One of fewer than 20 examples known of the Proof 1882 Coronet gold $20 double eagle set an auction record March 17 when it sold in a Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale for $810,000, more than double the $293,750 price realized for a different example sold in an October 2012 auction.

Total prices realized, which include the buyer’s premium added to the closing price of each lot won, totaled $21,761,593 for the auction’s 3,442 lots.

The 1882 double eagle was among nearly a dozen United States coins establishing new auction records in the event. The 1882 double eagle is certified by Professional Coin Grading Service as Proof 66 deep Cameo, stickered  by Certified Acceptance Corp. as being superior for the grade, and also carrying a CMQ (Collectible Market Designation) sticker.

According to Stack’s Bowers Galleries, “CMQ was founded by Hall of Fame numismatists David Hall and Greg Roberts. A CMQ sticker indicates that a coin unanimously meets their market standards and can be confidently traded sight unseen. No marginally graded or negative eye appeal coins will ever exhibit a CMQ sticker.”

“The price achieved by the 1882 double eagle was hardly an anomaly, as other rarities brought prices that far surpassed previous auction records,” said Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “Exceptional quality coins are always in strong demand no matter the market conditions. In today’s market, the demand is insatiable,” Kendrella continued. “Over the last few years, we have seen the highest quality coins continue to shatter previous auction records. This is a broad-based situation, with all areas seeing robust bidding activity!”

All prices realized incorporate the buyer’s premium.

Additional records were surpassed in the March 17 auction for these coins:

> A 1926-S Lincoln cent graded PCGS Mint State 64+ red realized a record $72,000 for the grade.

> A 1943-S Lincoln cent struck on a bronze planchet instead of the intended zinc-plated steel is one of five examples known. Graded PCGS About Uncirculated 55, with a gold CAC sticker signifying exceptionally high quality for the grade, and a CMQ sticker, it realized $456,000, more than double the $211,500 the same coin realized in January 2016.

> A 1922 Peace silver dollar, a trial of the Modified High Relief production, Judd-2020 (as attributed in United States Pattern Coins by J. Hewitt Judd, edited by Q. David Bowers), PCGS Proof 63, CMQ, deemed Rarity7+ (fewer than 13 examples known) and last offered over 40 years ago, realized $252,000.

> An 1860 Coronet gold $2.50 quarter eagle, JD-1 (attributed in United States Proof Coins by John W. Dannreuther), deemed “Rarity 6+” was graded as PCGS Proof 66 cameo, agreed to by CAC and CMQ. From the Harry W. Bass Jr. Collection and the finest certified of its type, it realized $120,000, more than double the previous auction record of $58,500 set in September 2019.

> An 1875 Indian Head $3 gold coin, JD-1, Rarity 6 (13 to 30 examples known), graded PCGS Proof 64 cameo, CAC, is the Willian Cutler Atwater-Amon Carter-Charles Kramer example of the Proof-only rarity, and realized $264,000, a record price for a cameo example.

> An 1899 Coronet gold $10 eagle, JD-1, Rarity 5 (31 to 80 examples known), in PCGS Proof 67 deep cameo, approved by CAC with extreme approval from a CMQ-X sticker was a stunning example that is tied for finest graded. It realized $264,000 on March 17. The previous auction record was $149,500, achieved by a Numismatic Guaranty Company Proof  68 ultra cameo example in May 2008

> A Sandblast Finish 1908 Saint-Gaudens, Motto gold $20 double eagle, JD-1, deemed “Rarity-5” and graded NGC Proof 67 with CAC approval realized a record price of $324,000, surpassing the prior auction record for the type by more than $100,000.

> An 1861-C Coronet gold $5 half eagle, the Winter-1 type (attributed in Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861 by Douglas Winter) and graded by PCGS as MS-63, approved by CAC, is the sole finest example of this Civil War era rarity and realized $408,000, nearly 2.5 times the previous record of $164,500 achieved in December 2020.

> An 1861-D Coronet half eagle, Winter 47-GG (cataloged in Winter’s Gold Coins of the Dahlonega Mint 1838-1861), PCGS MS-63, CAC, CMQ, from the Louise Eliasberg Sr. collection confirmed its place at the top of the Condition Census by realizing a record $408,000. In December 2020, this same coin realized a then record of $282,000 (more recently two other examples sold for $336,000 each).

> An 1860 Clark, Gruber & Co. $10 dies trial in copper with a reeded edge, graded PCGS MS-63 brown and attributed as Kagin 3 in America’s Golden Age: Private & Pioneer Gold Coins of the United States 1786-1862 (by Donald H. Kagin and David J. McCarthy) is deemed R-7 with four to 12 examples known and realized $45,600, setting a record for this pattern territorial issue.

Complete results for the Spring 2026 Showcase Auction are available at StacksBowers.com.  

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