Gold rarities were the highlights as Heritage’s June 6-9 Signature Auction, held in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin and Collectibles Expo, raised close to $8.4 million for its consignors. All prices realized include a 20% Buyer’s premium.
A 1797/5 half eagle with the large eagle reverse brought $192,000 when the hammer fell in the Premier Session on June 6. This coin represents the sole collectible variety of the three existing Large Eagle varieties, making it a top target for collectors of the type or of the series, and its PCGS-certified MS61 grade, exceeded by a single coin at the major grading services combined, reflects the high quality available with this coin.
A proof 1875 quarter eagle represents an issue with a proof mintage of a mere 20 coins to go along with a tiny circulation strike mintage of 400 pieces. Certified Proof-65+ Deep Cameo by PCGS, it is exceeded in numerical grade by a PR66+ Deep Cameo and a PR66 Cameo at PCGS, and two PR66 Cameos, one with a ★ designation, at NGC. It sold for $108,000.
The top lot in the auction was a Very Large Size gold ingot issued by Justh and Hunter out of their Marysville (CA) office, at 266.97 ounces the third largest Marysville ingot recovered from the SS Central America shipwreck. This offering from The Marcello Collection, Part VII realized $420,000.
Top honors among non-gold coins went to the finest certified 1787 Immunis Columbia copper, encapsulated as MS66 Brown by PCGS. This piece sold for $78,000.
A few of the additional highlights of this auction included:
- 1908 $5 PR67 NGC. Sold for: $66,000
- 1889-CC $1 MS62 Prooflike PCGS. Sold for: $60,000
- 1813 $5 MS64+ PCGS. CAC. Sold for: $54,000
- 1839-D $2 1/2 MS62 PCGS. Winter 1-A. Sold for: $50,400
- 1909-S 1C VDB MS67 Red PCGS. Sold for: $50,400
- 1834 $5 With Motto, Plain 4, MS61 NGC. Sold for: $50,400
The next Signature auction of US coins will be open for bidding soon at coins.HA.com.
