1795 half eagle, 1856-O double eagle and 1880 Coiled Hair stella among the offerings from Heritage, July 31-Aug. 2, in Beverly Hills

DALLAS, TX – Legends of TV and film will surrender the Hollywood spotlight for a night when a different kind of American star takes to the podium at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Beverly Hills: A historic 1854-S quarter eagle, graded VF35 NGC, will lead the Platinum Night offerings of Heritage Auction Galleries’ August 2009 Los Angeles U.S. Coin Auction

“This coin is truly a legendary rarity,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage, “and one of just a dozen known survivors from the first quarter eagle issue produced by the San Francisco Mint. In Heritage’s in-house condition census of the surviving 12, this example is rated fifth overall.”

Just 246 examples of the 1854-S quarter eagle were struck since the San Francisco Mint focused on making larger denominations such as the eagle and double eagle, and the relative “small change”denomination of the gold dollar, leaving the quarter eagle and half eagle relatively neglected. Despite the tiny mintage for the 1854-S quarter eagle, the coins that were produced found ready acceptance in California commerce; virtually the entire mintage was lost through attrition.

Every known 1854-S quarter eagle shows evidence of circulation, whether slight or extreme. The Choice VF example Heritage is offering exhibits moderate wear, but the surfaces show few of the usual marks that coins accrue while circulating and its eye appeal is remarkably strong.

“For decades, the 1854-S quarter eagle has been an underrated rarity,” said Rohan, “but a select cadre of collectors has long coveted the issue, and recent years have brought greater awareness of and appreciation for this emblem of the California Gold Rush.” (more…)

DALLAS, TX – Heritage Auction Galleries, the world’s leading numismatic auctioneer, has created a new online auction venue for World Coin buyers with its new Monthly Internet-only World Coin Auctions. The first installment of this new venture is currently online at www.HA.com/WorldCoins, closing on July 12. The next auction will start the same day, July 12, immediately following the closing of the previous auction.

“The format of the auctions is quite simple,” said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Director of International Sales at Heritage. “They will stay up for four weeks, will have an average of 500-600 certified lots, all unreserved and all starting at $1.”

As the undisputed industry leader in World Coins, Heritage is starting its monthly world coin Internet auctions as both a compliment to its weekly U.S. Rare Coin Internet-only auctions as well as to serve the world coin collecting audience devoted to coins that fall in the price range below that of most of the company’s more high profile auctions.

“There’s a consistent and committed audience for world coins that is only looking to spend anywhere from $30 to $300 and up,” said Bierrenbach. “We heard the demands of collectors and now present to them our monthly world coin Internet-only auctions.”

Buyers of rare world coins will now have a reason to visit the Heritage world coins auction home page more than just during the company’s Signature auction offerings. With a monthly selection of rare world coins – featuring the variety and pricing that Heritage is known for – collectors will have a reason to check in with Heritage on a regular basis. This allows them some excellent buys on fine and rare world coins as well as a first look at any catalog offerings that will be coming up.

“We’re excited to provide this opportunity to collectors,” said Bierrenbach. “They love fine world coins the way that we do here at Heritage, so we know what a regular buying occasion can do for them, and for their collections.”

For more information on this and other future World Coin Monthly Internet Auctions, to read detailed descriptions and download fully enlargeable, hi-res images, go online to the Heritage World Coin Auctions homepage. (more…)

The Heritage Summer FUN Auction has opened for bidding at www.HA.com/Coins, and it features an impressive selection of gold coins from The Kiawah Collection. Collectors of Liberty gold will want to search through the 500 pieces of Liberty gold, in the half eagle, eagle, and double eagle denominations.

In addition, about a hundred earlier and later pieces are also included, with many lovely type examples.

This collection has obviously been a labor of love for the designs of Christian Gobrecht and James B. Longacre that dominated U.S. coinage for more than half a century. Specialists in these series, type collectors, and just about every other numismatist will find coins of interest in this wonderful assemblage.

The impressive Kiawah Collection was assembled by a finance professor at a major East Coast business school, who is seeking warmer climes to escape cold Northeast Winters — the proceeds will be used for the purchase of a home on Kiawah Island. During his distinguished academic career stretching over more than three decades, the consignor has edited several important journals in his field, and served leadership positions in his professional associations. His scholarly works in economics, finance, and statistics have been cited more than four thousand times by other scholars, a singular tribute.

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