Auction Highlights

Welcome to this edition of Auction Highlights. As always, there are so many great coins and banknotes from which to choose from. The year 2021 has proven to be great to the numismatic marketplace so far, with many coins shattering record prices. Let’s profile two important coins and an interesting banknote that recently sold at auction for outstanding figures!

1944 Steel Lincoln Cent Off-Metal Error, PCGS MS64

Although not as famous as the 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent off-metal transitional error, the 1944 Steel Lincoln Cents are elusive nevertheless. 1944 Steel Lincoln Cents are very rare with about 40 to 50 examples believed to exist from all three then-operating U.S. Mint facilities combined. The majority of known examples were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, while Denver pieces are less common, and the San Francisco specimens are extremely rare. Therefore, any time a 1944 Steel Lincoln Cent appears in the market, it's considered a special treat. This is exactly what happened on June 17, 2021, when a PCGS MS64 graded example fetched $180,000 at a Heritage Auctions event. A few moths later, a 1944-S Steel Lincoln Cent graded PCGS MS66, also sold at a Heritage Auction for $408,000 on August of 2021. A remnder, that great coins, tend to command great prices!

1792 Bust Half Disme, PCGS FR02

The 1792 Half Disme is a special coin in numismatics, as it is one of the first coins struck by the United States. It is believed that a total of 1,500 examples were produced, and that they would have been handled and distributed by Thomas Jefferson himself. The 1792 Half Dismes were struck by saw maker John Harper of Philadelphia. Many collectors wonder if  these are considered pattern coins or circulation-strikes. Since Jefferson handled the coins himself, distributed them, and presented them to individuals at the time, in a sense, they can be considered presentation pieces and thus could fall into the pattern category. However, many examples that exist today have worn grades, indicating that the coins did circulate at some point and may have been patently intended for that purpose. Whatever the case may be, they were issued as legal-tender coinage. On June 13, 2021, a 1792 Bust Half Disme graded PCGS FR02 sold for an astonishing $104,625 at a GreatCollections Auction.

Fr.67a 1863 Spread Eagle $100, PCGS Choice Uncirculated-63

Uncirculated examples of the 1863 Spread Eagle $100 banknotes are very rare, with less than 10 examples known at the Mint State level from all the different Friedberg numbers known for this issue. The iconic design on the front of the note is very colorful, giving it an extremely appealing design. The front of the note also has the $100 denomination printed three different times, in different and attractive seals. The banknote itself has a rich, colorful appearance – an orchestra of different colors plays throughout the classic design, anchored by a majestic eagle. It’s a beautiful and rare banknote that's amazingly preserved in immaculate condition. An example of this note graded PCGS Choice Uncirculated-63 recently crossed hands at a March Stack's Bowers Galleries auction, where it fetched an impressive $264,000.