Rarities shine at FUN auction
After it was sold at a Heritage auction, this 1885 Trade dollar was moved to a PCGS holder.
Billionaire Dell Loy Hansen took another step on his Eliasberg quest to assemble a complete set of U.S. coins when he paid $3,960,000 for the finest of five known 1885 Trade dollars Jan. 10 at the Heritage Auctions Platinum Night sale.
He was assisted by John Brush of David Lawrence Rare Coins in making the purchase at the Florida United Numismatists auction in Orlando, Fla.
For the FUN auction, the coin was graded PR66 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
It was regraded after the sale by the Professional Coin Grading Service as PR65+CAM(EO).
Hansen, a Utah businessman and partner of DLRC, has been an active coin collector since childhood.
The 1885 Trade dollar joins Hansen’s collection, which contains a PCGS PR62 1804 silver dollar, an Ultra High Relief 1907 $20, a PCGS MS65 1876-CC 20-cent piece, and the finest 1901-S Barber quarter grading PCGS MS68+.
According to the PCGS Registry Set calculations, according to Brush, the collection assembled by Hansen has surpassed the overall quality of the Louis Eliasberg Collection even while missing a dozen tougher items.
The Eliasberg Collection was the only complete set of U.S. coins ever put together.
Brush said, “This opportunity to acquire such a legendary rarity is something that you can only dream about as a child.”
First discovered in 1947, this bronze 1943 cent was held by the original finder until it was consigned to the 2019 FUN auction conducted by Heritage.
Another highlight of the $70 million in numismatic material sold by Heritage Jan. 6-16 is a bronze 1943 cent that sold for $204,000. It is a valuable error because regular cents that year were made of steel.
Heritage said this result was well in line with its $170,000-$200,000 estimate.
The bronze planchet 1943 cent was graded AU53 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
It has an amazing story.
According to Heritage, it was found by 16-year-old high school student Don Lutes, Jr. of Pittsfield, Mass.
He received it as change from his school cafeteria in March 1947.
Lutes was the one and only owner until the cent was consigned to Heritage.
He died in September 2018.
Prices of both the 1885 Trade dollar and bronze 1943 cent include a 20-percent buyer’s fee.
Visit www.HA.com for more auction details.
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