The Southern Gold Society is thrilled to share news of an extraordinary opportunity for collectors of Territorial gold coins. Stack’s Bowers Galleries has announced the upcoming auctions of selections from the renowned James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, featuring 28 Territorial gold coins, many with provenances tracing back to numismatic auctions from the 1910s through the 1940s. This remarkable offering includes a standout piece: the 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50 gold piece, a rare and historic example of the first private coinage struck from native gold in the United States.
The 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50 gold piece, graded PCGS AU-58 CAC CMQ, is a cornerstone of this collection. Last seen publicly in Henry Chapman’s 1924 sale of the Arthur Nygren Collection, this coin represents a pivotal moment in American numismatic history. Templeton Reid, a Georgia assayer, produced these coins during the early days of the Southern gold rush, making them a tangible link to the pioneering spirit of the era. Graded highly and certified by both CAC and CMQ, this piece is a must-see for collectors of Southern and Territorial gold.
Half of the Territorial coins in this offering hail from the collection of Hillyer Ryder, a numismatist better known for his work in colonial coinage but whose world-class assemblage of U.S. Federal and Territorial gold is equally impressive. These coins, unseen on the market for decades, offer a rare chance to acquire pieces with impeccable pedigrees and historical significance.
The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, valued at over $20 million, is one of the most significant U.S. coin collections ever assembled. Stack’s Territorial gold holdings, including the Templeton Reid piece, will be showcased in two upcoming auctions by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, scheduled for December 2025 and February 2026 at their Griffin Studios in Costa Mesa, California. Highlights of the collection, including freshly graded coins by PCGS, will be revealed in the lead-up to the August 2025 American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Oklahoma City, where collectors can view a more complete display at the Stack’s Bowers Galleries booth.
For Southern Gold Society members and Territorial gold enthusiasts, this auction represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire rarities like the 1830 Templeton Reid $2.50 gold piece. Stay tuned for updates from Stack’s Bowers Galleries via their e-blasts, social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), and at www.stacksbowers.com.