1796 1C S-96, BN (Regular Strike)

Numismatic rarities often show up unexpectedly in the oddest places. Here's an example:

The Sheldon-76 variety of 1796 Large Cents is very rare variety, with roughly two dozen in existence. Prior to 2015, the finest example known to collectors and researchers was a rough-looking example that the Early American Copper collecting community net-graded out at F12. Out of the clear blue, a Mint State example of the variety appeared in an auction in Salisbury (Wiltshire) in England, where it was conservatively graded as "Very Fine." The coin sold for $87,840 to Thomas Paul of American Heritage Minting, who reported the find in the American numismatic press, had it certified and graded, then consigned it to Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins and Collectibles for their May 2015 auction. The new grade was NGC MS63BN. A dark spot appears on the right side of the obverse and there are traces of original mint red on the reverse. A die crack extends from the left to the ride sides of the reverse, just below the center of the coin, indicating that the die was about to split in half, which is why the variety is so rare.