Collectors rode the money train at Morphy’s on May 7, snapping up gold, silver and paper rarities at the central Pennsylvania auction company’s $241,000 numismatics sale.
The top item among 201 lots offered was an 1889 $5 Liberty Half-Eagle NGC PF 65 cameo gold coin. With provenance from the renowned collection of Texas newspaper publisher Amon Carter (1879‱955), the treasured coin was entered in the sale with a $28/35,000 estimate. Buoyed by aggressive bidders, it finished at an impressive $44,800.
Another gold piece, an 1854-D $2.50 gold Liberty Quarter-Eagle, AU-58, boasted provenance from the Ashland City (Tenn.) Collection of branch-mint gold coins. It surpassed its high estimate to sell for $23,600.
Among the silver coins offered, a 1799 draped-bust heraldic silver dollar fared best. “It is rare to see this particular coin in extra-fine condition, as this one was,” said Morphy’s chief executive officer Dan Morphy. Edging out its high estimate, the coin concluded its bidding run at $4,100.
Due to an anomaly that occurred at the mint, a 1955 Lincoln head penny was rendered the appearance of having been die-cut twice. Estimated at $2/2,500, the humble copper coin drew a high rate of interest, finishing at $3,540.
The highest-priced bill in the paper money section was an 1896 $5 silver certificate. In very fine condition, the note was expected to make $1,6/2,000 but instead was bid to $3,540.
Morphy said he was pleased with both the gross †which more than met expectations †and the participation in the sale, which also included phone, absentee and live Internet bidding. “The current market for gold and silver coins is unprecedented, and numismatics will continue to be an area of special interest to us,” said Morphy.
All prices reported include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
For additional information, www.morphyauctions.com or 717-335-3435.
