Silver center cent highlights auction

Coins and paper money results recorded by Stack’s Bowers Galleries at its Whitman Coins and Collectibles Winter Expo auction Nov. 8-14 in Baltimore totaled $15.4 million.

At Rarities Night, a Mint State 1792 silver center cent brought $900,000.

The piece comes from the Cardinal Collection and has an earlier provenance to the 1905 Chapman Brothers’ sale of the Charles Morris Collection.

This price and all others include a 10 percent buyer’s fee.

Also from the Cardinal collection, an AU-58+ (Professional Coin Grading Service) 1794 Flowing Hair half dollar sold for $252,000. The only Mint State 1797 BB-72 Draped Bust silver dollar fetched $264,000.

Stack’s Bowers said the gold coins offered in the Rarities Night session included a parade of jewels from the Murray Hill Collection.

First of these was a PCGS AU-53 1796 No Stars quarter eagle that earned $150,000.

Next was an incredible Numismatic Guaranty Corporation MS-63* (star) 1796 Stars on Obverse gold quarter eagle. Before it became part of the Murray Hill Collection, it had been owned by John Whitney Walter. This rare gold sold for $324,000.

A Mint State 1808 Capped Bust Left quarter eagle sold for $144,000. A PCGS Proof-66 Cameo 1879 Flowing Hair Stella recorded a price of $240,000.

Larger denominations in the Murray Hill Collection also saw aggressive bidding, with a PCGS Proof-63 Deep Cameo 1873 Liberty Head double eagle selling for $105,000 and an NGC Proof-65 Ultra Cameo 1889 Liberty Head double eagle reaching $90,000.

Sunken treasure continues to appeal. Among other double eagles in the sale, the finest certified 1858-O double eagle that was recovered from the S.S. Republic shipwreck and graded NGC MS-63 sold for $156,000.

An NGC Proof-66+* (star) Ultra Cameo 1886 double eagle that is one of just 20 to 25 remaining brought $228,000.

An NGC Proof-65* Ultra Cameo 1889 double eagle went for $156,000.

A Washington Born Virginia copper from the Cardinal Collection was certified PCGS MS-66+ BN CAC. The cataloger said it is likely the finest known. It realized $114,000.

The auction was among the most dynamic and successful Baltimore events in recent memory, the firm said.

E-mail info@StacksBowers.com for more information.

More Collecting Resources

• The Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700 is your guide to images, prices and information on coins from so long ago.

• With nearly 24,000 listings and over 14,000 illustrations, the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues is your go-to guide for modern bank notes.