Bonhams announce the sensational “white glove” results of the “Tacasyl Collection of Magnificent United States Proof Gold Coins” sold on September 23 in their Los Angeles salesroom. This collection of 27 lots represented a virtually complete collection of every major gold design type issued in proof in the US between 1836 and 1915 and realized $10,778,040 with every lot sold. The astounding $399,186 lot average represents a world record for a rare coin collection on a per lot basis (nearly doubling the previous record).
Leading the set was the 1880 Coiled Hair Stella. This example, one of the very finest known, brought an astonishing $2,574,000 (more than doubling the presale estimate). Making this Stella one of the ten most expensive US coins ever sold at auction (based on the Red Book 250 Top Auction prices). This price placed it in the vaunted company of the 1933 Double Eagle, the 1794 Silver Dollar, 1804 Silver Dollar, 1913 Nickel and Brasher Doubloons.
The 1879 Coiled Hair Stella nearly doubled the previous high for the design and date while realizing a phenomenal $1,041,300. And the 1880 Flowing Hair Stella also doubled the previous record for the type selling for $959,400. The four coin set sold for an aggregate price of an amazing $4,855,500.
Other highlights included the 1891 Proof Double Eagle (NGC Proof 68* Ultra Cameo), which set a new world record as the most valuable Liberty Head Proof Double Eagle ever sold at auction at $655,200. In addition, the Saint-Gaudens high relief double eagle is one of the most coveted coins in the entire US series. The Tacasyl example (NGC Proof 69) one of the very finest in existence set a new world record for a proof high relief (beating its own record set in 2005) at $573,300.
Finally the sale closed with the Double Eagles. The Type one Liberty Double Eagle, 1863 (NGC Proof 65 Cameo) brought $345,150 and set an auction record for the date. The last two lots of the sale the Saint Gaudens design double eagles both easily exceeded their pre-sale high estimates, the 1909 (NGC Proof 68) brought $184,860, and the 1911 (NGC Proof 68) brought $157,950.
