Nearly 2,000 rare American coins amassed over 90 years by a 102-year-old Missouri collector have sold for USD 23 million at a two-day New York City auction.
Heritage Auctions Co-Chairman Jim Halperin said yesterday that retired St Louis lawyer Eric P Newman began collecting in the 1930s, only paying about USD 7,500 for the 1,800 piece collection.
Halperin says a 1795 US silver dollar in almost pristine condition sold for USD 910,625 and another one from 1799 sold for USD 822,500 in the online and in-person auction.
He says a rare quarter-dollar from 1796, the first year the denomination was produced by the US Mint, sold for USD 1,527,500. He says Newman paid only USD 100 for it.
Proceeds from the sale will go toward supporting the Eric P Newman Numismatic Education Society in Missouri.
