NGC-certified Half Dollar Realizes $420,000 in Heritage Auction

A beautifully preserved Half Dollar, graded by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®), was among 17 NGC-certified coins that realized six figures in Heritage Auctions’ CSNS US Coins Signature Auction on May 3, 2023.

The top NGC-certified coin in the auction was an 1801 O-102 Half Dollar pedigreed to the “Col.” E.H.R. Green and Newman collections and graded NGC MS 64 (lot 3108). According to the auction house, this is the finest-graded example of the O-102 die marriage and the only one known in Mint State. It realized $420,000.

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Another coin finishing strong was an 1876 Liberty $20 graded NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo and pedigreed to the Simpson Collection (lot 1559) that realized $384,000. Anticipating increased demand for Proofs in celebration of the nation's Centennial, the Philadelphia Mint struck 45 Proof Liberty Double Eagles in 1876, but only about half that number are thought to survive today. The NGC Census shows six examples certified, with none graded higher than this one.

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Also in the auction was an 1834 Classic Head Plain 4 $5 graded NGC PF 63 Ultra Cameo (lot 3236) that realized $360,000. Classic Head Half Eagle Proofs of any date are rare. Pre-1838 Proof gold is among the most elusive areas of US numismatics. Few Proofs of any Classic Head gold issue are known today, and they are seldom offered at auction.

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Other NGC-certified coins that realized six figures in this auction included:

• a 1915-S Panama-Pacific Round $50 graded NGC MS 66 (lot 3364) that realized $312,000
• an 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella graded NGC PF 66 Cameo (lot 3220) that realized $216,000
• a 1911 Saint-Gaudens $20 graded NGC PF 67 (lot 3363) that realized $210,000
• a 1907 High Relief Wire Rim $20 graded NGC PF 67 (lot 3321) that realized $186,000
• a 1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal $50 graded NGC MS 66 (lot 3366) that realized $180,000
• an 1888 Liberty $20 graded NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo (lot 3178) that realized $180,000
• a 1932 Saint-Gaudens $20 graded NGC MS 66 (lot 3361) that realized $174,000
• an 1864 Liberty Head $5 graded NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo (lot 3242) that realized $168,000
• a 1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar graded NGC MS 66 (lot 3118) that realized $168,000
• a 1907 High Relief Flat Rim $20 graded NGC MS 67 (lot 3320) that realized $162,000
• an 1883 $3 graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo (lot 3216) that realized $132,000
• an 1889-CC Morgan Dollar graded NGC MS 64 DPL (lot 3153) that realized $111,000
• an 1881 Liberty Head $20 graded NGC AU 58 (lot 3305) that realized $105,000
• a 1796 15 Stars O-101 Half Dollar graded NGC XF 45 (lot 3103) that realized $102,000

Prices realized include a buyer's premium.