First published in the September 6, 2010 issue of Coin World
If the bourse activity at the just-finished 2010 American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Boston was perceived as moderate-to-good, the associated auctions both before and during the show could be characterized as good-to-great.
In total the auctions realized more than $60 million.The week started off with Bowers and Merena Auctions' Boston Rarities Sale on Aug. 7 where the 1,750 lots offered realized a very healthy $9.3 million.
The star lot, a 1794 Flowing Hair dollar certified Mint State 64 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp., realized $1,207,500 (pictured left, image courtesy of Bowers and Merena Auctions); a strong price but within expectations for the fourth finest known example of this key issue, the finest of which just sold in a private transaction for a reported $7.85 million.The next day, Stack's auction of the Johnson-Blue Collection and other properties realized more than $4 million.
Several days later, the Heritage Auctions' juggernaut of U.S. coin, world coin and currency auctions began with the Platinum Night session. The total for the Heritage auctions – $46 million – represented a new record total for a Heritage ANA event and, one hopes, a windfall for the ANA which at least in the past has received a percentage of the total "official" ANA auction proceeds.
While the perceived stars – including some exceptional early Massachusetts silver coins, several gold patterns and an MS-67 1931 Saint-Gaudens gold $20 double eagle – soared, the Heritage auctions offered a few surprises.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came when a 1944 Walking Liberty half dollar graded MS-68 by Professional Coin Grading Service realized an astounding $109,250. It is not a rare coin as more than 28 million were struck and the average grade among the more than 20,000 certified examples is MS-63.8, meaning that many exceptional coins are available.
Eleven bidders competed for the trophy – the single finest Walking Liberty half dollar certified at PCGS – and the winning bidder will now have a spectacular coin for his or her registry set.
For comparison, the lone NGC MS-68 example realized $6,900 at Heritage's March 2010 Fort Worth ANA auction.
