Auction Highlights

As we approach the end of the year, the coin market doesn’t seem to be slowing down, especially for rare and interesting coins. Many seem to be doing really well, with several coins appreciating in price at auctions this past year. One of the contributing factors for higher prices for many coins is lack of supply. There is strong demand for nice coins, and yet there is not enough supply to satisfy the demand. The auction results below help tell part of the larger story – choice rarities hammer supreme prices.

1783 Silver Libertas Americana PCGS MS63+

This is unquestionably an iconic medal in numismatics, with Benjamin Franklin having taken a personal interest in the production of these special medals. The Liberty design on the Libertas Americana was so well received that the motif also inspired the 1793 Half Cent design. It further influenced many U.S. patterns and medals. The Libertas Americana Medals were struck in copper and silver. The copper examples are considered scarce, while the silver examples are much rarer. Looking at the PCGS Population Report, one sees PCGS has graded a total of 69 examples in copper across all grades combined. For the silver examples, PCGS has certified just 16 in all grades – a reflection of just how rare the Silver Libertas Americanas really are. On June 14, 2022, a PCGS MS63+ graded example sold at a Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction, where it realized an impressive $198,000.

1863 Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS PR65+CAM

This is a really rare proof issue, as the U.S. Mint sold very few proof sets in 1863 and throughout that period. At the time, $20 was considered a large sum of money – nearly a month’s wages for some. So, most collectors could not afford this issue or simply did not want to spend this much on a proof set (collectors had to purchase the entire proof set for the year in order to obtain the $20 1863 Proof Liberty Gold Double Eagle). Therefore, the mintage is miniscule, with only 30 examples reported by the U.S. Mint. Even fewer coins are believed to exist, with PCGS CoinFacts estimating only 11 or 12 examples known. Anytime a specimen comes into the market it magnetizes crowds, as it is a very special coin due to its significance and rarity. In May 2022, a PCGS PR65+CAM piece, the highest-graded example in existence, sold at a Heritage Auctions sale for an astonishing $1,020,000 – a new record price!

1882 $1,000 Gold Certificate Fr. 1218f PCGS Choice VF35

The Fr.1218f Lyon and Roberts signatures variation is a significant banknote because of its extreme rarity, with about 11 examples known. Only a few collectors can own an example at any given time, making it a highly desirable banknote. Compounding the degree of rarity for this note even further is that one of the known examples is held at the Federal Reserve of San Francisco. This issue has a colorful, attractive classic design, with the obverse displaying the “1000” on the left, and with first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton’s portrait to the right. The reverse also has an attractive design featuring a large “M” on the left side, while a large bald eagle is elegantly featured in the central portion. The $1,000 1882 Gold Certificate seldom comes into the market, and on June 19, 2022, a PCGS Choice VF35 example was offered by GreatCollections Auction. Unsurprisingly, it attracted lots of attention and following 99 bids from collectors it finally realized an astounding $277,875.