Heritage's Florida coin auction nets an incredible $7.4m in sales

The rare 1867 5C Rays PR65 Cameo starred alongside President Teddy Roosevelt's $20 coin

An original 1867 5C Rays PR65 Cameo NGC coin, a highly desirable and celebrated rarity, brought $57,500 to lead Heritage's $7,387,384 July Orlando, FL Summer FUN Signature US Coin Auction.

Demand for high quality numismatic gold rarities continued in Orlando, with seven of the top 10 lots being gold rarities. All prices shown include 19.5% Buyer's Premium.

The 1867 5C Rays PR65 Cameo

"We're quite happy with the result of this auction," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions.

"It was a small auction by Heritage standards, but quite focused, and collectors responded. The result was a very successful auction."

More than 3,700 bidders competed for the offerings, which saw a 94% sell-through rate by total lots.

The 1867 Rays Gem Cameo Proof Shield Nickel is a coin well known to specialists and advanced numismatists, and the competition for this specimen was indeed heated before landing in the collection of a shrewd buyer.

Though there may be more 1867 Rays proofs than originally thought, many are known to be later re-strikes and this piece bears every hallmark of being one of the few (likely one of just 10-15 known) true originals struck.

Meanwhile, a momentous 1829 Quarter Eagle, BD-1, MS64 NGC followed the 1867 Rays Gem Cameo Shield Nickel, competing for top honours and almost nabbing the top spot in the auction with a final price of $51,750.

The momentous 1829 Quarter Eagle, BD-1, MS64 NGC (left) and the historic 1803 $10 Small Stars Reverse MS61 NGC

This value was equaled by an historic 1803 $10 Small Stars Reverse MS61 NGC (pictured above).

One of the most hotly contested non-gold lots of the sale's "top 10" was a magnificent 1865 25C MS66 PCGS, an exceptional example from the concluding year of the Civil War, and an important opportunity for the Seated specialist - one of whom added the coin to their collection for a final price of $48,875.

As we previously reported, a remarkable 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim MS65 PCGS, was close on the heels of the 1865 25C, realising $46,000.

Teddy Roosevelt's 'perfect' 1907 $20 High Relief, Flat Rim coin

This coin was a result of the numismatically inclined President Theodore Roosevelt, who wanted to create coins for the United States that would rival the beauty of those struck by the ancient Greeks.

The result was the 1907 High Relief double eagle, considered by many to be the crowning achievement of Roosevelt's coinage renaissance.

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Images: Heritage