1921 Roman Finish Double Eagle Among NGC-certified Rarities in ANA Show US Coin Auction

One of the greatest rarities in American numismatics, a 1921 Roman Finish Double Eagle, leads a stunning selection of coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) in an upcoming sale. Bidding is already underway for Heritage Auctions' ANA World's Fair of Money US Coin Signature Auction, which is being held August 18-22, 2021.

The 1921 Roman Finish Double Eagle (lot 3499) represents an incredible opportunity for the world’s most advanced collectors. Double Eagle Proofs were believed to have ended with the 1915 issue until a 1921 Roman Finish example linked to Mint Director Raymond T. Baker emerged at an auction in 2000. A second, finer example was discovered at a 2006 auction, misattributed as a Mint State coin by another third-party grading service.

1921 Roman Finish Double Eagle graded NGC PF 64+ Click images to enlarge.

This particular coin was later certified by NGC as PF 64+, with its special finish attributed. It has been off the market since 2006, the year it realized $1.495 million at auction. It was struck in an era when the Mint was experimenting with different finishes. Baker apparently gave the other example as a present to his newborn nephew in late 1921, and it is possible this one was produced for the Mint Director around the same time.

Another great gold rarity in the sale is an 1830 Templeton Reid $10 graded NGC VF Details (lot 3510). Pedigreed to the Norweb Collection, this is one of only five known examples of this very rare territorial gold piece, including one in a museum and another that vanished decades ago in the famous Du Pont heist.

Templeton Reid 1830 $10 graded NGC VF Details Click images to enlarge.

Templeton Reid was the first individual to issue gold coinage after the Constitution was ratified. He struck coins in three denominations amid the Georgia Gold Rush at the time, setting the stage for the other private issues that followed.

Gold coinage was first struck by the US Mint beginning in 1795. The Heritage sale includes two gold coins bearing this date. They include a 1795 13 Leaves $10 graded NGC MS 64 (lot 3442) from the rare BD-4 die pairing, of which only a few dozen are thought to survive today.

1795 13 Leaves $10 graded NGC MS 64 Click images to enlarge.

Of similar rarity is a 1795 Small Eagle $5 graded NGC MS 65 PL (lot 3427), with the BD-6 die pairing. It boasts the highest grade among Prooflike examples.

1795 Small Eagle $5 graded NGC MS 65 PL Click images to enlarge.

Standing amid these gold rarities is a silver superstar: an 1889-CC Morgan Dollar graded NGC MS 65 PL (lot 3373). From one of the key dates in the Morgan series, this particular coin is tied for the finest-graded in the census with the desirable Prooflike fields.

1889-CC Morgan Dollar graded NGC MS 65 PL Click images to enlarge.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the auction include:

• a 1793 Chain 'AMERICA' Cent graded NGC AU 58 BN (lot 3309)
• an 1858/7 Large Letters Cent graded NGC MS 65+ (lot 3316)
• an 1827 Dime graded NGC SP 68 (lot 3333)
• a 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter graded NGC MS 66 FH (lot 3340)
• a 1916 J-1989 Pattern Standing Liberty Quarter graded NGC PF 65 and pedigreed to the Simpson Collection (lot 3006)
• an 1811 Half Dollar graded NGC MS 68 (lot 3346)
• an 1830 Half Dollar graded NGC PF 64 (lot 3352)
• a 1794 BB-1, B-1 Flowing Hair Dollar graded NGC VF 30 (lot 3364)
• an 1889-CC Morgan Dollar graded NGC MS 64 DPL (lot 3374)
• an 1830 Large 5D $5 graded NGC AU 58 (lot 3432)
• an 1864-S $10 graded NGC VF 35 (lot 3450)
• an 1861-S Paquet $20 graded NGC AU 50 (lot 3472)
• an 1868 10-piece Proof Set graded NGC PF 65 to NGC PF 67+ Cameo (lot 3407)
• an 1851 Humbert 880 No '50' $50 graded NGC AU 58 (lot 3514)
• an 1855 Wass-Molitor $50 graded NGC XF 40 (lot 3518)
• a five-piece 1915-S Panama-Pacific set graded NGC MS 63 to NGC MS 65 (lot 3508)
• a (1790) Washington Before Boston Silver Medal graded NGC MS 60 PL (lot 3537)
• an 1838 Am I Not a Man & a Brother Hard Times Token graded NGC XF 40 BN (lot 3541)