A total of $8,016,034 was realized by Bowers and Merena Auctions at the official Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention sale held March 26-27.
Top performing lot was an 1870-CC Liberty Head $20 gold piece that realized $414,0000.
The coin is cataloged as Winter 1-A. It was graded AU-55 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp., and B&M indicates that it is the single highest-graded example of the rarity known to NGC or the Professional Coin Grading Service.
With a mintage of just 3,789, the catalog description notes that experts peg the surviving numbers as 35-45 pieces in all grades.
This piece from the Southerly Collection is described by the catalog in comparison to others.
“All examples that we have seen are heavily abraded with very scuffy surfaces. So it is with the present piece, although apart from a few minor nicks over and before the obverse portrait one will be hard pressed to find any singularly conspicuous abrasions.”
The coin is further described this way: “The Southerly Collection specimen does display some light glossiness to both sides, but we see more of the original surfaces than one would expect for even an AU-quality survivor.”
A bid of $201,250 captured second place in the B&M sale. This purchased an 1892-S Morgan silver dollar graded MS-66 by PCGS.
The cataloger noted that the coin has thick, rich, frosty-textured luster to both sides and is a condition rarity, with just six finer pieces known up through grade MS-68.
A 1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle. Small Eagle $10 gold piece, BD-1, HBCC-3175, Taraszka-7, graded MS-61 by NGC brought a bid of $149,500.
NGC Census reports just six, with a mere four finer through MS-63.
For more information about the auction, visit the Web site at www.bowersandmerena.com. For catalogs, telephone (800) 458-4646.
