Heritage Jan. 14-17 FUN Numismatic Auctions Top $63.38M

A frenzy of eager bidding drove an extraordinary 1804 Class III Draped Bust Dollar PR58 PCGS, BB-306, R.7 from The Presidio Collection to $3,538,000 to lead Heritage’s Jan. 14–17 FUN US Coins Signature® Auction, in which numerous auction records were set, to $54,272,176.

That figure includes Heritage’s $7,174,036 FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson, and when added to the $9,114,701 FUN U.S. Currency Signature® Auction, boosted the combined total to $63,386,877.

The Adams-Carter specimen that was the auction’s top lot is one of just 16 known examples of the 1804 silver dollar, one of just seven Class III examples and one of four Class III coins not housed in a museum collection.

“Trophies like the famous 1804 dollars are always coveted by collectors, and the prices Heritage has been delivering for such numismatic treasures continue to surpass expectations,” says Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “This result is a significant jump since its last appearance at Heritage in 2009, when it sold for $2.3 million.”

The auction included Part I of The Presidio Collection, which features an enhanced type set of U.S. coins based on condition and rarity and includes several coins that are listed in the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins book. Heritage will offer Part II of the Presidio Collection in its CSNS Auction April 29–May 3.

Arguably the finest of only nine graded examples of an 1880 Coiled Hair Stella, PR67 Cameo NGC from The Costa Family Collection, Part II rose to $2,074,000. In addition to its inarguable rarity, the coin’s intrigue also comes from a sense of mystery that surrounds it, because questions remain about why it was made, when it was struck and for whom, and how many examples were produced. This incredible coin is the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. example.

An 1879 Coiled Hair Stella, PR66 Cameo PCGS also from The Costa Family Collection, Part II of rare gold, high-end Colonials, type coins and a remarkable set of stellas sold for an auction-record $1,464,000, just clearing the previous auction standard of $1,440,000 that was set at Heritage in August 2025. One of just 13 confirmed examples of one of the great rarities of the U.S. gold series, this magnificent coin comes from an unknown — but clearly small — original mintage.

One of only seven examples traced of an 1829 Capped Head Left Half Eagle, MS66 NGC closed at $1,006,500 — an auction record for a circulation strike 1829 Large Diameter Large Date BD-1 half eagle. The result surged past the previous auction record of $763,750, which had stood for nine years.

Auction records were set throughout the auction, including in a robust selection of Walking Liberty Half Dollars that affirmed the strength of the market for this series. Among the highlights was a 1919-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, MS64+ PCGS. CAC from Betty’s Walkers Collection that established a new record for an example in that grade at $79,300. The 1919-D Walking Liberty half dollar, with an original mintage of 1.16 million pieces, is a prime condition rarity in the popular series — scarce at the MS64 grade level, and the most elusive issue in the series in MS65 or finer grades. This coin is one of just eight with a 64+ grade, with 11 finer.

An 1867 Liberty Double Eagle, PR66 Ultra Cameo NGC set a new auction record when it ended at $793,000, surpassing the previous record of $660,000 that was just set in December 2025. This incredible coin is tied for the finest certified among just 12 examples traced of this classic rarity in the U.S. gold series.

Another auction record fell when an 1854-S Liberty Quarter Eagle, XF45 PCGS CAC from the Presidio Collection reached $561,200 to top the previous record of $408,000, which was set in 2024. It is the third-finest of just 14 known examples, and the finer of only two with CAC approval.

An 1803 BD-3 Eagle, MS64+ PCGS CACG set an auction record for an 1803 Small Reverse Stars eagle at $231,800, racing past the previous mark of $161,000 that had stood since 1999. This is one of the finest 1803 eagles of the die marriage and of the design type.

An 1864-S Liberty Eagle, AU55 NGC also set an auction record $219,600, edging past the previous auction record of $219,004.80 that was set at Heritage in 2018. The finest NGC-graded example, it is a rarity in any grade — PCGS estimates a surviving population of just 22-26 pieces from the 2,500 originally struck at the San Francisco Mint.

A rare 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent, MS67 Red PCGS that is tied for the finest known example achieved $170,800, surpassing the previous auction record of $168,000 that was set in 2022. It is widely available in lower grades, but has proven quite elusive in MS67 Red. PCGS reports 18 in this grade, with three more at NGC.

More than 30 bids came in for an 1835 B-2 Quarter MS66 PCGS. CAC before it sold for an auction-record $134,200 (the previous mark, which was set in 2015, was $99,875). This remarkable coin, from The Black Cat Collection, is the plate coin in both Early Quarter Dollars of the United States Mint by Rea et al and Browning’s pioneering 1925 reference on the series, and it also is pedigreed to the Browning Collection. It is the finest known for the die marriage in the Rea-Koenings-Haroutunian census.

Also setting an auction record at $134,200 was an 1869 Three Dollar, PR66 Deep Cameo PCGS. This magnificent coin topped the previous record of $114,000 that was achieved in 2023 when the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection example was sold at Heritage in 2023.

A 1944-D Steel Cent, MS62 PCGS. CAC reeled in 74 bids before closing at an auction-record $122,000. Pedigreed to the world-famous Simpson Collection of complete Lincoln Cents Off-Metal Strikes, Circulation Strikes (1943-44) assembled by Bob Simpson, it is the sole 1944-D steel cent in this graded at PCGS, which lists just one with a finer grade.

Complete results can be found at HA.com/1390.

FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson

This session was led by a 1797 BD-4 Half Eagle, AU58+ PCGS. HBJ-209 and an 1834 BD-4 Half Eagle, MS64+ PCGS. CAC HBJ-268 from the Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles, each of which sold for $268,400. The 1797 Small Eagle that shared top-lot honors drew 22 bids before reaching its ultimate result, while the 1834 BD-4 half eagle also drew widespread interest, reeling in 19 bids. Dubbed the “King of Fat Head Fives,” it is tied with one other submission for the finest 1834 Capped Bust half eagle ever submitted to PCGS.

Other highlights from the Jacobson Collection included, but were not limited to:

An 1828 BD-3 Half Eagle, MS61 PCGS HBJ-263 sold for an auction-record $256,200, surpassing the previous mark of $228,000 that was set at Heritage in 2023 for the same coin. This magnificent coin is one of just two confirmed pieces, and the only one available to collectors — its twin resides in the Smithsonian.

The finest of three known examples of an 1834 Capped Head Left Five Dollar With Motto MS64 HBJ-267 also established a new auction record for the BD-3 variety when it brought a winning bid of $122,000. The previous record of $109,250 was set in 2008.

The COL Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents 1793-1796 included every Sheldon number of the Chain, Wreath and Liberty Cap types, as well as three of the 21 Sheldon “NC” varieties. Highlights from the collection included:

“While not the most valuable numismatic auction Heritage has ever conducted, this week’s results might reflect the single strongest we have ever seen in terms of higher-than-expected prices across the board — from Colonial issues through every denomination,” Imhof said. “Heritage delivered a lot of aggressive bidding for the coins offered in this auction, and we could not be happier for all the collectors and dealers who entrusted us with their coin collections.”

Complete results from the session can be found at HA.com/1389.

Currency

Demand for ultra-high-denomination notes has been surging, a trend that was proven once more by a trio of notes at the top of the FUN U.S. Currency Signature® Auction.

Leading the event was a beautiful Fr. 2231-A $10,000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 that climbed to $317,200. Largely out of sight for the collecting community for decades, it is a new addition to the Track & Price Census that raised the known population to just 18 examples of one of the most well-known small size types, a prize that many collectors always have coveted. PMG has certified just two representatives of this number at this grade level, with only six higher.

Another high-denomination headliner was a Fr. 2220-F $5,000 1928 Federal Reserve Note that drew a winning bid of $244,000. The finest-graded 1928 Atlanta $5,000, one of just eight indicated in Track & Price and the finest example graded or offered at auction.

A Fr. 2231-F $10,000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Very Fine 30 that is one of just two known 1934 Atlanta $10,000s closed at $183,000. The two known examples were discovered in 1996, with no new survivors emerging. Only 2,400 notes were printed, assuring that with redemption and attrition, there would be few survivors.

Only one other district — Richmond, with just one survivor — is rarer among the 1934 emission.

“These notes validate what has been known throughout currency collecting for a while: that ultra-high-denomination notes are coveted by the most serious of collectors,” says Dustin Johnston, Senior Vice President of Numismatics at Heritage Auctions. “The notes at the top of this auction boast the large denomination numbers, but also are exceedingly elusive notes and in exceptional condition, which helps to explain the eager bidding for each one.”

The fourth note to reach six figures was a spectacular Laramie City, Wyoming Territory – $5 1875 Fr. 402 The Wyoming National Bank Ch. # 2110 PCGS Choice New 63PPQ that brought a record $164,700 — the most ever paid for any Wyoming national banknote. It offers incredible rarity and condition for a note almost 150 years old, meaning it was created 15 years before Wyoming became the 44th state. It is one of only 16 Territorials known from all Wyoming banks and the only one to have been awarded a CU grade from either of the major services.

An exceedingly rare Tallahassee, FL – $100 1882 Brown Back Fr. 524 The First National Bank Ch. # (S)4132 PMG Very Fine 25 drew a winning bid of $91,500. Offered for the first time in nearly half a century, it represents an exceedingly rare Florida type and denomination that has not made a public appearance since the inaugural Hickman-Oakes auction held in 1976.

A gorgeous Low Serial Number 29 Fr. 268 $5 1896 Silver Certificate PCGS Banknote Superb Gem Unc 68 PPQ, featuring a low serial number 29, realized $64,050. This $5 Educational has been offered at Heritage once before, but has been off the market for nearly two decades. PCGS Banknote has certified just four representatives of this number at this level, with none finer for both the number and the overall type. PMG has not graded any Fr. 268 piece higher than Superb Gem Unc 67 EPQ, although it has certified one Fr. 269 piece as a 68 EPQ.

Banknotes performed well at numerous levels, including a Serial Number 1 Fr. 897a $10 1914 Red Seal Federal Reserve Note PCGS Banknote VF 35 PPQ that achieved $39,040. Accompanied by a storage envelope signed by M.B. Welborn, the first Governor of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank, this note never has circulated.

Reaching the same $39,040 result was a unique Rochester, NY – $100 1875 Fr. 458 The Flour City National Bank Ch. # 1362 PCGS Banknote Very Fine 20 from The Westchester Collection. This is the only example of this rare type and denomination reported from this Rochester bank. Original and Series 1875 $100s are very scarce as a type, with fewer than 100 recorded for the entire country, according to the National Currency Foundation census. Even states like New York, which boast the largest number of surviving examples, still report only around 20 known from both Series from all banks combined.

The auction was not the last chance for collectors to bid on coins in The Westchester Collection, more of which will be offered April 29–May 1 in Heritage’s CSNS U.S. Currency Signature® Auction.

Complete results from Heritage’s FUN U.S. Currency Auction can be found at HA.com/3600.

About Heritage Auctions

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