Numismatic history was made on August 27, 2025, when Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosted their Summer Global Showcase Auction, realizing nearly $31 million in just two sessions. The first featured the private collection of legendary musician Rick Springfield, while the second — the highly anticipated Rarities Night — offered some of the rarest and most desirable coins in the world.
The undisputed star of the event was Lot 3140, the finest known 1901 Morgan Dollar, graded MS-66 (PCGS) CMQ. This exceptional coin achieved a record-breaking price of $720,000, making headlines as the most valuable 1901 Morgan Dollar ever sold.
But that wasn’t the only jaw-dropping result of the night. Another coin — an 1870-CC Double Eagle (AU-50, PCGS) — tied the Morgan Dollar’s price, selling for $720,000 and cementing its status as one of the rarest first-year Carson City gold coins in existence.
Record-Breaking Results Across the Board
Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, praised the overwhelming turnout and global interest:
“Significant collections of United States gold coins and patterns led to very active and strong bidding from across the globe. Even more impressive is how deep the pool of collectors truly is.”
The Rarities Night session showcased coins from world-class named collections including the Chicago Collection, Floyd T. Starr Collection, Hough Family Collection, Illinois Set, Iron Eagle Collection, John D. Miner Collection, Julian Korein Collection, PentaMint™ Collection, Seven Lions Collection, and the Warwick Collection.
With competitive bidding online, over the phone, and on the floor, 72 coins broke into six-figure territory — a rare feat in numismatic auctions.
Highlights from Rarities Night
Some of the standout results included:
- 1793 Flowing Hair Cent (AU-55+) – Realized $66,000
- 1837 Capped Bust Dime Specimen-64 – Sold for $72,000
- 1806/5 Draped Bust Half Dollar MS-63 – Brought $50,400
- 1872-S Liberty Seated Half Dollar MS-66+ – Hit a record $30,000
- 1936-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar MS-67 – Set a new date record at $38,400
- 1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar AU-58 – Realized $66,000, a 33% increase over its 2021 price
- 1880/79-S Morgan Dollar MS-68 – Fetched $40,800, well above price guide values
- 1857 Three-Dollar Gold Piece Proof-66 Deep Cameo – Achieved $336,000, a new world record
- 1878 Three-Dollar Gold Piece Proof-67+ Cameo – Realized $348,000, the highest ever for this date
- 1858 Liberty Head Half Eagle Proof-66 DCAM – Soared to $502,000, doubling its previous record
What This Means for Collectors
The success of this sale underscores the strength of the rare coin market, especially for high-grade examples and coins with impressive provenance. Collectors continue to pay strong premiums for coins that combine rarity, quality, and history.
Mr. Kendrella concluded:
“Competition for many lots took several minutes to complete. Consignors were thrilled with the results, and these prices show strong demand across all categories.”
Final Thoughts
From the finest known 1901 Morgan Dollar to historically significant gold and pattern issues, this auction proves that the rare coin market remains hotter than ever. Collectors and investors alike will be watching closely as the remainder of the 2025 auction schedule promises more opportunities for record-breaking results.