In Stack's Bowers Galleries' Aug. 16 Rarities Night, US rarities sold for record prices. Gold coins sold well throughout the session, which grossed over $11 million, live from Griffin Studios in Costa Mesa, Calif. Online and phone bidders competed for the 229 high-end American rarities. (All prices include 20% buyer's fee.)
Lot 5157, the newly discovered and best-known 1870-CC $10, graded PCGS AU-58 and approved by CAC, broke the issue record. This famous piece sold for $1,080,000 after vigorous phone bidding.
Other gold pieces sold well, including lot 5113, an 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella rated PF-67* Cameo by NGC and tied for best. This consistently popular issue sold for $312,000, demonstrating its appeal.
Lot 5125, an 1815 that is the second finest of just a half-dozen privately held copies, sold for $720,000 in a trove of excellent early “old tenor” half eagles. This MS-64 PCGS sample, once part of the Garrett Collection, set a grade record and sold for the second-highest price for this exceptional rarity.
Lot 5126, an 1819 $5 BD-1 variant graded PCGS MS-64 CAC, sold for a record $384,000, surpassing even higher-graded examples.
Another early “old tenor” half eagle, an 1830 Large D, PCGS MS-66 CAC, followed in lot 5127. It sold for $420,000, exceeding the $305,500 record set by the MS-66 example in the May 2016 Pogue Part IV sale.
However, not just gold coins were expensive. Two recently certified proof Capped Bust coins sparked strong bidding. Lot 5027, a PCGS PF-64 1821 B-5 quarter, sold for $252,000. The single proof 1828 half dollar from any die marriage, PCGS PF-58 Lot 5034, sold for $192,000
At $120,000, PCGS-graded and CAC-approved F-15 1792 half disme lot 5023 broke price records for this popular collector grade. Lot 5016, a PCGS MS-63+ RD 1969-S doubled die cent recognized by CAC, sold for $72,000.
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