Wow…Report from first ANA auctions
Posted on August 9, 2010 by David Hall
I attended the Bowers and Merena auction on Saturday and the Stack’s auction today (Sunday) in Boston. I can tell you there is no economic slowdown in today’s coin market. Prices, while a little mixed overall…which is how it usually is in all auctions, were quite strong overall. This was especially true in three areas: Gem Two Cent pieces, rare $10 Liberties, and O-Mint $20 Liberties.
Bowers and Merena sold one of the best sets of Two Cent pieces ever assembled and the prices were super strong. Here are a few of the prices that were way over the PCGS price guide;
1864 Small Motto PR65CAM $161,000 (PCGS Price Guide was $100,000)
1864 Large Motto PR65RD CAM an incredible $20,700
1865 PR65RD CAM $9,775
1866 PR66CAM $20,700
1870 PR66+RD $24,457
1871 PR66RD CAM $24,437
1872 PR66RD $14,950
1873 Closed 3 PR67RD $52,900 (just a little over the PCGS price guide, but perhaps the coolest coin in the set. Laura bought it!
Stack’s had a nearly complete set of high grade Early $10 and $10 Liberties. The prices on some of the rare $10 liberties were way over our Price Guide, examples;
1842-O MS61 sold for a mind boggling $74,750 versus the PCGS Price Guide of $20,000
1848-O AU55 $12,650
1853-O catalogued as “Specimen 61” $316,250
1862 AU58 $25,300
1863 $27,600 which I had to buy as it was one of only two coins I needed to complete my personal collection of $10 Liberties…and they really made me pay for it.
1864 AU53 $23,000
I was talking to Dave Bowers before the sale and he told me he thought $10 Liberties were the most underappreciated gold series. You wouldn’t have known it from his auction prices.
I also tried to buy some O Mint $20 Liberties as I feel they are great coins, but I didn’t even get close. Those coins are always very hard to buy.
There were two Ultra Rarities that sold in the B&M auction for about what they should have sold for.
1870-S Seated Dollar EF45 $632,500
1854-O $20 Liberty $517,500
I’ll BLOG after the Wednesday Heritage Platinum Night auction and later in the show. This should be a great ANA!
Filed Under: News
Great update David! I really appreciate this up to the minute review. I’ll see you in Boston on Wednesday Platinum Night should be really strong. My set of HOF PCGS Barber Halves Sec+ graded coins will be a “watershed” event..sd
Thanks for taking the time to post, David! What’s the LAST date you need for your tens? 😀
Nice to know you still collect. Thanks for the info. I’d be interested in your opinion of the colonials coming up at Heritage.