Unique 1870-S half dime to be auctioned

The only 1870-S half dime known to exist will be auctioned in the January 11-16 FUN US Coins Signature Auction to be conducted by Heritage Auctions. Bidding begins on December 23, 2022.

For the very interesting back story on how it was discovered in 1978 and the verification process of its authenticity, see the Description section at https://coins.ha.com/itm/seated-hal.../p/1356-15001.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

 

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Sounds like Fun!
Here's the beauty:

 

Fascinating read, thanks for posting. Funny how it showed up in the Orland Square Shopping Center - I probably bought a couple coins in that shop around that time.

 

Love to hear your WAGs on the final auction price for the coin. My WAG is $1.2 million, which includes the buyer's premium.

 

I'll guess $2 million.
I got a chuckle looking up the registry set (https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/ha...ties-1870-s-circulation-strikes-1837-1873/807) and seeing two all time finest with 100% - Simpson and Law Collection. So, which of the three current 98.72% complete players are going to go at it for that next 100%? DLH, DS Collection and/or lostmountainman? Tom Bender only got to 52.56%, which is interesting since he's the last owner. Talk about getting the keys first!

 

My guess is that it will be "DLH" (whom I believe is Dell Loy Hansen, CEO of the Wasatch Real Estate Investment group, with a net worth of about $4 billion). He's either 70 or 71 years old, and running out of time to be the "greatest" collector of US coins of all time (see Greysheet article at https://www.greysheet.com/news/stor...Loy Hansen has taken,-- or possibly, all time. Your $2 million WAG may be accurate if someone wants to challenge DLH for the coin to achieve the 100% registry mark.

 

Seems like "DLH" didn't used to be private on there, but yeah, I figured it was Hansen. Now that I look at it more closely, the other two don't seem to have the same pocketbooks, lots of AU and below coins in their sets despite the high completion %. Doesn't have to be somebody going after the registry game of course. I'm thinking of how high something like the 1894-S dime has gone recently, with more examples available.

 

One wonders about the location and integrity of the cornerstone of the US Mint in San Francisco (actually, it was the second San Francisco Mint that was completed in 1874) in which the copper "casket" with the 1870-S type coins were interred by the Masons on May 25, 1870. Very informative PowerPoint presentation by the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society on YouTube about the history of the San Francisco Mint(s), Masonic tradition on cornerstones, and best available current knowledge of THE cornerstone for the San Francisco Mint:

 

I think they’re low too Toughcoins. I say 4.6 million. Yeah this coin is really special. Not my favorite of all time. But right up there. Yeah Tom Bender has a lot of great coins. His seated dime set incredible. Also remember this is the one coin Louis Eliasberg didn’t have. It wasn’t discovered until after his passing my dream is that a 1870-s quarter will be discovered

 

If DLH wants it, he won't be the underbidder. Im up there with @ToughCOINS $5-$6 mil

Fun and interesting thread. Thanks everyone for all the interesting links

 

10 Mil. CAC'D.

 

I hope you didn't sell them a box of junk coins containing an 1870 half dime around that time!

 

$3.8 million WAG.

 

Are these WAG's playing with The Price Is Right rules?

$7.849mm

 

I wonder if they'll let me look at it during lot viewing at FUN? They'll probably just look at me and wonder "Why is this peasant even asking?"

 

My absolute max is $4.2M scooby snacks.

 

Yes, anyone can go look at the high value lots. You have to go to a special area with extra security (and, you may have to pre-register), but I've gone in to handle million dollar coins before.

And yes, they know you are just there to gawk. The serious bidders got special invite-only access.