Long Beach Auctions Capture $25 Million - Glorious Branch Proof Morgan Powers To $528,750

World coins also proved to be a powerhouse performer at this venue capturing nearly $2 million of the Pre-Long Beach sale’s proceeds. Per Ira Goldberg, ancients were very strong at this venue and actually, anything of quality brought accelerated prices. One of the biggest surprises was the strength of a 1867 Hong Kong, China Dollar graded NGC MS 63. The lightly toned original-skinned coin realized $27,600 on a pre-auction estimate of around $2,500! Another coin that raised a few eyebrows was the Extremely Fine archaic tetradrachm of Athens, circa 510-490 BC, which raced to $50,600 – nearly two and half times the pre-auction estimate!

Other NGC world treasures include:

• Brazil 1749R 6400 Reis NGC MS 62 $13,800
• China (1916) Dollar NGC MS 64 $10,350
• Great Britain 1656 Cromwell Pattern Broad NGC PF 62 $60,375
• Great Britain 1658 Cromwell Tanners Copy Crown NGC PF 64 $25,300
• Great Britain 1601 Elizabeth I Crown, NGC EF 45 $16,675
• Great Britain 1825 George IV Crown NGC PF 64 $24,150

The Long Beach Expo was the next port of call. Running June 6-8, this summer installment is usually the weaker of the Long Beach branded shows yet this turned out to be a strong show. There was the all-important consistent and audible buzz heard as attendees made the rounds with multiple buyers and sellers (with fewer of the latter it seemed) visiting dealers’ holding tables. Overall there seemed to be more manned tables and for most, the Expo was a success. More than one dealer was heard to say, “I am staying later since there was more than enough business here to justify it.” Another learned dealer confessed, “It was a good wholesale show and if you were fortunate enough to have quality inventory you made out royally as the market is so strong for that stuff.”

Per Brian Hodge of LMRC, “Great coins are going far beyond what we're bidding. We used to be able to buy almost every CC and Type I $20s that came up in auction. Now they sometimes go for significantly more.” Brian went on to say, “We are at our lowest inventory in over 3 years. We get a great coin in and it seems to disappear immediately.” Per this Southern California dealer in terms of specific sales, “I wouldn't be exaggerating to say that there has been heighted activity. Sales are brisk for great coins, prices certainly appear to be on the up, and I'm very excited for what lies ahead.” According to Bob Higgins, CEO of Certified Assets, the activity at Long Beach was busier than he expected, with most conversations about collectors failing to find the quality of coins on their want lists. Also according to this source, Classic US Commemoratives were active with several high grade and colorful patinated commems selling above the $30K range.

Higgins also agreed that all Carson City gold was very strong yet bullion gold and generic gold were quiet with some sales taking place but not as much as previous shows. “High grade rarities are in high demand as I believe many are trying to dump dollars and have come to the conclusion that rare coins might be the next boom market and represent a safe haven to put cash into for now,” asserted the noted dealer from Delaware.

The Heritage host Signature Auction attempted to satisfy some of the multitude of want lists and reported in with a solid $13.7 million. A great collector-friendly mix of coins were available with heated action for fresh and high grade Colonials and Early Federal issues. Per an excited Jim Halperin, Co-Chairman of Heritage, the auction was a solid affair on all fronts and delivered a superb 95% sellthrough rate.

For an auction of this size that is certainly significant to note and confirms the broad-based support in all price points. The prize of these sessions was the finest known of the 1895-O Morgan Dollar Branch Proofs as the superb NGC PF 66 Cameo roared in with a $528,750. This date and mint combo is considered to be one of the series’ prime rarities in the business strike format, and Branch Proofs are extremely rare. I had a chance to speak to Heritage’s well known Senior Numismatist Mark Feld and we reflected on the magnificent 1895-O Morgan Dollar. “They’ve (NGC) certainly legitimized the market and provided value for coins that are designated as Branch Proofs compared to the pre-certification days,” asserted Feld. “If you wanted to try to sell this coin as a specially made coin, you know a Branch Mint Proof or Specimen, in the uncertified days, there were a small number of coins that maybe carried their own credentials based on the type of designation (one example would be the 1894-S Branch Mint Proof Barber Dime). Generally without the guaranteed designation by the major grading service such as NGC, I don’t feel any of the sellers would be able to get anywhere near the type of money that they could legitimately get for these NGC-certified rarities today.”

Another standout in the Signature Sale was the always popular $4 Stella. The frequently feted pattern, which is collected alongside mainstream issues, witnessed a captivating and beautiful 1879 Flowing Hair graded NGC PF 66 Ultra Cameo race to an impressive $258,500. Other important NGC properties include the following:

• 1842 Large Cent NGC PF 63 BN $10,575
• 1857 Flying Eagle Cent NGC PF 65 $17,625
• 1800 Draped Bust Dime NGC MS 60 $20,563
• 1921 Mercury Dime NGC MS 67 FB $18,800
• 1837 Capped Bust Half Dollar NGC MS 65 $15,863
• 1871-CC Liberty Seated Dollar NGC AU 50 $18,800
• 1865 Liberty Quarter Eagle NGC AU 55 $15,890
• 1859 Three Dollar Princess NGC MS 66 $38,188
• 1838 Liberty $10 NGC AU 58 $47,000
• 1865-S Liberty $20 NGC MS 64 $18,800
• 1911-D Saint-Gaudens $20 NGC MS 67 $15,275

As summer returns, the market and desire for rare coins remains blistering hot!

Until next time, happy collecting!

Jim Bisognani has written extensively on US coin market trends and values and was the market analyst and writer for a major pricing guide for many years. He currently resides in Southern California and frequently attends major coin shows and auctions.