A rare 1807 Draped Bust quarter, ex: Stickney-Clapp-Eliasberg, sold for a record $630,000 from the Bob R. Simpson Collection at Heritage Auctions' U.S. Coins Auction Nov. 19-22 in Dallas, Texas, for the second time in 113 years. The sale grossed $14,513,117, with Simpson items topping the lot.
“I feel very rewarded and humbled to see so many auction records,” Simpson remarked after the auction. “I am grateful to Heritage for its effective marketing and to the collecting community for the high demand for these special coins.” Selections from Bob R. Simpson's collection have sold for $23 million at Heritage, with Part III scheduled for Jan. 6-10, 2021.
Simpson's Dallas collection included some rare U.S. coins that were both unique and exceptional. The only Mint State 1795 Small Head half dollar, MS-63 PCGS, sold for $528,000. Only one uncirculated Small Head 1795 half dollar exists. After William Strickland bought it from the Philadelphia Mint in 1795, it returned to England and became part of the Lord St. Oswald Collection by descent. D. Brent Pogue and Bob R. Simpson Collections have added to the coin's strong U.S. provenance in recent years.
The classic 1943-S cent minted on a bronze planchet, MS-63 Brown PCGS, CAC, sold for $504,000 after 47 bids as collectors sought the best of six San Francisco examples of this perennial favorite.
The 1795 Draped Bust, Small Eagle dollar, Centered Bust, B-15, BB-52, R.2, MS-65+ PCGS, CAC sold for $456,000. Its strong break in the hair at eye level, immediately above and right of the hair ribbon, found on most Centered Bust die marriages, is especially noticeable in Liberty's hair and on the eagle's breast. Heritage says the shiny silver surfaces are practically faultless with only a few minor reverse adjustment marks.
Simpson's 1912-S Indian half eagle, MS-65, is PCGS's finest rated and the second-rarest date in Gem condition. The 1912-S is one of the main reasons a Gem Indian half eagle set is one of the hardest to complete in the U.S. gold series. The 1912-S coin is rare in MS-65 since no high-grade pieces were kept aside for numismatic purposes. It sold for $312,000.
Simpson's rare and historic 1802 Narrow Date dollar, B-6, BB-241, R.1, MS-65+ PCGS, CAC, sold for $300,000 as the finest example of the B-6, BB-241 die marriage and the only 1802 dollar, regardless of variety, certified at PCGS or NGC by the Plus margin. This ideal coin reflects early American money at its best. But it goes beyond representation. It remains a memento of the US Mint's youth.
The best known sample, an 1899-S $10 gold, MS-68+ PCGS, CAC, sold for $288,000. Heritage claims the striking coin may be their best Liberty eagle. This coin was bought from the San Francisco Mint for face value. $204,000: an 1893-CC Morgan dollar, Branch Mint PR-65+, Proof rarity of about 12 Carson City Mint coins. It has a strong pedigree and bright mirrors on partially frosted devices under golden patina.
$180,000: JR-2, R.5, MS-66+ PCGS, CAC, the finest exemplar for the year and one of 150 to 250 1800 dimes to remain of 21,760 produced. $180,000: The finest example of the variety is a 1794 O-105 Flowing Hair half dollar, AU-58+ PCGS, from the Jim O'Neal Collection.
$144,000: John's S.S. Central America Collection's 46.53-ounce Kellogg & Humbert gold ingot is one of 370 retrieved from the shipwreck.
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