It was a 1796 Half Dollar, 15 Stars AU58 PCGS, a stunning coin featuring one of the rarest designs in all of U.S. coinage, that emerged from spirited bidding as the top lot in Heritage Auctions’ March 17-20 Signature® ANA U.S. Coin Auction, with a final price realized of $207,000.
![1796 15 Stars Half Dollar 1796 15 Stars Half Dollar](http://www.coinnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1796-15-Stars-Half-Dollar-510x218.jpg)
The auction realized more than $9.682 million, all told, not counting continuing After Auction sales. All prices include 15% Buyer’s Premium.
"These are excellent results," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. "We’re especially pleased with the high sell-through rate, and the overall prices significantly exceeded expectations, bolstered by the fine performances by early American silver and copper, as well as a few key gold pieces that showed the enduring strength of that market."
More than 5,200 collectors competed for the 5,378 lots in the auction, adding up to the $9.86 total, which translates into a 93.410% sell-through rate by dollar value.
A famous Colonial rarity, the Breen example 1C Washington Roman Head Cent, PR64 Brown PCGS, occupied the second spot in the overall tally of the Sacramento auction, bringing $100,625 from an erudite collector.
![1792 1C Washington Roman Head Cent 1792 1C Washington Roman Head Cent](http://www.coinnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1792-1C-Washington-Roman-Head-Cent-510x218.jpg)
"This is an important coin and collectors clearly responded with a price that exceeded the $100,000 mark," said Rohan. "Given that the exact number of surviving Washington Roman Head cents is unknown, although the total is clearly small, this is a smart buy that will now occupy a prized spot in an advanced collection."
A trio of coins commanded $80,500 each in the auction. A 1796 Quarter Dollar, MS64 NGC part of the only issue of its denomination bearing the Small Eagle reverse, was the first among equals, while the Eliasberg specimen of the 1806 B-9 Draped Bust Quarter, MS66, the finest known of its type, a true numismatic prize with few equals, followed.
![1796 Quarter Dollar 1796 Quarter Dollar](http://www.coinnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1796-Quarter-Dollar-510x218.jpg)
Rounding out this valuable triumvirate was a Civil War-Era 1863 $3 Three Dollar gold piece, PR66 Ultra Cameo, similarly the finest of its kind, struck in Philadelphia the same year the Battle of Gettysburg was fought less than 150 miles away.
![1863 Three Dollar Gold 1863 Three Dollar Gold](http://www.coinnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1863-Three-Dollar-Gold-510x218.jpg)
Further Sacramento ANA US coin auction highlights include, but are not limited to:
1915-S Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS63 PCGS: Realized: $74,750.
1796 50C 15 Stars Fine 15 PCGS. CAC. O-101, R.5.: Realized: $74,750.
1794 H10C MS65 PCGS Secure. V-1, LM-1, R.6.: Realized: $63,250.
1793 Chain 1C AMERICA XF40 PCGS. S-3, B-4, Low R.3.: Realized: $63,250.
1862-S $2 0 MS63 NGC. CAC.: Realized: $57,500.
About Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.