2017-11-07 Tue

On 1st November, an 1861 Confederate half dollar certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) led the way in Heritage Auctions’ sale of Part IX of the Eric P. Newman Collection. It realized a record $960,000.

Newman IX contains 427 NGC-certified coins, tokens and medals, the latest in a series of auctions of the numismatist’s legendary collection. The auction featured 116 of the most valuable NGC- certified coins in Newman IX. The auctions of Newman’s coin collection, which has been entirely certified by NGC, have achieved nearly $59 million, including $3.7 million for Part IX.

Confederate forces operated on the Confederate half dollar and it was one of only four struck at the New Orleans Mint. The obverse reused an 1861-O Seated Liberty die, while the reverse features a shield surrounded by the words "CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA".

It is graded NGC PF 40 and was previously owned by collectors Waldo Newcomer and “Col.” E.H.R. Green. Two other Confederate Half Dollars have been sold recently: one graded NGC PF 30 and pedigreed to the Patrick Collection was sold by Heritage for $881,250 in January 2015. Another, graded NGC PF 40, was sold by Stack’s Bowers in March 2015 for $646,250.

The remaining specimen is in the collection of the American Numismatic Society (ANS).

Another main attraction at the Newman IX auction was a 1795 Small Eagle $5, which realized $336,000. Graded NGC MS 64, it is a high-grade example of this rare, one-year type — one of the first gold coins struck by the US Mint.

The highest price for a Newman coin was achieved by a phenomenal 1796 Draped Bust Quarter graded NGC MS 67+? that sold for $1,527,000 in Newman Part II in 2013.

Another 1796 Draped Bust Quarter, this one graded NGC MS 64+, was among the top performers in the Newman IX auction, realizing $264,000.

Making it to the top five prices realized in Newman IX is an 1861 Confederate Cent (graded NGC PF 63+; realized $186,000), and a 1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar, which is among the finest (graded NGC AU 55; realized $168,000).