Two gold dollars were by far and away the highlight lots in Bowers and Merena Auctions official sale called at the American Numismatic Association National Money Show held March 12-13 in Portland, Ore.
Bringing $218,500 was the Pittman specimen of the proof 1854 Type II gold dollar.
The catalog notes that just four examples are known to exist and this coin was graded Proof-64 by the Professional Coin Grading Service. The Garrett specimen is the only other one in collector hands.
Surfaces were described and catalogers wrote that the coin has “warm, even, yellow-gold color that appears to ‘go black’ in the fields when the coin turns away from a direct light source.”
Overall, the sale realized $2,472,270.Prices in this story include a 15 percent buyer’s fee.
Bringing $86,250 was a Type II 1855 gold dollar that PCGS graded MS-67.
It is called among the finest known of these pieces and described as “exceptionally well executed by the standards of the type.” Noted were clashmarks present in the fields around the central devices but “nowhere near as bold as typically encountered on Type II gold dollars.”
Other gold coins were also on the list of top bids.
An MS-66 1892 $20 gold piece graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. realized $60,950.
A condition census 1842-D gold $2.50 graded PCGS AU-58 CAC sticker brought $23,000. The catalog notes that this coin is at the top of the graded coins in the PCGS Population Report.
An MS-60 1858 gold $10 graded by NGC realized $20,125.
Though gold was where much of the top action was, the sale featured other material.
Two 1926-S Buffalo nickels are noteworthy.
A PCGS MS-63 with CAC sticker brought $25,300 while one called MS-64 by PCGS but without the CAC sticker topped out at $14,950.
For more information about the sale, visit the Web site at www.bowersandmerena.com, or telephone (800) 458-4646.
