Heritage Auctions $9.35 Million in U.S. Coins Alone in New York

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Numismatic Auctions’ New York U.S. Coinage Signature Sale realized approximately $8.8 million, with the Internet-only New York Bullet Auction bringing in a further $571,000. The New York Signature Sale was conducted in five sessions from July 27 through July 29 at the Warwick Hotel. The Internet-only Bullet Auction closed online at the Heritage website, www.HeritageCoin.com, at 10 PM CST, July 29. Two additional sessions of foreign coinage, currency, and ancients were still to come as of this writing.

According to Bob Korver, Heritage’s Director of Auctions, “We witnessed record-breaking bidder activity for our New York Signature and Bullet Auctions. Hundreds of floor bidders competed against thousands of Internet bidders with the result that the auction exceeded our expectations in all regards, particularly in the area of prices realized. Originally, marvelously toned Commemoratives continue to auction for handsome sums of money. In fact, the first session of our sale, which was devoted exclusively to Commems, realized $1.5 million on its own. Highlights include the 1893 Isabella Quarter that we offered as lot 5040 (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?296202054). The single finest certified representative of this conditionally challenging Commem at MS69 NGC, the coin went to a new owner at $46,000. The 1900 Lafayette Dollar MS67 PCGS, among the finest PCGS-certified survivors of an issue with a similar reputation for high grade rarity, brought $59,800. And a PCGS-certified 1936-D Columbia Half Dollar graded MS68 traded hands for $26,450. All of these coins were part of a special consignment of U.S. Commemoratives that were consigned by a collector who strove to obtain the finest coins available in today’s market.”

“Regular issue U.S. coinage also performed strongly,” noted Greg Rohan, Heritage’s Executive VP. “Take for example the Ally Collection of Walking Liberty Half Dollars, which is the #1 set on the PCGS Registry. Highlights from this collection include a 1917-S Reverse graded MS66 that sold for $26,450, a similarly graded 1917-S Obverse that traded for $27,600, and an MS65 1919-D (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?296037005) pedigreed to the Ray Cassano Collection that realized $80,500. The key date 1921-D was graded MS66, and it changed owners for $40,250, and its similarly dated 1921-S counterpart, which was certified at the MS65 level, sold for $46,000. Also of note is the 1923-S. Graded MS66, the coin realized $23,000, or 153% of the current Certified Coin Dealer Newsletter (CCDN, commonly referred to as the “Bluesheet”) bid of $15,000.”

“High grade copper realized strong prices due to competition from collectors who are assembling PCGS Registry sets,” continued Korver. “A 1906 Indian Cent which, at the MS67 Red level, is the single finest example known to PCGS, brought $7,763, an 1886 Type Two graded PR64 by PCGS traded hands for $5,175, and a gorgeous 1897 Cent PR68 Red PCGS from the David Hall Collection sold for $20,700. The latter coin is the finest certified survivor of the issue.”

Said Rohan: “We witnessed quite a bit of competition for the numerous error coins that sold as part of our New York Signature Sale. Bidders competed on the floor, through the mail, over the Internet at the Heritage website www.HeritageCoin.com, and through I-Collector. In fact, the number of bidders that participated through I-Collector broke all previous records, and they contributed hundreds and thousands of dollars to the final prices realized. Among error coins, the 1918-S Standing Liberty Quarter that was struck 13% off center realized an impressive $8,338 as lot 7354. The coin was certified MS63 Full Head by PCGS.”

Continued Korver: “The single highest realized price for our New York Signature Sale is the $132,250 that the winning bidder paid for an 1856-O Liberty Double Eagle graded AU55 by NGC (http://www.heritagecoin.com/hnaiphoto300.asp?296057133). A highlight of the Midwest Collection, the coin is one of the five finest certified examples of this rare and coveted O-mint issue.”

Prices realized for all lots in the New York Signature Sale and Bullet Auction are available online at http://www.HeritageCoin.com.

Additional Commemorative Highlights

• 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 Round MS64 PCGS, realized $39,100.
• 1937 Antietam Half Dollar MS69 NGC, realized $15,008.
• 1935-D Arkansas Half Dollar MS68 * NGC, realized $13,225.
• 1939 Arkansas Half Dollar PDS Set MS67, MS67, MS66 PCGS, realized $32,200.
• 1935/34 Boone Half Dollar MS68 PCGS, realized $18,400.
• 1892 Columbian Half Dollar PR68 * Cameo NGC, realized $42,550.
• 1892 Columbian Half Dollar MS68 NGC, realized $13,800.
• 1936 Gettysburg Half Dollar MS68 PCGS, realized $29,900.
• 1928 Hawaiian Half Dollar PR64 NGC, realized $20,700.
• 1938 New Rochelle Half Dollar Specimen MS68 * NGC, realized $19,550.
• 1938-D Oregon Half Dollar MS69 PCGS, realized $29,325.
• 1915-S Panama-Pacific Half Dollar MS68 PCGS, realized $37,950.
• 1926 Sesquicentennial Half Dollar MS66 PCGS, realized $18,400.
• 1925 Stone Mountain Half Dollar MS68 PCGS, realized $21,850.
• 1934 Texas Half Dollar MS68 PCGS, realized $13,800.