A 1796 Bust half dollar sold for $414,000 in Ira and Larry Goldberg's U.S. and world coin and currency auction May 28-31.
The half dollar was graded MS-64 by Professional Coin Grading Service.
Goldbergs' sale of more than 5,300 lots took place in Beverly Hills, Calif., and realized a total of $12,121,454.
All prices shown here include buyers' premiums.
"This was our best sale yet," said Ira Goldberg. "We are proud of our three separate catalogs for this sale, which got a great response."
The U.S. sessions featured Bust halves and Bust dollars, Panama-Pacific gold, and a selection of Saint-Gaudens $20s.
"The market is very strong, particularly for rarities over $20,000," said Goldberg. "The strength of the U.S. market was first in early U.S. gold, with proof gold and Bust dollars not far behind."
Among gold $5s, a 1797 Capped Bust, small eagle $5 with 16 stars, Breen 12-K, PCGS MS-61, sold for $299,000. An 1833 Capped Head $5, small date, PCGS MS-63, realized $126,500
A 1915-S octagonal Panama-Pacific gold $50, PCGS MS-65, brought $149,500.
Gold $2.50s included a 1796 Capped Bust, PCGS AU-55, that went for $123,625, and an 1808 Capped Bust example, graded AU-58 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp., that reached $126,500.
A 1931 Saint-Gaudens $20, PCGS MS-65, brought $132,250.
A price of $241,500 was paid for a 1794 Flowing Hair dollar, BB-1, B-1, PCGS VF-35.
The world sessions featured British coins, including hammered silver and gold, Russian coins, historical British and world medals, Napoleonic issues and Hawaiian dollars. The sale also contained ancients, with an emphasis on Roman gold.
The sale concluded with U.S. currency, a session that featured large-size and small-size National Bank Notes, Silver Certificates, Gold Certificates, Federal Reserve Notes and Colonial currency.
"We continue to be amazed at the strength of large-size currency," said Goldberg. "There has been an influx of new buyers both in the U.S. as well as abroad."
Two Treasury Notes stood out: An 1890 $100 "Watermelon" Treasury Note, graded Very Fine-30 by PCGS Currency, that realized $161,000; and an 1890 $50, Fr-376, PCGS Currency Very Fine-20, that brought $103,500.
A group of 1886 Silver Certificates with low serial numbers did well. First, an 1886 $2, Fr. 240, with serial No. B4, graded crisp uncirculated, sold for $28,750. A $1 with serial No. B9, graded choice extremely fine, realized $20,125. And a $5, Fr. 259, with serial No. B14, choice extremely fine, fetched $21,850.
Finally, an 1861 $5 Demand Note, Fr. 1, graded About Uncirculated-58 by Currency Grading and Authentication, went for $27,600.
The complete list of prices realized and the archived sale catalog can be seen online at www.goldbergcoins.com.
