In the firm’s third collaboration with the United States Mint, the entire 230-piece mintage of historic 230th Anniversary Flowing Hair High Relief Gold Coins featuring the “230” privy mark was consigned to Stack’s Bowers Galleries for their December 12, 2024 sale After several hours of intense bidding action, the prices realized totaled $8,230,000.
The coins were struck to commemorate the 230th anniversary of America’s first silver dollar: the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar. The modern pieces serve as a faithful homage to the original dollar, featuring obverse and reverse designs re-sculpted by Mint medallic artists and exquisitely rendered on a one-ounce planchet of .9999 fine gold.
Produced at the United States Mint facility in West Point, these special privy mark gold coins were identified and sold in order of their striking, one to 230, and the Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction offered collectors their only means to acquire one of these iconic pieces.
Stack’s Bowers and the U.S. Mint
Stack’s Bowers Galleries has served as auctioneer for the United States Mint twice before.
In July 2002 (in conjunction with Sotheby’s), the firm sold the only example of the 1933 double eagle that is legal for private ownership, which at the time set a record for most valuable coin ever sold in auction, realizing $7.59 million. More recently, Stack’s Bowers Galleries was selected to sell the special 35th Anniversary American Eagle at Dusk and at Dawn coins in September 2022, which realized more than $4.6 million.
“We are thrilled to commemorate the 230th anniversary of the 1794 Flowing Hair dollar with these exceptional gold coins,” said Ventris Gibson, Director of the United States Mint. “This modern homage honors one of our nation’s most iconic designs, blending historic artistry with the Mint’s cutting-edge craftsmanship. We are proud to have collaborated with Stack’s Bowers Galleries to bring these remarkable coins to collectors, whose passion and enthusiasm for numismatics continues to inspire our work. The outstanding success of this sale is a testament to the enduring legacy of America’s coinage and its place in our shared history.”
For a complete list of prices realized for the December 12, 2024, Auction of Historic 230th Anniversary Flowing Hair High Relief Privy Mark Gold Coins, visit StacksBowers.com. To consign to a Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction call 800-458-4646 or email [email protected].
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Sorry but those who paid tens to hundreds of thousands for those coins are now stuck with some very overpriced bullion. Yes the mintage does put these as rarities but artificial ones but they will never be used and with the modern preservation methods available, kept in extraordinary condition far longer than any issue from the past. The buyers will at best get back what they paid adjusted for inflation. It is more likely the price will drop over time and many buyers will suffer a loss in their lifetime and into part of the lifetime of whomever the coins are passed onto.
The 21st century will be known for its glut of artificial rarities as coin collecting becomes mainly an area for “investment” and “hedging against inflation”.
Exactly! the average price for the coins was $35,782 with number one going for $440,000.00, if my
memory is correct,
both of these numbers are well into the ‘you can’t be serious’ zone.!