Heritage Denver Auction Exceeds $30 Million; 1861 $20 Paquet Reaches $1,610,000

Heritage Auction Galleries' Denver 2006 Platinum Night and Signature coin auctions realized a combined $29,391,347. With after auction sales continuing and the OnLine Session set to close August 21, the Denver total will soar above $30 million. The auctions took place August 13 & 14 at the Warwick Hotel in Denver, with approximately 4000 lots finding pleased new owners. Details on coins (descriptions and images) can be found at the Heritage website: HA.com/Coins.

"Bidders had a rich assortment of treasures to add to their collections," enthused Heritage President Greg Rohan. "I cannot recall any previous summer auctions with 22 anchor consignors, or with 500 total consignors. Quality coins brought quality prices in Denver, and many of the collections contained material that had been off the market for decades."

"The highlight coin of Denver Platinum Night" continued Rohan, "was the amazing 1861 Philadelphia Mint $20 Paquet, certified MS61 PCGS, and which realized $1,610,000. This is one of only two known examples of this important rarity. Bidder viewing interest was extremely active, as hundreds of numismatists took advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hold and examine one of America's greatest numismatic treasures - the fourth rarest regular issue, keeping company with such exalted items as the unique 1870-S half dime, the 1873-CC No Arrows dime, and the 1870-S three dollar gold piece. The consignor purchased this important rarity at auction less than five years ago for $345,000. The coin was purchased by an unidentified Internet bidder who had placed his bid days earlier."

1861 Philadelphia Mint $20 Paquet, certified MS61 PCGS
Price Realized: $1,610,000

Ex: Col. Mendes I. Cohen Collection (Edward Cogan, 10/1875); Cram Collection (W.H. Strobridge, 3/1877); Unknown European intermediaries; Paul Wittlin (rediscovered in Paris, 1965); Paramount International Coin Corporation; RARCOA; Abe Kosoff; North Carolina Collection; Abe Kosoff and Mike Brownlee; H. Jeff Browning; Dallas Bank Collection (Sotheby's/Stack's, 10/2001).

Among Heritage's other Denver 2006 highlights:

Lot 5106: 1795 Half Dime MS67 Star NGC, V-8, LM-7, R.6
One of two Superb Gem examples.
Price Realized: $126,500

Lot 5218: 1795 Half Dollar 2 Leaves MS64 NGC, O-105, High R.3
Ex: Richard Jewell Collection.
Price Realized: $103,500

Lot 5222: 1796 Half Dollar 15 Stars MS63 PCGS, O-101. R.5
Ex: Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection.
Price Realized: $310,500

Lot 5357: 1889-CC Morgan Dollar, MS64 Deep Mirror Prooflike PCGS.
None certified finer by either NGC or PCGS.
Price Realized: $86,250

Lot 5374: 1893-S Morgan Dollar, MS62 PCGS.
The 1893-S is the rarest and most expensive regular issue Morgan dollar in any condition, with the lowest mintage. From The New York Eye Appeal Collection.
Price Realized: $120,750

Lot 5417: 1796 $2.50 No Stars MS61 PCGS, B.-1, Breen-6113, Bass-3002, High R.4.
Relatively few higher grade survivors, especially with reflective fields.
From The Alpine Zephyr Collection.
Price Realized: $322,000

Lot 5418: 1796 $2.50 Stars AU58 PCGS, Breen-2, Breen-6114, Bass-3003, R.5.
Simply an amazing 1796 With Stars quarter eagle of 432 minted.
From The Alpine Zephyr Collection.
Price Realized: $161,000

Lot 5423: 1829 $2.50 MS67 PCGS, B.-1, Breen-6132, Bass-3026, R.4.
These were the first quarter eagles struck with the new "close collar" technology.
Price Realized: $316,250

Lot 5467: 1879 $4 Flowing Hair, Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, R.3, PR67 NGC.
Possibly the single finest gold stella in existence.
Price Realized: $402,500

Lot 5468: 1879 $4 Coiled Hair, Judd-1638, Pollock-1838, R.6, PR63 NGC.
One of the premier gold rarities of the 19th century. Ex: Richmond Collection.
Price Realized: $402,500

Lot 5471: 1795 $5 Small Eagle MS62 PCGS, B. 2-C, Breen-6412, Miller-4, R.5
A remarkable Mint State example of the first United States gold coinage issue, from The Royal Oak Collection.
Price Realized: $149,500

Lot 5472: 1795 $5 Small Eagle MS62 NGC. B. 1-C, Breen-6412, Miller-3, R.6.
A rare die variety of a rare coin, from The Antigo Collection.
Price Realized: $86,250

Lot 5498: 1839 $5 MS64 PCGS.
Finest certified example from the first year of Gobrecht's new design.
Population: 1 in 64, 0 finer. From The Alpine Zephyr Collection.
Price Realized: $80,500

Lot 5517: 1898 $5 PR68 Ultra Cameo NGC.
The single finest piece graded by either PCGS or NGC. From The Belle Glade Collection.
Price Realized: $115,000

Lot 5537: 1909 $5 PR67 PCGS.
Of the 78 proofs made, this is the sole PR67 with none finer.
Price Realized: $109,250

Lot 5538: 1795 $10 13 Leaves AU53 PCGS, Breen 1-A, Breen-6830, Taraszka-1, R.4.
From The Royal Oak Collection.
Price Realized: $115,000

Lot 5539: 1796 $10 AU55 PCGS, B. 1-A, Taraszka-6, R.4
The only known dies used to produce 6,934 eagles.
Price Realized: $86,250

Lot 5540: 1796 $10 AU58 NGC. B. 1-A, Breen-6832, Taraszka-6, R.4
From The Chief Paduke Collection.
Price Realized: $103,500

Lot 5559: 1869 $10 PR65 PCGS. Harry Bass Collection.
Of the 25 proofs struck, this is certainly one of the finest of perhaps ten survivors.
Ex: Gaston DiBello Collection; Harry Bass II.
Price Realized: $80,500

Lot 5592: 1854-O $20 AU50 PCGS.
In 1854, just 3,250 double eagles were minted in Louisiana, making this the second rarest O-Mint $20. From The Wyoming Collection.
Price Realized: $301,875

Lot 5601: 1856-O $20 AU50 PCGS.
A mid-Condition Census coin, from The Wyoming Collection.
Price Realized: $345,000

Lot 5629: 1861-S $20 Paquet AU55 NGC.
One of the top ten survivors from the Paquet reverse dies sent to San Francisco in November 1860. Finer than the Bass Collection coin, and similar to the Dallas Bank Collection example. From The Wyoming Collection.
Price Realized: $109,250

Lot 5645: 1870-CC $20 AU50 NGC.
Near the top of the list of double eagle rarities, with 40 to 50 examples known from an original mintage of 3,789 coins. This specimen is easily one of the finer pieces known, with only one certified finer. From The Wyoming Collection.
Price Realized: $359,375

Lot 5685: 1904 $20 Double Eagle--Double Struck in Collar--MS63 PCGS.
An exceptional rarity from the Henderson Collection of U.S. Gold Errors.
Price Realized: $37,375

Lot 5687: 1868 $20 PR64 PCGS.
A magnificent proof Type Two 1868 double eagle; one of three certified PR64, and only one finer.
Price Realized: $86,250

Lot 5692: 1898 $20 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC.
Only 75 proof examples were coined, perhaps half survive today; this is one of two certified PR67, with none finer. From The Belle Glade Collection.
Price Realized: $276,000

Lot 5717: 1920-S $20 MS61 PCGS.
Seldom seen in Mint State; one of two certified by PCGS as MS61.
Price Realized: $63,250

Lot 5733: 1931-D $20 MS63 PCGS.
An extremely appealing and collectible example of this rare date.
Price Realized: $80,500

Lot 5739: 1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific Round MS66 NGC.
An exemplary 1915-S Pan-Pac Round Fifty Dollar; only two certified finer.
Price Realized: $172,500

Lot 5792: Blake & Co. Gold Ingot. No. 5217; .851 FINE / $102.03; 5.80 Oz.
Ex: Gold Rush Treasures From the S.S. Central America I (Christie's, 11/2000), lot 1.
From The Groth Family Collection.
Price Realized: $138,000

Lot 5793: Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot. No. 9523, 24.63 OZS. 893 FIN(E)
From The Groth Family Collection.
Price Realized: $86,250

Lot 5794: Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot. No. 4244, 144.25 OZS. 886 FINE. / $2641.96
From The Groth Family Collection.
Price Realized: $138,000

Lot 5795: Kellogg & Humbert Gold Ingot. No. 341, 54.08 OZ / 948 FINE / $1059.80
From The Groth Family Collection.
Price Realized: $126,500

Denver 2006 anchor consignments included: The Alpine Zephyr Collection; The Antigo Collection; The Belle Glade Collection; The Carolina Gold Collection, Part Four; The Chicago-Ark Collection; The Empire Tree Collection, Part Two; The Groth Family Collection; The Guadalupe Collection, Part Two; The Henderson Collection of United States Gold Errors; David Jordon's New York Eye Appeal Collection; The Kagin Reference Collection of Frontier Ingots; The Ron W. Keeney Collection, Part Two; The Key Date Coin Collection, Part One; The Long Beach Family Collection; The Mulholland Collection; The Chief Paduke Collection; The Redfjord Collection; The Royal Oak Collection; The Frank Schwerin Collection; The Derrick Snider Collection; The Stephen Stokely Collection of the #1 PCGS Registry Set of Proof Seated Half Dollars; and The Wyoming Collection.

Images, descriptions, and prices realized from all of Heritage's previous auctions are available in the Permanent Auction Archives at the Heritage website, www.HA.com.

To reserve your copy of a catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.