Our recent Long Beach auctions, held February 2-5 in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Expo, proved to be a great success when they realized over $13 million in total. All prices realized include a 15% Buyer’s Premium. Over 94% of all lots offered in these auctions sold, with post-auction buys continuing.
The main event was our US coin auction, which brought in over $11.5 million all told. Highlighting the results was a branch mint proof 1839-O half dollar, which brought $299,000 to its happy consignor. This coin, while nowhere near as famous as its legendary New Orleans counterpart from 1838, is considerably rarer as a proof.
A beautiful 1869 eagle, graded PR67 Ultra Cameo by NGC and awarded the 
designation for eye appeal, took next honors, realizing $161,000. Beyond this coin’s extraordinary appearance, it is the single finest known of this issue’s minuscule mintage of 25 coins from a technical standpoint, with a single PR66 coin standing as its nearest rival.
A high quality example of the intriguing 1860 Mormon five dollar gold piece sold for $155,250. Mormon gold coins are rare and desirable in any grade, with mint state pieces much more so, and this piece is the single finest known example at PCGS. This issue’s lettering in the Deseret alphabet makes it unique even among Mormon gold.
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Other outstanding results from our US coin auction included:
- 1795 $5 Small Eagle MS63 Prooflike NGC. BD-8. Sold for $115,000
- 1797 $10 Small Eagle AU50 PCGS. BD-1. Sold for $103,500
- 1799 $10 Large Stars Obverse MS64 NGC. BD-10. Sold for $92,000
- 1853 $20 Assay Office Twenty Dollar, 900 Thous. Sold for $92,000
- 1797 50C VF30 PCGS. O-101a. Sold for $86,250
- 1878-S 50C XF40 PCGS. Sold for $86,250
- 1919-D 25C MS66 Full Head PCGS Secure. Sold for $80,500
- 1969-S 1C Doubled Die Obverse MS64 Red and Brown PCGS. CAC. Sold for $80,500
- 1806 25C MS66 NGC. B-9. Sold for $74,750
- 1873 $10 PR65+ Cameo NGC. Sold for $74,750
Our Long Beach activities did not end with US coins, as a small but important offering of currency also crossed the auction block. These 50 pieces combined to bring in over $1.5 million, with every lot selling. Taking top honors in this auction was an exceptional 1907 $1000 gold certificate, graded Choice Uncirculated 64 by PMG, with a notation of “Great Color,” testifying to this note’s eye appeal.
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A few of the other highlights of our Long Beach currency auction included:
- Fr. 168 $100 1869 Legal Tender PCGS Extremely Fine Sold for $138,000
- Fr. 372 $20 1890 Treasury Note PMG Gem Uncirculated Sold for $132,250
- Fr. 327 $50 1880 Silver Certificate PCGS Very Fine 35 Sold for $94,875
- Fr. 1217 $500 1922 Gold Certificate PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPQ Sold for $92,000
- Fr. 2221-G $5000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. Sold for $89,125
Our upcoming March 8-10 New York US Coin Signature Auction should open for internet bidding sometime in the middle of the week, with previews available now at www.HA.com/Coins. We are still accepting consignments for our April 18-23 CSNS Currency auction, expected to open for bidding in late March.
