what are some of the craziest/shocking coin auction results you've ever seen?
WingedLiberty1957
Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
WingedLiberty1957
Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
For me, the winner hands-down. $364,250 for a 1938-S Mercury Dime, MS68+ FB on 6/27/2019. I might be pilloried here if I expressed my opinion of this auction result.
https://pcgs.com/auctionprices/details/1938-s-ms/5015
Ernie11, wow that's a good one. That will be hard to beat. Interestingly, there is no entry for that in the PCGS Price Guide -- however for an MS68 FB the price guide lists $7,500. The auction house estimate for that coin was 10k to 12.5k. Here is a screen capture of that auction ...
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
Not a coin but $396,000 for a banana sticker:
Member ANA, SPMC, SCNA, FUN, CONECA
Absolutely astounding..... I am unable to understand what drives people to spend such incredible amounts on these items.... That being said, their money, their choice - no problem with that. However, even if I were as (apparently) wealthy as these individuals, my common sense and logic would kick in long before such lofty heights were reached. Cheers, RickO
The crazy bidding I've ever seen as an auction had to be the frenzied takeover during the William Spohn Baker sale, where one guy almost bought the whole enchilada.
On a single lot, check this one out:
Steve Hayden's annual auction happened two weeks ago and this one went to the moon. Pre-auction estimate $2000-3000 and a bidding war took it over $15k!
The same two bidders dueled it out on another 3 lots of similar tokens, with one being victorious on all four lots.
Personally, and I hate to say this, I think the underbidder won as these were ridiculous prices. Hopefully, the champion that dropped $50,000 on four sutler tokens didn't lose his mind and is a specialist with a "stand up now, or sit down forever" mentality.
Afterall, they are supposed to be unique pieces.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Personally, the best came many years ago. A consignor whose estimates were usually very close sent 4 Chinese coins (among many others) to go on eBay. His estimate was that they'd bring $700 combined. They brought $7000. It may be that he just missed something (rather than he was totally off on the value), but hey, no complaining from me!
The Merc that @ernie11 mentioned was one of my first thoughts and a close second was the 1958 Franklin (PCGS MS 67+ FBL) that brought $129,250.
https://legendauctions.hibid.com/lot/43537837/50c-1958-pcgs-ms67--fbl-cac/?q=&ref=watch-list
thread:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1006125/1958-franklin-half-pcgs-67-fbl-with-wild-color-legend-auction-tonight-currently-bid-105-00/p1
Last month I watched a common South Korean coin (value of a non-error is less than $5) with a rim clip sell for $715 on eBay:
https://ebay.com/itm/mw15747-South-Korea-10-Hwan-KE4294-1961-KM-1-Mint-Error-Clipped/353364970538
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Every high grade BN Lincoln, I'll never understand the thought process behind paying some of the prices those coins have brought.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I’ll be checking for those at the supermarket!
That’s actually a really cool struck-thru errror.
Is it an error if it was intentional?
The PCGS price guide only lists it under the title of the coin as "AUCTION RECORD: $364,250.00 • PCGS MS68+FB • 06/27/2019 • LEGEND RARE COIN AUCTIONS"
$109250 for a 1944 MS 68 PCGS Walker.
https://www.pcgs.com/auctionprices/item/1944-50c/6621/368007838128274910
When #1 LuLu had to have this...
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Here is the kicker: It was previously in a NGC 66FB holder, PCGS 67 FB holder, and PCGS 67+ FB with a CAC green sticker each time. It also green beaned as a 68+ FB.
Here is the MS68 Walker ...
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
Here is the 1958 Franklin ...
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
The sports card market is making even these coins seem reasonable today....
But it is in an older conservative blue holder (pre-gradient)!
I always get a kick out of someone who pays moon money for the finest graded of anything, and then one or two years later, when another one is made, sells it for half of what he paid for it. The 53 S FBL Franklin in MS 66 sold a number of years ago is an example of this.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
I thought a PCGS MS66 FBL 1953-S half is still an expensive coin. Have they come down in value?
peacockcoins
Yep, When LuLu bought this MS 68 1944 WLH, in 2010, it was a pop 1/0.....Helping to solidify his #1 position.
Another MS 68 has been made, since then, but it is likely in strong hands, also.
However, I guarantee that it has affected the price and would never sell for anywhere near $109K, today.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
The 2010 sold MS68 is pretty, but what is this? Doesn’t look like a strike through. Looks raised by the photos. Curvy die gouge?
https://coins.ha.com/itm/walking-liberty-half-dollars/1944-50c-ms68-pcgs/a/1143-3262.s?hdnJumpToLot=1&x=0&y=0
Not far behind the 1938-S 10c noted above and from the same auction is the 1931-S dime in PCGS-67+ FB CAC at $270,250.
It auctioned for only $19,387.50 just a few months earlier as a plain old PCGS MS-67 FB CAC.
Certainly the extra quarter million dollars came from an increased appreciation of the coin's appearance and not simply a registry set competition for the sole + graded example.
Of course I would have a more favorable comment if I was the one who got that extra money.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
The famous flat arm...
Smitten with DBLCs.
One of these is not like the other.
The sad fact of the matter is that late 19th and twentieth century coins have a habit of either being 'found' or made. A few years ago, a half roll of 12 S and another 1886 Nickels in gem or better was released onto the market.
Ten years ago, at a major show, I heard a guy bragging how he got an MS 64 Seated Dollar into an MS 65 holder on his eleventh submission of the coin. If you had purchased a gem 1903 O Morgan Dollar in 1959, before the bags of them were discovered lying around in the mint after 60 years, you would not have been a happy camper, either.
If you want to buy an attractive expensive coin which is graded properly, for 99% of us, remember: it isn't as scarce as it appears to be.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
2010 Boston ANA Platinum Night
I was in the standing room only audience sitting with several National dealers. I bid on that coin but fell about 75k short. At one point when the bidding kept escalating I had to double check to see if I might have been following the wrong lot. Very confusing. Lots of audible WTF's.
Dwight Manley’s colonials and Steve Duckor’s Barber Halves did well that night as well.
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Perhaps not the strangest I ever saw, but the strangest I can recall off the top of my head is an 1840 $10 Gold Liberty piece that sold at Heritage Auctions for somewhere over 10x book value (maybe 20x). More strangely, it wasn't even in top grade, only an AU58 or something like that. There were Mint state examples available for far less than what this coin sold for. Perhaps being in a PCGS OGH helped appreciate the value....I remember it had a nice luster.
The internet has exposed just how common most coins are, especially US, Anglo countries and major European countries from at least the last 250 years.
When I first resumed collecting in the late 1990's and started using the internet in my collecting, I saw high quality "older" non-US coins for the first time. I assumed it was "rare" but it isn't.
As for the examples profiled here, I expect every one to lose noticeable value longer term from the quoted price.
Here is a totally ridiculous price, worst one ever to my knowledge for any "collectible.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/11/most-expensive-nft-ever-sold-auctions-for-over-60-million.html
I always love hearing this story. It must’ve been very exciting.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/