Proof half in Heritage sale

Rarities abound in the Florida United Numismatists Signature Auction to be put on by Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers.

Rarities abound in the Florida United Numismatists Signature Auction to be put on by Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers.

In all, Heritage will offer 7,000 lots of coins, in addition to a paper currency auction of 5,000 lots and an online session.

?This is always an exciting time of the year for us,? said Greg Rohan, Heritage president.

One sale highlight is an 1836 reeded edge half dollar, graded Proof-65 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp.

?This is a classic rarity in U.S. numismatics,? said Rohan. ?It is also the key to the reeded edge series along with the branch mint proofs.

?[Walter] Breen estimates a population of ?at least 12 proofs? in his Complete Encyclopedia,? Rohan continued, ?and lists eight different examples in his 1977 work on proofs. This is a splendid proof striking.?

An 1880-S dollar in MS-69 Prooflike condition according to Professional Coin Grading Service is another featured piece.

 ?Gem-condition San Francisco Mint dollars from 1878 through 1882 are often upheld as the pinnacle of Morgan dollar coinage,? said Rohan, ?and this unsurpassed dollar qualifies for that singular honor in a way that no other Morgan dollar so far has. This is the single highest graded business strike Morgan dollar of any date, either at PCGS or NGC.?

Another big-ticket item is a rare 1842 half dollar in NGC Proof-65 condition.
?This is a very attractive coin,? said Rohan, ?and one of only four known (proofs) to exist. Of the other three, one is held in a private collection, one resides in the Smithsonian Institution, and the last is owned by the American Numismatic Society. The rarity of this coin cannot be overstated.?

Going farther back, Heritage will also offer a 1787 Nova Eborac copper, seated right. The specimen is graded at MS-63 brown by PCGS.

 ?This the finest Nova Eborac graded by either of the major services, and in fact the closest coins in grade are three AU-55s,? said Rohan.

For more information about Heritage?s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with photos of each lot, visit the Permanent Auction Archives of www.HeritageGalleries.com.
To reserve a copy of any Heritage auction catalog, call Nicole Jewell at (800) 872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HeritageGalleries.com to order by e-mail.

NMNAuthor