PCGS graded 21 of top 25 most-expensive United States coins sold in 2019

21 Including A $3.96 Million Coin That Crossed Over To PCGS

(February 19, 2020) — Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) closed the books on 2019 by proudly announcing that 20 of the 25 most-expensive United States coins sold at public auction this past year were in PCGS slabs. That number climbs to 21 when counting a rarity that was certified by a competing grading service, realized nearly $4 million, and then almost immediately after trading hands was crossed over into a PCGS holder. Sales data below was compiled from the top seven auction companies, including Heritage Auctions, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Legend Rare Coin Auctions, GreatCollections, Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams.

The Top 25 list includes:

1. Atwater/Eliasberg Specimen 1885 Trade dollar, now PCGS PR-65+CAM
   Sold by Heritage Auctions for $3,960,000, 1/10/2019 (PCGS Cert #36982251)
2. Ted Naftzger Specimen 1793 AMERI Chain cent, from The Alan V. Weinberg Collection, PCGS MS-64+Brown
   Sold by Heritage Actions for $1,500,000, 1/10/2019 (PCGS Cert #35744104)
3. Jerry Buss Specimen 1894-S Barber dime PCGS PR-63
   Sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $1,320,000, 8/15/2019 (PCGS Cert #37859748)
4. Granberg/Brand/Eliasberg Specimen 1884 Trade dollar, from The Greensboro Collection, NGC PR-66
   Sold by Heritage Auctions for $1,140,000, 1/10/2019
5. 1879 $4 Coiled Hair, NGC PR-66 CAM
   Sold by Heritage Auctions for $1,050,000, 1/10/2019
   
6. 1795 $10 Capped Bust Right Eagle 13 Leaves, PCGS MS-64+
   Sold by Legend Rare Coin Auctions for $822,500, 3/21/2019 (PCGS Cert #06309771)
7. Warner/Winsor/Weinberg Specimen 1792 Silver Center cent, From the Alan V. Weinberg Collection, PCGS SP-58+Brown
   Sold by Heritage Auctions for $750,000, 1/10/2019 (PCGS Cert #35744102)
   
8. 1795 $10 Capped Bust Right Eagle 9 Leaves, PCGS MS-63
   Sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $630,000, 8/15/2019 (PCGS Cert #36674524)
9. Parmelee/Eliasberg/Bass Specimen 1837 $2.50 Classic Head, PCGS PR-66+
   Sold by Heritage Auctions for $576,000, 8/14/2019 (PCGS Cert #25647468)
10. Parmelee/Brand/Norweb/Weinberg Specimen 1792 Small Pattern cent, From The Alan V. Weinberg Collection, PCGS SP-53BN
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $552,000, 1/10/2019 (PCGS Cert #35744101)
11. 1838-O Capped Bust half dollar, PCGS PR-63
    Sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $504,000, 11/15/2019 (PCGS Cert #38283581)
12. 1843 $10 Liberty Head, PCGS PR-64DCAM
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $480,000, 8/14/2019 (PCGS Cert #37286327)
13. 1975 No-S Roosevelt dime, PCGS PR-68
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $456,000, 9/6/2019 (PCGS Cert #20519253)
14. Battle Born Specimen 1876-CC 20-cent, PCGS MS-64+
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $456,000, 9/8/2019 (PCGS Cert #20714029)
15. 1876-CC Doubled Die Obverse 20-cent, PCGS MS-65
    Sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $456,000, 8/15/2019 (PCGS Cert #37861676)
16. 1827/3 Capped Bust quarter, PCGS PR-65
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $444,000, 1/10/2019 (PCGS Cert #50242720)
17. 1907 $10 Indian Wire Rim, From The Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection, NGC MS-68
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $432,000, 8/14/2019
18. Dallas Bank Collection 1856-O $20 Liberty Head, NGC AU-50
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $408,000, 8/18/2019
19. 1890 $20 Liberty Head, PCGS PR-67DCAM
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $396,000, 8/18/2019 (PCGS Cert #37286330)
20. 1798/7 $10 Capped Bust Right Stars 7×6, PCGS AU-58
    Sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $384,000, 8/15/2019 (PCGS Cert #36674535)
21. 1930-S $20 Saint-Gaudens, PCGS MS-66+
    Sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries for $372,000, 8/15/2019 (PCGS Cert #30433201)
22. 1938-S Mercury dime, PCGS MS-68+
    Sold by Legend Rare Coin Auctions for $364,500, 6/27/2019 (PCGS Cert #37675464)
23. 1792 Copper Pattern disme, From The Alan V. Weinberg Collection, PCGS SP-55BN
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $336,000, 1/10/2019 (PCGS Cert #35744099)
24. Farouk/Norweb 1884 Trade dollar, From The Poulos Family Collection, PCGS PR-63
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $336,000, 8/18/2019 (PCGS Cert #14279405)
25. 1792 Silver Center cent, PCGS SP-35BN
    Sold by Heritage Auctions for $336,000, 4/25/2019 (PCGS Cert #25613850)

“That 20 of the 25 most valuable United States coins trading hands in 2019 were in PCGS holders affirms the trust and confidence the rare coin market has in PCGS,” says PCGS President Brett Charville. The downcrossing of the $3.96 million 1885 Trade dollar into a PCGS holder was a landmark moment of 2019. “This clearly goes to show that the best coins are found in PCGS holders.”

It was a great year for PCGS capped by many other accomplishments, including the unveiling of the set registry achievement program, expansion of the Prooflike designation, the release of the new PCGS Rarities holder, and enhancement of the PCGS CoinFact App with the combined power of PCGS Price Guide and PCGS Photograde. The year 2019 also saw PCGS parent company Collectors Universe certify its 75 millionth collectible, speaking to the popularity of PCGS and the solid reputation the company has built since its founding nearly 35 years ago in 1986.

Additional milestones outside of vintage United States coin certification in 2019 include the launching of the Quarter Quest program for 2019 America the Beautiful quarters struck at the West Point Mint bearing the “W” mintmark, as well as the launching of encapsulation of United States Mint serialized certificates of authenticity. Charville added, “It was a tremendous year for PCGS, and I hope in 2019 we made one thing abundantly clear: We’re listening to our customers, and our commitment to lead the numismatic industry when it comes to developing innovative products and programs that excite and better serve the numismatic community is unmatched by any other company in the entire numismatic hobby.”

Press release courtesy of the Professional Coin Grading Service.

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