Gold Hot in Heritage's May 2008 Long Beach $26.5 Million Auction Top prices realized of $161,000 were reached by two very different coins in Heritage Auction Galleries' May 28-30, 2008 Signature® in Long Beach
News-Antique.com - Jun 12,2008 - Dallas, TX. Top prices realized of $161,000 were reached by two very different coins in Heritage Auction Galleries' May 28-30, 2008 Signature® in Long Beach: a 1794 Dollar VF30 PCGS (Lot 800) and an 1891-O 25C Specimen MS65 NGC (Lot 334). Total prices realized for the American coins exceeded $19 million and ancient and world coins realized an additional $7.5 million; both totals will rise further when post auction buys are finalized.
"The strong market is continuing to bring great rarities onto the Heritage auction block," commented Heritage President Greg Rohan. "One of the pair of 1794 silver dollars realized $161,000, matched by an 1891-O quarter, certified Specimen 65 by NGC. One of the three Continental dollars included realized $92,000. Altogether, more than 650 consignors and more than 5,000 bidders participated in our May Long Beach auctions."
Highlights from Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction:
http://www.HA.com/1108-163003&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 800: 1794 Dollar VF30 PCGS. Realized: $161,000
Struck on the initial day of the production of silver coinage, October 15, 1794, this rarity is a historic relic of America's earliest attempt to produce large size silver coinage that would compare favorably in weight to the widely circulated Spanish (Carolus) dollars.
Ex: George C. Slawson (Stack's, 4/1970), lot 840; 1991 ANA (Bowers and Merena, 8/1991), lot 436.
http://www.HA.com/1108-128102&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 334: 1891-O 25C Specimen MS65 NGC. Realized: $161,000
One of only two pieces known since it was first recognized in 1941 when it appeared in Mehl's Dunham Sale. Ex: William Forrester Dunham (B. Max Mehl FPL, 6/1941); Gene Edwards; 1980 ANA Sale (Steve Ivy, 8/1980), lot 2024; Jascha Heifetz Collection (Superior, 10/1989), lot 3652. >From The Silbermünzen Collection.
The Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar, bearing the dates 1796 or 1797, ranks among the lowest mintage of U.S. type coins, with only 3,918 pieces.
http://www.HA.com/1108-320001&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 3461: 1907 $10 Wire Rim, Periods, MS67 NGC, Judd-1901, formerly J-1774.
Realized: $149,500
The Periods variants of the 1907 Saint-Gaudens eagle hold an interesting place in American numismatics, as either patterns or regular issues. Only three have been certified finer.
http://www.HA.com/1108-128094&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 308: 1833 quarter dollar PR65 PCGS. B-1. Period after 25 C.
Realized: $149,500
An outstanding specimen of this formidable rarity, as the portrait, eagle, and right-side stars have a needle-sharp strike. Ex: Auction '86 (Superior, 7/1986), lot 1091; Thomas S. Chalkley Collection (Superior, 10/1990), lot 2568, which realized $70,400. From The Silbermünzen Collection.
http://www.HA.com/1108-128155&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 942: 1846 Seated dollar PR65 PCGS. Breen-5436.
Realized: $149,500
The proof-only blundered date variety, which Breen describes as "date first entered much too low and oblique, then largely effaced and corrected; parts of upper halves of 846 show in lower halves of final position of date." From The Silbermünzen Collection.
http://www.HA.com/1108-3660&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 3458: 1899 eagle, PR68 Star Ultra Cameo NGC.
Realized: $149,500
There is no doubt that this piece is the finest existing 1899 proof eagle.
http://www.HA.com/1108-6003&type=prte-pr060208a
Lot 1647: 1796 half cent, With Pole, AU55 PCGS. C-2, B-2, High R.4.
