Double eagle tops Scotsman auction

Prices realized topped $2 million for Scotsman Auction Company’s Oct. 17 sale held in St. Charles, Mo., in conjunction with the 2008 Silver Dollar and Rare Coin Expo.

Prices realized topped $2 million for Scotsman Auction Company’s Oct. 17 sale held in St. Charles, Mo., in conjunction with the 2008 Silver Dollar and Rare Coin Expo.

Bringing the top price was a 1930-S Saint-Gaudens $20 gold piece graded MS-65 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. It sold for $195,500.

This and other prices reported here include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

The double eagle was one of 81 lots from the famous Eliasberg Collection.

Catalogers noted that only 50-60 pieces survive thanks to a small European hoard and that there is one finer 1930-S graded by NGC and five finer by the Professional Coin Grading Service.

A bid of $51,750 snagged an 1862-gold dollar graded NGC-67* Ultra Cameo.

Mintage of this year was just 35 coins and the catalogers estimated that perhaps half of that number survive.

The coin is described as having deeply mirrored fields and heavily frosted devices.

An MS-62 1850 $20 gold piece realized $29,325. The catalog notes the coin has a “marvelously consistent goldenrod color.” It was graded by PCGS.

An 1851 $2.50 gold piece graded NGC-67* was bid to $28,750. The cataloger notes that it is the finest known example of this particular Philadelphia date.

Also bringing $28,750 was an 1864 small-motto two-cent piece graded Proof-64 Brown by PCGS. The catalog notes that the coin is “spectacularly free of any handling marks or blemishes.”

A PCGS AU-55 1801 $10 gold piece sold for $21,850. The BD-2 variety was called pleasing in almost every respect by the cataloger.

A five-piece proof set of the year 1900 came in at $20,700. Missing from the set is the Barber quarter, but it includes the Indian cent, Liberty nickel, Barber dime and half dollar and Morgan silver dollar.

For more information, send inquiries to Scotsman at 11262 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141. Visit the firm’s Web site at www.scoins.com. The toll-free phone number is (800) 642-4305.

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