Eliasberg 1894-S Dime and 1798 BD-1 Small Eagle $5 gold among landmark offering’s highlights
Chairman and Principal Owner of the Miami Marlins, Bruce Sherman is among the most successful money managers in the country, his professional accomplishments well-documented. But behind the scenes, he is a passionate historian with a keen interest in numismatics. Heritage Auctions is proud to announce that selections from his extraordinary assemblage will reach new collectors beginning early next year, during the January 15-19 FUN U.S. Coins Signature Auction. More will be offered during the Central States U.S. Coins Signature Auction April 30-May 4.
“Bruce Sherman’s coin collection stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in numismatics, a testament not only to his passion but to his extraordinary eye for quality and rarity,” says Heritage Auctions President Greg Rohan. “We are immensely proud to present these treasures to the collecting community, as this once-in-a-lifetime offering is sure to captivate and inspire collectors around the world.”
Sherman grew up in Queens, New York, taking mile-long walks and long rides on city buses to school. He parlayed his education into a career in the financial sector, forming Private Capital Management (PCM) in 1986, which grew into the largest independent asset manager in the southeast United States and one of the largest in the country. He led the ownership group that acquired the Marlins in 2017.
As a teen, Sherman also began collecting coins. As his interest and knowledge grew, so too did his collection. What defines the Bruce S. Sherman Collection is not only its expansive scope and completeness, but the quality and rarity of its individual pieces. When selecting a representative of the Barber Dime series, Sherman did not merely travel the usual path of acquiring a high-grade common-date coin. He also pursued the opposite extreme, selecting the single-rarest issue in the series: the 1894-S, of which only nine examples are known. And not just any 1894-S dime was sufficient — he sought out the Eliasberg specimen, regarded as the finest known. This is a tale told throughout the collection, culminating in a type set comprised in large part by the finest surviving examples of famous rarities — a collection replete with what might be called trophy coins: the rarest of the rare.
Even a small selection from the top coins in The Bruce S. Sherman Collection reads like a Who’s Who of some of the most elite rarities known to U.S. numismatics:
- A 1798 BD-1 Small Eagle five dollar, AU55 PCGS — the finest of seven examples known
- An 1884 Trade Dollar, PR65 PCGS. CAC — one of 10 pieces known
- An 1849-C Open Wreath Gold Dollar, MS62 PCGS — the finest of five known
- A Novodel Proof 1803 Draped Bust Dollar, PR66 PCGS — tied for finest of four known
- A 1792 Judd-11 Copper Disme, MS64 Red and Brown PCGS — the finest of three known
- A Proof 1835 Classic Head Half Eagle, PR67+ Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC — the finest of three known
- An 1838-O Proof Bust Half Dollar, PR64 PCGS — one of nine known
Sherman’s desire to collect coins was never driven by financial appreciation. He and his wife, Cynthia, are focused on philanthropic endeavors through their charitable foundation, the Marlins Foundation, and other initiatives in medicine, childhood development, and the arts. During his career in money management, Sherman is particularly proud that PCM successfully managed assets for the endowments of some of the leading colleges and universities in the country.
Instead, Sherman’s love of coins has been similarly driven by the pursuit of knowledge. He chose these great rarities for their importance to numismatic history, and because of the fascinating and often endearing stories they tell.
“I’m captivated by the history and the story behind each coin,” Sherman says. “I’ve learned so much about the history of our country through collecting, and these stories ought to pass down from generation to generation.”
Images and information about all lots in the Sherman Collection auction can be found at HA.com/1380.
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