$86,654 for 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle Sets World Record at Auction

(image courtesy CoinWeek)

A perfect specimen of the 1995-W proof American Silver Eagle set a world record for an American Silver Eagle. Graded PR70DCAM (Proof 70 Deep Cameo) by PCGS, the coin was the subject of a heated bidding war before going to an unnamed East Coast collector. PCGS has only graded eight 1995-W proof Silver Eagles PR70

The 1995-W proof Silver Eagle is by far the rarest in the series, as it was only available as part of a 4-coin Gold Eagle set minted for the 10th anniversary of the American Eagle program. There were only 30,125 of these sets released. This Silver Eagle is listed in the Top 50 Most Popular Modern Coins by NGC, as well as in the “Top 100 Modern Coin” list by PCGS.

(source: CoinWeek)

1936 Canadian “Dot” 1-Cent Coin Estimated To Bring $250,000 At Auction

Heritage Auctions is set to auction one of the only 1936 “Dot Cent” Canadian pennies in existence on April 18 in Chicago. After King George V died in 1936, his son took the throne as Edward VIII. Canada, along with the U.K. and rest of the Commonwealth, redesigned their coinage to bear his likeness. But. before the Canadian coins could be struck, Edward abdicated the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Canada ran short of low denomination coinage before new dies bearing the likeness of the new King George VI could be finished, so resorted to minting “dot” coins in one, five, and twenty-five cents in early 1937. These coins had a dot on reverse, above the date, to distinguish them from proper 1936 coins. The one cent coins were never circulated and were melted down, with the exception of three samples.

This coin, rated “MS63 Red” by PCGS, is the only mint state sample among the three coins, and was previously owned by John Jay Pittman. The coin (among others) was stolen in 1964, but anonymously returned with some small scratches.

Heritage estimates that this coin should sell for $250,000 – $300,000, minus buyer’s premium.

1859 U.S. Proof Set from Royal Mint Sold At Auction for Over £422,000 ($637,000)

Morton and Eden’s March 6 auction of the Royal Mint Museum’s 1859 proof set of U.S. coins fetched nearly twice the estimate in aggressive bidding. The top coin was the 1859 $10 proof gold Eagle, purchased by Ira and Larry Goldberg Coins on behalf of an anonymous buyer. All the other ten coins were bought by Gallery Precious of Tokyo, who was determined to gain the whole set, but fell short on the top coin. The total proceeds, including 20% buyer fee, was £422,376 ($637,787.)

The coin set, which we covered here, were originally a present in 1859 from Professor J.H. Alexander, U.S. commissioner on a joint British/U.S. study on a common decimal currency between the two countries. Alexander presented two complete 1859 proof sets to the Royal Mint, but the $3 gold coin in one set went missing in the early 20th century. It was this 11-coin incomplete set that the Royal Mint Museum decided to auction, while retaining the complete set.

The Museum had the collection professionally graded by PCGS, who graded the coins PF63 or above. The $10 Gold Eagle and $2.50 Quarter Eagle were both graded PR65-CAM, while the Half Eagle garnered a PR65+ CAM, denoting extra eye appeal at that grade.

The prices realized, (minus buyer’s premium) according to Morton and Eden, were:

Indian Head 1¢ piece	PR65	£2,200 ($3,322)
Silver “Trime” 3¢ piece	PR63	£480 ($725)
Silver Seated Liberty half-dime	PR64	£1,400 ($2114)
Silver Seated Liberty dime	PR64	£1,600 ($2416)
Silver Seated Liberty quarter	PR64	£2,200 ($3,322)
Silver Seated Liberty half dollar	PR64	£2,600 ($3,926)
Silver Seated Liberty dollar	PR64	£6,500 ($9,815)
Gold Indian Head dollar	PR65 CAM	£15,000 ($22,650)
Gold Coronet quarter eagle	PR65 CAM	£62,000 ($93,620)
Gold Coronet half eagle	PR65+ CAM	£88,000 ($132,880)
Gold Coronet eagle	PR65 CAM	£170,000 ($256,700)
		_______________
TOTAL (minus premium)		£351,980 ($531,490)
TOTAL (with 20% buyer’s premium)		£422,376 ($637,788)

 

Gainesville Coins carries a wide selection of both ungraded and NGC/PCGS -certified pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, as well as Morgan and Peace Dollars at very attractive prices with no hidden fees!

Mystery Eisenhower Presentation Silver Dollar Discovered

CoinWeek is reporting that a previously unknown Eisenhower silver dollar in a presentation case case bearing Richard Nixon’s name has been discovered, and neither the U.S. Mint nor the Smithsonian have yet found any record of it.

Found on eBay by coin collector Andy Oskom, the proof coin came in a cardboard box printed with a woodgrain pattern, the Presidential Seal, and image of President Nixon’s signature (Nixon was Eisenhower’s Vice President.) This proof coin was struck using the low relief circulation die on reverse.

Read all about the investigations so far on CoinWeek.