The November 12th Entertainment and Music Memorabilia Auction in Dallas will open with a session of the personal collection of the Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine. From the 1948 employment contract with the Barter Theater Repertory Company believed to be his first professional acting engagement (it states that he was to be paid $65 per […]
World’s Earliest Known 10 Commandments Up for Auction
A marble slab inscribed with the 10 Commandments, most likely used at the entrance of a synagogue destroyed by Romans or Crusaders, is being offered Nov. 16 at Heritage Auctions’ Biblical Archaeology & Related Objects Auction. It is the world’s earliest-known complete stone inscription of the biblical principles given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The […]
2016 Introduction of Bullion Coins to Celebrate a Centennial of Artistry
One hundred years ago, 1916 was a banner year for numismatics. After Charles Barber’s eponymous designs had graced the Barber Quarter, Barber Dime, and Barber Half Dollar from 1892 to 1915, each of these three denominations received distinct facelifts the following year with new, fresh designs. This was a break from tradition because each of […]
Shaving Mugs: American Folk Art
In our June 26th Fine and Decorative Arts Signature Internet Session, we feature the American shaving mug collection of John Sturner. In the late Victorian era (1880-1910), most men owned a shaving mug that they kept at home or at a barbershop. Barbershops at the time were social spaces, where for only the cost of […]
Collecting by Theme: Going Beyond the Date Set
One particular style of collecting coins is so typical and familiar that even non-collectors are often aware of it. Placing one coin of each date and mintmark into a book or album is an image that many of us will remember from childhood, even if we never became lifelong collectors. Although today’s version more typically […]
A Shot In The Dark
A shadowy silhouette of a man moves down the street. His shoulders and the top of his felt Stetson fedora are briefly lit in the pools of light beneath the street lamps as he passes. His face is a constant shadow. He pauses at the corner, and a quick flare of light exposes his features […]
Eastern Influence on American Aesthetic Movement Silver
In our upcoming April 12 Silver and Objects of Vertu Signature Auction, we feature a strong selection of American Aesthetic Movement objects, including many prized mixed-metal lots embellished with copper and gold elements. These pieces illustrate the wide range of influences on Western decorative arts in the late 19th century and the desire to integrate […]
Minting Mistakes: Error Coins and Their Collectability
A basic understanding of coin collecting reveals that condition, date, and scarcity are all key components of what makes a coin collectible. One area of collecting, however, focuses on mistakes made by the mint, or “error coins.” Even if a coin is an otherwise common year, it may be a valuable piece if simply produced […]
