NGC-certified Early Cent with Mint Error Realizes More than Half a Million in Heritage Sale

An early cent with a stunning error led a group of 19 vintage US rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) that realized more than $100,000 in a recent auction. One of the year’s premier coin sales, Heritage Auctions’ ANA US Coins Signature Auction was held on August 18, 2024.

Click images to enlarge.

The top lot was a 1794 Head of 94 Cent - S-28 variety with a Double Struck Error graded NGC Mint Error MS 66 BN (lot 4087) that realized $558,000. One of the earliest examples of any error coin produced by the US Mint, this coin was struck twice, and both strikes are off-center. In addition, it is one of the finest-graded S-28 varieties of the 1794 Cent. Four other examples of 1794 Cents, all also pedigreed to the Robert A. Schuman Collection, were offered in this auction, including:

• a 1794 Head of 93 Cent - S-18b variety graded NGC MS 62 BN (lot 4083), which realized $105,000
• a 1794 Head of 93 Cent - S-17a variety graded NGC AU 58 BN (lot 4082), which realized $90,000
• a 1794 Head of 93 Cent - S-20b variety graded NGC AU 53 BN (lot 4086), which realized $90,000
• a 1794 Head of 93 Cent - S-19b variety graded NGC AU 58 BN (lot 4085), which realized $78,000

Other NGC-certified highlights in this auction included:

• a 1907 High Relief Double Eagle graded NGC MS 67 (lot 4418), which realized $264,000
• a 1910 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded NGC PF 67 (lot 4446), which realized $252,000
• a 1911 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded NGC PF 67 (lot 4447), which realized $222,000
• an 1821 Large Date Dime graded NGC PF 65 (lot 4123), which realized $204,000
• an 1852/1 Humbert $20 pedigreed to Eliasberg and graded NGC MS 64 (lot 4460), which realized $192,000
• a 1909 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded NGC PF 66 (lot 4445), which realized $192,000
• an 1851 Humbert 887 Reeded $50 graded NGC MS 63 (lot 4458), which realized $186,000
• a 1795 Small Eagle Half Eagle graded NGC MS 63+★ (lot 4057), which realized $186,000
• a 1796 Quarter graded NGC MS 62 (lot 4135), which realized $156,000
• a 1915-S Panama-Pacific Octagonal $50 graded NGC MS 65 (lot 4454), which realized $144,000
• a 1915-S Panama-Pacific Round $50 graded NGC MS 65 (lot 4452), which realized $138,000
• a 1915 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded NGC PF 65 (lot 4449), which realized $132,000
• a 1795 Eagle graded NGC AU 58 (lot 4335), which realized $120,000
• an 1893 Eagle graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo (lot 4358), which realized $114,000
• a 1798 Small Eagle Silver Dollar – 13 Stars graded NGC AU 58 (lot 4213), which realized $111,000
• a 1918/7 Standing Liberty Quarter graded NGC MS 67 (lot 4144), which realized $108,000
• a 1912 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle graded NGC PF 65 (lot 4448), which realized $108,000

Prices realized include a buyer's premium. The $ symbol indicates US Dollars.