A rare early gold example of the 1826 $5 Capped Head half eagle has sold for $235,000 at Heritage Auctions in Atlanta.
The MS65-graded coin headlined the US Coins Signature Auction at the National Money Show on March 2.
 The 1826 capped head coin was minted in a run of 18,069 |
Produced in a limited issue of 18,069 in 1826, only 30-35 are estimated to have survived. Around 19 examples of various grades are available on the market, with the rest held within the collections of various institutions.
The coin sold is thought to be the second or third best example known. The finest, an MS66 graded specimen from the Acker collection, sold for $763,750 in January 2014.
A PR67-graded 1845 quarter eagle ultra cameo also performed well, realising $223,250.
The coin is the finest of three known proofs and was discovered in a British bank vault in the 1970s. It has been speculated that they were produced as diplomatic gifts, although this remains unsubstantiated.
An 1875 $10 Liberty gold eagle, one of only 100 struck, sold for $211,500.
Boasting the lowest strike of any gold coin struck in American history, the coin is a classic rarity with around 15 recorded examples surviving to the present day.
The specimen sold is graded AU50 and is regarded as the fourth best example.
We have a range of rare, investment-grade coins available to purchase.
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