In a March 15, 2005, Numismatic News column, Paul M. Green described the 1916 Doubled Die nickel “as perhaps the greatest and least known rarity of the 20th century. It is ironic, because the logical assumption would be that any coin of the 20th century is well known and appreciated.”

Knowledge of the variety became widespread only in 1976; even today, many otherwise knowledgeable numismatists fail to realize how rare the issue is–in all grades, but particularly in Mint State.

Although some regular 1916 Buffalo nickels are known to show strike doubling on the date, they are easily distinguished from the unusual Doubled Die coins, which show prominent but incomplete (at the bottom) digits from a first strike of a working hub, well southeast of the subsequent strike. Other obverse features are doubled–the chin, throat, and lips.

The feathers at the back of the head are plainly doubled at their bottoms, including the tiny partial feather closest to the neck. The butterfly-shaped attachment of the feather quills to the hair is plainly doubled on both sides. Traces of doubling are visible as well along the forward edge of the profile.

The finest certified are a number of near-Gems at both services, including two MS64 PCGS pieces that Heritage has handled in the last few years. (PCGS has certified only those two pieces in MS64.)

The 1916 Doubled Die invites a comparison with another popular Buffalo nickel variety, the 1918/7-D. NGC has certified three Gems of the 1918/7-D Buffalo, and 22 examples of that variety in MS64. Even if one deletes one-third of those coins as duplicates, it still leaves almost four times as many 1918/7-D Buffalos at the near-Gem level compared to the 1916 Doubled Die.

The obverse of this impressively lustrous near-Gem has gold-orange peripheral toning that yields to light nickel-gray in the centers. The reverse is more richly patinated in stark blue and green-gold hues. Both sides show a slight degree of central striking softness, but the crucial date area is crisp with strong impressions from both date hubs. Wispy abrasions on the major devices and in the fields account for the technical grade, though the eye appeal is more evocative of an even finer designation. Census: 6 in 64, 0 finer (4/10).

From The Brenda John Collection. Lot 391 of the Long Beach Signature Sale

This past week marked the first Coin Galleries auction sale of the year, and it was a resounding success, with over $1.7 million worth of coins, medals, tokens, and paper money sold.

This immense sale featured nearly 4,000 lots and offered selections from the Estate of Louis E. Eliasberg, Jr., as well as items from other important collections such as the Arturo Collection, the Bob Lyall Collection, the Chester L. Krause Collection, the Estate of Cornelius C. Vermeule, the Estate of Michael K. Ringo, the Jerry Byrne, Sr. Collection, the Lawrence Feinberg Collection, the Sleepy Hollow Collection, and the Standish Collection.

Lot 178 – KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246-222 B.C.
AV Octodrachm. Nearly Extremely Fine.
Ancient coins featured the collections of Cornelius C. Vermeule and Lawrence Feinberg, and offered over 700 lots of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Medieval coins punctuated by amazing pieces like a gold Octadrachm of Arsinöe II in Extremely Fine condition that brought $11,212. Two lots later was a lustrous, nearly EF Ptolemy III Euergetes Octadrachm that sold for $14,030.

Lot 347 – Anonymous, 211-208 B.C. AV 60 Asses.
Second Punic War issue. Extremely Fine.
Roman Provincial coinage comprised 130 lots of this section and led the way into the Republican issues, which boasted significant lots like an anonymous Second Punic War Issue Gold 60 Asses in Extremely Fine that brought $3,852. Rare Denarii included an extremely rare variety of a Mark and Lucius Antony issue in Good Very Fine that garnered $2,110 and a Julius Caesar example in the same grade with a superb portrait that sold for $3,392. Roman Imperial coinage featured a lovely pair of Sestertii, the first a pleasing Eastern mint example of Titus graded Extremely Fine that reached $4,945 and the second a Very Fine Pertinax issue in Very Fine with an excellent portrait that closed for $4,657.

Lot 555 – FRANCE. Carolingian Kings. Pippin III, the Short, 751-768 AR Denier. Good Very Fine.
Byzantine and Medieval coins followed the Imperial coinage, and Medieval French issues took center stage. The extremely rare silver Denier of Pippin the Short was a popular item; this Good Very Fine coin, once part of the Garrett Collection, sold for a strong $8,740. Immediately following this lot was a lovely Denier of Charlemagne, a nicely toned Very Fine example that sold for $6,325. (more…)

Revamped CICF auction brings more the 3300 bidders; World Coin market continues to excel, see broad demand

DALLAS, TX – There can be no doubt as to the continuing strength and ever-growing interest in the World Coin market after Heritage Auction Galleries April 21-22 Signature® World Coin Auction at the Chicago International Coin Fair (CICF) brought almost 3350 bidders to the table and realized a stunning total of more than $5.2 million.

“Heritage couldn’t be happier with the move of our spring auction to the CICF,” said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Director of International Sales at Heritage. “Anytime we can reach so many high-end world buyers in one place, and subsequently realize more than 94% by value and 97% by lot on an auction, we know we’re in the right spot.”

The auction also marked the beginning of a new CICF partnership between Heritage and Krause Publications, the producers of World Coin News, Numismatic News and Bank Note Reporter, among its many publications. By all accounts, the new union was an unqualified success.

“The addition of Heritage as official CICF auctioneer gave the show a big lift,” said convention chairman and Krause Group Publisher Scott Tappa. “The depth and breadth of the four-session sale attracted a great array of attendees and added to our growing bourse floor. We look forward to Heritage’s continued partnership with CICF and Krause Publications for years to come.”

“Scott Tappa and his crew put together a world class event and we matched it with more than 4700 lots for the Heritage collecting community worldwide,” said Bierrenbach. “When I think the world coin market can’t surprise us anymore, we have an auction like this with results much stronger than we could’ve predicted. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

Of all the international numismatic treasure up for grabs at the Heritage CICF event, a Brazilian rarity was to be the most coveted, with a Pedro II 100 Reis 1844, KM452, Russo 525, VF35 NGC breaking its own World Price Record of $84,000, set in May of 2008, when it finished at $138,000, more than doubling its base estimate of $60,000. The coin came to auction via the Paulistana Collection.

“This is the finest specimen of only three known,” said Bierrenbach. “In 1834, Brazil, now an independent empire, attempted a new monetary system nicknamed the Cruzado. While it ultimately failed by 1848, the 1844 100 Reis is without a doubt the jewel of the series.” (more…)