Has a stamp ever sold for more than a coin?

COALPORTER · April 9, 2013 11:06AM

What is the record high auction price for a stamp (US or other)?
Anyone watch Bill Gross's stamp auction? I did not know where to watch ?

originalisbest · April 9, 2013 11:29AM

Not currently; however, it would only take the right rare stamp and two very rich enthusiasts at auction.

SmEagle1795 · April 9, 2013 11:48AM

I imagine so - there are some pretty inexpensive coins.

LanceNewmanOCC · April 9, 2013 12:08PM

.
i've seen several in the high 6 figures. i'm no philatelist but it seems like a jenny went into 7 figures in the past 3 years sometime. can't recall exactly.
.

rec78 · April 9, 2013 12:28PM

Of course! But I don't know how you can compare the two. Stamps don't interest me in the least.

Bob

DennisH · April 9, 2013 12:49PM

The record is $2.3 million (in 1996!) for the only known (and canceled) example of the 1855 Sweden 3 Skilling Yellow.

Coinosaurus · April 9, 2013 1:47PM

<< The record is $2.3 million (in 1996!) for the only known (and canceled) example of the 1855 Sweden 3 Skilling Yellow. >>

$2.3M for a "3 Skilling Yellow??" You have to admit, to an outsider that sounds about as dumb as a "1793 Strawberry Leaf."

LanceNewmanOCC · April 9, 2013 1:58PM

.
well there was no way in 2013 we were going to go without seeing this baby!
.

Shamika · April 9, 2013 2:07PM

<< .
well there was no way in 2013 we were going to go without seeing this baby!
. >>

Not he easiest article to read, but fascinating none the less. Thanks.

Zoins · April 9, 2013 2:09PM

<< .
well there was no way in 2013 we were going to go without seeing this baby!
. >>

This one might take the cake!

<< 5. The U.S. Franklin Z-Grill

The U.S. Franklin Z-Grill, 1867. This is the rarest of all postage stamps the United States, only found 2 pieces remaining. In 1988, a stamp "Z-Grill" 1 cent in 1868 sold for $ 930,000, or approximately USD 8.8 billion. >>

DennisH · April 10, 2013 1:32AM

I think it's pretty obvious that the date cited for the Z-grill auction price is a typo error that's off by 100 years.

johnny9434 · April 10, 2013 5:26AM

not that i know of.

Dentuck · April 10, 2013 7:08AM

"After years in relative seclusion, the Jenny Invert Plate-Number Block was
auctioned for $2.97 million in 2005, setting a record for the highest amount
paid for a United States philatelic item."

-- 100 Greatest American Stamps

Looking in Appendix D ("Top 250 U.S. Coin Prices Realized at Auction") in the
2014 Red Book, I see that only seven U.S. coins have hammered for more than
$2.97 million.

HalfStrike · April 10, 2013 7:13AM

I wish I could unload what I have.

MacCrimmon · April 10, 2013 8:13AM

<< I wish I could unload what I have. >>

Send me a letter.

telephoto1 · April 10, 2013 8:40AM

I debate the accuracy of some of the numbers in the linked article...the British Guiana piece in particular. I though it broke the 7-digit plateau many years ago...

The stamp market isn't anywhere near what it used to be; it's been devolving into a lot of specialty/niche markets by country, etc. Some areas are good (like orientals) and rare stuff will always be rare, but I just don't see blow-your-mind numbers on any stamp hyper-rarities any time soon.

This is coming from a guy with, amongst other things, a lot of plate blocks, some scarce, that he can't seem to find anyone willing to pay more than 70-80% of face value for... and duck stamps he can't even get offers on. Unless it's absolutely perfect or a rarity that can be ripped cheap, no one seems to want it. Stamp shows around here are mostly a bunch of old guys looking to get rid of their stuff, and few buyers unless you want to give it away to them. Definitely a buyer's market imo. Your mileage may vary.

Has a stamp ever sold for more than a coin?

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