Eighteenth-century copper coinage was the featured attraction as the September 7-10 Long Beach Signature Auction raised close to $9.2 million USD for its consignors. This auction took place in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Expo. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.
The top lot in the auction was a 1795 Reeded Edge Cent, certified as Genuine by PCGS, and in our opinion meeting the standards of an EAC Good 4. Only 10 examples of this odd variety are known, and this coin, from The Padula Family Foundation Collection, was discovered a mere seven years ago. It sold for $192,000 when the bidding was complete.
Large Cents from The Padula Family Collection also included these:
- 1793 1C Liberty Cap S-15, B-22, High R.6, VG10 NGC. Sold for: $102,000
- 1794 1C Head of 1794, S-37, B-24, High R.6 VF Details NGC. Sold for: $60,000
- 1795 1C Jefferson Head, Plain Edge, S-80, B-11b, Low R.5 VF Details PCGS. Sold for: $52,800
A pattern 1792 Disme, a relic of the earliest history of the U.S. Mint, brought a hammer price of $180,000. This piece, struck in copper, is graded AU50 by PCGS and is considered the eighth finest of 19 known.
Two other patterns from a little later in our nation’s numismatic history were also among the highlights of the auction.
The appeal of the 1879 and 1880 four dollar gold pieces is not limited to gold issues; examples of the 1879 Flowing Hair stella struck in Aluminum and Copper were offered in this auction and brought exciting results. The aluminum piece, graded Proof-67 by PCGS, sold for $120,000, while the copper piece, graded Proof-66 Brown also by PCGS, sold for $108,000. Both pieces rate as R.7 on the Sheldon Rarity scale of R.1 to R.8 (rarest).
Additional highlights of this auction include coins such as the following:
- 1829 $5 Small Diameter, Small Date, BD-2, AU Details NGC. Sold for: $120,000
- 1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-1, AU55 NGC. Sold for: $66,000
- 1908-D $10 No Motto MS66 NGC. Sold for: $50,400
- 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim MS65 PCGS. Sold for: $48,000
- 1861-O $20 AU50 PCGS. Sold for: $48,000
- 1918-D 25C MS67 Full Head PCGS. Sold for: $40,800
- 1852 Assay Office Fifty Dollar, 900 Thous. XF40 PCGS. K-14. Sold for: $40,800
Auctions of rare currency and world coins are continuing in Long Beach through September 12. Our next US Coins Signature auctions are scheduled for early November, with previews available now at www.HA.com/coins.