Bowers and Merena Auctions? official auction of the American Numismatic AssociationWorld?s Fair of Money Aug. 16-19 in Denver set several price records ? more than 100 of them, according to the firm.
Total prices realized for the sale was $17.6 million, including the 15-percent buyer?s fees added to all winning bids.
The highest winning bid was $1,495,000 for a 1921 Saint-Gaudens gold $20 graded MS-63 by Professional Coin Grading Service.
In the photo: A 13-leaf 1795 eagle, graded NGC MS-65, brought a winning bid of $494,500.
?We expected strong prices because of the exceptional quality and range of the items offered,? said Steve Deeds, president of Bowers and Merena. ?The combination of high quality and true rarity of the auction lots resulted in sometimes astounding winning bids. We also now have new record prices for dozens of so-called ?common coins? that are in uncommon, spectacular condition.?
Record auction prices, based on price information on Intelliquote as of Aug. 18, included $350,750 for a 1918/7-D overdate Buffalo nickel, PCGS MS-65; and $339,250 for an off-center 1795 Draped Bust dollar, graded MS-66 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp.
Another record price, according to B&M, was $241,500 for a 1911-D Indian Head gold $5, PCGS MS-65, joined by $132,500 for an 1837 quarter-dollar, NGC Proof-67.
$105,800 was bid for a 1914-S Lincoln cent, PCGS MS-66 red, and a record $8,625 for a 1946-D Jefferson nickel, PCGS MS-67 full steps.
An 1881-S Morgan dollar, PCGS MS-68, toted a new high of $7,188.
Additional price records reported by Bowers and Merena included, among Lincoln cents, $105,800 paid for a 1914-S, PCGS MS-66 RD, $82,800 for a 1922 no D, PCGS MS-64 RB and $38,238 for a 1924, PCGS MS-67 RD.
While not a record, a1909-S VDB, PCGS MS-67 RD, went for $92,000 and a 1948 in PCGS MS-67 RD hit $8,050.
Other Buffalo nickel records included $21,850 for a 1913 Type I in PCGS MS-68, and $59,600 for a 1915-S in PCGS MS-67.
For Morgan dollars, a price of $47,150 was a record for an 1879 in PCGS MS-67, $43,700 a new high for an 1893 in PCGS MS-66, $166,750 for an 1893-S in PCGS MS-63 and $43,700 for a 1904-S in PCGS MS-67.
Further sale highlights included an 1873-CC Seated Liberty dime with arrows, NGC AU-55, that sold for $35,650; a 1795 Draped Bust dollar, B-14, BB-51, with off-center bust, NGC MS-66, that hit $339,250; and an 1877 Trade dollar, NGC Proof-66 Cameo, that traded for $21,850.
Commemorative coins setting records included a 1922 U.S. Grant with star gold dollar, PCGS MS-68, that fetched $31,050.
In addition to coins, the sale featured U.S. bank notes, including about 300 lots from the collection of prominent paper money researcher and author Peter W. Huntoon, a columnist for Numismatic News? sister publication Bank Note Reporter. Among highlights from the Huntoon collection was an 1875 National Bank Note, a $5 Wyoming National Bank of Laramie City, Charter 2110, graded choice about uncirculated. It sold for $138,000.
A Laramie, Wyo., 1882 $10 Brown Back from The First National Bank of Laramie, Charter 4989, in Very Fine realized $92,000; a 1902 $10 Plain Back from Juneau, Alaska Territory, The First National Bank of Juneau, Charter 5117, graded very good/fine, brought $51,750; and a 1914 $20 Federal Reserve Note, Friedberg 953A, superb gem crisp uncirculated, hit $48,875.
Prices realized can be seen online at www.BowersandMerena.com.
For additional information, contact Bowers and Merena Auctions, 18061 Fitch, Irvine, CA 92614; toll-free telephone (800) 458-4646.
