Heritage Auctions' Jan. 2021 numismatic events totaled over $90.68 million, with longtime collectors selling their treasures and new clientele setting global records.
U.S. and world coins and paper money sold for $90,687,367 in auctions held in lieu of the Florida United Numismatists and New York International Numismatic conventions. The COVID-19 epidemic canceled both live events, therefore their auctions were in Dallas, TX. Heritage Auctions co-founder James Halperin claimed six coins broke the million-dollar barrier and five world records were set.
The $9.36 million sale of the 1787 New York-style Brasher Doubloon, EB on Wing, MS65★ NGC., CAC, caused global headlines as the most costly gold coin ever sold at public auction. It is the best of seven Brasher Doubloons. The victorious bidder paid over $11.9 million for the Brasher Doubloon and five other 18th-century coins by artisan Ephraim Brasher, his first auction purchase. A 1786 Brasher Lima Doubloon, MS61 NGC. CAC, sold for a world record $2.1 million.
The Donald G. Partrick Collection, along with the Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part III, offered the Brasher Doubloons at auction. The latter collection's four coins sold for over $1 million, setting global records:
Simpson sold his mint-state 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar, MS64+, for a world record $870,000, and his 1943-D cent struck on a bronze planchet, MS64 Brown PCGS, the iconic 20th century wartime rarity and error collectors' Holy Grail, for $840,000. Collectors fought over a $20 bill with a Del Monte banana sticker, raising its auction price to nearly $400,000.
A Heritage live bidder bought the notes error. Pre-auction bidding raised offers to $210,000. After that, the winning bidder beat a determined phone bidder and two live online bidders to $396,000. It's the most expensive mistake banknote ever sold. This was the note's third public auction since its 2004 discovery.
Among a few known examples of England's first gold coin, the Henry III (1216-1272) gold Penny of 20 Pence ND (c. 1257) MS63 NGC sold for $720,000 to lead a broad offering of world and historic coins. A 2019 Elizabeth II gold Proof "Una and the Lion" 2000 Pounds (2 Kilos), PR69, Ultra Cameo, NGC, the first of four minted, sold for $360,000.
Maybe the best 1714 "Royal" 8 Escudos, Mo-J MS66 PCGS, from Mexico City Mint sold for $288,000. Only one other example, the Caballero de las Yndias, Ubilla-Sanchez representative, has been found in the past few decades, indicating that even seasoned collectors of the series should not expect to find a better piece for their collections soon.
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