(Virginia Beach, VA) – David Lawrence’s Internet Auction #199 highlighted by the Magnolia Collection of Lincoln Cents realized over $296,000! The online sale closed on November 29 with hundreds of bidders competing for the Registry-quality Lincoln cents, among other certified U.S. and world coinage.

These popular Registry-quality coins were highly contested, and we were surprised by the bidding activity with 245 lots sold in the 5-day event.

Noteworthy highlights include (all prices include 15% buyer’s premium):

1909 1c PCGS MS67 RD $ 4313.
1911-D 1c PCGS MS66 RD $ 10,953.
1915 1c PCGS MS67 RD $ 21,883.
1919-D 1c PCGS MS65 RD $ 5,980.
1921 1c PCGS MS66 RD $ 3,220.
1943-S 1c PCGS MS68 $ 3,220.
1957-D 1c PCGS MS67 RD $ 4,945. (more…)

by John Feigenbaum – David Lawrence Rare Coins

Back in January 2005 I wrote an article for the cover of Coin Dealer Newsletter titled, “Are Seated & Barber Coinage Ready to Explode?” With the hindsight of two and half years, it would appear that the fuse on this explosive was longer than I had first anticipated, but I feel more strongly than ever that these, and other long-overlooked series, are a tinderbox waiting to ignite.

For starters, I wasn’t all wrong… many of the standout key dates in series from Flying Eagle cents to Morgan dollars have seen their values double and triple over the past five years. It has been no surprise to the numismatic community that these issues turned a nice profit for their owners in the past decade. There is a finite supply of such items, and their popularity appeals to collectors that have been around for decades. But the influx of new buyers in the past 10 years has provided a price tension that demand couldn’t supply.

Surprisingly, however, a number of scarce-date issues in the same series as their more famous cousins have waited patiently on the sidelines at remain at the same prices we witnessed in 1990. I refer to these as “second-tier” issue. They are much scarcer than type coins but not as rare as the key dates.

Furthermore, an examination of the true great numismatic rarities is also compelling from a value perspective. While more coins than ever are broaching the million-dollar mark, the value of such rarities in comparison to other major collectibles is still compelling. (more…)