Pair of NGC-Certified Rarities Top Charts as Heritage Smashes ANA Records

[Dallas, TX] - A pair of NGC-certified coins reached $690,000 each as Heritage Auction Galleries set the record for the most valuable ANA Auction ever! Significant and classic rarities from all series in American numismatics, most of them offered in the Platinum Night catalogs, smashed the previous record of $27.7 million set last year by Heritage at the Milwaukee ANA event. The auction was held in Baltimore July 30–Aug. 3, in conjunction with the World’s Fair of Money summer convention of the American Numismatic Association. Total prices realized for the American coins are currently $41,471,262, and will rise further as post auction buys are finalized.

Two important lots tied for the most valuable in the auction, at $690,000 each: Lot 1406, a 1792 Disme, Judd-10, High R.6, PR62 Brown NGC from the Ed Price Collection, and Lot 1955, an 1825/4 $5, AU50 NGC BD-2, R.8, once thought to be a unique issue.

“This was Heritage’s 38th Official ANA Auction, a record in itself!” enthused Heritage C.E.O. Steve Ivy. “We were very pleased with our results in Milwaukee last year, and we think Baltimore has demonstrated the absolute strength of the market for important and high quality coins. Such high prices realized also mean a record-setting check will be provided to the ANA to support their educational and membership programs. We also take great pride that our total was 50% higher than our previous ANA record, and double that accomplished by any other ANA auctioneer. Heritage delivered for the ANA.”

“The great rarities included in this auction were simply dazzling,” commented Heritage President Greg Rohan. “Among the 400 consignors participating, several of the ‘named’ collections did especially well. Before the auction we predicted that many records would be set, and we were not disappointed! Ed Price’s marvelous – and unique – collection of early dime and quarter eagle varieties realized $5.7 million, Part Four of the Phil Kaufman Collection of Early Proof Sets brought in another $1.4 million, and the DMPL Morgans of the "Gift of Undeserved Favor" Collection realized a similar total. Of course, the ANA-donation luncheon with Jim Halperin topped $12,000!”

Other Highlights from Heritage’s Baltimore ANA Signature® and Platinum Night Auctions:

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Lot 1406: 1792 Disme, Judd-10, High R.6, PR62 Brown NGC.
Ex: Judd. From the Ed Price Collection.
Realized: $690,000

Lot 1416: 1797 Dime, 13 Stars, JR-2, R.4, MS65 NGC.
Ex: Bolen, Lovejoy, Atwater. From the Ed Price Collection.
Realized: $402,500

Lot 1443: 1804 Dime, 14 Stars, JR-2, R.5, AU58 NGC.
Ex: Eliasberg. From the Ed Price Collection.
Realized: $632,500

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Lot 1560: 1944-S Steel Cent MS66 NGC.
This is one of only two known examples of this wartime error, and it is the only known Uncirculated example.
Realized: $373,750

Lot 1690: 1839-O Capped Bust Half Dollar, PR64 NGC.
The 1839-O proof halves (with perhaps six known) are substantially rarer than the 1838-O proof half dollars (with perhaps eleven proofs known). The present coin is the first proof 1839-O half dollar that we have offered in any of our auctions.
Realized: $195,500

Lot 1783: 1889-CC Morgan Dollar, MS65 NGC.
This is one of the Finest Known examples of this key issue, from the always-popular Carson City mint.
Realized: $287,500

Lot 1864: 1855 Wass, Molitor $50, K-9, MS61 NGC.
Only one example has been certified finer.
Realized: $207,000

Lot 1931: 1879 Flowing Hair Stella, PR61 Cameo NGC. Judd-1635.
The concept of international trade coins is quite old, and has finally come to fruition in the Dollar and the Euro. Though the stella as an international coinage concept proved unpalatable to Congress, its manifestation as a golden pattern was a different matter.
Realized: $115,000

Lot 1951: 1812 Narrow 5D $5, MS65 NGC.
This variety, with the 5 and D in the denomination closely spaced, is far more elusive than the Wide 5D pairing that shares the same obverse die, the two marriages constituting all half eagle varieties for the year.
Realized: $69,000

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Lot 1955: 1825/4 $5, AU50 NGC.
The 1825/4 is a part of the Capped Head half eagle type, one of the rarest series of American coins. Until the late 1970s, the 1825/4 BD-2 was believed to be a unique coin (the Mendes Cohen piece in the Eliasberg Collection). The story of the discovery of this piece in the Kaufman Collection is a fascinating one, and was related in an article by Jeff Starck in the August 25, 2003 issue of Coin World.
Realized: $690,000

Lot 2054: 1866 $20 MS64 Star Deep Prooflike NGC.
Seasoned numismatists are careful to avoid the term "finest known," but this special coin is so magnificent in quality and beauty relative to other known examples that the term can be applied with confidence.
Realized: $126,500

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Lot 2077: 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim MS68 NGC.
This is one of just three Flat Rim pieces that are certified as MS68 by NGC, with none graded any higher; and PCGS has certified only a single Flat Rim representative as MS68, with none finer, as of (6/08). From The Pierson MacDonald Grieve Collection.
Realized: $322,000

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Lot 2151: 1920 'Wilson Dollar' in Gold, HK-1031, MS62 NGC.
This is the finest certified of perhaps three known examples of the “so-called dollar” celebrating the 1920 opening of the Manila Mint.
Realized: $74,750

Lot 2165: 1916 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Pattern, Judd-1992 (ex: J-1797), PF65 NGC.
A significant 20th century pattern; quite possibly the finest available of any 1916 half dollar pattern.
Realized: $115,000

For more information about Heritage Auction Galleries, visit coins.ha.com, or contact the Heritage Consignor Hotlines at 800-872-6467 ext. 1000 (Coins); or ext. 1001 (Currency).

This is a guest article from Heritage Auctions. The thoughts and opinions in the piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.