An 1879 Liberty Head Quintuple Stella pattern sold for a record $2,562,000 at Heritage Auctions, leading a group of major U.S. rarities in the firm’s ANA U.S. Coins Signature Auction, held Aug. 31 through Sept. 5.
Graded PCGS PR64+ Deep Cameo, the $20 gold pattern from the Bob R. Simpson Collection surpassed the previous auction record of $2.16 million established at Heritage last year. As reported ahead of the auction, the Quintuple Stella was the marquee offering in a sale packed with major U.S. gold rarities and patterns. Heritage reported the U.S. coin auction at $39.92 million.
Combined with $26.42 million from Heritage’s World & Ancient Coins auction and $850,798 from its Physical Cryptocurrency sale, the company reported $67.18 million in sales across its ANA events.
Five U.S. Coins Top $1 Million
The 1879 Liberty Head Quintuple Stella, Judd-1643, Pollock-1843, is one of only five examples traced, including one held in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
Sometimes called the metric double eagle, the pattern is closely associated with the famous $4 stellas of 1879 and 1880 but is considerably rarer. The record-setting example also once belonged to legendary collector Virgil Brand.
"This is the kind of rarity that commands attention whenever it reaches the market, and the opportunity to acquire the finest-certified example is extraordinary," said Todd Imhof, executive vice president at Heritage Auctions. "Coming from the celebrated Bob R. Simpson Collection only adds to its significance. It is a remarkable piece of American numismatic history and exactly the caliber of coin collectors have come to expect from this collection and from Heritage Auctions."
Four other U.S. coins reached seven figures.
An 1879 Coiled Hair Stella, Judd-1638, graded NGC PR67 Cameo, realized $1,891,000. One of 14 examples traced, the $4 gold piece is tied for the finest certified and is included among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins.
An 1824/1 Capped Head Left quarter eagle, graded PCGS PR67 and pedigreed to the Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection, brought $1,494,500. Only two proof examples have been confirmed, with the other held by the Smithsonian. The auctioned coin is the only proof example certified by either of the major grading services.
Another Simpson Collection rarity, a unique 1876 Liberty double eagle pattern graded PCGS PR64+ Cameo and approved by CAC, set an auction record at $1,403,000. The Judd-1490 pattern made its first auction appearance since the 1980s and only its third auction appearance overall.
Rounding out the million-dollar results was an 1880 Coiled Hair Stella, Judd-1660, graded PCGS PR64 Cameo, which realized $1,189,500. Ten examples of the variety have been traced.
Additional U.S. Coin Records
Several other rarities established new auction highs.
A finest-known 1897-S Liberty double eagle graded PCGS MS67 and approved by CAC sold for $390,400, far exceeding the previous auction record of $60,375 set in 2005. The former Eliasberg coin reportedly traces to an 1897 purchase directly from the U.S. Mint at face value and remains in its late-1980s PCGS holder.
A unique 1797 Small Eagle half eagle with 16 stars, graded PCGS AU58+, reached $317,200. Although known to collectors since the 19th century, the piece was not identified as a distinct variety until 1972.
An 1884 Liberty double eagle graded NGC PR64 Cameo established a record at $268,400. No circulation-strike double eagles were produced at the Philadelphia Mint that year, while just 71 proofs were struck. Research cited by Heritage places the surviving population at 20 to 24 coins, including three in museums.
Among the more unusual offerings, an 1860-O Seated Liberty half dollar indented by a half dime planchet sold with the matching half dime for $219,600. The two planchets entered the press together and have remained paired since they were struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1860.
A 1914 Lincoln cent from the Bolt Collection of Proof Lincoln Cents also set a record, realizing $195,200. Graded PCGS PR68+ Red and approved by CAC, it surpassed the previous $126,500 auction high set in 2008. The coin is the only 1914 proof cent graded PR68+ by PCGS.
World and Ancient Coins Reach $26.4 Million
Heritage reported its World & Ancient Coins auction at $26.42 million, led by a Christian IV gold 10 Ducat of 1623 from Denmark that sold for $561,200.
Struck at the Glückstadt Mint and graded NGC AU53, the coin is believed to be one of only four surviving examples, including pieces in the National Museum of Denmark and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
Another Danish rarity, a Frederik III gold 10 Ducats from 1668-1669 graded NGC MS63★, brought $512,400. Only one other example is known, according to Heritage, and it is held by the National Museum of Denmark.
A Christian IV gold Sovereign dated 1608 realized $488,000, while a Russian Nicholas II gold proof 25 Roubles from 1896 reached $390,400.
A 1729 George II gold proof 5 Guineas brought $329,400, and an 1818 Brazilian João VI gold ingot weighing 139.50 grams sold for $317,200.
Among record-setting Latin American coins, a 1732 Mexico City Philip V "Milled" 8 Reales graded NGC MS61 realized $207,400, establishing a new auction high for the date. The issue represents the first date of the widely collected Pillar Dollar series.
An ancient Macedonian Kingdom Philip II gold stater, struck posthumously around 322-319 B.C. and featuring a portrait of Apollo with the features of Alexander the Great, set an auction record for the type at $158,600.
Physical Bitcoin Auction Brings $850,798
Heritage’s Sept. 3 Physical Cryptocurrency auction realized $850,798, led by two loaded physical Bitcoins that each sold for $85,400.
Among them was a 2016 BTCC titanium Loaded 1 Bitcoin graded NGC MS69 Antiqued. The physical token remains unredeemed and was issued before Bitcoin’s second halving in July 2016.
A Kialara "FOMO" Conceptual Post-it Art Note, serial number 01 of 12, realized $10,980 in its first public auction appearance. A 2026 Polymerbit x Zetra cold-storage document, also bearing inaugural serial number 01, brought $2,074.
