GreatCollections Ultimate Auction Realizes $3 Million

The firm realized numerous record prices for many coins in this single-consignor sale.

by Great Collections Coin and Currency Auctions | Published on January 23, 2020

Many World Record Prices Achieved, 100% Sell-Through

An impressive, rainbow-toned 1885-CC Morgan Silver Dollar NGC MS-68 CAC OH (Toned) – Sold for $81,562

January 22, 2020. Irvine, Calif. – On Sunday, January 19t, thousands of collectors, dealers and professionals placed bids at GreatCollections, ignoring previous auction records and price guide values, to compete for perhaps the freshest collection of U.S. coins brought to market in over a decade.

The group of coins, almost 100 in total, were part of the “Ultimate Collection”, put away by a single collector 25-30 years ago and not unearthed until late 2019. The coins were graded by PCGS and NGC in the early days of certifying and encapsulating coins, and several runs of rarities had consecutive submission numbers rarely seen on the market today.

Many all-time world records were set and the majority of the coins sold to collectors including the 1796 Draped Bust Quarter PCGS MS-64. This one-year type coin realized $303,750, beating the PCGS Price Guide value of $250,000 by 20%, and almost double the last appearance in the same grade in a public auction, where it realized $164,500 by another firm in 2014.

A different collector won the 1793 Chain Cent AMERICA PCGS AU-50 CAC, which attracted 65 bids and over 2300 page views before finally selling for $171,562, far above the current PCGS Price Guide value of $92,500.

Another collector won the finest 1905 Barber Quarter graded MS-68 by PCGS and with CAC approval. After spirited bidding, the coin realized four times the PCGS Price Guide value of $25,000 and sold for $101,251.

This 1905 Barber Quarter PCGS MS-68 CAC OGH (1st Gen) (Toned) – Sold for a record-setting price of $101,251

A number of coins were won by collectors who surface every 5-10 years to add to their collection. One such example was the 1883 Liberty Quarter Eagle PCGS Proof-65, which realized $45,562, far above the current PCGS Price Guide value of $29,500. The new owner last purchased a coin in 2012.

Although coins certified by the grading services in the late 1980s and early 1990s regularly appear in auction even today, the Ultimate Collection stood out due to the combination of rarity and superb condition of the coins.

By the time the hammer fell on each of the coins auctioned by GreatCollections on January 19th, the sales totaled $3,027,910, with the Ultimate Collection realizing $1.479 million and the property of over 150 other consignors realizing $1.548 million. 100% of the 2100+ lots sold.

Ian Russell, owner/president of GreatCollections said: “it was our pleasure to offer such an original and fresh group of certified coins in our auctions and it proves the immense demand we have for coins of all price ranges. Many clients flew into our Irvine offices to view this collection, plus we were able to take highlights to several major cities to showcase them. The result was a record number of new bidders and obviously the many record prices set.”

Highlight Realizations from the Ultimate Collection:

1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent Bent Cap, Bunch Leaves PCGS XF-40 BN CAC OGH (1st Gen) – Sold for $27,000

1793 Chain Cent AMERICA PCGS AU-50 BN CAC OGH (1st Gen) – Sold for $171,565

1811 Classic Cent PCGS MS-64 BN CAC OGH (2nd Gen) – Sold for $36,000

1796 Draped Bust Dime PCGS MS-63 (CAC Gold Label) OGH (1st Gen) – Sold for $92,812

1796 Draped Bust Quarter PCGS MS-64 OGH (1st Gen) – Sold for $303,750

1846 Seated Liberty Quarter NGC Proof-65 CAC OH (Toned) – Sold for $36,281

1847 Seated Liberty Quarter NGC Proof-65 OH (Toned) – Sold for $25,312

1849 Seated Liberty Quarter NGC Proof-64 CAC OH (Toned) – Sold for $24,750

1905 Barber Quarter PCGS MS-68 CAC OGH (1st Gen) (Toned) – Sold for $101,251

1829/7 Capped Bust Half Dollar PCGS MS-65 CAC OGH (1st Gen) (Toned) – Sold for $49,500

1885-CC Morgan Silver Dollar NGC MS-68 CAC OH (Toned) – Sold for $81,562

1883 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle PCGS Proof-65 CAC OGH (1st Gen) – Sold for $45,562

Other Realizations from GreatCollections January 19th Auctions:

1987 Lincoln Cent PCGS MS-69 RD – Sold for $5,242

1940 Jefferson Nickel Reverse of 1938 NGC Proof-67 CAMEO – Sold for $3,487

1945-D Jefferson Nickel PCGS MS-68+ FS – Sold for $16,312

1898 Barber Dime PCGS MS-67 CAC (Simpson Collection) (Toned) – Sold for $4,500

1960-D Roosevelt Dime PCGS MS-68 FB (Toned) – Sold for $6,188

1954-D Washington Quarter PCGS MS-67 (Toned) – Sold for $2,339

1923 Peace Silver Dollar PCGS MS-67+ - Sold for $38,250

1892 Liberty Gold Quarter Eagle PCGS Proof-65 CAMEO CAC – Sold for $30,600

1935-S San Diego, California Pacific International Exposition Half Dollar NGC MS-65 (Vintage Black NGC Old Holder) – Sold for $5,304

1948-D Booker T. Washington Memorial Half Dollar PCGS MS-67 CAC – Sold for $7,918

1994 $50 One-Ounce Gold American Eagle PCGS MS-70 – Sold for $16,875

China 2015 Gold 2,000 Yuan Panda NGC Proof-70 UC (AGW = 4.994 oz.) – Sold for $10,531

French Polynesia 1979 Gold Franc Piedfort/Piefort Lec-5 KM-P12 NGC MS-70 (AGW = 0.532 oz.) – Sold for $2,756


GreatCollections is always looking for consignments large and small.

To find out more about selling your coins, visit www.greatcollections.com/selling or telephone 1-800-442-6467.

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Source: Great Collections Coin and Currency Auctions

Great Collections Coin and Currency Auctions image GreatCollections, the official auction house of the American Numismatic Association, specializes in auctioning certified coins and banknotes, handling transactions from start to finish. Since its founding in 2010, GreatCollections has successfully auctioned over 1 million certified coins, making it one of the leading certified coin companies in the United States with annual sales in 2022 exceeding $270 million. Ian Russell, owner/president of GreatCollections, is a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild, member of the National Auctioneers Association and was recently named the ANA Harry J. Forman Dealer of the Year. For more information about GreatCollections, visit www.greatcollections.com or call 800-442-6467.

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