A bid of $356,600 bought an 1856-O gold $20 and a $149,500 obtained an 1879 Flowing Hair $4 gold Stella in Bowers and Merena Auctions? Baltimore sale March 22-23.
As the official auction of the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention, B&M?s sale of coins and paper money generated an overall total of $7,231,480.
?There were many select areas of numismatic material that showed stronger than ever prices,? said Steve Deeds, president of B&M.
The 1856-O Liberty Head $20 was graded AU-53 by Professional Coin Grading Service, and B&M catalogers stated that only 15-20 examples are known in any grade.
The Stella, Judd 1635, Pollock 1832, was graded Proof-62 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. Perhaps the best-known pattern issues of U.S. coinage, the $4 gold pieces came with two different obverses, the Flowing Hair and the Coiled Hair. The Flowing Hair obverse was executed by Charles Barber, the Coiled Hair by George T. Morgan. Of course, neither was used for circulation.
An 1894 Morgan dollar, PCGS MS-65, sold for $53,475, and an 1893-S Morgan in NGC MS-60 hit $82,800. An 1839 Gobrecht dollar with name omitted, Judd 104, Pollock 116, in NGC Proof-64, sold for $44,850, and a proof 1880 Trade dollar, NGC Proof-68 Cameo, brought $41,400.
Among minor U.S. silver coinage, a 1797 Draped Bust half dollar, NGC EF-45, crossed the block for $95,450, and a 1796 Draped Bust half in NGC VF-25 fetched $51,175 while a 1796 Draped Bust quarter, NGC AU-58 Prooflike, realized $56,350.
And in gold, a 1796/5 Capped Bust gold $5, small eagle, PCGS AU-55, reached $88,550 while an 1801 Capped Bust $10, NGC MS-64, went for $82,800.
A High Relief 1907 Saint-Gaudens $20 with wire rim, NGC Proof-66, traded for $80,500.
Top paper money lots in the B&M auction were large-size type notes, led by an 1878 $2 Legal Tender Note, graded Very Fine-30 by Paper Money Guaranty, that brought $33,350, and a 1901 $10 Legal Tender Note graded Superb Gem Uncirculated-67 by PCGS Currency that went for $27,025. An 1886 $10 Silver Certificate termed Gem Crisp Uncirculated-66 PQ by Rare Currency Grading Service went for $40,825. Among National Bank Notes, an uncut four-note sheet of $5 1902 Plain Backs from the American National Bank of Jamestown, N.Y., charter number 9748, graded superb gem crisp uncirculated by catalogers, hit $13,800.
All prices reported here include the 15 percent buyer fees.
Further highlights from the sale follow:
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent, PCGS MS-66 RD, $12,650
- 1917 Lincoln cent, PCGS MS-67 RD, $13,800
- 1908 Liberty Head nickel, PCGS MS-66, $7,475
- 1925-D Buffalo nickel, NGC MS-66, $23,000
- 1938-S Jefferson nickel, PCGS MS-67 FS, $9,200
- 1941 Jefferson nickel, PCGS MS-67 FS , $4,025
- 1950 Jefferson nickel, PCGS MS-67 FS, $11,500
- 1955 Jefferson nickel, PCGS MS-66 FS, $12,650
- 1805 Draped Bust dime, four berries, NGC MS-64, $12,075
- 1850-O Seated Liberty dime, large ?O,? PCGS MS-66, $19,550
- 1885-S Seated Liberty dime, NGC MS-65, $26,450
- 1917-S Standing Liberty quarter, Type I, PCGS MS-67 FH, $9,200
- 1837 Capped Bust half dollar, reeded edge, NGC MS-65, $12,765
- 1917-D Walking Liberty half dollar, PCGS MS-66, $26,450
- 1796 Draped Bust dollar, large date, small letters, PCGS AU-55, $20,700
- 1882 Morgan dollar, PCGS Proof-67, $12,075
- 1925-S Peace dollar, PCGS MS-65, $21,275
- 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition gold dollar, McKinley portrait, NGC MS-65, $3,220
- 1796 Capped Bust quarter eagle, no stars on obverse, PCGS VF-35, $78,200
- 1839-D Classic quarter eagle, NGC MS-60, $25,300
- 1911-D Indian quarter eagle, NGC MS-64, $40,250
- 1888 $3 gold, PCGS MS-65, $18,400
- 1891-CC Liberty half eagle, NGC MS-65, $21,850
- 1910 Indian half eagle, NGC Proof-67, $57,500
- 1929 Indian half eagle, PCGS MS-63, $21,850
The firm?s next sale will be in St. Louis, Mo., May 7.
For more prices realized, or more information, contact Bowers and Merena Auctions, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614; telephone (800) 458-4646.
