Rolled Edge becomes ‘most important specimen' in 20th century US coins

This 1907 eagle is now the now the ninth-ever coin to bring more than $2m at public auction

Collectors at Heritage's $46m FUN US Coins auction kept their focus on rare gold over the course of the Dallas auctioneer's four day sale, January 5-9, in Tampa, Florida. This was especially during the Thursday, January 6, Platinum Night offerings...

The Thursday sale was led by the $2.185m sale of the Frank A Leach Specimen of the 1907 Rolled Edge eagle, Satin PR 67 NGC, from The Colonel George M Monroe Collection. All prices include 15% Buyer's Premium.

The 1907 Rolled Edge eagle, PR67, the Frank A Leach Specimen, which descended in the family of the former Mint Director's second wife, proved itself to applause in the packed auction room.

The example was one of five gold coins in the auction that once belonged to Leach, and it quickly established itself as a monumental coin "ranking among the most important individual specimens in 20th century American numismatics" in the words of Heritage.

The 1907 Rolled Edge eagle, PR67, sold for $2.185m

"It's hard to say, unequivocally, that this coin is a pattern," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. "But the price would seem to indicate that several top collectors in the world believe it is. This is only the ninth US coin ever to sell for more than $2m at public auction."

The $46 million total of the Tampa auction was the lion's share of Heritage's $62m-plus total numismatic auctions sales in January, also including its World & Ancient Coins Auction which realised over $8.2m.

More than 6,700 collectors vied for the 6,701 lots in the U.S. Coin auction's Signature® and Platinum Night sessions, translating into almost 1900 successful bidders, or a 95% sell-through rate by both value and lot total.

"Very solid results, across the board," said Rohan. "Rare and singular gold, both of which were in abundance in this auction, continue to dictate pace and price of the market."

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Limited to just 14,000, this note, appearing for sale for only the second time, is the star at Heritage

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Images: Heritage