A
1920-S $10 Indian gold piece brought $1,725,000
in the Charlotte, N.C., auction conducted March
14-17 by Robert Korver and cataloged by Heritage
Auction Galleries.
Graded MS-67 by Professional Coin Grading Service
and referred to by sale catalogers as the finest
known example of its date, the 1920-S eagle
opened at $600,000.
It “quickly passed the million dollar
mark with six active bidders – two on
the phones and four in the room,” said
Korver. “The final three bids involved
two floor bidders, both standing in the back
of the room, and who were, according to the
underbidder, ‘very much aware of each
other!’ but unable to see other.”
Korver said $1,725,000 is the second-highest
price paid for a regular-issue U.S. coin, noting
that $1.897 million is the highest, paid for
a 1927-D $20 in 2005.
Consignor of the 1920-S
$10 was Dr. Steven Duckor, “who purchased this
coin in June 1979 for $85,000,” Korver said.
“This is the most important and desirable Saint-Gaudens
eagle in existence, and the new owner has a national
treasure.”
The overall sale, which was held in conjunction with
the American Numismatic Association convention, topped
$11 million. All prices reported here include buyers’
fees, which vary from 15 percent for floor bids to
a maximum of 22.5 percent depending on bidding method.