Three successful auctions collided to form an $18.4m success, last weekend.

Heritage auctions combined Long Beach US Coin, Currency and World Coin events.

US Coins saw solid results with a total of more than $9.4m, while US Currency's strong showing amounted over $5.7m total, and World Coins continued its robust climb with more than $3.2m sales realized.

"We're very satisfied with the results across the board," said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage. "As always, quality sells, and the top lots in each category certainly bore that out."

"Bidding was spirited, more than 9,200 bidders participated and the overall results show us that the state of the numismatic market is quite sound; perhaps on its way to a full recovery, and beyond."

At Long Beach, a stunning 1891 $20 PR67 Ultra Cameo NGC from the Long Beach Signature® US Coin Auction, which realized $158,125.

It is an exceedingly rare early proof coin - one of only a couple of dozen known - procured from the US Mint by one of the original members of what is easily the most important numismatic association, featuring the likes of George Heath, William Jerrems and David Harlowe.

Another rare double eagle, a gorgeous St. Gaudens 1920-S $20 MS64 PCGS from The Vegas Collection, brought $132,250.

While the mints in both Philadelphia and San Francisco struck double eagles in 1920 - the first since the production of the 1916-S coins -1920-S is rare in all grades - this was a particularly rare classic.

In Heritage's Signature® Long Beach Currency event was a wholly original, truly outstanding Fr. 2221-G $5,000 1934 Federal Reserve Note, PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ, that provided the biggest fireworks, realizing $126,500.

"This outstanding note easily ranks as one of the very finest $5,000 notes to have come through the doors of the Heritage currency department," said Rohan. "It's a fascinating new addition to the census of US Notes, and well-valued at its final price."

Heritage's World Coins business has been enjoying a recent upturn, as the sale totalling $3.2m demonstrated, with the variety of coins on offer continuing to expand and impress.

An extreme rarity from Brazil, a Joao V gold 12800 Reis Dobra 1731-R "Italic Shield", KM148, AU53 NGC, brought $103,500, topped the World Coin auction.

It is one of only a handful known to exist and is considered to be a finer example than the only other known one know to exist, in the "Espirito Santo Collection," the most important collection ever assembled of Portuguese and Portuguese colonial coins.

Other big sales at the US Currency and World Coin auctions included a Rare and Lovely Fr. 172 $100 1880 Legal Tender PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ, one of only two Friedberg numbers of this type, which realized $97,750 on the Currency side.

Meanwhile, a rare and desirable Chinese Mint State Chihli Tael, Year 33 (1907), KM-Y74.1, L&M-438, MS63 NGC, a classic issue of the late Empire series, realized $92,000.


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