An 1870-S seated Liberty dollar has sold for $505,250 at Heritage Auctions in New York.
The lot headlined the third instalment of the sale of the Eugene H Gardner collection on May 12.
 The 1870-S seated Liberty dollar is one of only nine known specimens |
It's considered the rarest regular-issue US silver dollar, with only nine known specimens.
They are believed to have been struck in a run of 12 in San Francisco, to celebrate the opening of the city's branch Mint. The present example is the fourth finest known.
Heritage commented prior to the sale: "The 1870-S is also one of the most enigmatic issues in the U.S. federal series, as no official record of its mintage has ever been discovered.
"The mystery associated with this coin, and its absolute rarity, make it incredibly popular among numismatists from many collecting disciplines…
"Examples are offered infrequently and it may be years before a comparable specimen becomes available, once this lot is sold."
Other lots in the sale include an 1873-CC No Arrows quarter, which made $376,000.
It's one of only three mint state examples of the rarest US quarter in existence. Only five are known to have made it to the present day.
We have a fascinating selection of rare coins for sale, click here to take a look.
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