The Canadiana Collection dominates auction action at The Waldorf Astoria, Jan. 3-4, 2010

NEW YORK — Heritage Auctions’ World Coins division kicked off 2010 with a bang over the New Year’s weekend at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan, setting an in-house record total with its $11 million+ Signature® World Coin Auction, Jan. 3-4, with the most famous Canadian coin in existence, the best of three known George V 1936 Dot Cents, leading all coins with a final price realized of $402,500. All prices include a 15% Buyer’s Premium.

“We don’t see any weakness in the World Coin market right now,” said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Director of International Sales at Heritage Auctions. “It almost seems strange to say it, but it’s true. Usually one area or another will show some kind of slowdown, but there were a record amount of bidders vying for almost every coin in this auction, especially The Canadiana Collection, as the more than 90% sell-through rate indicates.”

The Canadiana Collection did indeed top all entries into auction and set coin collectors across Canada, and the world, abuzz with its stunning array of offerings. In the process of realizing $3.85 million total, it made international news with the sale of the legendary 1936 Dot Cent, KM28, Specimen 66 Red PCGS, Ex: Belzberg, the finest of three known, as mentioned above.
Long considered essentially uncollectible since noted numismatist John Jay Pittman had held all three known examples from 1961 until his death, these coins were struck in 1937 prior to the creation of coinage dies for George VI but never released for circulation. Since first re-appearing on the market more than a decade ago, and now well-scattered, the three 1936 Dot Cents create great excitement whenever one appears on the auction block.

While it didn’t garner the same level of media attention as the Dot Cent, a simply beautiful 1934 Australian Proof Set, also featuring George V, KM-PS11, comprising KM22-27, certified and graded by PCGS, generated high interest and spirited bidding from collectors of Australian coins, ultimately bringing more than four times its low estimate of $60,000 to settle at $276,000.

“This is just an absolutely spectacular set, possibly the finest known and certainly the highest certified,” said Warren Tucker, Director of World Coins at Heritage Auctions. “It’s certainly very rare and now it’s the centerpiece for a very advanced collection.”

Also from The Canadiana Collection, a stunning 1921 Canadian 50 Cents, KM25a, MS66 PCGS, Ex: Bass-Belzberg-Brown, known as the ‘King of Canadian Coins,’ and also featuring England’s King George V, proved very popular with collectors on its way to a final price realized of $218,500, while the much-heralded 1936 Canadian Dot 10 Cents Specimen 68, KM23a, Specimen 68 PCGS, Ex: Pittman, lived up to its billing as the finest known survivor of the issue as collectors bid the coin up to a price of $184,000.

Further highlights of the auction include, but are not limited to:

Victoria Canadian 50 Cents 1890H, KM6, MS64 PCGS, Ex: Alston-Grossman: One of the most coveted issues in Canadian numismatics and the rarest entry in the incredibly difficult Victoria 50 Cents series, with a mintage of only 20,000 coins. One of only two Mint State examples known, both survivors of the renowned Heaton Hoard discovered in 1974-75. Realized: $149,500.

Victoria Canadian 50 Cents 1871-H, KM6, MS67 PCGS, Ex: Brown-Grossman: With only 45,000 pieces coined, the 1871-H Victoria 50 Cents, the first Heaton production, has the lowest mintage among the early-series issues. This phenomenal Superb Gem coin has the dual distinction of being not only the single finest graded of the issue by three grade points, it is also the single finest PCGS-certified example of the entire Victoria 50 Cents type (7/09). Realized: $120,750

South African Republic gold Pond 1874, Friedberg 1a, KM12, MS64 NGC, fine beard variety: The famed Burgers Pond, portrait of President Thomas François Burgers. 695 were struck in Birmingham, England. Few of this small number have survived, and many extant are damaged from jewelry use. An astounding example.  Realized: $97,750.

People’s Republic of China gold 20 oz. 1500 Yuan 1989: Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the People’s Republic, National emblem above city view/Government official giving speech at ceremony, value below, KM259, Gem Proof in the original sealed government plastic package. The first example Heritage has seen of this seldom offered issue. Realized: $92,000.

Cuban Republic gold 20 Pesos 1916, KM21, Proof 63 PCGS, extremely rare Proof only date with a total mintage of 10 pieces:  One of the great rarities of the Latin gold series, and missing in the collections of the ANS and Smithsonian. Realized: $88,002.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 475,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: www.Twitter.com/HeritagePress; www.Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: www.HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: www.HA.com/PR-1784.

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DALLAS, TX — The last numismatic blast of the summer of 2009 went off with an $18.4 million flourish in Heritage Auctions’ combined Long Beach U.S. Coin, Currency and World Coin events, Sept. 10-13. The successful trio of auctions further heartened erudite collectors as the world reflects on a year ago as financial markets buckled. U.S. Coins saw solid results with a total of more than $9.4 million, while U.S. Currency’s strong showing amounted to more than $5.7 total, and World Coins continued its robust climb with more than $3.2 million in prices realized.

“We’re very satisfied with the results across the board,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. “As always, quality sells, and the top lots in each category certainly bore that out. Bidding was spirited, more than 9,200 bidders participated and the overall results show us that the state of the numismatic market is quite sound; perhaps on its way to a full recovery, and beyond.”
The first among equals at Long Beach was a stunning 1891 $20 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC from the Long Beach Signature® U.S. Coin Auction, which realized $158,125. Struck just before George Heath, William Jerrems, David Harlowe, J.A. Heckelman, and John Brydon convened with 61 charter members at the Commercial Hotel at the corner of Lake and Dearborn streets in Chicago for the inaugural convention of the American Numismatic Association, it is an exceedingly rare early proof coin – one of only a couple of dozen known – procured from the U.S. Mint by one of the original members of what is easily the most important numismatic association.
Another rare double eagle followed close, this one a gorgeous St. Gaudens 1920-S $20 MS64 PCGS from The Vegas Collection, which realized $132,250. While the mints in both Philadelphia and San Francisco struck double eagles in 1920 – the first since the production of the 1916-S coins -1920-S is rare in all grades. This is a classic rarity in a series that abounds with them.
In Heritage’s Signature® Long Beach Currency event is a wholly original, truly outstanding Fr. 2221-G $5000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ that provided the biggest fireworks, realizing $126,500.

“This outstanding note easily ranks as one of the very finest $5000 notes to have come through the doors of the Heritage currency department,” said Rohan. “It’s a fascinating new addition to the census of U.S. Notes, and well-valued at its final price.”
Heritage’s World Coins business has seen a decided uptick in recent months, and the impressive total of the Long Beach Signature® World Coin auction, at just more than $3.2 million shows. More than the overall total, the quality of the World Coin treasures in the auctions have also continued to expand and impress. An extreme rarity from Brazil, a Joao V gold 12800 Reis Dobra 1731-R “Italic Shield”, KM148, AU53 NGC, which brought $103,500, topped the World Coin auction. It is one of only a handful known to exist and is considered nicer than the one in the “Espirito Santo Collection,” the most important collection ever assembled of Portuguese and Portuguese colonial coins and the only other piece found in our research.

The U.S. Currency and World Coin auctions added continued sparkle to their categories and totals with a Rare and Lovely Fr. 172 $100 1880 Legal Tender PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ, one of only two Friedberg numbers of this type, which realized $97,750 on the Currency side, while a rare and desirable Chinese Mint State Chihli Tael, Year 33 (1907), KM-Y74.1, L&M-438, MS63 NGC, a classic issue of the late Empire series, realized $92,000.

FURTHER U.S. COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

1930-S $20 MS63 PCGS: Of the Select Mint State 1930-S, David Akers, in his recently published Handbook of 20th Century United States Gold Coins, writes: “The 1930-S is by far the rarest of the 1929-1932 issues in this series and, discounting the essentially uncollectible 1933, only the 1927-D is rarer when we consider the entire Saint-Gaudens series.” From The Vegas Collection. Realized: $86,250.
1925-D 1C MS66 Red PCGS: The Single Finest PCGS 1925-D Lincoln Cent known. One of only two certified in this grade by PCGS and there are certainly none finer, either technically or aesthetically. Realized: $74,750.
1920-D 5C MS66 PCGS, CAC: A Spectacular 1920-D Nickel, the finest certified by PCGS. This issue is a fantastic rarity. A look at our Permanent Auction Archives reveals that Heritage has sold only one other Premium Gem example, in March 2007. That piece was housed in a PCGS holder, but has apparently since been removed and the population data now indicates that the present coin is the only MS66 example certified by that service. None have been graded higher by PCGS, while NGC reports just two numerically finer examples (8/09). Realized: $74,750.

1904-S 50C MS66 PCGS, CAC: The Eliasberg Speciment, a remarkable 1904-S Barber Half Dollar. An impressive Premium Gem, at Long Beach the Eliasberg-Friend found its sixth owner since the day it was made. J.M. Clapp bought the coin from the San Francisco Mint, Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. bought the entire Clapp Collection, the owner of the Stellar Collection bought the coin at the Eliasberg sale, Dale Friend bought the 1904-S from the Stellar Collection, the coin was consigned by the purchaser at the Friend auction and brought $74,750 from its new owner.
FURTHER CURRENCY HIGHLIGHTS:

Carmen, OT – $10 1902 Red Seal Fr. 613 The First NB Ch. # (W)6719: New to the Census Unique Serial Number 1 Territorial Red Seal. An incredible note in every respect, and one of the most amazing highlights of the auction. This bank issued Territorial Red Seals only for less than two years before liquidating in February of 1905, with a total printing of only 286 sheets. By 1910, a scant five years later, with Red Seals still in active circulation, the amount outstanding had already dropped to just $650. This serial number 1 example is new to the census was offered in Long Beach for the first time to the numismatic community. Realized: $92,000.
Alva, OT – $10 1882 Brown Back Fr. 490 The Exchange NB Ch. # 5587: Serial Number 1 Oklahoma Territory – Unique With This Title. One of the most significant Territorials from a fantastic collection; one of only nine serial number 1 Territorial examples from all Oklahoma Territory banks combined, and the only note extant bearing this Alva bank’s first title, which was used for only a little more than two years and can be found only on the first 184 sheets of Territorials this bank circulated. Realized: $48,875.
Fr. 99 $10 1878 Legal Tender PMG Superb Gem Unc 67 EPQ: The Only Fr. 99 Graded Superb Gem New 67 to Date, Fr. 99 is a scarce and short lived type that is difficult to obtain in any grade, but becomes prohibitively rare at the highest grade ranges. At the very top of the grade scale stands this extraordinary note, which is the only example to date graded Superb Gem Uncirculated 67 (with none higher) by either of the two major grading services. Realized: $40,250

FURTHER WORLD COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

Christian VII Danish Asiatic Company Piastre 1777 – The Greenland Dollar, KM639.2, Davenport 412, Salv-52, AU58 NGC: The Famous Greenland Dollar, prized by collectors of Scandinavia, world crowns and trade dollars, and is easily one of the most famous coins ever struck. The Greenland Dollar is a bit of a misnomer in that it was struck for trade in the Orient, but includes the Danish island territories on the coin, namely Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Realized: $46,000.
Elizabeth II gold Proof 1000 Pounds (1 Kilo) 2006: Commemorating the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, 100 mm, Gem Proof in the original custom case with COA. A maximum of 40 pieces of this beautiful piece were struck. AGW 32.1450 oz. Realized: $34,500.
Napoleon III gold Essai 100 Francs 1861, Maz-1602, VG-3574, Proof 64 Cameo NGC: A pattern issued prior to the regular 100 Franc laureate head series. Signed by Barre. Realized: $32,200.

Heritage Auction Galleries is the world’s third largest auction house, and by far the largest auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 450,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage? Get them as they happen at: www.Twitter.com/HeritagePress; www.Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: www.HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: www.HA.com/PR-1731.

Kern-Carter 1880 Coiled Hair Stella leads July 31-Aug.2 event with $546,250

DALLAS, TX — An 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, Judd-1660, Pollock-1860, Low R.7, PR62 NGC – a gorgeous example of the timeless design of George Morgan – realized $546,250 at Heritage Auction Galleries’ July 31-Aug.2 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, leading the almost $25 million event. All prices include 15% Buyer’s Premium.

“We’re certainly pleased with the outcome of this auction,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. “Our three day event was a blockbuster. It brought in more than the top grossing movie of the weekend, which earned a little more than $22 million total. If you factor in that we did it with almost 4,000 bidders, and sold more than 90% of all lots, the figure is even more impressive.”

In past auctions Heritage has only been able to account for eight different examples of the 1880 $4 Coiled Hair stella, but the firm has recently established that the Dallas Bank Collection example makes a ninth distinct survivor. It was believed for many years that just 10 pieces were struck, but it is more likely that 20 pieces were originally coined, which all goes to show that, like the 1879 Coiled Hair and 1880 Flowing Hair coins, the 1880 Coiled Hair is a major rarity from an extremely small mintage.

“The more than half million dollar price tag attests not only to the rarity of this great coin,” said Rohan. “It also speaks to the undiminished popularity and lasting beauty of Morgan’s artistry.”

The number two and three lots in the auction – a spectacular MS65 1933 $10, the Morse-O’Neal example of the ‘Last Collectible Classic U.S. Gold Issue,’ and an 1856-O $20 AU58 NGC, one of the finest known examples – both brought $460,000 from the enthusiastic Los Angeles buyers.

The 1933 $10 is among the most notable rarities of the 20th Century U.S. Mint Gold Series, having survived President Franklin Roosevelt’s early 1933 order halting the release of gold coins from the Mint, and recalling gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates, which was made in an effort to halt the downward economic spiral created by The Great Depression. The near-Mint 1856-O $20 is one of the few remaining examples of a mintage that was small to begin with, only 2,250 pieces; it is easily the rarest double eagle from the New Orleans Mint, and ranks alongside the 1854-O and 1870-CC issues as the rarest business strike Liberty $20s.

A true first year of issue super gold rarity, a 1795 $5 Small Eagle S over D MS65 Prooflike NGC, was the subject of much admiration and fierce floor bidding in Los Angeles as it soared to a $345,000 price tag.

“This stunning beauty ranks among the finest Heritage has ever handled,” said Rohan. “In fact, it’s the only Gem example of this early issue that has appeared in any of our auctions since 1993, being a reappearance of lot 3135 in our January 2008 FUN Sale. It’s also the finest Prooflike example that has ever been certified.”

A very rare 1920-S $10 MS66 PCGS, Ex: O’Neal, from the year that marked the first U.S. regular-issue gold coinage since 1916, proved quite popular with collectors at the Los Angeles auction, bringing a healthy $345,000 price realized. In 1920, when 126,500 eagles were struck at the San Francisco Mint, they were already considered one of the rarest of all 20th century $10 gold coins as nearly all were exported in commercial trade, or held in Treasury vaults and eventually melted in the 1930s. No hoards have ever turned up and the coin remains very rare, and popular, to this day.

Further highlights from the auction include, but are not limited to:

A Rare Justh & Hunter Large-Sized, Memorable Gold Ingot, Nearly 15 Pounds, Recovered from the S.S. Central America:

Large Rectangular Justh & Hunter 179-Ounce Gold Ingot (1855-57). This large, deeply-patinated rectangular ingot was among many recovered from the doomed ship S.S. Central America, which foundered in a hurricane in 1857, carrying to the sea floor the present example and many others marked with the Justh & Hunter imprint, as well as those of numerous other assayers. A memorable and historic piece of the California gold rush.
Realized: $322,000

Landmark 1804 Quarter Eagle, 13 Star Reverse, the Rarest Quarter Eagle Major Variety, BD-1,
Possibly Finest Known, AU58:

A strong candidate for Finest Known, this coin is a memorable specimen of one of the rarest major varieties in the U.S. gold series. The BD-1 variety is characterized by the presence of 13 stars on the reverse, compared to the 14 stars of the more available BD-2 variety of this date.

Realized: $322,000

Possibly the Finest Known 1776 Brass Continental Dollar, MS63, Newman 1-B, Hodder 1-A.2, Reverse Double Struck:

About 15 brass Continental Currency pieces are known in all grades, and they are only known from the original engraving or the first modification of Reverse A. Breen recorded an example of the EG FECIT variety in brass; however, that piece has never materialized. Current rarity information indicates that there are three known examples of Hodder 1-A.1, and about 12 known of Hodder 1-A.2, the variety that was offered in Los Angeles.

Realized: $299,000

Excessively Rare 1776 Ornamented Date Dollar, XF45 PCGS. CAC. Newman 5-D, Hodder 4.1-B, W-8480, R.8., Tied for the Finest of Three Known:

Only three examples of the Ornamented Date rarity, including this coin, are known to collectors. The Norweb specimen and the present example appear to be tied for the finest known of the Ornamented Date variety. However, the Norweb coin is now in the collection of a well established New York colonial specialist, and will likely remain off the market for a long time. The present example, which was unknown to older generations, first appeared in the Christie’s sale of November 1990, lot 241, where it was conservatively graded Very Fine. The third specimen appeared in the June 1997 Spink America sale, lot 19, with a provenance to Burdette Johnson, Col. E.H.R. Green, and Waldo Newcomer before him.

Realized: $276,000

A Spectacular 1844 Quarter, PR66 NGC, CAC. Ex: Pittman-Kaufman, Finest Known, the Only Certified Example: The rarity of the 1844 proof quarter is attested to by its certified population of one, this NGC-graded PR66 coin pedigreed to the John Jay Pittman and Phil Kaufman collections. Additionally, Larry Briggs, in his The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of United States Liberty Seated Quarters, says of the 1844 quarter that there are “approximately five proofs,” and Walter Breen, in the Complete Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Coins, also contends that there are “Five proofs traced.”

Realized: $276,000

For more information on the August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction, to read detailed descriptions of these, and any other lots, and to download full-color, enlargeable images, go online to www.HA.com/1128.

Heritage Auction Galleries is the world’s third largest auction house, and by far the largest auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 450,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage? Get them as they happen at: www.Twitter.com/HeritagePress; www.Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: www.HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: www.ha.com/PR-1717.