Driven by intense collector demand for high-quality, eye-appealing coins, the August 27 Rarities Night Session of the 2025 Global Showcase Auction saw exceptionally strong bidding activity, particularly for coins bearing the Collectible Market Qualified (CMQ) endorsement. Bidders showed a clear willingness to compete aggressively for coins that combined technical excellence with exceptional eye appeal when supported by the additional approval of Greg Roberts and David Hall, two of the most respected figures in numismatics.
Achieving the highest price of the session was the finest known 1901 Morgan Dollar, graded PCGS MS66 and approved by CMQ, which realized a record price of $720,000, far surpassing the previous auction record of $587,500 this specimen realized in 2015. Also shattering previous records was the Gem 1858 Proof half eagle graded Proof-66 Deep Cameo by PCGS and approved by CMQ that brought $504,000, doubling the previous auction record achieved in 2023.
“Coins that have earned the CMQ sticker consistently achieve higher prices and attract more bidders, emphasizing the market’s acceptance that CMQ identifies premium and appealing coins,” said Greg Roberts, CEO of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, who along with David Hall launched CMQ in 2023.
“CMQ has been part of the numismatic scene for two years, and with each passing auction sale, collectors and dealers are taking note of the quality assurance that these little stickers provide,” Mr. Roberts continued. “With strong results realized for CMQ-approved coins, more and more coins are being submitted, and CMQ stickered coins continue to grow within the marketplace.”
Other impressive price records for CMQ-approved pieces include:
- Lot 3072. 1839-O Capped Bust Half Dollar. Reeded Edge. HALF DOL. GR-1. Rarity-1. Repunched Mintmark. MS-61 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $11,400, a record price for an example of this historic New Orleans Mint issue graded below MS-64.
- Lot 3104. 1836 Gobrecht Silver Dollar. Name on Base. Judd-60 Original, Pollock-65. Rarity-1. Silver. Plain Edge. Die Alignment I. Proof-62 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $38,400, a strong bid that surpasses the CDN CPG and PCGS Price Guide values of $32,500 and $35,000, respectively.
- Lot 3130. 1892 Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS). CMQ. Tied for finest graded example realized a world record $52,800.
- Lot 3187. 1814/3 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-4+. AU-58 (PCGS). CMQ. OGH. Realized $19,200, the same record price this piece brought in 2024, and surpassing the CDN CPG value.
- Lot 3259. 1872 Three-Dollar Gold Piece. JD-1. Rarity-6+. Proof-62 Cameo (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $20,400, surpassing the PCGS Price Guide and CDN CPG values and matching the record price for a coin in Proof-63 Cameo.
- Lot 3290. 1798 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Heraldic Eagle. BD-6. Rarity-6. Small (a.k.a. Normal) 8. AU-58 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $33,600 a record for any AU-58 sold in auction. Lot 3332. 1911 Indian Half Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-4. Proof-66+ (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $78,000 a record for any Proof 1911 $5 in Proof-66 or Proof-66+.
- Lot 3338. 1799 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-7, Taraszka-19. Rarity-3. Small Obverse Stars. AU-55 (PCGS). CMQ-X. OGH Rattler. Realized $28,800, surpassing the PCGS Price Guide and CDN CPG values of $27,500 and $22,000 respectively.
- Lot 3357. 1908 Indian Eagle. Motto. MS-66+ (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $28,800 a record for an MS-66+.
- Lot 3413. 1902 Liberty Head Double Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-4. Proof-65+ * (NGC). CMQ. Realized $180,000, far surpassing all previous records for a Proof 1902 $20 gold piece graded by NGC.
- Lot 3415. 1906 Liberty Head Double Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-4+. Proof-65 Cameo (NGC). CMQ. Realized $162,000, a record for any NGC-graded 1906 Cameo Proof double eagle.
- Lot 3418. MCMVII (1907) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. High Relief. Wire Rim. MS-65 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized a strong $75,000, exceeding both the PCGS Price Guide value of $70,000 and the CDN CPG value of $60,000.
- Lot 3489. 1849 Norris, Gregg & Norris $5. K-3. Rarity-6+. No Period After Alloy. Reeded Edge. AU-55 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $19,800, far exceeding any other price realized at auction for an AU-55.
- Lot 3492. 1852 Augustus Humbert $10. K-12. Rarity-4. 884 THOUS. AU-50 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $13,200, exceeding the CDN CPG value.
- Lot 3494. 1850 Mormon $5. K-5. Rarity-5. EF-40 (PCGS). CMQ. Realized $28,800, the highest price ever realized for an 1850 Mormon $5 in either EF-40 or EF-45.
- Lot 3502. “1861” (1879) Confederate Half Dollar. Scott Restrike. Breen-8002. MS-66 (NGC). CMQ. Realized $33,600, the highest price ever realized for an example of the Scott Restrike Confederate half dollar.
For more information about CMQ, visit cmq.stacksbowers.com. For a complete list of prices realized from the Stack’s Bowers Galleries 2025 Global Showcase Auction visit www.stacksbowers.com.
so many beautiful coins hard to pick just one.
It’s encouraging to see such strong prices for quality coins. I hope it continues, but I’m reminded of the early 1980’s.
Gotta love old U.S. coins. Sure wish I had some of these.
It boggles the mind as to the astronomical prices achieved at the auction sales. This particular week almost all the articles are for the top top tier quality coins and their auction stats. I understand that the gold space flown sac dollars are one of a kind items but $550 k each is money that the average to even higher end buyer will find unattainable. Thats what makes collecting/investing exciting . Having something others can’t and being able to sell later at a profit and buy something else .
Wow!
Maybe someday I will have the finances to purchase coins like this.