Gold $20 sets Heritage pace

A 1931 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold piece sold for $126,500 in Heritage Auction Galleries? first Signature Auction at the Money Show of the Southwest, which took place in Houston, Texas, Nov. 29-30.

The double eagle was graded MS-66 by Professional Coin Grading Service.
Heritage?s Houston sale sessions totaled $4.8 million. The overall sales figure is expected to reach $5.5 million after post-auction buys and an online final session?s results are included.

?Registry coins continue to be extremely popular and the market continues to reward freshness and originality ? and if you can add rarity, the triumvirate becomes irresistible,? said Heritage president Greg Rohan,
 An 1855 gold dollar from the Pearl E. Pemberton collection sold for $97,750. It was graded PCGS MS-67. Sale catalogers said that Numismatic Guaranty Corp. had graded five examples MS-67 and PCGS just four, with none finer at either service.

Third-highest realization was $94,875 for a 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition round gold $50, NGC MS-64, from the Fleur Wales-Baillie collection, benefiting the Khumbula Thina Trust.

An 1831 half dime, NGC Proof-67, also from the Fleur Wales-Baillie collection, went for $86,250.

An 1897-O Morgan dollar, NGC MS-66 with only one certified finer, fetched $43,125. An 1884-S Morgan dollar, NGC MS-63, which sale catalogers consider ?a prime rarity? in condition above MS-62, reached $26,450. A proof 1899 Morgan, NGC Proof-68 Cameo, topped off at $29,900.

A 1796 quarter, NGC VF-20, from the Nick-A-Jack collection, realized $28,750.

A 1932-D Washington quarter, the key to the series, graded PCGS MS-65 and from the Michael Fuller collection, sold for $13,225 while a high-grade 1976-S silver quarter from the same collection, PCGS MS-69, went for $5,888.

A 1938-D Buffalo nickel, PCGS MS-68, reached $21,850.

 A proof 1902 Indian cent, PCGS Proof-68 Red, brought $21,850.

Catalogers said that PCGS has given the Proof-68 grade to just nine Indian cents across all dates; this is one of only two pieces certified by PCGS as Proof-68 Red.

Heritage?s combined Signature and Final Session catalogs for Houston offered nearly 4,000 lots. Images and prices realized are available online at .

For more information, call (800) 872-6467. Heritage is located at 3500 Maple Ave., 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219.