Rare and high quality gold coins dominated the results in our recent 2011 July Orlando Summer FUN Signature US Coin Auction. Overall, the prices realized in this auction approached $11.3 million, including the 15% Buyer’s Premium.
Top honors went to a 1797 16 Stars Half Eagle, graded AU53 by NGC. This coin’s die marriage, BD-3, is the most plentiful variety of the four known for the date, but in this case “plentiful” means that there are only 20-25 pieces known. Under heavy competition, this rarity brought $132,250 when the hammer fell.
A 1860 Mormon five dollar piece, graded AU50 by PCGS, brought $80,500 to its happy consignor. The last gold coin issued in the Mormon territory, this historically significant territorial gold coin bears the obverse inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” in the Deseret alphabet, one of the few examples of that script to survive today.
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A spectacular Gem proof 1901 double eagle with dramatic, gold-on-black cameo contrast realized $77,625 when it crossed the auction block. From a tiny mintage of only 96 proofs, this beautiful coin is believed to be one of only 40-50 still in existence, including many that have been mishandled over the intervening years.
Other highlights of this auction include, but are not limited to:
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- 1861-O $20 AU58 NGC. Sold for: $74,750.
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Round MS63 NGC. Sold for: $74,750.
- 1915-S Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS63 NGC. Sold for: $74,750.
- 1908 $10 Motto PR67 NGC. Sold for: $69,000.
- 1913 $5 MS66 PCGS. CAC. Sold for: $66,125.
- 1886 $20 AU50 NGC. Sold for: $66,125.
- 1892 $5 PR67
Ultra Cameo NGC. Sold for: $63,250. - 1880 5C MS64 PCGS. Sold for: $54,625.
- 1871-CC $5 MS61 NGC. Sold for: $54,625.
- 1908 $10 Motto MS68 NGC. Sold for: $54,625.
Our next US coin auction will be the 2011 August Chicago Signature US Coin & Platinum Night Auction, which will open for bidding very soon. Previews of this auction are available now at HA.com/Coins.
