Rare Coin News
1836 Proof Set Captures $1 Million
1836 Proof Set Captures $1 Million
One of only two known complete proof sets from the early years of United States proof mintage’s sold for an impressive $1 million. A private collector residing in Ohio purchased the set after learning about it in a magazine article. This set and the 1834 King of Siam set, which sold for $3.1 million in late 1998, are the only known sets of this era.
A colleague of mine, Mr. Hendelson, who owns a coin company in New Jersey, had acquired the set from a family of which the set had been passed down for at least three generations. Like the King of Siam set, the eight coin 1836 proof set is believed to have been assembled as a gift to Asian rulers in an effort to establish trade.
Upon purchasing the set, Mr. Hendelson submitted the coins to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation for certification. The coins rank among the top 1836 proofs NGC or PCGS has ever seen. The coins were graded by NGC in the following grades:
1836 Proof Set
Denomination/Grade/Detail
Classic Head Half-Cent/Proof-66 BN /Finest Known!
Coronet Large Cent/Proof-65 BN/Only 8-10 coins exist in any condition!
Capped Bust Half-Dime/Proof 64/Only 6 of these coins are known!
Capped Bust Dime/Proof-62/Only 3 are known to exist!
Capped Bust Quarter/Proof-63/Only 5 are known!
Capped Bust Half-Dollar/Proof-64/Only 10-15 coins known!
Quarter Eagle/Proof-66 Cam/Finest known of only 4-6 coins!
Half Eagle/Proof-65 Cam/Finest of only 2 known!
The sale of this set, and the following auction prices realized for coins at this years ANA Money Show, is further evidence of how hungry the market remains for extreme rarity and historically significant coins.
Bidders enthusiastically raised their hands setting many new records for coins within their variety, type and grades. The following chart lists only a few but very impressive hammer prices.
Denomination/Grade/Service/Price Realized
1793 Wreath Cent/AU58/Raw/$29,900
1970-S Doubled Die/Obverse Lincoln Cent/MS65RD/PCGS/$16,100
1867 Shield Nickel/PR64/PCGS/$46,000
1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel/GEM BU/Raw/$103,500
1801 Draped Bust Dime/MS65/NGC/$50,600
1919-D Mercury Dime/MS66FB/$218,500
1828 Capped Bust Quarter/MS65/PCGS/$20,700
1926-D Standing Quarter/MS66FH/PCGS/$20,700
1837 Reeded Edge Bust Half/MS65/PCGS/$13,800
1795 Flowing Hair Silver $1.00/AU58/PCGS/$23,575
1838 Gobrecht $1.00/PR63/PCGS/$31,050
1895-O Morgan Dollar/MS64DMPL/PCGS/$57,500
1900 Morgan Dollar/PR67/NGC/$23,000
1921-D Morgan Dollar/MS67 /PCGS/$10,925
1855-D Ty. II Gold $1.00/XF45/NGC/$17,250
1808 Bust $2.50/AU53/PCGS/$34,500
1834 Capped Bust $5.00/AU58/NGC/$32,200
1909 $5.00 Indian Satin Proof/PR67/NGC/$52,900
1795 Draped Bust $10.00/AU55/NGC/$52,900
1801 Draped Bust $10.00/MS62/PCGS/$20,700
1907 Wire Rim $10 Indian/MS64/PCGS/$28,750
1860-O $20 Liberty/XF45/PCGS/$10,925
1907 $20 St. Guadens High Relief/MS63/NGC/$17,250
1910 $20 St. Guadens/PR64/PCGS/$39,100
