Bowers and Merena, America’s premier rare coin and currency auction house, kicked off what promises to be an exciting year with its January 2010 Orlando Rarities Sale. The sale, with nearly 1,000 lots of rare and enticing United States, Colonial and Territorial gold coinage, was conducted in a single session on January 5. Total prices realized for the auction is in excess of $2.5 million.

“We had a strong turnout among bidders in our Orlando Rarities Sale,” stated Bowers and Merena president Steve Deeds, “and prices realized for many lots reflected collectors’ interests in rare, difficult-to-find coins in premium-quality condition. The stand-out highlight of the sale is lot 743, an 1879 Judd-1635 Flowing Hair Stella certified Proof-66 Cameo by NGC. The dazzling rarity traded hands for $182,500.”

“Another gold coin that performed very well is lot 747, an 1802/3 Half Eagle MS-65 * NGC,” continued Deeds. “This sharply struck, Condition Census rarity brought $115,000 at auction.”

Said Deeds: “United States gold coins were not the only strong performers in our Orlando Rarities Sale. Early Copper specialists made their voices heard by driving the realized price for lot 27 to an impressive total of $25,300. The coin in that lot is a fresh, new-to-market example of the rare S-264 Large Date, Small Fraction variety of the 1803 Draped Bust Cent. We sold the coin as a PCGS VG-10.”

“And in the Territorial gold section of our Orlando Rarities Sale we were pleased to present lot 695,” observed Deeds. “A unique variety of the 1851 K-2 Augustus Humbert $50 Gold, this PCGS-certified AU-55 is missing the digits 88 in the inscription 880 THOUS on the obverse scroll. We saw particularly fierce competition between two interested bidders, and when the dust settled the winner earned the right to take this important coin home at $115,000. (more…)