DALLAS, TX.- The finest of only four privately held examples of the famous Quintuple Stella from one of the most prominent collections in all of numismatics will be among the top attractions at Heritage’s ANA U.S. Coins Signature Auction August 31–September 5.
The gorgeous 1879 Liberty Head Quintuple Stella, Judd-1643, Pollock-1843, Low R.7, PR64+ Deep Cameo PCGS is part of The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XIII. Simpson’s collection is one of the most celebrated in all of numismatics. It is one of five known examples, one of which is held in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian.
“This issue is extraordinarily rare, and the one offered in this auction, from the acclaimed Bob R. Simpson Collection, is the finest-certified example,” says Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “This is a numismatic treasure that continues the tradition of elite coins from the collection that Heritage is proud to offer to the most serious collectors.”
From the same collection comes a unique 1876 Liberty Double Eagle, Judd-1490, Pollock-1643, Unique, PR64+ Cameo PCGS. CAC. The only known specimen of this magnificent coin has proven elusive, even to some of the most notorious of numismatic collectors. Numismatists view Judd-1490 as a transitional pattern, made to further the design change to the Type Three format in honor of the nation’s centennial. Its existence was completely unknown to the numismatic community until the early 20th century, after not being offered at auction or mentioned in the numismatic press even once in the 19th century.
Costa Family Collection
The auction also includes the 51-lot Costa Family Collection, Part III, the third installment of a trove of rare gold, high-end Colonials, type coins, historic Betts medals and gold stellas.
Among the top offerings from the collection is one of just 14 examples traced of a 1879 Coiled Hair Stella, Judd-1638, Pollock-1838, JD-1, R.6, PR67 Cameo NGC, a magnificent offering that is tied for the finest certified example. One of the rarest and most valuable issues in all of American numismatics, the 1879 Coiled Hair stella traditionally has been listed with the pattern series, but now has been enthusiastically adopted into the regular U.S. gold series, as well. Its rare visits to the auction block help generate significant interest when it is offered.
Also from the Costa Family Collection is one of just 10 examples traced of an 1880 Coiled Hair Stella, Judd-1660, Pollock-1860, JD-1, Low R.7, PR64 Cameo PCGS, the rarest of the four stella varieties. The pedigree of the coin offered here has often been combined with the pedigree of the Kern specimen in the past, leading numismatists to believe there were only nine examples of the 1880 Coiled Hair stella extant. But Heritage catalogers had the unique opportunity to study both the present coin and the Kern specimen in hand when that coin sold in Heritage’s April 29-May 2 CSNS U.S. Coins Signature Auction. A world-class rarity in the U.S. federal coinage system, the 1880 Coiled Hair stella is listed among the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins.
A third Costa Family Collection highlight is one of just 18 examples traced of an 1880 Flowing Hair Stella, Judd-1657, Pollock-1857, JD-1, R.6, PR66 NGC. It also is one of the most famous rarities in American numismatics, a beauty that technically is a pattern, and one never authorized for regular coinage. The 1880 Flowing Hair stella has survived and prospered as a collectible issue and is featured regularly alongside regular U.S. gold coin issues in numismatic publications such as A Guide Book of United States Coins and the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. USPatterns.com suggests “about 20 are believed to exist,” of which Heritage experts have confirmed only 18.
Round Lake Collection
The auction includes more than 60 lots from this impressive assemblage, led by a 1798/7 Capped Bust Eagle, 7x6 Stars, BD-2, Low R.6, MS62 PCGS that is tied for the third-highest known grade. This coin occupies the second position on PCGS CoinFacts’ Condition Census for the issue, behind only the finest-known coin in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, which has not been certified and remains unavailable to collectors. This piece first surfaced in William Woodin’s landmark collection, which was sold by Thomas Elder in March 1911.
Reno-Carson City Collection
Another important collection features 43 lots, including an 1870-CC Double Eagle XF40 NGC. Winter 1-A, a rarity from the inaugural Nevada Mint issue that never was readily available. Interest in large denomination United States gold coins developed slowly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the collecting landscape changed dramatically in the 1930s. Numismatists like Louis E. Eliasberg and Dr. Charles W. Green recognized that collectible United States gold coins represented one of the few lawful methods for private citizens to hold substantial quantities of gold, and today, Carson City gold remains one of the strongest specialties within U.S. numismatics.
The same collection also produced an exceptional 1889-CC Morgan Dollar MS64 NGC. CAC. VAM-5. The 1889-CC Morgan dollar is one of the key dates in the series, particularly in Mint State. From the original mintage of just 350,000 pieces, many were paid out soon after issue, and more from 1933 on. While hoards can come out from time to time, the fact that few bags survived into the collecting era means that this Mint State population will remain necessarily small. Just six are graded higher at NGC than the example offered in this auction.
Bolt Collection of Lincoln Proof Cents
This 26-lot collection is the all-time finest PCGS Registry Set of 1909-58 proof Lincoln cents, a trove that includes many coins from the well-known Stewart Blay Collection. Among the highlights is a 1909 Cent PR68 Red PCGS. CAC that is the finest example graded by PCGS. Three varieties of proof cents were made in 1909: the outgoing Indian Head design, the short-lived and desirable VDB variety and the less lauded but imminently important 1909 non-VDB. After the new Lincoln cent was introduced to great fanfare in 1909, the initials were removed and the reverse rim relief was reduced. Proof production continued with the new design, with one of the obverse dies used on the VDB coinage carried over to the later non-VDB proofs, which are scarce today. PCGS population reports indicate that two of every seven certifications can boast the same level of preservation. However, the numerical excellence of this example is unmatched, and across the 1909-16 proofs, just two other certifications carry equal grades, with just one finer.
Other highlights from the collection include, but are not limited to:
• A 1909 VDB Cent PR66 Red PCGS. CAC
• A 1914 Cent PR68+ Red PCGS. CAC
• A 1955 Cent PR69 Red Deep Cameo PCGS
Van Cleve Family Collection
Another featured collection in the auction, this 57-lot assemblage counts among its highlights an 1807 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Bearded Goddess, O-111b, High R.4, AU53 PCGS. CAC. According to Leaman and Gunnet’s emission sequence of the Capped Bust half dollar series, the O-111 was the third die marriage produced of the series, and the prominent die crack from the chin to the bust provides the popular “Bearded Goddess” nickname for this late die state of the O-111 die pair. The collection also includes an 1807 Capped Bust Half Dollar, Large Stars, O-114, R.3, MS65 PCGS. CAC. Only four different 1807-dated die varieties are known of this type, and just two examples have been certified in higher numeric grades than this spectacular Gem.
The auction also includes a trio of large cents found by Kentucky numismatist Jeff Garrett at the Berlin Coin Fair. Among them is a 1795 Lettered Edge Cent, S-76, B-4 — Struck Over 1794 S-71 Cent — R.8, AU58+ PCGS that is attributed as S-76 and likely refined as S-76b based on the die state. There are two other 1795 S-76 cents known that show 1794 large cent undertype, both in lower grades. What makes this example really stand out from others is the level of visual clarity that can be seen in the undertype. One example that appeared in Heritage’s 2015 Chicago ANA auction offers no evidence of the 1794 date. The other example is identified as a 1795 S-76 cent that was struck over an 80% off-center 1794 S-63 cent that shows the “Fallen 4” date. Until January 2026, the coin offered in this auction was unknown to early copper aficionados.
Other top lots in the auction include, but are not limited to:
• A 1797 Half Eagle with Small Eagle reverse, 16 Stars, BD-4, High R.8, AU58+ PCGS. HBJ-209
• An 1860-O Half Dollar — Indented by Half Dime Planchet, Mated Pair — MS63 PCGS
• The finest known example of an 1897-S $20 MS67 PCGS. CAC
• An 1893-O $1 MS65 PCGS. CAC
• One of just nine known examples of an 1827/3 25C Original, B-1, R.7, PR64 PCGS
• One of no more than seven recognized proofs of an 1849 Gold Dollar No L, JD-1, R.7, PR62 PCGS
