Rare and high-quality gold coins were the focus as Heritage’s December 5-7 Signature auction of US coins reached $9.5 million in prices realized. Combined with two auctions of world coins and currency taking place in Hong Kong at the same time, the total prices realized for the weekend eclipsed $15 million.
(After-auction sales are still ongoing and may add to this total, and all prices include a 20% Buyer’s Premium.)
The top lot of the Dallas Signature auction was a 1907 High Relief double eagle, Wire Rim variant, graded MS68 by NGC. This beautiful coin is in high demand in any grade, with correspondingly high sale prices. Only a few have reached the MS68 plateau from the major grading services combined. This example soared to a hammer price of $264,000.
An 1801 eagle, graded MS64 by PCGS and with CAC approval, reached a price of $138,000. Under heavy demand as a type coin, the 1801 is extremely elusive in grades this high, with only five certified higher by the combined major grading services.
In contrast with the high-grade but relatively available 1801 eagle, the excessively rare (R.7) BD-3 variety of the 1833 half eagle, graded MS61 by PCGS, sold for $96,000. This example, ex: Norweb, is the only one confirmed to be in private hands, with another in the Bass collection in the ANA Money Museum.
1915-S Panama-Pacific fifties are always in high demand, and a pair offered in this auction showed the lengths collectors will go to acquire them, with a round example graded MS64 by PCGS rising to a sale price of $96,000, and an octagonal example one grade point lower selling for $84,000. These large, low-mintage coins bear the distinction of being the only 50-dollar commemorative coins issued by the US, and the heaviest gold coins ever issued by the mint. Both of these coins bore the CAC sticker of approval.
Additional highlights included but were not limited to:
- 1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-2, XF45 PCGS. CAC. Sold for $66,000
- 1907 1C MS67+ Red PCGS. Sold for $63,000
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS62 PCGS. Sold for $57,600
- 1862 $3 PR64 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC. JD-1. Sold for $54,000
- 1861-C $5 MS60 NGC. Sold for $45,600
- 1861-O $20 AU53 NGC. Sold for $45,600
- 1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-3, AU53 PCGS. Sold for $42,000
- 1881 T$1 PR68★ Cameo NGC. Sold for $39,600
- 1867 5C Rays PR66 Cameo NGC. Sold for $39,600
Our next auction of US coins will be open for bidding soon at coins.HA.com.
