Rare gold leads auction

A trio of Liberty double eagles led the way as the initial auction of the ANA Fall National Money Show realized over $16 million. All prices include Buyer’s Premium.

The 1854-O and 1856-O double eagles are two of the greatest rarities in the Liberty double eagle series, each with only 20 to 30 examples known. The Pittsburgh auction featured examples of each coin from The Rubic Collection.

The 1854-O, graded AU-55, took top honors in the auction realizing $431,250. The 1856-O, an even rarer date, graded XF-45 and sold for $276,000.

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A highly contrasted 1864 double eagle, graded PR-65 Ultra Cameo and awarded the star designation by NGC for exceptional eye appeal, realized $345,000 in Pittsburgh.

Quarter eagle rarities were well-represented. The ultra-low mintage 1854-S, from the first year of the San Francisco Mint, was represented by a VF-35 example that sold for $253,000, while “The Little Princess,” the 1841 quarter eagle known only as a proof, saw a PR-55 specimen sell for $132,250.

Gold coins weren’t the only highlights of this auction. The 1864 cent with L on Ribbon is a legendary rarity in the Indian Head cent series, and a Gem example, graded PR-65 Red and Brown, brought $161,000 when the hammer fell.