Great rarities from outstanding collections were the headliners as Heritage’s official auctions of the ANA World’s Fair of Money raised nearly $45.5 million, August 14-18 in Chicago. All prices realized include a Buyer’s Premium of 20%.
The US coin auction, held August 14-18, realized in excess of $32.5 million, with the August 14 Platinum Night realizing just over $24 million by itself.
The top lot in this auction – indeed, the top three lots in this auction – were gold rarities from the Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection, and each was an outstanding rarity.
The finest known 1837 proof quarter eagle led all lots with a price realized of $576,000; this coin, graded Proof 66+ Deep Cameo by PCGS, carried an illustrious pedigree including the Eliasberg and Bass collections.
Another finest-known early proof, an 1843 Eagle graded Proof 64 Deep Cameo, sold for $480,000.
And while not a proof, a 1907 Wire Rim Eagle graded MS68 by NGC represented the finest example ever offered at auction, and possibly the finest example of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ vision for the ten-dollar gold piece. This ultra-low mintage coin sold for $432,000.
Additional highlights of this auction included but were by no means limited to:
- 1856-O $20 AU50 NGC, from The Genau Collection. Sold for: $408,000
- 1890 $20 PR67 Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC, from The Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection. Sold for: $396,000
- Blake & Co. Gold Ingot. 96.62 Ounces. Sold for: $384,000
- 1879 $4 Coiled Hair, Judd-1638, PR63 NGC, from The Poulos Family Collection. Sold for: $336,000
- Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot. 159.23 Ounces, from The Marcello Collection, Part VIII. Sold for: $336,000
- 1854-O $20 AU53 NGC, from The Poulos Family Collection. Sold for: $336,000
- 1884 T$1 PR63 PCGS, from The Poulos Family Collection. Sold for: $336,000
- 1870-S $1 XF40 NGC, from The Poulos Family Collection. Sold for: $324,000
- (1737) Higley Copper, THE WHEELE GOES ROUND, VF30 NGC, from the Collection of a Patriotic American. Sold for: $312,000
- 1843 $5 PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC, from The Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection. Sold for: $312,000
World coin results were led by three coins from the George Hans Cook Collection of Canadian Coinage; indeed, two of the coins are considered numismatic royalty.
“The Emperor of Canadian Numismatics” is the 1911 Pattern Dollar, a piece with only two examples known, and with this single example available to collectors. This PCGS-graded Specimen 64 coin sold for $550,000.
“The King of Canadian Coins” is the 1921 half dollar, which was represented in the George Hans Cook collection by a piece graded MS66 by PCGS. This fabled melt rarity crossed the block at $240,000.
Finally, the 1936 “Dot” Cent, one of a mere three known and graded SP65 Red and Brown by PCGS, found a new owner for $312,000. Overall, the auction of world coins raised in excess of $11 million.
There were a number of additional highlights in this auction, including:
- Lucerne. Canton gold 10 Ducat 1714-HL MS63 NGC, KM-G51 (Rare), Fr-308 (Very Rare). Sold for: $162,000
- Constans, as Augustus (AD 337-350). AV medallion of 4-1/2 solidi. NGC AU Details 5/5 – 2/5. Sold for: $156,000
- IONIA. Ephesus. Phanes (ca. 625-600 BC). EL stater. NGC (photo-certificate) VF 4/5 – 4/5. Sold for: $156,000
- Canada: George V gold Sovereign 1916-C MS66 PCGS. Ottawa mint, KM20, S-3997. Sold for: $156,000
- New South Wales. British Colony “Holey Dollar” of 5 Shillings 1813 AU53 NGC, KM2.9. Sold for: $144,000
The auction of US Currency realized just over $1.9 million, led by outstanding high-denomination issues such as:
- Fr. 2220-F $5,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Very Fine 30 EPQ. Sold for: $117,000
- Fr. 2211-L $1,000 1934 Light Green Seal Federal Reserve Note. PMG Very Fine 25. Sold for: $114,000
- Fr. 1216 $500 1882 Gold Certificate PCGS About New 50. Sold for: $93,000
Our official auctions of the Long Beach Coin and Collectibles Expo are already open for bidding, covering both coins and currency from the US and the world. View and bid on the items in these auctions at coins.HA.com and currency.HA.com.
