The finest-known 1792 Silver Disme (in Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) About Uncirculated-50 condition) realized an impressive $998,750 USD ($1.3 million Cdn.), taking the top spot in Heritage Auctions’ (HA) recent $22.7 million USD ($29.3 million Cdn.) sale.
Held April 27-May 1 in conjunction with the annual Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) Convention at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Ill., the U.S. Coins Signature Auction was complemented by HA’s U.S. Currency and World Currency sales, which realized more than $4.3 million USD ($5.5 million Cdn.) and $900,000 USD ($1.1 million Cdn.) respectively, bringing the total amount realized at the annual CSNS Convention to nearly $28 million USD ($36.2 million Cdn.).
“Important early U.S. coinage was the main draw in this auction,” said HA President Greg Rohan, “and elite collectors stepped up to take advantage of offerings that may well not be seen again for another generation or two.”
The finest-known J-10 1792 Disme (in PCGS Specimen-64 Brown) proved itself an “incredible and desirable artifact of the first days of the United States,” crossing the block for $705,000 USD ($911,935 Cdn.). Auctioneers said the coin’s importance as one of the first pieces minted at the newly built Philadelphia Mint in the early 1790s was enhanced by its close association with David Rittenhouse, the first director of the U.S. Mint.
Rounding out the early U.S. trio of coins was an “impressive” 1776 Continental Currency dollar (in PCGS Mint State-65), which earned a final price of $235,000 USD ($303,960 Cdn.). Auctioneers said it’s “one of the most enigmatic issues in the early federal coinage series, with researchers believing they were struck as a substitute for paper dollars in late 1776.”