Colonial coinage created the fabric of American society as we know it today. Each penny from that age had real buying power. Today the buying power is even greater as an investment. The Heritage Auctions US Coins Signature Auction was from November 11 – 14. Early American coins were equally represented in this broad grouping of graded coins. This Heritage Auction was an opportunity for all collectors to bid on a selection of some of the finest known examples.

1870-CC Double Eagle PCGS AU53, the finest known example (and CC representing Carson City), had a bid of $260,000.00 on November 2, 2021. The coin was the high sale of the auction reaching $1,620,000.00 on November 11, 2021 after 46 bids.

This was the top coin by price and having 46 bids for a high-end coin of this caliber probably means that true collectors with passion were fighting over the coin with investors just looking to bank a profit in the future. Image provided by Heritage Auctions.

Here are the results of several other top coins that Collectors Dashboard first reviewed on November 2, 2021:

• 1915-S $50 Panama-Pacific 50 Dollar Octagonal MS62+ NGC had a bid of $49,000.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $68,400.00 on November 11, 2021 after 18 bids. A near identical NGC MS64+ graded example sold in the same auction for $99,000.00 on the same day after 17 bids.
• 1851 $50 Humbert Fifty Dollar reeded edge AU58 PCGS had a bid of $46,000.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $156,000.00 on November 11, 2021 after 31 bids.
• 1907 $10 Wire Rim MS66 PCGS had a bid of $41,000.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $120,000.00 on November 11, 2021 after 69 bids.
• 1907 $20 High Relief Flat Rim MS66 PCGS had a bid of $36,000.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $90,000.00 on November 11, 2021 after 32 bids.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high end collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds. Many collectibles now cost thousands of dollars (or much more). Collectors with a passion to own a collectible for years frequently have to compete directly against investors whose only desire is to make a profit in the future.

Here are US Large Cents cent sales that we followed in this auction:

• 1794 1C Head of 1794 with environmental damage PCGS Genuine XF details had a bid of $1,050.00 on November 2,2021 and sold for $3,840.00 on November 11, 2021 after 17 bids.
• 1794 1C Head of 1794 VF35 PCGS Maris’ “Abrupt Hair” variety had a bid of $1,150.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $3,120.00 on November 11, 2021 after 16 bids.
• 1793 1C wreath, lettered Edge repaired PCGS Genuine AU details had a bid of $4,300.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $14,400.00 on November 11, 2021 after 21 bids.
• 1817 1C 13 Stars MS65 Brown PCGS had a bid of $2,900.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $4,320.00 on November 11, 2021 after 19 bids.
• 1853 1C MS66+ Brown PCGS had a bid of $1,250.00 on November 2, 2021 and sold for $2,040.00 on November 14, 2021 after 28 bids.

Collectors Dashboard enjoyed following this grouping of rare coins. What turned out to be the high sale for the auction was a coin that can be further analyzed. The 1870 CC has the distinction of being the finest known example for the date and mint mark. The PCGS grade of AU53 is far from uncirculated but one-of-one coin examples really bring out the bidding competition from within collectors. The other coins we followed represent higher rates of collectability.