The finest known specimen of a 1792 US Birch cent achieved $2.5m in Heritage Auctions' sale of the Partrick Collection on January 8.
The piece is one of the earliest coins ever manufactured in the US and the only cent from that time in uncirculated condition.
 A small number of Birch cents were issued during the early years of the US Mint |
A 1792 Eagle-on-Globe quarter dollar also sold well, achieving $2.3m.
Jim Halperin, co-founder and co-chair of Heritage Auctions, commented: "This coin was last offered publicly in 1890, so there was obviously excitement from top collectors at the prospect of acquiring it.
"There are only two known examples of this coin, with one of them held by the National Numismatic Collection. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the smart collector who seized the moment."
The auction included a wealth of rare coins from across the history of the United States. The second part of the collection is due to cross the block later this year.
Halperin said: "There are not enough superlatives to describe how extraordinary this collection is.
"It is, quite simply, the finest grouping of American colonial coins ever assembled and the numismatic world will never see another like it.
"This is a pedigree that will endure in perpetuity and, judging by the incredible prices and the very spirited bidding, the top collectors in the hobby fully understood that."
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