1879 Flowing Hair stella leads the way with $161,000; strong prices signal optimism in the market

DALLAS, TX — With a sell-through rate of 90% by lot and 88% by dollar value, and almost 3300 bidders, Heritage Auctions’ Oct. 23-24 Dallas Signature® U.S. Coin Auction soared to $8.7 million total. All prices include a 15% Buyer’s Premium.

The impressive tally is a good sign for the coin market and provides strong momentum as the numismatic world prepares for the January FUN auctions, long a solid indicator of the overall strength of the business and a benchmark by which to judge the coming year.

"We saw some very strong prices in some unexpected areas," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. "The rare coin market seems to be almost fully recovered in many areas, and perhaps even headed for record price levels next year."

A stunning 1879 Flowing Hair stella struck in gold, Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, PR65 NGC was the top lot of the Heritage Auctions event, with a price realized of $161,000 for this international trade coinage pattern, which bears a Flowing Hair portrait of Liberty by Charles Barber. Demand for the issue is far greater than the supply; only a few hundred of the gold 1879 Flowing Hair stellas were minted and distributed, mainly to interested members of Congress. Read the rest of this entry »

DALLAS, TX — The last numismatic blast of the summer of 2009 went off with an $18.4 million flourish in Heritage Auctions’ combined Long Beach U.S. Coin, Currency and World Coin events, Sept. 10-13.

The successful trio of auctions further heartened erudite collectors as the world reflects on a year ago as financial markets buckled. U.S. Coins saw solid results with a total of more than $9.4 million, while U.S. Currency’s strong showing amounted to more than $5.7 total, and World Coins continued its robust climb with more than $3.2 million in prices realized.

"We’re very satisfied with the results across the board," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "As always, quality sells, and the top lots in each category certainly bore that out.

Bidding was spirited, more than 9,200 bidders participated and the overall results show us that the state of the numismatic market is quite sound; perhaps on its way to a full recovery, and beyond."

The first among equals at Long Beach was a stunning Read the rest of this entry »

The Vegas Collection also offered, featuring later-date Saint-Gaudens double eagles, Sept. 10-13

DALLAS, TX — One of the most popular American pattern coins, a spectacular 1879 Flowing Hair stella in gold, Judd-1635, graded PR67 by NGC, is the anchor lot at Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sept. 10-13 Long Beach, CA Signature® U.S. Coin Auction.

The auction action will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Avenue, in Long Beach.

"The various gold stella patterns have been immensely popular with collectors almost since their creation," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage,

"and the 1879 stella with Flowing Hair portrait, with its relatively higher mintage and relatively greater availability to numismatists, has become the most popular of all. We expect this coin to bring $250,000 or more."

At the PR67 grade level, the 1879 Flowing Hair stella is a condition rarity; in fact, there is only one numerically finer example in NGC’s Census Report. Read the rest of this entry »

Heritage Auction Galleries will be the official auctioneer for the two 2010 American Numismatic Association shows, the Boston World’s Fair of Money® and the Fort Worth National Money Show™, ANA Executive Director Larry Shepherd has announced.

"This partnership makes perfect sense for both parties," said Shepherd. "Heritage has done many things to build our membership and support our educational efforts in the past, and we are looking forward to working with them to ensure a successful relationship in 2010."

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Kern-Carter 1880 Coiled Hair Stella leads July 31-Aug.2 event with $546,250

DALLAS, TX — An 1880 $4 Coiled Hair Stella, Judd-1660, Pollock-1860, Low R.7, PR62 NGC — a gorgeous example of the timeless design of George Morgan — realized $546,250 at Heritage Auction Galleries’ July 31-Aug. 2 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, leading the almost $25 million event. All prices include 15% Buyer’s Premium.

"We’re certainly pleased with the outcome of this auction," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage.

"Our three day event was a blockbuster. It brought in more than the top grossing movie of the weekend, which earned a little more than $22 million total.

If you factor in that we did it with almost 4,000 bidders, and sold more than 90% of all lots, the figure is even more impressive."

In past auctions Heritage has only been able to account for eight different examples of the 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, but the firm has recently established that the Dallas Bank Collection example makes a ninth distinct survivor. Read the rest of this entry »

1795 half eagle, 1856-O double eagle and 1880 Coiled Hair stella among the offerings from Heritage, July 31-Aug. 2, in Beverly Hills

DALLAS, TX – Legends of TV and film will surrender the Hollywood spotlight for a night when a different kind of American star takes to the podium at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Beverly Hills: A historic 1854-S quarter eagle, graded VF35 NGC, will lead the Platinum Night offerings of Heritage Auction Galleries’ August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, July 31-Aug. 2.

"This coin is truly a legendary rarity," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage, "and one of just a dozen known survivors from the first quarter eagle issue produced by the San Francisco Mint. In Heritage’s in-house condition census of the surviving 12, this example is rated fifth overall."

Just 246 examples of the 1854-S quarter eagle were struck since the San Francisco Mint focused on making larger denominations such as the eagle and double eagle, and the relative "small change" denomination of the gold dollar, leaving the quarter eagle and half eagle relatively neglected. Read the rest of this entry »

Chinese Year of the Dragon 2000 Yuan Kilo Gold leads World Coins with $115,000; post-auction buying continues, expected to push total past $18 million

DALLAS, TX – When the hammer came down on the dramatic 1856-O $20 double eagle on Friday night, May 29, during Heritage Auction Galleries’ Signature® Long Beach U.S. Coin Auction, the $1,437,500 total (including 15% Buyer’s Premium) elicited a spontaneous ovation from the buzzing crowd in the Long Beach Convention Center.

The combined totals for the Rare U.S. Coins and World Coins auction in Heritage’s annual start of summer event in California was approaching $18 million total as of Monday, June 1, with post-auction buying continuing to push the total even higher.

"To say that we’re pleased with these results is an understatement," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auction Galleries. "Everyone seems to be scrambling to figure out if the overall economy is improving or worsening; one thing is for certain, though: high quality rare U.S. and World coins are selling as well as ever and still provide one of the surest investment opportunities in the market."

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Coin traveled in the family of Charles Bienvenu, New Orleans Mint Superintendent in 1856

DALLAS, TX — The finest known certified New Orleans double eagle, the 1856-O Double Eagle, SP63 PCGS, descended for a century in the family of the New Orleans Mint Superintendent of 1856, Charles Bienvenu, will anchor Heritage Auction Galleries’ May Long Beach, CA Signature® US Coin Auction, May 28-31 at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 S. Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

"Many specialists believe that this is the single most important New Orleans double eagle in existence," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage, "and one of the most important O-mint coins of any denomination. With its sharp strike and reflective luster, this coin is clearly something special, and it has been recognized as a specimen striking by experts and the major grading services, first by NGC and now by PCGS."

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DALLAS, TX – Heritage Auction Galleries, the World’s Leading Auctioneer of Rare Coins, has announced that noted numismatist Win Callender has joined the company as a Professional Numismatist and Consignment Director at its Uptown Dallas headquarters.

"I’ve always been fascinated with coins," said Win, "and I’m happy to be bringing my broad range of experience to my duties at Heritage."

A lifelong numismatist – he found a 1770 Russian 5 Kopek, when he was just five himself, and the journey began – he parlayed his hobby into a full time business when he was in his mid-30s, starting his own business in Broken Arrow, OK in 1993. Read the rest of this entry »

Adams-Carter 1804 Class III $1 brings $2.3 million; post-auctions totals continue to climb

DALLAS, TX – At the end Heritage Auction Galleries’ Central States Numismatic Society Convention Platinum Night Auction on Thursday, April 30, the Adams-Carter specimen of the Class III AU 58 PCGS 1804 silver dollar lived up to its billing as "The King of Coins" when Bedminister, NJ collector John Albanese topped all others with a $2.3 million bid, including the 15% Buyer’s Premium. The total for the Heritage CSNS Auctions is currently at approximately $45 million with post-auction buys continuing at www.HA.com.

"There was never any question of whether it was going to be the top lot in the auction," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "Whenever you have an example of the most famous coin in the world it’s going to be a big night.

In this case, at $2.3 million, it set a new world record for its class. Thursday night’s price made this particular 1804 dollar the seventh most valuable coin ever sold at auction."

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