A rare 1842 small date quarter sold for $282,000 in the installment of The Eugene H. Gardner Collection in New York on Oct. 27, 2014. The The Eugene H. Gardner Collection II brought $13.75 million, combined with Part I of the collection, which sold in June, Gardner's extraordinary coins have realized more than $33 million, with two additional auctions scheduled for 2015. All prices include a 17.5% Buyer's Premium. Rare Seated Liberty coinage made up three of the top four individual results from the auction.
An 1842 small date quarter, graded Proof-65 by PCGS, shared top honors when it sold for $282,000. The 1842 small date is only known as a proof, with seven examples accounted for. This coin is the second finest of five available to collectors. PCGS reports this sole PR65 and none others in any grade. NGC shows one PR66 and one PR64 Cameo.
The 1842 Small Date quarter is one of the greatest of all silver rarities in American numismatics. It has a distinct date logotype, far smaller than the large digits used for business strikes, and is only available in proof format. The roster presents seven examples, of which two reside permanently in museum collections, leaving a maximum of only five coins available for collectors.
Another proof Seated Liberty quarter, the 1839 No Drapery, brought $270,250. This coin is unique in proof format and is one of only two proofs of the No Drapery subtype known. It is graded Proof-65 by NGC. Matching this result at $270,250 was an 1871-CC dime graded MS65. This coin, encapsulated as a Gem by NGC, is unsurpassed in numerical grade at either of the two major grading services and may be the sole finest graded. Probably between four and seven mint state examples of the 1871-CC dime are known.
A 1796 half dollar with 15 stars on the obverse, graded MS62 by NGC, was the only outsider among the Seated coinage in the top four of this auction, matching the top price realized in the auction and selling for $282,000. The 1796 half is under heavy demand from type collectors, date collectors and variety collectors, and brings high prices in any grade. Fewer than 4000 examples of the type were minted.
Source: Heritage Auction
