Heritage’s Nov. 13-14 U.S. Coins Sale Brims with Rare and High-End Gold

One of the highest-graded examples from the lowest mintage Saint-Gaudens With Motto issue will be thrust into the spotlight when it crosses the auction block in Heritage’s Nov. 13-14 U.S. Coins Signature® Auction — an event that includes an exceptional selection of rare and high-end gold.

The 1908-S Double Eagle, MS67 PCGS. CAC from The Alymaya Collection, Part III that is in play in this auction is an extraordinary numismatic prize: PCGS has awarded higher grades to just two others.

"This is a spectacular coin, and one that immediately will be a strong addition to any collection," says Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions. "Any coin from such a small mintage is exceedingly scarce, and to find one in this condition represents an extremely rare opportunity."

The first two parts of the Alymaya Collection were featured in Heritage’s Oct. 2-5 GACC U.S. Coins Signature® Auction and the Aug. 26-31 ANA U.S. Coins Signature® Auction.

Most 1908-S double eagles are known in circulated grades, which is unusual among Saint-Gaudens issues, in part because of the long-standing "hard money" tradition of the Old West, where gold was the preferred medium of exchange — a trend that remained true even once the gold and silver parity was reestablished in 1878 after decades of imbalance.

Another standout in the auction is a 1907 Wire Rim Indian Eagle With Irregular Edge Stars, MS64 PCGS — a sought-after key rarity with only four examples certified. Traditionally, all Wire Rim Indian eagles have been listed in the leading pattern reference as Judd-1901, but recent research by Roger W. Burdette has established that most should more properly be considered circulation-strike coins, not experimental issues. Nonetheless, a handful of true patterns are known and can be identified by the Irregular Edge Stars collar used to strike them. This is the first of these remarkable experimental pieces Heritage has handled.

A 1795 BD-1 Eagle, MS61 NGC is a beautiful example of the popular "13 Leaves" variety that is one of the most highly sought type coins in the U.S. gold series. As the largest gold coin in the realm, the early ten dollar gold pieces were intended to compete with the circulating Spanish eight escudo pieces, although in 1795, the half eagle was preferred in both domestic and international trade. Of those from all of the "13 Leaves" varieties graded by NGC, this is one of just eight graded MS61, and there are only nine carrying higher grades.

An 1879 Flowing Hair Stella, PR66 Cameo NGC is a magnificent, fresh-to-market example of this extremely popular coin — one of just 20 to earn a 66 Cameo grade, with only 10 receiving higher grades. Stellas came about as a result of Philadelphia patent lawyer and inventor Dr. William Wheeler Hubbell’s efforts to create an international trade coinage based on the metric system and struck in his patented goloid alloy. Patterns were struck in various metals, using two different obverse designs bearing two different dates — of which gold pieces dated 1879 with the Flowing Hair design were the coins struck and distributed to Congressmen.

Listed in 100 Greatest U.S. Coins, an 1861-S Paquet Reverse Twenty, AU55 PCGS is an exceptional example of the rarest of all San Francisco double eagles, with only about 200 pieces extant. With a reverse that was modified in 1861 by Mint Assistant Engraver Anthony C. Paquet, it slipped quietly into commercial channels, many to settle large accounts in foreign trade. The small mintage circulated for years but some were lost to attrition. In 1937, when collecting large denomination gold coins had attained a measure of popularity, an S-Mint Paquet twenty was discovered under an old barn in Hull, Texas, with some other gold coins. More examples eventually turned up, primarily examples repatriated from European holdings in recent years, but the issue remains elusive in all grades. Until recently, no Mint State examples were known, but a single MS61 example and an MS62 specimen now show on the PCGS Population Report, and the NGC Census lists a single MS61 coin.

A "Two-Tailed" Washington Quarter Mule, MS64 — an undated Washington quarter mule that was struck with two reverse dies — is a magnificent example of the mule many collectors consider to be the Holy Grail among U.S. coin errors. This example is one of only a few dozen known across all types, series and denominations. The rarest mules are those "double sided" coins — like this one — that were struck with two obverse or two reverse dies. The coin offered in this auction is a new discovery of this magnificent mule, acquired years ago by the consignor as part of an estate sale purchase.

An 1861-D Half Eagle AU55 PCGS. Winter 47-GG is considered, along with the equally famous 1861-D gold dollar, the great prize among all Dahlonega gold issues. By act of Congress, the Dahlonega Mint was allowed to coin silver denominations, but there was no ready supply of silver bullion and the coining presses were not large enough to strike quarters, half dollars or silver dollars. That left only gold dollars, quarter eagles and half eagles as the sole output from the Georgia facility. Just 1,597 were struck during the first few months of the year when the Mint was under Federal control, followed by an unknown but small number of five dollar gold pieces struck under Confederate authority.

A 1895 Morgan Dollar PR65 Cameo NGC. VAM-2 is from an original proof mintage of just 880 pieces, a total that falls far short of collector demand. Mint records indicated a circulation strike of 12,000, coins that Roger Burdette concluded never were paid out. Instead, the entire issue was melted under terms of the 1918 Pittman Act, when about 350 million silver dollars were converted into bullion.

The second-finest 1865 Liberty Half Eagle, PR64 Cameo PCGS. CAC is one of just 25 struck that year, as the Civil War dragged to a close. PCGS has 12 certification events for the 1865 proof Liberty half eagle in its Population Report, while NGC has recorded 14 submissions in its Census — totals that include an unknown number of resubmissions and crossovers. PCGS CoinFacts suggests 15-20 examples of this issue are extant, while John Dannreuther suggests in his series reference, United States Proof Coins, Volume IV: Gold, a surviving population of just 12-14 examples in all grades. It is the only example graded in 64 Cameo, with one finer.

From The Texas Republic Ranch Collection comes an 1800 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle, MS64 PCGS. CAC. According to the 2026 Guide Book, the Philadelphia Mint struck a substantial mintage of 37,628 Capped Bust Right half eagles in 1800, but die evidence indicates some likely were dated 1799. The offered coin is a representative of the BD-4 variety, and Dannreuther estimates that 5,000-7,500 were produced with the BD-4 dies. The surviving population is estimated at 125-175 examples in all grades. Just 10 are graded 64, with just one 64+ and only one graded finer.

Images and information about all lots in the auction can be found at HA.com/1387.

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