Newman XI Pushes Total for NGC-Certified Coins to $60 Million

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®), the third-party grading service that has certified all of Eric P. Newman’s coins, has announced that the total prices realized for NGC-certified Newman coins has topped $60 million. The milestone comes after the Newman Part XI sale by Heritage Auctions, Nov. 7-10, 2018.

1792 Washington President Pattern Silver Half Dollar, graded NGC XF Details. Click images to enlarge.

The top coin in the sale was a 1792 Washington President Pattern Silver Half Dollar, graded NGC XF Details. One of only five examples known, it realized $204,000.

Another 1792 pattern half dollar, a rare plain edge silver variety by Peter Getz, realized $144,000.

Also noteworthy was the rare pewter Newman 1-B 1776 Continental Dollar, graded NGC AU 55, that realized $57,600. Newman, a gifted scholar, was particularly well known for his groundbreaking research on Continental Dollars. He owned many examples, including an extremely rare silver “EG FECIT” variety. That coin sold in Newman Part IV for $1,410,000 after being graded MS 63 by NGC.

NGC was chosen to certify more than 7,700 coins, tokens and medals from Newman’s collection. The selections included coins from dozens of nations and spanned more than 1,000 years of history. A gallery of the vast collection can be viewed at NGCcoin.com/Newman.

Newman’s collection was built over more than 90 years by a man whom many consider to be the greatest numismatic researcher and writer of all time. Sadly, Newman passed away in 2017 at the age of 106.

In 2013, the first selections from the nonprofit Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES) were sold at auction. There have been a total of 11 auctions (seven coins and four paper money) along with a standalone sale of a unique 1792 Washington President Pattern Gold Eagle, graded NGC XF 45★, that realized $1.74 million in August 2018.

1792 Eagle & Stars Gold Washington President $10, graded NGC XF 45★. Click images to enlarge.

Prominent numismatists Stuart and Maureen Levine, who serve as advisers to EPNNES, said: "NGC certification was essential in bringing the renowned and sophisticated Newman Collection to market. NGC’s attributions and grades gave bidders greater comfort, which helped the coins realize their maximum potential.”

Mark Salzberg, NGC Chairman and Grading Finalizer, added: “Eric P. Newman assembled one of the most impressive coin collections over the course of his extraordinary life. NGC is extremely honored to have been selected to certify it prior to sale.”

Newman’s intense interest in early American numismatics was reflected by the top results from the $60 million sales:
(1) The 1792 Washington President Pattern Gold Eagle, graded NGC XF 45★, that realized $1.74 million in August 2018. This was the coin most cherished by Newman, who believed that this coin was expressly struck for, presented to and carried by George Washington.
(2) A 1796 Quarter, graded NGC MS 67+★, that realized $1,527,500 at the Newman II sale in November 2013.
(3-tie) A Silver 1776 Continental Dollar (EG FECIT), graded NGC MS 63, that realized $1,410,000 in the Newman IV sale in May 2014.
(3-tie) A 1792 One Cent (Judd-1), graded NGC MS 63+ Brown, that realized $1,410,000 in the Newman IV sale in May 2014.
(5) An 1852 Humbert Ten Dollar, graded NGC MS 68, that realized $1,057,500 in the first Newman sale in April 2013.
(6) An 1861 Confederate States of America Half Dollar, graded NGC PF 40, that realized $960,000 at the Newman IX sale in November 2017.
(7) A 1795 Draped Bust, Off Center Bust Dollar, graded NGC MS 66+★, that realized $910,625 in the Newman II sale in November 2013.
(8) A 1799 7x6 Stars Dollar, graded NGC MS 67, that realized $822,500 in the Newman II sale in November 2013.
(9) An 1803 Large 3 Dollar, graded NGC MS 65+, that realized $705,000 in the Newman II sale in November 2013.
(10) A 1783 '100' Plain Edge Nova Constellatio Silver 100 Units, graded NGC AU 55, that realized $705,000 in the Newman IV sale in May 2014.

EPNNES Foundation Statement Items being sold are from the extensive collection of Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (a Missouri not-for-profit corporation) and have been assembled over a period of 90 years. Proceeds of the sale of all items will be used exclusively for supplementing the Society’s scholarly numismatic research efforts and for the benefit of other not-for-profit institutions selected by Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society for public purposes.