A 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, MS65+ PCGS. CAC, the rarest regular-issue copper, silver or gold 20th-century American coin, sold for $3.84 million to lead Heritage’s January 15-19 FUN US Coins Signature® Auction to $62,679,159. That figure, coupled with the $2,768,760 auction of The COL Steven K. Ellsworth Collection of Large Cents 1796-1814 brought the total for the events to $65,447,919.

Those events, along with the $12,831,321 FUN US Currency Signature® Auction headlined by America’s Inaugural Federal Reserve Note Proof Archive and a Fr. 2220-G $5,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64, each of which realized $456,000,brought the total of Heritage’s FUN numismatic events to $78,279,240, making it one of the biggest of all time.

Those impressive results, combined with the NYINC World & Ancient Coins Auction that concludes this week, will help lift Heritage’s numismatic auction events past $100 million in the first three weeks of 2025.
"I am always astounded by the popularity of Heritage’s FUN sale and impressed by the depth of our bidder base to absorb so many wonderful numismatic rarities at solid prices" says Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President. "From the seven-figure coins to the records that were set and the extraordinary featured collections, these events underscored Heritage’s position as the premier destination for the most serious of collectors of rare coins and currency."
The finest of only seven known examples of a 1798 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, AU55 PCGS drew more than two dozen bids on its way to $3,000,000, eclipsing the previous auction record of $1.98 million that was set at Heritage just last year. This magnificent coin is among the extraordinary selections from The Bruce S. Sherman Collection, Part I (more coins from this elite collection will be offered during the CSNS US Coins Signature® Auction April 30-May 4). The 1798 Small Eagle half eagle is among the rarest and most enigmatic issues in all of American numismatics; of the seven known examples, two are included in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, forever out of reach of even the most advanced collectors. No Mint State specimens are known, and the Choice AU coin offered here is the single-finest certified example.

Sherman, the chairman and principal owner of the Miami Marlins, assembled a collection that is considered among the elite assemblages in all of numismatics. This remarkable trove produced numerous trophy-level coins in the auction, including three more that yielded seven-figure results.
Eager bidders drove an 1894-S Barber Dime, Branch Mint PR66 PCGS. CAC from his collection to $2.16 million, surpassing the previous auction record of $1,997,500 that was set at Heritage in 2016. A classic rarity in American coinage, the 1894-S Barber dime often is grouped with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel as "The Big Three" of United States numismatic rarities. The 1894-S is the most famous, mysterious and elusive coin in the entire Barber series. No more than nine examples of the 1894-S are known to collectors today, and the coin sold in this auction is tied for finest-certified at PCGS, an important consideration for Registry Set purposes.

Also from the Sherman Collection, the finest known specimen of an 1849-C Open Wreath Gold Dollar, MS62 PCGS. Winter 1 reached $1.56 million to more than double the previous auction record of $690,000 – a standard that had stood for 20 years. An essential for any registry set, this beauty is a magnificent example of one of the rarest and most valuable coins in the U.S. gold series.

A gorgeous 1884 Trade Dollar, PR65 PCGS. CAC, the third-finest of just 10 known specimens, sold for $1.14 million to tie the auction record that was set at Heritage in 2019. Its scarcity puts it alongside the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel among elusive American coins. This coin previously has held a spot in several well-known collections, including that of Jack Lee, who compiled one of the finest collections of silver dollars ever assembled.

Other top results from the Sherman Collection include, but are not limited to:
- A 1792 Silver Center Cent, Judd-1, SP45+ PCGS. CAC: $576,000
1792 Silver Center Cent, Judd-1, SP45+ CAC - An 1873-CC No Arrows Quarter, MS63 PCGS: $360,000
- An 1853-O No Arrows Half Dollar, Good 6 PCGS. CAC: $288,000
- A 1796 Capped Bust Right Quarter Eagle, AU55 PCGS: $204,000
The $3.84 million 1927-D Saint-Gaudens double eagle MS65+ that produced the event’s top result was part of the Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles, a trove of exceptional $20 gold coins that also included an 1883 Double Eagle, PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS that brought $492,000, surpassing the previous auction record of $348,000 that was set at Heritage in 2024. The second-finest among just 92 proof-only examples, it surfaced first in Ed Frossard’s catalog of the Howard Newcomb and Edmund R. Wolcott Collections in May 1901. It previously was a part of the collections of John M. Clapp and later Louis E. Eliasberg.

Another prized rarity from the Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles was an 1893 Liberty Twenty, PR64★ Ultra Cameo PCGS that ended at $300,000. The second-finest among just 59 Specimens struck, it is a stellar example of this rare Type Three Liberty double eagle. PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 15-20 examples in all grades.

Another rarity from the collection was an 1887 Liberty Double Eagle, PR64+ Deep Cameo PCGS that closed at $276,000. One of the rarest and most popular of the Type Three series, the 1887 was produced only in proof format after the Philadelphia Mint was required to devote most of its resources to striking large numbers of Morgan dollars throughout the 1880s, which shifted the production of high denomination gold coins to the San Francisco Mint. A mintage of 121 proof Liberty double eagles was struck in 1887.

Other top results from the Mississippi Collection of Double Eagles included, but were not limited to:
- A 1905 Double Eagle, PR65+ Ultra Cameo NGC: $264,000
- A 1910 Saint-Gaudens Twenty, PR66 NGC CAC: $252,000
- An 1884 Double Eagle, PR64+ Cameo PCGS: $252,000
From the Casady Collection, an 1863 Liberty Double Eagle, PR65 NGC, an extremely rare issue in proof format from a reported mintage of just 30, sold for $480,000. John Dannreuther and PCGS CoinFacts both estimate the surviving population at 10-12 specimens, including some in impaired condition. Two are in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution and another is included in the collection of the American Numismatic Society.
The Casady Collection also produced a pair of impressive gold ingots: a 130.68-ounce Kellogg & Humbert Gold Ingot that brought $348,000, and a 112.10-ounce Harris, Marchand Gold Ingot that shimmered at $312,000.

Another highlight that was not part of a named collection was the sole finest known 1876-S Liberty Half Eagle, MS65 PCGS CAC that achieved $336,000 in its first auction appearance since 1979. PCGS and NGC have combined to certify 74 examples of this issue in all grades, with five specimens in Mint State, including a number of resubmissions and crossovers. The piece sold at FUN was the former Garrett coin.

The auction also featured selections from the Whispering Pines Collection, a 151-lot trove that is the finest PCGS Registry Set of Lincoln Wheat cents ever assembled. Highlights from the collection included, but were not limited to:
- A 1943 Bronze Cent, AU55 PCGS. CAC: $264,000
1943 Bronze Cent, AU55 CAC - A 1944 Zinc-Coated Steel Cent, MS64: $168,000
1944 Zinc-Coated Steel Cent, MS64 - A 1909-S VDB Cent, MS67 Red PCGS: $99,000
Another prominent collection featured in the auction was the Towers Collection, Part II, with U.S. half dollar types ranging from Flowing Hair to Walking Liberty and even a selection of more than 600 Capped Bust halves covering most varieties and die states. Among the top results from the collection was a 1796 O-102 Half Dollar, VF35 PCGS that ended at $102,000.

The finest certified example of a 1911-D Quarter Eagle, MS66+ PCGS CAC, from The Don Kutz California Collection, climbed to $312,000 to break the previous auction record of $204,000 that was set at Heritage in 2022.

Other highlights from the collection included:
- A 1911-D Indian Half Eagle, MS65 PCGS: $312,000
- A 1914 Indian Quarter Eagle, MS67 PCGS: $168,000
- A 1913-S Indian Half Eagle, MS66 PCGS: $162,000
Complete results from the FUN US Coins Signature® Auction can be found here.
COL Steven K. Ellsworth Collection of US Large Cents
The FUN events kicked off January 9 with this magnificent collection that featured every one of the Sheldon number varieties from 1796 through 1814.
Leading the way was a 1799 S-189 Cent, XF45 PCGS. CAC that drew a winning bid of $210,000. The famous "Abbey" cent has a provenance of 180 years, one of the longest unbroken ownership chains for a US large cent. More importantly, it is the finest that CAC has approved, and has been called the most important 1799 cent.

Also reaching six figures was a 1799/8 Cent S-188 R4, Overdate 9 over 8, XF40 PCGS that ended at $150,000.
Other highlights from the collection included:
- An 1801 S-217 Cent, AU58 PCGS: $78,000
1801 S-217 Cent, AU58 - A 1798 S-144 Cent, AU50 PCGS: $56,400
- An 1801 S-219 Cent, MS61 Brown PCGS: $48,000
- An 1804 S-266 Original Cent, AU53 PCGS: $45,600
Complete results from the COL Steven K. Ellsworth Collection of US Large Cents can be found here.
Currency
The America’s Inaugural Federal Reserve Note Proof Archive came from the The Charlton Buckley Collection, a trove of nearly 400 lots that featured one of the foremost collections of California Nationals and notes, including California Gold Bank Notes, and Federal Reserve Notes ever assembled. The archive once belonged to Albert Grinnell, whose collection was believed to be one of the finest and most complete ever assembled; he considered this set, which featured rare $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 denominations, the "Crowning Masterpiece" of his collection.
"This archive is one of a kind," says Dustin Johnston, Vice President of Currency at Heritage Auctions. "Heritage has sold presentation sets of Federal Reserve notes before, but the denominations in those stopped at $100. This one, however, includes the $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 denominations that are so eagerly collected by top collectors. Those would have a lot of appeal even if they were broken out into separate lots, but to have them all in one set like this is absolutely a unique prize."
The Fr. 2220-G $5,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 is a beautifully preserved example of a rare denomination and is the finest Fr. 2220-G graded by PMG. More importantly, PMG has graded 22 Series 1928 $5,000 notes with only one earning a higher or equal grade, a PMG 65 EPQ Fr. 2220-E that sold in 2024, also at Heritage Auctions.

A Fr. 2 $5 1861 Demand Note PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ closed at $396,000. It is one of 64 Fr. 2 notes examined by PMG and stands alone as the highest PMG-graded example by 25 grade points.

Large-denomination notes always are in high demand, and that was the case for a Fr. 2230-F $10,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Choice Very Fine 35 that is a new serial number for the census – serial F00000100A – and was the very first Series 1928 $10,000 that Currency Auctions of America ever offered, climbed to $336,000. PMG has graded from among all districts only seven Series 1928 $10,000 notes: Richmond (2), Atlanta (4) and Kansas City, compared to 113 Series 1934 $10,000s.

One of just 11 Fr. 2221-H $5,000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ notes graded PMG, from a total of 110 for the entire Series 1934, drew $312,000. For this Friedberg number, PMG has graded just two equal and only one higher … and that by a single grade point.

Other top results included, but were not limited to:
- A unique Fr. 2220-K $5,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Very Fine 25: $192,000
Fr. 2220-K $5,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Very Fine 25 - A newly discovered Fr. 2221-E $5,000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG About Uncirculated 55: $186,000
- A Fr. 167a $100 1863 Legal Tender PMG Choice Very Fine 35: $156,000
- A Santa Barbara, CA – $100 1873 Fr. 1164 The First National Gold Bank Ch. # 2104 PMG Fine 12 – unique for the bank: $150,000
Santa Barbara, CA – $100 1873 Fr. 1164 The First National Gold Bank Ch. # 2104 PMG Fine 12 - A Fr. 174 $100 1880 Legal Tender PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 – the finest known Fr. 174 1880 $100 legal tender:
Complete FUN US Currency results can be found here.
About Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of more than 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.
GLD intraday reached $257.07.
The highest closing price for GLD was $257.50 on 10/30/2024.
I am late noticing this, but the 2025 congratulations ASE has new packaging this year. From what I can tell, the clamshell case is a new feature as well as its outer sleeve when compared to the regular W ASE. Much better than the cardboard sleeve from prior years. Any other differences I am missing?
well, there’s the price
That too! 😀
I noticed that, too. Maybe they’re finally starting to listen to my complaints about the Mint’s packaging over the past few years.
Antonio,
There is another 44 Steelie (above). Still big money in MS64.
The last time I tried this link it got blocked.
One more try.
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1944-1c-steel/82722
On the sale, the gold bars seemed like decent deals. If I had $300k lying around?,,
I don’t think there’s much argument that one’s perception of time changes as one gets older. In pondering time frames for coins someone here mentioned the Modern Era of Coins as starting in 1964 (the start of the Kennedy half). In goggling it, others say 1950 because that’s when coins began being struck in huge quantities. Personally, I think 1965 is the benchmark year when clad largely took over for silver (and the half went to 40% silver) –and silver coins began being plucked from circulation in earnest. Either way, we’re talking a span of 60 to 75 years from… Read more »
And speaking of silver, I found a 1964 quarter in a bank roll this past week. It was only the second silver quarter that I found in over 4 years of searching. But it’s proof that they’re not all plucked from circulation. Contrast that with the “W” quarter, where I found my 11th in the same batch of quarter rolls. That was a good day.
The oldest I ever found in circulation was a 1909 Lincoln cent in the late 60s. Older than Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes and Standing Liberty quarters. The cent is quite worn but identifiable. The dimes held up well but the nickels and quarters were dateless. In 2020, I found a 1920-S Lincoln cent. Surprised me that I found one a hundred years old.
I’ve found some silver dimes lately, they look too real. When I was in grammar school I helped count the change @ the end of the day. I was aware of silver, as was the other kid, this is 1968, we split the silver pulled and my dad gave me $ every day to cover. All I know is the other kid didn’t care just wanted <1964 I always took the Mercury dimes and Walkers, they were present. Never found any JFKs a few war nickels .. I used to go thru a lot of half dollar rolls, plenty of… Read more »
Exactly 1 year ago post on MNB…
· cagcrisp says
January 25, 2024
(This is a little over 10+Years posting on MNB)
When I first started posting on MNB Gold was $1,214.50.
Currently Gold is $2,024.65 OR a 67% Increase.
When I first started posting on MNB Silver was $19.92.
Currently Silver is $22.75 OR a 14% Increase.
When I first started posting on MNB Gold:Silver ratio was 61:1
Currently the Gold:Silver ratio is 89:1
I’ve posted “Once the Baby Boomers are gone the Gold:Silver ratio will go above 100:1 and Never Look Back.”
My house has gone up in value over 129% in the last 10 years.
My 1999 F250 Super Duty Diesel Pickup has gone down in value 80% in the last 25 years.
My 1972 Porsche 914 has gone up 300% in 15 years……. In 20 years or so Palladium went from $200 to $2,600+/- to $930 today, $$$ to be made. Biggest mistake ignored recommendations to buy NVIDIA years ago
Fast Forward to Today…
This is a little over 11+Years posting on the internet.
When I first started posting on the internet Gold was $1,214.50.
Currently Gold is $2,776.80 (LBMA PM Fix) OR a 129% Increase.
When I first started posting on the internet Silver was $19.92.
Currently Silver is $30.84 (LBMA Fix) OR a 55% Increase.
When I first started posting on the internet Gold:Silver ratio was 61:1
Currently the Gold:Silver ratio is 90:1
Once the Baby Boomers are gone the Gold:Silver ratio will go above 100:1 and Never Look Back…
Not sure what the Boomers as a group have to do with the ratio– other than as a measure of time. At any rate, we’ll all be gone then and will never know.
My time horizon of interest goes back 20 years to 2005. In 2005, the average price of gold was $445 per ounce, the average price of silver was $7.32 per ounce and the gold to silver ratio was 61:1; and you could buy a 2005 1-oz AGE bullion coin for $500 and a 2005 1-oz ASE bullion coin for $9.
Rich,
Hopefully you were able to load up at that Gold pricing.
cagcrisp,
Yes, between my main accumulation years from 2004 through 2008, 2005 and 2006 were major years for loading up.
Do you think the current, long term (secular) bull market in gold, which began in 2001 after the 20 year bear market in gold ended, will run for 30 years, possibly lasting until 2031? It is interesting that Martin Armstrong’s Economic Confidence Model (ECM) forecasts a major ECM turning point in 2032 (when great economic and societal changes are predicted to happen), which he calls The Real Great Reset.
Rich,
”Do you think the current, long term (secular) bull market in gold, which began in 2001 after the 20 year bear market in gold ended, will run for 30 years, possibly lasting until 2031?”
I see Longer than 2031. I’m Very Bullish between now and 2031…
…For Gold…
My main gold purchases began in 1995 and continued to 2008. I mostly purchased half sovereigns, sovereigns and gold pandas. After the debacle of 2008, I stopped buying gold. Too expensive. I figure, weight wise, I have a couple pounds of gold when all the different coins are added up. Not a bad investment.
I started when you could get a well used Au $20 for $48.50 ad every day in LATimes classified.. did buy along the way loaded up on AGEs @$310 and 10z Ag bars $55 before 2000 hit. Also, for awhile when gold popped you could get USM proof AGEs for a fantastic prices, sometimes whe a good spot pop close to nada. I remember he mint suspended sale$ till they could figure out a way to avoid getting ‘cherry picked’. Boo hoo….on releflexion they’re trying to get that $$$$ back…
“I remember he mint suspended sale$ till they could figure out a way to avoid getting ‘cherry picked’.”
I recall that time as well. It wasn’t long after that, that they came up with the PM Pricing Grid.
$48.50 for a $20 Gold Coin wow…..
I seem to have remembered the proof 1994 ASE was about $60. Why I didn’t buy it. I was accustomed to paying $32 for an ounce of silver, coin or medal.
Kenneth
Reply to Rick
4 days ago(in regards to the FHG Privy)…
“Sorry I’m a little excited are these coins from the mint.
I would Love the chance to buy some.
Thank You”
Yes Ken they’re from the Mint.
You can get them on the secondary. Just be on the lookout for the OBO below the asking price so you can negotiate with them. Even renowned DLRC has one to offer, but the ask is firm…
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=2024+flowing+hair+gold+privy+mark&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1311
You can also wait 2 weeks via the auction market to tell you what a PF69DCAM will sell for.
Or wait 3 weeks for the market to tell you what a PF70DCAM will sell for…
https://www.greatcollections.com/search.php?q=2024+Flowing+Hair+High+Relief+Gold+Dollar+230th+Anniversary+Privy+Mark&mode=product&sort=01&listing_type=&budget=&bidrange=&series=0&searchid=71424
Been with DLRC for a long time. FHG not in my future without availability for close to issue, sorry Cag that darn rear view mirror…..it’s the real big one they advertise
Whatever they have in their eBay store, you can get it cheaper in their web store for obvious reasons. They are a solid Dealer.
Hello All ! I haven’t checked in for many months. I see many of the MNB group has found their way here as well. Been out of place since at least May last year, missed all the shows & auctions to boot. Hope to change course this year though it will be slow going somewhat. I’ll check in more often if I can.
Tom,
It’s good to hear from you again!
As I recall, you were a frequenter of coin shows as you’ve mentioned. After badly tweaking your knee when exiting your plane(at a coin show), we haven’t heard too much from you since.
Your insight is always appreciated.
I hope your health is good, as it appears it is slow going for you at the time?
Rick
PS: There is another Tom who chimes in from time to time, just a heads up.
I Hope the grid pricing for Gold, Platinum and Palladium will be replaced. The Gold grid is antiquated. I Hope they separate the three. I Hope the way Gold is determined weekly is changed. Get rid of the static incremental pricing and go with a percentage based pricing. Use floors. No ceilings. Increase grid pricing Significantly. I am Hoping for a $300.00/ounce Increase (starting point for LBMA Gold of $2,800.00) for the one ounce Gold. I am Hoping for a $55.00/ounce Increase (starting point for LBMA Gold of $2,800.00) for the one tenth ounce Gold. I have Hoped for these… Read more »
Should be “10. I am Hoping for a $550.00/ounce Increase (starting point for the LBMA Gold of $2,800.00) for the one tenth ounce Gold.”
Cag: your recomendations are a reasonable approach to the retail fabricated gold market given todays global economy. Hope, however is not a Management Tool…..I am not sure what the Mints management considers in pricing gold products, but it appears to be ” how much do i need to net a given amount to cover loses on other numismatic products”
Make it $5,000 over spot and get it over with. Be sure to sell APs and insiders their cut with a purdy discount
The First time I posted “The United States Mint is selling Gold Numismatic coins WAY Cheap…
…Was February 18, 2022, when LBMA Gold PM fix was $1,893.60.
Now LBMA Gold PM Fix is $2,776.80 OR an Increase of 47%.
Still Cheap…
Define “cheap”
The 2025 1oz HR Liberty Gold would cost $4120 more or less
The 2025 1/10 oz Proof AGE would cost $470 more or less
Tack on cag’s additional 20% premium passed on to his IRA clients, and there’s your bargain buys!
Cag? … ¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯…
Cheap, like Gucci $30 a roll TP, USM good proof is very cheap for me cause I’m out and their BS keeps me out. $4,12o Rick that’s frigging nuts
Poking around the internet and found a flowing hair gold coin in OGP for $4,300. Not a bad price knowing it didn’t grade a 70 but you get it in OGP. Since I got aced out buying it from the mint I may consider it. Or wait for the premium to come down a bit more. In the meantime, I am still a big US Mint buyer, except only the gold coins they produced pre-33.
“found a flowing hair gold coin in OGP for $4,300”
That’s what I paid for mine.
I’ve seen them go $3,900 OGP don’t know why so cheap, but keep watching. Likely more coming inVentris next surprise of unattainable sexy releases, be sure to contactAmpex of an AP for details and chi at a “modest” premium. VG