block. “Proof” refers to a specialized minting process that includes feeding the coin blanks into presses with special dies, with each coin being struck multiple times to create detailed images seemingly floating above a mirror-like field. The1999 1-ounce Gold American Eagle Proof brought a high bid of $1,600.

The Portrait Dollar, also known as The Piece of Eight, is considered by many as America’s first silver dollar. A unique “Piece of Eight” dated 1782 - with a letter of authenticity claiming the coin was discovered in a sunken ship in the Gulf of Mexico, sold for $160.

Silver dollar collectors were active and the bidding competitive, as the lots were presented as single coins, choice out and as groups. The first Morgan silver dollar was minted in 1878 and the last in 1921 with a break between 1905 and 1920 when none were produced by our government. The face is a profile representing Liberty and the back has an eagle with outstretched wings. These coins suffered an unfortunate decline in circulation as millions were melted down to pay for World War I. They were minted as various locations including Philadelphia, Denver and New Orleans. The ’newest’ version, from 1921 brought $45. Two from 1880 and 1885 sold at $50 apiece and two from 1886 and 1889 brought a bit more at $60 each.

The Morgan was replaced by the Peace silver dollar in 1921. The original minting of the Peace dollar was from 1921 to 1928 and then minted again during 1934 and 1935. The face depicts the head of Liberty and the back is a Bald Eagle, holding an olive branch, and the word “Peace” along the bottom rim. These were the last of the ’real’ silver dollars as the Eisenhower version was a copper clad process. A 1925 date sold at $27.50 with two 1923 dated coins bringing $28 and $29 each. There were six 1922-dated sold Peace coins sold at choice out with the winning bidder taking each for $30.

Holding a distinctive place in coin collecting is the Trade Dollar which was minted to compete with large silver coins popular in East Asia. First issued in 1873 they were issued up to 1883. Up for bid was an example 1878 which did show signs of use; however, its rarity “won out” earning a bid of $130.

Prices realized on multi-coin lots included a pair of silver 1964 Kennedy half-dollars. They had been placed in key fobs and sold as a set at $22.50. A lot of silver Mercury dimes, in a partially filled collector book dating from 1916 to 1945 brought $140.

A lot of 33 silver Washington quarters, dating from 1932 to 1945, was popular amongst collectors and sold for $160. A similar lot of Washington quarters, dating from 1946 to 1959, in a collector book with only two empty places, were a ’bit’ more at $170.

Rolls of coins, some filled and some not quite, included silver dimes from $45 to $100 per roll, silver quarters from $120 to $170 a roll and rolls of about 20 silver half-dollar coins at $95 each.

The pair of post-Civil War era 2-cent coins, dated 1865, increased in value as they sold together for $38. The pair of pre-Civil War era gold Indian coins, dated 1849 and 1852, obtained the winning bid of $115.

A single foreign silver coin was announced at $50 bringing Auctioneer Gowan to announce “Mark, that’s the deal of the day.”

Coinage of a different nature included a .999 silver gaming token from the Las Vegas Flamingo Casino at $30 with a similar token, from the former O’Sheas Casino in Las Vegas cashing in for $17.50.

Following the coins and currency, and before the sporting goods and firearms, several of the interesting items sold included a folder with diamond samples and paperwork on diamond cuts and grading at $100. Several watches crossed the block with the Waltham pocket watch, in a Hunter cased marked solid gold, selling for $150. The watch, probably a ladies’ ornament, was the size of an American quarter piece.

From World War II were a blue and white enameled Mothers Cross and an Iron Cross selling together at $90. A German armband from the Deutsche Wehrmacht (German Army) brought $75. The lot of mixed World War II medals and uniform pins obtained $65.

Fishing tackle boxes with supplies were reeling in winning bids from $20 to $75 each. The fishing rod and reel sets, which included Ugly Sticks, snagged high bids of 12.50 to $35 each.

Several military rifles were available, including a Russian bolt-action Model 91/30, with a very well defined wood stock, for $155. A German 8mm Mauser Model 98 bolt action rifle brought $255 with a semi-automatic Romanian AK47, in 7.62 caliber, sold for an impressive $750.

A commemorative 150th Anniversary Remington Model 66 (AN) rifle, a .22-caliber semi-automatic, made in 1966 only, was announced sold at $275.

Representing Mossberg firearms was a good solid lever action deer hunting rifle in .30-30 caliber at $200. Referred to as a ’Shotgun Kit’ another Mossberg, a Model 500CT pump action 20-guage shotgun, needing a few parts and assembly, sold for $120. Another version of the Model 500, including two interchangeable barrels, fielded the winning bid of $275.

A pump action Remington 870 Express shotgun with a 20-gauge bird barrel was $260. Remington was founded in 1816 and is the oldest firearm company in the United States and the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America.

As a starter shotgun the New England Firearms Pardner, a single shot 20-gauge shotgun, is a great choice and brought an $80 high bid.

Several of the legendary Winchester Model 94 lever action rifles crossed the block, including one which was manufactured shortly after World War II bringing $375. Another such rifle, built in 1958, sold for $435.

The Western-inspired Ruger Single Six, a single action .22-caliber revolver, sold for $35.

One of Colt’s finest revolvers, the .38-special Diamondback, should be recognized as used by John Wayne in the 1975 movie Brannigan and Steve McQueen in the classic 1968 movie Bullitt. This dark-blued beauty, selling with a shoulder holster, took aim at $700 for the winning bid.

A large Stack-On safe, set up for 15 rifles/shotguns with multiple shelves for handguns/supplies and had an electronic lock, sold at $975, while smaller metal locking gun cabinets (with keys) were selling from $55 to $75 each.

Other hunting accessories included box lots filled with firearm cleaning supplies from $17.50 to $25, and scopes form $10 to $40 each. More than 50 lots of ammunition for rifles, shotguns and handguns also crossed the block. Some lots were single boxes, some were group lots and there were even some in buckets. Bidding was competitive and varied depending on type of ammunition and quantity.

Contact: (248) 622-1516

www.legacyestateservices.