silver coins

Rare Coins Up For Auction In Los Angeles

Filed under: Auctions

Recently I took a class in silver appraisal and learned a new term, toning, which refers to the patina of older coins. There are plenty of toned coins on display as part of Bonhams & Butterfields Los Angeles' Coins, Medals and Banknotes Auction on May 30, 2010. The auction features a diverse grouping of rarities, many of which are fresh to market.

Shown above is an extremely rare 1847 $1 Proof. It is estimated that only 20-30 Proofs were struck, meaning of course that far fewer are around today, lost to the swirls of time. The lot listing reports that a number of deceptive prooflike business strikes are known and so real proofs are highly prized. The coin is colorfully toned over both sides in shades of cobalt-blue, pale golden, and violet. It is estimated at $10,000-12,000.

Tags: coins auction, gold coins, numismatics, silver coins

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Silver Dollar Sets New World Record

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

A rare 1794 U.S. silver dollar has set a record price. The Neil/Carter/Contursi specimen 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar sold for $7.85 million. What makes this particular coin so rare is that it is the finest known 1794 dollar and several experts believe this could be the first silver dollar ever struck by the United States Mint.

The coin was sold by Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Irvine, California, to the nonprofit Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation in Sunnyvale, California. Contursi has had the coin since 2003, acquiring it for a price he's only ever defined as "millions of dollars." He has displayed the coin in cities around the country and had a custom wooden exhibit case constructed so it could be seen more easily. When it wasn't on tour it was a featured exhibit at the American Numismatic Association's Edward C. Rochette Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Tags: 1794 silver dollar, contest, flowing hair silver dollar, most expensive coin, rare coin, rare coins, silver coins, silver dollar, silver dollars

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