Mack C. Chase Collection Shatters Records with $2.44 Million Sale of Walking Liberty Half Dollars at Stack’s Bowers Galleries

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a legendary rare coin auction firm with a history spanning more than nine decades, made waves in the numismatic community on September 3, 2026, when an offering from the renowned Mack C. Chase Collection shattered prior market records. Held in Costa Mesa in conjunction with the firm’s Summer Global Showcase Auction—operating as an Event Auctioneer Partner of the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money—the exceptional single-session offering of 253 meticulously curated lots realized a combined total of $2,448,125 following a fiercely contested bidding war among elite collectors and institutional investors.

Achieving the highest price realized in the landmark sale of the Mack C. Chase Collection was Lot 4050, representing one of the finest known examples of the notoriously difficult key-date 1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Graded MS-66 by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and further validated with approvals from the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) and the Certified Mint Quality (CMQ) service, this stunning masterpiece of American coinage realized a record-shattering $183,000.

Not far behind in terms of historical significance and market excitement was the sole finest 1917-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar featuring the rare reverse mintmark placement. Graded PCGS MS-67, this extraordinary piece smashed previous auction benchmarks by commanding a remarkable $122,000. Every sales figure announced by the auction house for the event included the standard buyer’s premium, reflecting the true realized cost for the winning bidders.

John M. Pack, executive director of consignments for Stack’s Bowers Galleries, reflected on the extraordinary results and the intense buyer enthusiasm that characterized the auction floor and online bidding platforms.

"We knew from the beginning that the Mack C. Chase Collection was something special, and it was great to see collectors respond so enthusiastically," commented John M. Pack. "Mack built this collection over many years with tremendous patience and a keen eye for quality. It was rewarding to see that recognized with such strong results and record prices."

The sweeping success of the auction extended far beyond the headlining 1921-D and 1917-D issues, as nearly every major date and mintmark combination within the Chase holding outperformed historical estimates and prior transaction records.

Among the standout performers of the evening was Lot 4004, featuring a 1916-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar graded PCGS MS-67 with CAC and CMQ designations. Recognized as one of the absolute finest graded specimens for the inaugural year of the series, it brought a record-breaking $56,120.

The rare branch-mint issues that follow early in the twentieth-century series also commanded immense attention. Lot 4029 showcased an exceedingly rare 1918-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar graded PCGS MS-66, which realized $115,900. Right alongside it, Lot 4031 presented a remarkable PCGS MS-66 CAC/CMQ 1918-S half dollar that brought $91,500, establishing a robust new benchmark for the date.

As the auction progressed into the turbulent post-World War I era of the series, bidding remained exceptionally robust. Lot 4045 highlighted the single finest known 1920-S half dollar, graded MS-67 by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), which realized $85,400 to set a new high-water mark for an NGC-certified specimen of that date. Later in the series, Lot 4062 featured a beautifully toned superb gem 1929-S half dollar that garnered $67,100.

The later, more modern dates of the Walking Liberty series—traditionally collected in ultra-high grades due to improved minting technology and careful preservation by contemporary hoarders—also experienced unprecedented demand. Lot 4143 offered an incredible 1940 half dollar graded an astonishing MS-69 by NGC. Standing as the only piece known in that singular grade for the entire series, it realized $39,040, setting a definitive record for the date. Furthermore, Lot 4200 featured the single finest NGC-graded 1944-D, which fetched $24,400 and established a record for an NGC-certified example of that issue.

Following the remarkable conclusion of this initial offering, Stack’s Bowers Galleries confirmed that additional installments from the expansive Mack C. Chase Collection will be brought to the market in the upcoming months.

"We’re excited to bring more of the Chase Collection to market over the coming months," continued Mr. Pack, noting that the continuation of the offering is slated for the firm’s November 2026 Showcase Auction.

Collectors, researchers, and numismatic enthusiasts seeking further details regarding the Mack C. Chase Collection of Walking Liberty Half Dollars can access comprehensive archives through the Stack’s Bowers Galleries official website. A complete list of prices realized from the Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction remains accessible via the firm’s digital auction archives, while prospective consignors interested in participating in upcoming marquee sales can reach the consignment team directly.

About Stack’s Bowers Galleries

Stack’s Bowers Galleries has established itself as a premier institution in the numismatic world, conducting live, internet-based, and specialized auctions that feature rare United States coins and currency, world coins and currency, and ancient coinage. In addition to its auction footprint, the firm engages in direct sales through robust retail and wholesale channels, serving an international clientele of serious numismatists.

With a legacy extending over 90 years, the company has been entrusted with the cataloging and dispersal of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections ever brought to the auction block. This illustrious roster includes legendary cabinets such as The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection, and The Battle Born Collection, among numerous others.

On the international stage, Stack’s Bowers Galleries has managed world-class holdings such as The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, the Augustana Collection of European gold rarities, the Richard Margolis Collection of world coins and medals, and The Thos. H. Law Collection. Most recently, the firm earned the prestigious privilege of bringing the world’s most valuable private world coin collection—the L. E. Bruun Collection—to the auction market.

Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, the firm operates out of a facility that houses Griffin Studios, a custom-built, broadcast-ready auction and event space designed to accommodate modern digital bidding platforms. In addition to its California headquarters, Stack’s Bowers Galleries maintains physical galleries in New York, Boston, Miami, and Philadelphia, alongside regional offices in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Paris, and Vancouver.

As a cornerstone of the numismatic event calendar, Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts its Global Showcase each summer in partnership with the ANA World’s Fair of Money, presenting a comprehensive selection of U.S., ancient, and world numismatic material. The firm also serves as the Official Auctioneer for several other prominent industry gatherings, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Spring, Summer, and Winter Expos, the biannual Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money shows.