Searing-hot U.S. coin market reached a boil last week when one of the finest-known 1908-S Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles With Motto, graded MS67 by PCGS with CAC approval, stormed to $336,000 at Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 13-14 U.S. Coins Signature® Auction, pushing total sales to a staggering $8,751,859.
The star of the show came from Heritage Auctions The Alymaya Collection, Part III, with the coin sparking 32 competitive bids before the gavel fell.
“A result like this is only appropriate for a coin of this caliber,” said Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “It comes from a small mintage, and of those, this is one of the finest examples: PCGS has awarded a higher grade to just two other examples.”
More Market-Movers: Stellas, Mules & Record-Breakers
Second in line was a coveted 1879 Flowing Hair Stella, PR66 Cameo NGC, which drew a flurry of 93 bids, ultimately realizing $216,000. Only 20 coins have received this grade at NGC, with just 10 finer. These gold pattern coins were originally struck for Congressional distribution—only a few ever saw wide release.
From the same Alymaya cabinet came a 1910-S Double Eagle, MS67 PCGS, which shattered an auction record at $168,000—nearly double the previous high of $88,125. Although over 2 million were minted, most were melted after the U.S. abandoned the gold standard in the 1930s. PCGS reports this is the only MS67 example known, with one higher.
Another standout was a historic 1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-1, High R.3, MS61 NGC, which closed at $132,000. This rare early U.S. Eagle type was meant to rival Spanish 8 escudo coins, though half eagles were more favored in international commerce. NGC has only eight examples at MS61 and just nine higher. A second specimen, AU58 PCGS, drew $114,000.
Rare Varieties Draw Serious Bids
An 1861-S Paquet Reverse Double Eagle, AU55 PCGS, reached $126,000. Considered the rarest San Francisco $20, only about 200 examples survive. PCGS and NGC each list just a single Mint State coin in their population reports. Notably, one piece was famously unearthed in 1937 under a barn in Hull, Texas.
Another Alymaya gem, a 1929 Double Eagle, MS65+ PCGS, brought $108,000. Though over 1 million were minted, most were never released into circulation and instead melted down during the Gold Recall of 1933.
A 1924-S Double Eagle, MS65 PCGS followed close behind at $90,000, another Alymaya highlight. Although 2.9 million were struck, only about 250,000 circulated, with most others melted. This example is one of just eight graded MS65 by PCGS, with only two finer.
Also hitting $90,000 was an 1865 Liberty Half Eagle, PR64 Cameo PCGS. CAC. Only 25 proofs were struck during the final year of the Civil War. Experts estimate 15–20 examples still exist today.
Rarities Round Out the Top Lots
The legendary 1895 Morgan Dollar PR65 Cameo NGC (VAM-2), from a proof mintage of just 880 coins, went for $87,000. Any supposed circulation strikes were likely melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, leaving only proofs available to collectors.
A quirky and extremely rare “Two-Tailed” Washington Quarter Mule, MS64, achieved $84,000 — a new auction record. These dramatic mint errors, struck with two reverse dies, are considered among the holy grails of U.S. error coinage, with just a handful known across all denominations.
Complete results available here: HA.com/1387
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