Monday, August 7, 2017

2 Rare Pennies sold for $493,000

2 rare penny sold at Heritage Auctions' Aug. 2-6 Signature Auction and Platinum Night events in Denver for a combined $493,000. A 1792 Birch Cent, likely ex: Parmelee sold for $211,500 after it had been previously lost for 130 years. A 1943 penny sold for $282,000 which is one of just 10 to 15 specimens known to exist.

Rare Pennies

The 1792 Birch Cent, likely ex: Parmelee. Authenticated by PCGS with XF details, this coin is a handsome specimen of the 1792 Birch cent, the first American cent, with great historic interest, the highest absolute rarity, and unusually well-preserved surfaces. Only three examples of this coin are believed to exist, with this one recently rediscovered in England.

The 1943 Cent Struck on a Bronze Planchet, MS62 Brown, NGC, which is one of the most famous and sought-after error coins of all time. The penny was supposed to be made of zinc-coated steel but was mistakenly made from bronze.

"This was the first time these particular coins were ever offered at auction and collectors were not going to let them get away," said Jim Halperin, Co-founder of Heritage Auctions, which offered the pennies at its auction held during the World's Fair of Money.

The auction took place as part of the largest numismatic convention of the year, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Convention, which runs through Saturday at the Colorado Convention Center.