According to a year-end tabulation by the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), the overall U.S. rare coin market was estimated at about $5 billion. 12 most expensive U.S. rare coins sold for US$1 million or more each at public auctions in 2014.
"The prices realized for U.S. coins sold at major public auctions in 2014 totaled nearly $536 million, surpassing 2013's record of nearly $393 million. Several important collections will be offered at auctions in 2015, and I anticipate we'll again see record prices for so-called 'trophy coins' that combine historic significance, rarity and superb condition," said PNG President Terry Hanlon.
"We estimate the overall coin market in the U.S. at about $5 billion in 2014. That includes auctions and private transactions made at coin shows, by mail order, online and at coin stores, but does not include numismatic bullion items or the modern coins sold directly by the United States Mint," explained Hanlon.
Top 10 Most Expensive U.S. rare coins sold in 2014 auction:
1. 1787 Brasher Doubloon Ephraim Brasher’s "EB" punch mark on the eagle’s wing sold for $4,582,500
This finest-certified NGC MS63 rare coin sold sold for $4,582,500 by Heritage Auctions, FUN US Coin Signature Auction in Orlando, Thursday night, Jan. 9, 2014. This particular Brasher Doubloon has been off the market since it was purchased by a Chicago resident in 1979 for a then-record price of $430,000. It was the subject of a Raymond Chandler book, a Hollywood movie and it was displayed by a previous owner at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Read more: Famous rare coins sold for USD$7.87 million.
2. 1913 Liberty Head Nickel sold for $3,290,000
This rare Olsen 1913 Liberty Head nickel coin sold for $3,290,000 by Heritage Auctions, FUN US Coin Signature Auction in Orlando, Thursday night, Jan. 9, 2014. This coin is offered for only the eighth time in history, while the four other coins have appeared only six times in total -- making this the 14th time any 1913 Liberty nickel has ever been offered at auction. The coin famously featured in an episode of the 1970s television show "Hawaii Five-O" episode appropriately titled "The $100,000 Nickel." Read more: Famous rare coins sold for USD$7.87 million.
3. 1927 Denver Mint Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle $20 denomination gold coin sold for $1,997,500.
The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle gold coin sold for $1,997,500 by Heritage Auctions, FUN US Coin Signature Auction in Orlando, Thursday night, Jan. 9, 2014. The 1927-D was one of 16 gold coins from earlier dates that the Treasury Department was offering to collectors for face value plus shipping in the summer of 1932. The gold coin certified MS66 by NGC, rests solidly in second place in the Condition Census for the issue, tied with several other pieces in the same grade at NGC and PCGS. Only a single MS67 PCGS example, the former Phillip H. Morse Collection coin, is certified finer.
4. 1804 Draped Bust Dollar Class III type sold for $1,880,000.
The “King of U.S. Coins” sold for $1,880,000 by Stack’s Bowers Galleries during Rarities Night Session of the Official ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction on the evening of Wednesday, August 6, 2014. The Berg-Garrett 1804 dollar is the Bowers Encyclopedia (1993) plate coin that illustrated the Class III dollars. Read more: Garrett 1804 dollar brought $1,880,000.
5. 1861 "Paquet Reverse" Double Eagle sold for 61, $1,645,000.
The 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle, depicting a rare one-year type by Anthony C. Paquet, who redesigned the reverse of the Liberty double eagle for use on 1861-dated coinage, brought $1,645,000 as the top lot in Heritage Auction's Aug. 5, 7 and 9 American Numismatic Association U.S. Coins Signature Platinum Night Auction at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Chicago. Read more: 1861 Paquet gold $20 brings $1.645 million.
6. 1792 Pattern Cent (Judd-1, Pollock-1) sold for $1,410,000.
%2BNGC%2BMint%2BState%2B63%2B.jpg "1792 Pattern Cent (Judd-1, Pollock-1) NGC Mint State 63+")
The MS63+ Brown NGC specimen sold for $1,410,000 in New York, the Eric P. Newman Collection IV Signature Auction, May 16, 2014. The 1792 Silver Center cent is one of the earliest United States pattern issues and probably the most famous of all 1792 patterns. The initial mintage figure for the Silver Center cent is unknown, but it was undoubtedly quite small. Just over a dozen examples are known today, with a single coin included in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.
7. 1776 silver Continental Dollar, "CURRENCY" and "EG FECIT" variety sold for $1,410,000.
This spectacular MS63 coin sold for $1,410,000 in New York, the Eric P. Newman Collection IV Signature Auction, May 16, 2014. Only two examples of the Newman 3-D variety in silver are known, and this is the finer by a wide margin. There are also two Newman 1-C dollars in silver, bringing the total of silver Continental Currency dollars extant to four: This coin is the finest silver Continental Currency dollar and the most desirable of the Continental Currency coinage.
8. 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle sold for $1,292,500.
The 1927-D Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle PCGS Mint State 63 gold coin sold for $1,292,500 by Heritage Auctions, The Collection of Donald E. Bently - Bently Foundation US Coins Signature Auction in San Francisco, March 20, 2014. This is the seventh appearance (with duplications) of 1927-D double eagles at Heritage Auctions in the years since 1995.
9. 1797 Half Dollar (Overton-101a) sold for $1,292,500.
%2BPCGS%2BSecure%2BMint%2BState%2B65%2B%2BPCGS%2BSecure.jpg "1797 Half Dollar (Overton-101a) PCGS Secure Mint State 65+ PCGS Secure")
The Draped Bust half dollar with a Small Eagle reverse graded MS65+ PCGS sold for $1,292,500 in Heritage Auction's Aug. 5, 7 and 9 American Numismatic Association U.S. Coins Signature Platinum Night Auction at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Chicago. This 1797 Draped Bust half is the finest CAC-endorsed 1796-1797 half known to exist. Read more: 1861 Paquet gold $20 brings $1.645 million.
10. 1792 Half Disme Judd-7, Pollock-7 variety sold for $1,292,500.
The 1792 half disme specimen-67 PCGS sold for $1,292,500 in Heritage Auction's Aug. 5, 7 and 9 American Numismatic Association U.S. Coins Signature Platinum Night Auction at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Chicago. This coin is the second-highest numerically graded example of this issue, with a specimen status. Read more: 1861 Paquet gold $20 brings $1.645 million.
Founded in 1955, the Professional Numismatists Guild is composed of many of the country's top rare coin and paper money dealers. PNG member-dealers must adhere to a strict code of ethics in the buying and selling of numismatic merchandise. A complete listing of PNG member-dealers is available online at www.PNGdealers.org.
