
1856-D $2.50 graded NGC EF-45 and pedigreed to the John McCloskey Collection. Realized: $66,000.
Heritage is offering more U.S. gold and silver rarities pedigreed to the renowned numismatic researcher in February.
Two rare gold coins led a January 14 auction that featured 136 highlights of the John W. McCloskey Collection, which is certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC). A February 6, 2022, sale with another 882 NGC-certified coins from this prestigious collection should add significantly to the $849,807 realized in the January sale.
The collection of the renowned numismatic researcher is focused on U.S. gold and silver issues of the 19th century. It includes coins from six U.S. Mint facilities: Philadelphia; New Orleans; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dahlonega, Georgia; Carson City, Nevada; and San Francisco.
Bearing the “D” mintmark of Dahlonega, an 1856-D Quarter Eagle graded NGC EF-45 (lot 4417) was the top coin in the January sale, realizing $66,000. Only a few dozen examples are believed to survive of this key date in the Liberty Head series.
Struck in the inaugural year of the Carson City Mint, an 1870-CC Eagle graded NGC VF-25 (lot 4438) realized $63,014. This issue is one of the rarest of all gold issues from that Nevada facility, which stopped issuing coins in 1893.

1870-CC $10 graded NGC VF-25 and pedigreed to the John McCloskey Collection. Realized: $63,014.
The top silver coin in the sale was an 1842-O Small Date quarter graded NGC AU-58 (lot 4326) that realized $31,200. This is a major variety in the series; only 24 examples are listed in the NGC Census, and this particular coin is the second-finest.

1842-O Small Date quarter graded NGC AU-58 and pedigreed to the John McCloskey Collection. Realized: $31,200.
NGC is showcasing the highlights of the McCloskey Collection that were offered in the January sale in an image gallery on its website. To explore the gallery, click here.
NGC encapsulated all of the McCloskey Collection coins with a special McCloskey Collection label that spotlights their important pedigree. McCloskey co-authored definitive references on early U.S. half dimes and dimes, including Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837, which was published in 1998, and Early United States Dimes 1796-1837: A Reference Book of Their Types, Varieties and Rarity, which was published in 1984. He also penned more than 200 articles for The Gobrecht Journal.
Other NGC-certified highlights in the January sale included:
- an 1870-CC $5 graded NGC VF-25 (lot 4424) that realized $45,600
- an 1874-CC Arrows dime graded NGC F-12 (lot 4321) that realized $20,400
- an 1827 Flat Top 1 dime graded NGC AU-53 (lot 4315) that realized $18,000
- an 1872-CC $10 graded NGC VF-20 (lot 4439) that realized $16,800
- a 1797 13 Stars dime graded NGC VF-25 (lot 4310) that realized $16,800
- an 1838-D $5 graded NGC AU-50 (lot 4402) that realized $15,600
- an 1871-CC quarter graded NGC VF Details (lot 4333) that realized $15,600
- an 1836 Script 8 $5 graded NGC AU-50 (lot 4393) that realized $15,600
Prices realized include buyer’s premium
Press release courtesy of the Numismatic Guaranty Company.
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