Tag Archive for: coins

6 Rare Coins You Won’t Find In the Sofa Cushions

“We’re in the money!… We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along!” 

The lyrics of The Gold Diggers’ Song from the Warner Bros. film Gold Diggers of 1933 are appropriate in describing this week’s auction of 250 vintage rare coins. Collector-quality gold and silver – U.S. and foreign – will be rolling out to the highest bidders. Take a look at 6 highlights from this catalog.

Several factors make the 1859 U.S. $3 Princess gold coin a rare find. The coins were not widely used in the Eastern U.S. and were largely unpopular. Collectors have since changed the status of this attractive design. The coin is sometimes referred to as a “Copper Spot” gold coin because it is composed of 90% gold and 10% copper and silver.

1859 $3 Princess ‘Copper Spot’ gold coin, original, mint AU. $4,125-$8,250. Jasper52 image

 

The auction opens with a rare 1955 Double Die Lincoln cent, a rare error that is estimated to sell for up to $7,000. Separately, this second 1955 double die Lincoln cent could sell for upward of $7,770.

1955 Lincoln cent, PCGS graded. Estimate: $3,885-$7,770. Jasper52 image

 

Two rare Morgan silver dollars from the San Francisco mint, named for designer and engraver George T. Morgan, stand out in the collection. This 1903-S Morgan has a PCGS AU50 rating and could top $10,000.

Rare 1903-S Morgan silver dollar, PCGS AU50. Estimate: $5,445-$10,890. Jasper52 image

 

This 1904-S Morgan silver dollar, PCGS AU53, is estimated at $3,135-$6,270. Both of these Morgan dollars are considered rare.

Rare 1904-S Morgan silver dollar, PCGS AU53. Estimate: $3,135-$6,270. Jasper52 image

 

Foreign coins in this collection are led by a rare 1906-S Australia sovereign, PCGS MS63, which could achieve $5,700.

1906-S Australia Sovereign PCGS MS63, extremely rare. Estimate: $2,850-$5,700 Jasper52 image

 

This diverse sale of coins spans centuries and origin. Peruse the full collection and get in the money.

A Brief History of Coin Collecting

It is said that during the Great Depression, following the devastating Wall Street crash of 1929, the only investments of interest to skittish speculators were fine art, rare cars, and old coins. That rule of thumb seemed to have prevailed during every subsequent period of financial market instability since the 1930s, since the three categories have tended to prove their merits over and over again.

Scarce gold and silver coins are unique in the collectibles realm because they have both intrinsic worth based on their precious metal content and value as historical items. Gold and silver bullion has a melt value dictated by global financial markets, but bars of precious metal are not acquired primarily for their beauty or rarity. They are commodities.

An example of a collector favorite, this 1799 US $10 ‘Capped Bust’ Gold Eagle with Lady Liberty on obverse and American Eagle with US Shield on reverse was purchased for $7,500 plus buyer’s premium on April 20, 2013. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers Archive and Early American History Auctions

People have hoarded coins for their bullion value for as long as coins have been minted. However, the collection of coins for their artistic value was a later development. Evidence from the archaeological and historical records of Ancient Rome and medieval Mesopotamia indicates that coins were collected and catalogued by scholars and state treasuries.

It also seems probable that individual citizens collected old, exotic or commemorative coins as an affordable, portable form of art. According to Suetonius in his De vita Caesarum (The Lives of the Twelve Caesars), written in the 1st century CE, the emperor Augustus sometimes presented old and exotic coins to friends and courtiers during festivals and other special occasions.

An 1899 Chinese Kwangtung Empire specimen pattern dollar coin sold for $150,000 in Heritage Auctions’ June 22-24, 2016 auction held in Hong Kong. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

Contemporary coin collecting and appreciation began during the Renaissance, around the 14th century. Because only the very wealthy could afford the pursuit, coin collecting became known as the “hobby of kings.” The Italian scholar and poet Petrarch is credited with being the pursuit’s first and most famous aficionado. Following his lead, many European kings, princes and other nobility kept collections of ancient coins. Some of the notable collectors were Pope Boniface VIII, Emperor Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire, Louis XIV of France, Ferdinand I, Henry IV of France and Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg, who started the Berlin Coin Cabinet (Münzkabinett Berlin).

The first US gold coin ever minted, the ‘Brasher Doubloon,’ was struck in 1787 by a neighbor of George Washington. Heritage Auctions sold the coin for $4,584,500 in 2014. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

During the 17th and 18th centuries coin collecting remained a patrician pursuit. But during the so-called Age of Enlightenment that swept Europe during the 18th century, a more systematic approach to the accumulation and study of old coins was adopted. At the same time, coin collecting was becoming a leisure pursuit of the growing middle class, eager to prove their wealth and sophistication.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the market for coins expanded to include not only antique coins, but also foreign and exotic currency. Coin shows, trade associations, and regulatory bodies emerged during these decades and in 1962, the first international convention for coin collectors was jointly hosted in Detroit, Michigan, by the American Numismatic Association and the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association. An estimated 40,000 people attended – a testament to the popularity of a pastime once reserved for only the wealthiest and most aristocratic individuals.

The US Mint’s State Quarters Program provided an inexpensive way for youngsters to enter the coin-collecting hobby. This example is the proof for the 2001 North Carolina quarter, which depicts the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk.

While it is difficult to know how many people collect coins, it is clear that nowadays coins attract enthusiasts of every age and standing. Want proof? The United States Mint has estimated that some 120 million Americans pursued the 50 States Quarters issued from 1999 through 2008. This statistic alone shows that in contrast to its upper-crust origins, coin collecting has become perhaps the most egalitarian of all hobbies, with entry-level price points that even youngsters can afford.

Empty Your Change Purse For This Coin Auction

An impeccable collection of coins has been curated for this weekend’s first-ever coin and bullion auction on Jasper52. This diverse sale spans decades and continents, with specimens from Imperial Russia, Bourbon Spain, and ancient Rome, and includes many rare examples from throughout the history of the United States.

We’ve selected a few highlights from the collection to set your eyes (and wallets) on:

One of the standouts from this collection is an extremely rare 1895-S Morgan silver dollar estimated at $6,600-$13,200.

1895-S Morgan $1 PCGS AU53, rare. Estimate: $6,600-$13,200. Jasper52 image

 

One of the earliest and finest U.S. coins in the sale is a rare 1799 13-Star Bust dollar graded PCGS F12, which is expected to sell for $5,300-$10,600.

Rare 1799 Bust Dollar PCGS F12. Estimate: $5,300-$10,600. Jasper52 image

 

On the flip side (see what we did there?), well-circulated example of the same 1799 silver dollar is estimated at $2,900-$5,700.

1799 13 Star Draped Bust dollar. Estimate: $2,900-$5,700. Jasper52 image

 

A rare oddity in this collection is a 1955 Double Die Lincoln Cent, which is expected to sell for $3,500-$7,000. The die is the device that imprints an image on blank coins, and a double die coin is one that was struck by a die that was accidentally engraved with a double image.

1955 Double Die Lincoln Cent, rare. Estimate: $3,500-$7,000. Jasper52 image

 

Gold coins in this sale include a 1910-D $10 U.S. Indian Head gold piece, and an 1856 $3 U.S. Princess gold piece.

RIGHT: 1910-D $10 U.S. Indian Head gold coin. Estimate: $2,100-$4,100. Jasper52 image
LEFT: 1856-S $3 U.S. Princess gold coin. Estimate: $1,700-$3,300. Jasper52 image

 

The entire collection of coins consists of 125 lots. Click here to view the full collection and register to bid in this exciting auction.