Gold Achieves Superlative Levels in Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction

Dallas, TX: Gold rarities led strong bidder demand at Heritage Auction Galleries' Long Beach Signature Auction of U.S. Coins, which realized $12,508,728 (with the total expected to approach $14 million with Post Auction Buys continuing for another week plus results from the OnLine Session). The auction took place February 14-17 in Long Beach, California, and was Heritage's 59th Official Auction at the Long Beach Coin Expo.

"With several outstanding collections of gold included in this catalog," noted Heritage President Greg Rohan, "We expected some incredible bidding opportunities, and we weren't disappointed! A pair of exceptional rarities shared top honors at $345,000 each - an 1854-S $2.50 certified XF45 by PCGS, and a 1795 $10 in MS64 NGC. Another dozen pieces of gold realized over $50,000 each among the 4,400 lots from more than 250 consignors (with an additional 3,600 lots in the Long Beach OnLine Session that closes tomorrow. This was a great auction for selling coins!"

Consignors highlighted in the Long Beach catalog include: The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles; The Great Falls Collection; The Dale A. Konigsburg Collection, Part Two; The Lanterman's Mill Collection, Part Two; The Frank J. McCarthy Jr. Collection; The Rocky Top Collection of Bust Half Dollars; The Edward Sacks Collection; The Southern Collection; and The Twin Hollows Collection, Part Two.

Heritage's Feb. 2007 Long Beach U.S. Coin highlights:

Lot 29: 1872 Norman Gold Medal, Julian AM-9, PR60 Uncertified
Presented annually by the American Society of Civil Engineers for the Best Essay on Engineering. Awarded 1895.
Realized: $2,990

Lot 2097: 1793 Chain Cent, AMERICA XF45 PCGS. S-3, B-4, Low R.3
The S-3 die marriage is the most common of all five Chain cent varieties, the ideal candidate for date or type collectors.
Realized: $51,750

Lot 2357: 1922 No D Cent, Strong Reverse MS63 Brown PCGS, Die Pair Two
From 1793 through 2007, the Philadelphia Mint coined cents (either large or small) in every year except 1815 and 1922.
Realized: $35,938

Lot 2838: 1859 half dime, Transitional PR63 PCGS. Ex: Norweb.
The famous Transitional variety, listed in the Ninth Edition of United States Pattern Coins as Judd-232, but listed in the 2007 Guide Book within the regular Seated half dime series.
Realized: $40,250

Lot 3390: 1815/2 half dollar, MS64 NGC, O-101a, R.2
A fantastic example of one of the top dozen known rarities.
From The Rocky Top Collection of Bust Half Dollars.
Realized: $29,900

Lot 3393: 1817/3 half dollar MS64 PCGS, O-101, R.3
Ex: John G. Mills Collection; J.M. Clapp; Clapp Estate; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection; Juan Suros Collection;
From The Rocky Top Collection of Bust Half Dollars.
Realized: $ 24,150

Lot 3457: 1836 half dollar, Reeded Edge MS63 PCGS
An important example of this very scarce coin struck on the Philadelphia Mint's new steam coinage press.
From The Rocky Top Collection of Bust Half Dollars
Realized: $16,100

Lot 3503: 1874-CC half dollar, Arrows MS64 NGC
This piece represents the early die state and is known to specialists as WB-101.
Realized: $44,850

Lot 3590: 1795 $1, Flowing Hair, Two Leaves AU58 PCGS. B-1, BB-21, R.2
All examples of this variety were struck from perfect dies with no apparent defects on either side, although this example does show faint clash marks near the upper hair curls.
Realized: $51,750

Lot 5661: 1892-S $1 MS61 NGC.
The 1892-S and 1893-S issues are both major rarities in Mint State grades.
Realized: $46,000

Lot 5820: 1895 $1 PR64 PCGS
The "King of Morgan Dollars" is the name often given to this proof-only issue.
From The Twin Hollows Collection, Part Two
Realized: $48,875

Lot 4279: 1802/1 $2.50 MS65 NGC
The three known die combinations for the quarter eagles of 1802 share a common obverse die that is routinely called an overdate (although highly questionable.)
Ex: Freedom Collection. Breen-4, Breen-6118, Bass-3009, BD-3, R.5.
Realized: $161,000

Lot 4325: 1854-S $2.50 XF45 PCGS
For collectors of the Liberty quarter eagles, the 1854-S is considered the ultimate issue.
Ex: Rio Rancho Collection.
Realized: $345,000

Lot 4375: 1841 $2.50 PR53 PCGS
The existence and rarity of the proof-only 1841 quarter eagle was known almost since the day it was made.
Ex: Fairfield Collection duplicate.
Realized: $109,250

Lot 4378: 1906 $2.50 PR66 Cameo PCGS
When viewed from directly overhead, this coin yields a gold-on-black appearance.
Realized: $21,850

Lot 4494: 1876 $3 PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS
The 1876 is one of the three most widely recognized rarities in the three dollar gold series.
Realized: $80,500

Lot 4508: 1830 $5 AU58 NGC, Large 5D, Breen-6491, BD-1, R.6
Perhaps more than 99% of the production was melted.
Realized: $54,625

Lot 4519: 1836 $5 MS64 PCGS, Breen-6509, Second Head, Large Date
The Harry Bass Collection contained just three examples of this scarce variety, with his best grading only AU55.
Realized: $21,850

Lot 4705: 1795 $10 13 Leaves MS64 NGC, Breen 1-A, Breen-6830, Taraszka-1, Bass-3169, BD-1, High R.3
This is an extraordinary example of the early tens that didn't carry an actual denomination as part of the design.
Ex: Freedom Collection.
Realized: $345,000

Lot 4806: 1904 $10 PR66 Cameo NGC
An amazing Cameo proof, unusual for the amount of contrast between the fields and devices; none certified finer.
Realized: $46,000

Lot 4808: 1907 $10 Wire Rim MS64 PCGS
Total production of this issue is now believed to be 542 coins, including 500 that were struck during the summer and another 42 coins in December.
Realized: $43,125

Lot 4820: 1909-D $10 MS66 PCGS
Certified population: 5 in 66, 2 finer.
From the Dr. and Mrs. Steven Duckor Collection.
Realized: $51,750

Lot 4916: 1861-O $20 AU55 PCGS
The 1861-O double eagle was struck by three different governmental authorities.
Realized: $46,000

Lot 4920: 1861-S $20 Paquet AU50 NGC
The message rejecting the Paquet reverse arrived after production of 19,250 pieces.
Realized: $63,250

Lot 4956: 1871-CC $20 AU53 PCGS
The second year of CC production saw 17,387 double eagles coined.
Realized: $43,125

Lot 5101: 1907 $20 High Relief, Wire Rim MS65 PCGS
The surfaces on both sides of this Gem have a characteristic satiny yellow sheen.
Realized: $43,125

Lot 5105: 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim MS65 PCGS
After production was halted for adjustments to fix the problem of "fins" on these High Relief pieces, the Flat Rim coins were produced.
Realized: $43,125

Lot 5106: 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim MS66 PCGS
MS66 or finer examples are seldom offered.
Realized: $69,000

Lot 5107: 1907 $20 High Relief PR64 NGC
The crispness of strike provides the immediate characteristic necessary to receive the proof designation from NGC.
Realized: $43,125

Lot 5135: 1908-S $20 MS64 PCGS
This low-mintage issue is one of the true rarities in the Saint-Gaudens series.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
Realized: $27,600

Lot 5228: 1920-S $20 MS62 PCGS
The 1920-S double eagle is one of the important rarities in the Saint-Gaudens series, although the vast majority were stored in Mint or Treasury vaults, only to be melted in the 1930s.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
Realized: $60,375

Lot 5229: 1920-S $20 MS63 PCGS
This important rarity is seldom offered for sale in any grade, and an object of desire in Select Mint State quality.
Realized: $77,625

Lot 5287: 1926-D $20 MS64 PCGS
Like many other rarities in the Saint-Gaudens series of double eagles, this date had a significant mintage with a low survival rate.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles.
Realized: $63,250

Lot 5315: 1929 $20 MS64 PCGS
Beginning in 1929, these pieces were not widely distributed, but rather, were stored in Treasury vaults awaiting their fate in the government melting pots of the mid and late 1930s.
Realized: $ 41,688

Lot 5316: 1929 $20 MS65 PCGS
The 1929 double eagle begins a final string of rare dates through the end of the series in 1933.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles.
Realized: $86,250

Lot 5317: 1930-S $20 MS64 PCGS
A classic example of this rare date.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
Realized: $126,500

Lot 5318: 1931 $20 MS64 PCGS
Another exciting rarity in the series, Ex: Park Avenue Collection.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
Realized: $77,625

Lot 5319: 1931-D $20 MS64 PCGS
One of the six rare issues that complete the Saint-Gaudens double eagle series.
From The Matt & Susan Brown Family Collection of Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles
Realized: $83,375

Lot 5320: 1931-D $20 MS64 PCGS
Recent estimates are that 100 to 150 pieces are known today.
Realized: $89,125

Lot 6217: 1917 McKinley dollar MS67 NGC
This Superb Gem specimen is equal to the finest coins ever certified by NGC or PCGS.
Realized: $10,350

Images, descriptions, and prices realized from all of Heritage's previous auctions are available in the Permanent Auction Archives at the Heritage website, www.HA.com.

To reserve a copy of the catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.