COIN MARKET INSIDER • VOLUME 33 • ISSUE 41

RARE COINS REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE

Recent auction record-breaking performance shows the heightened demand for Rare Coins. United States rarities saw strong bidding activity with numerous record prices achieved in recent auctions.

Gold coins performed strongly throughout the session, which realized more than $11 million. The 229 high-end American rarities drew fierce bidding from active participants worldwide, with online and phone bidders battling to acquire these numismatic treasures.

Taking top position and shattering the previous record for the issue was the freshly discovered and now Finest Known 1870-CC $10 Eagle, graded PCGS AU-58 and approved by CAC. After intense bidding from numerous phone bidders, this historic piece realized $1,080,000.

An 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella, graded PF-67* Cameo by NGC and tied for finest seen by that grading service. This example of the perennially popular issue brought a healthy $312,000, attesting to its desirability and eye appeal.

A trove of classic early “old tenor” Half Eagles saw extremely active bidding as demonstrated by an 1815 Half Eagle that is the second Finest Known of just a half-dozen examples traced to privately held collections, which brought $720,000.

An 1819 $5 Half Eagle BD-1 variety graded PCGS MS-64 CAC, realized a record price of $384,000, surpassing prices achieved even by higher-graded examples.

Another early “old tenor” Half Eagle, an 1830 Large D, graded PCGS MS-66 CAC, tied for highest graded and the sole finest approved at CAC, it realized $420,000, surpassing the $305,500 record price achieved by the MS-66 example offered in the May 2016 Pogue Part IV sale.

However, it was not only gold coins that attracted huge prices. Bidding was intense when two newly confirmed and certified proof Capped Bust coins crossed the block.

A 1821 B-5 Quarter graded PF-64 by PCGS, exceeded a quarter-million dollars at $252,000.

The sole Proof 1828 Half Dollar from any die marriage, graded PCGS PF-58, realized $192,000.

An F-15 1792 Half Disme, graded by PCGS and approved by CAC, shattered the price records for this popular collector grade when it brought $120,000.

Among modern rarities, a PCGS MS-63+ RD example of the 1969-S Doubled Die Cent, approved by CAC, realized a healthy $72,000.

Another Rare Coin Record Falls

It’s not just the million-dollar rarities that are setting records. Coins in a much more affordable price range are also setting records at auction…

This MS-68+ 1880 Indian Head Gold Dollar with a Green CAC sticker realized $19,200. It is bested only by a sole example graded MS-69 at PCGS.

In gold, the dollar denomination was last struck for circulation in 1889, but the final decade saw diminishing mintages and in 1880, a paltry 1,600 circulation strikes were produced, making it second-lowest mintage of the series after the 400 struck in 1875.

Nearly all survivors are in Mint State grades, but this one was especially fantastic. It is one of the finest, most visually appealing gold dollars of any date. The surfaces are beautifully toned in a blend of vivid rose-gold, orange-apricot and powder blue iridescence.