Rare NGC-certified Colorado Territory Gold Coin Sells for $600,000 in Heritage Sale

A Colorado territorial gold coin led 18 numismatic rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company™ (NGC®) that each realized six-figure amounts in a recent sale presented by Heritage Auctions. The FUN US Coin Signature Auction, held on January 16, 2022, featured over 700 NGC-certified coins spanning 300 years.

The Clark, Gruber & Co. 1860 $20 graded NGC AU 55 (lot 4531), which is one of about a dozen thought to still exist, realized $600,000. The coin was struck by a private minting firm: Clark, Gruber & Co. Founded by brothers Austin and Milton Clark, and Emanuel Gruber, the firm found a need for its services during a gold rush in the Denver region. The rendition of Pike’s Peak on the coin’s obverse was apparently executed by someone who had never seen the iconic Colorado mountain.

1860 Clark-Gruber $20 graded NGC AU 55. Realized: $600,000 Click images to enlarge.

Another scarce gold coin featured in the sale was an 1862 Double Eagle graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 3807) that realized $552,000. Only 35 examples were struck and fewer than a dozen are thought to survive. This particular coin came from the prestigious collection of Louis Eliasberg, who amassed the most complete collection of US coins in the hobby.

1862 Double Eagle graded NGC PF 65 Cameo. Realized: $552,000 Click images to enlarge.

Desired among advanced numismatic collectors, an 1880 Coiled Hair $4 Stella graded NGC PF 61 (lot 4692) sold for $504,000. Fewer than a dozen 1880 Coiled Hair Stellas are believed to survive. The Stellas were struck with the aim of creating a US coin to compete with foreign coins in the international market. But only a few hundred examples were struck with two designs over two years before the experiment ended.

1880 Coiled Hair $4 Stella graded NGC PF 61. Realized: $504,000 Click images to enlarge.

A territorial gold coin from San Francisco also had an impressive result in the sale. Realizing $480,000, the Dubosq & Co. 1850 $10 graded NGC MS 60 (lot 4489) is one of 10 examples known to still exist. These gold coins were minted by a jeweler named Theodore Dubosq. In 1849, he relocated from Philadelphia to California to start a private mint during the famous gold rush.

1850 Dubosq & Co. $10 graded NGC MS 60. Realized: $480,000 Click images to enlarge.

Meanwhile, an 1876-CC 20 Cents graded NGC MS 64 and pedigreed to Rian's Bequest (lot 3648) realized $432,000. While 10,000 examples were struck by the Carson City Mint, nearly all were destroyed. This makes it the key date in this short-lived silver series.

1876-CC 20 Cents graded NGC MS 64 and pedigreed to Rian's Bequest. Realized: $432,000 Click images to enlarge.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the sale included:

• a Moffat & Co. (1849) $16 Ingot graded NGC AU 58 (lot 4461) that realized $384,000
• an 1841 No Drapery Seated Liberty Dime graded NGC PF 67+ and pedigreed to the collections of Eric P. Newman and “Col.” E.H.R. Green (lot 4591) that realized $312,000
• an 1877 Gilt $50 Pattern graded NGC PF 63+ (lot 4788) that realized $264,000
• an 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella graded NGC PF 64+ Cameo (lot 4691) that realized $180,000
• a Humbert 1851 887 with “50” $50 graded NGC AU 55 (lot 4468) that realized $168,000
• an 1861 Liberty Head $5 graded NGC PF 66 Cameo and pedigreed to Trompeter (lot 3788) that realized $168,000
• a 1907-D $20 graded NGC MS 64★ PL (lot 4182) that realized $132,000
• a Humbert 1851 880 No “50” $50 graded NGC AU 58+ (lot 4467) that realized $132,000
• a Baldwin & Co. 1851 $10 graded NGC AU 58 (lot 4492) that realized $120,000
• an 1854-D Gold $3 graded NGC MS 61 (lot 4688) that realized $114,000
• an 1858 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar graded NGC PF 67+ Cameo and pedigreed to Simpson (lot 3765) that realized $102,000
• an 1861-D $5 graded NGC AU 58 (lot 4709) that realized $102,000
• an Oregon Exchange Co. 1849 $5 graded NGC XF 45 (lot 4506) that realized $102,000

All prices realized include buyer’s premium.