Long Beach Expo Auctions Bring $13 Million at Heritage Auctions
The Long Beach Expo was Feb. 20-23 and Heritage Auctions brought in the big bucks. The piece that took top lot during the Expo's U.S. Coins section was an 1875 $10 in AU-50 that realized $360,000. (shown below).
Only 100 business-strike Liberty eagles were struck in 1875, making it the lowest mintage regular-issue U.S. gold coin and the premier rarity of the series.
“The 1875 $10 was a leader from the stellar Harvey B. Jacobson Collection of Liberty Eagles,” said Jim Halperin, Co-Founder of Heritage Auctions. “We were extremely proud to present this collection and collectors responded in kind.”
Jacobson’s collection brought a combined $3,220,896 and also offered the auction’s second-rarest Liberty Head Eagle, the 1864-S Liberty Eagle, XF-45, which found a buyer at $126,000. The 1864-S is the rarest eagle from San Francisco with no other year claiming a smaller mintage than 1864, when just 2,500 examples were struck. There are an estimated 25-30 pieces known, and at least half of these are graded lower than XF-40, with some survivors as low as VG-8.
Another low-mintage coin from the Jacobson Collection to cross the block was an 1883-0 $10, AU-50, Gold CAC Label, one of just 800 coins struck, which sold for $90,000. The 1883-O is the rarest New Orleans eagle of both No Motto and With Motto design types. In addition, a highlight of the collection, a 1839/8 Type of 1838 $10 graded MS-63, ended at $114,000. The coin is one of the finest known to exist, as problem-free pieces are not as easy to locate as they were a decade ago. In Uncirculated, Jacobson’s piece is a rare coin with an estimated 10 known.
Outside of the Jacobson Collection, a stunning, 1893-S Morgan dollar graded MS-62, a series key, survived in wonderful condition from the low circulation strike mintage of 100,000 pieces, to sell for $150,000. The pleasing specimen displays sharply defined design elements and minimally marked surfaces. Liberty's cheek and neck are unmarked. The fields are partially reflective and almost as unblemished as Liberty's cheek.
From The Kodiak Collection, an 1857-S Double Eagle, PCGS MS67, sold for $114,000. The piece is from one of the most important numismatic events of the last quarter-century: the discovery of the S.S. Central America treasure that was lost when that ship sunk in a hurricane in September 1857. The 1857-S double eagles were marketed in special presentation binders and custom boxes, including a certificate of authenticity. All of that material was included with the present lot that featured a CAC-approved Superb Gem grading, displaying frosty yellow luster and incredible eye appeal.
From a collection called The Stunning 1908 Proof Set, a 1908 Motto double eagle graded PR-66+, sold for $180,000. The collection’s Indian half eagle graded PR-66, CAC, a rare sandblast proof, finished at $84,000.
Additional highlights include, but were not limited to:
- An elusive late-series issue of a 1931 Saint-Gaudens $20, MS-66, which brought $120,000
- A 1797 $10 Small eagle, BD-1, R.5, AU55 PCGS, which sold for $102,000
- A scarce 1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Two Leaves, B-2, BB-20, R.3, MS-62 PCGS, which sold for $75,000
For more information on the auction, visit www.ha.com.