Auction Highlights

As we approach the end of 2024, we can look back at so many great coins that were bought and sold in the marketplace – many smashing price records. One great place to view all these coins that sold at auction is on the PCGS Auction Prices portal. There you can search by the most recent auctions, or you can search by auction company and even search by the highest or lowest price realized, along with many other search filters. It's a really neat feature on PCGS.com, so check it out when you can.

Now, back to our Auction Highlights installment! And as always, there are so many great coins and banknotes from which to choose. Let’s profile two important coins and an interesting banknote that recently sold at auction for outstanding figures!

1861 Proof Liberty Seated Quarter PCGS PR68CAM

This nice 1861 Liberty Seated Quarter is graded PCGS PR68CAM, and while it has a reported mintage of 1,000 coins, far fewer survive due to the melting pot or other losses to the hands of time. PCGS has graded about 160 examples in all grades combined, with the majority of them grading PR64 or lower. With cameo surfaces, only five exist in PCGS holders. In May 2024, the highest-graded example, a PCGS PR68CAM, was sold by Heritage Auctions for $156,000. Its superior grade, coupled with colorful, attractive toning on both the obverse and reverse, drummed up many strong competing bids for this exceptional specimen.

1918/7-S Standing Liberty Quarter PCGS MS65

The 1918/7-S Standing Liberty Quarter overdate variety was first discovered in 1937. Amazingly, about 20 years went by with most collectors being unaware of this novelty. Collectors and dealers soon realized how scarce this variety really was. Although many examples have been found since its initial discovery, the coin has proved to be scarce in terms of the relationship between its scant supply and high demand. Even worn examples in Fine or Very Fine command thousands of dollars each, while uncirculated specimens seldom appear on the market and garner astronomical sums. Recently a PCGS MS65 example was sold by GreatCollections for $182,812.

$100 1914 Federal Reserve Note Boston PCGS GEM Unc. MS66 PPQ

This $100 1914 Fr. 1072a Red Seal Federal Reserve Bank Note, graded PCGS Gem Unc. MS66 PPQ, sold for $21,600 at a Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale in August 2024. It is estimated that this banknote is just one of 16 known examples. It’s truly amazing how this note, at more than a century old, remains in immaculate condition, its right-facing profile of Benjamin Franklin as well as red and black seals still crisp.