On November 12 and 19, the coins were offered for sale at GreatCollections. The 1856 Flying Eagle cent graded PCGS MS-66 sold for $343,125, the 1877 Indian cent graded PCGS MS-66+RD for $340,875, and the 1893-O Barber dime graded PCGS MS-68PL for $140,625 were among the most notable realizations.
The selling price of a PCGS MS-65RD gradated 1955 double-die Lincoln cent was $123,750. In terms of both date and grade, these all became records. The MS-65RD 1955 doubled die broke the record set in 2001 by more than double the margin.
With 16,645 bids, a total of $4,960,436 was realized for the 673 graded coins that were up for auction.
The renowned New York-based numismatist and artist Stewart Blay, who passed away in 2016, amassed the prestigious collections over the course of fifty years. The Blay Lincoln Cent Collection, which was auctioned off by GreatCollections earlier this year for over $7.7 million, also broke other world records.
"People who are really into collecting came out in droves to bid on and acquire pieces from the Stewart Blay Collection. Some of these collectors hadn't bought a coin in years because there was nothing of this caliber available," remarked Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections
Stewart had amassed a collection of exceptional quality during his lifetime, and the realized prices show that the numismatic community concurred. Even among today's numismatists, the pedigree is among the most revered, therefore it's sure to last.
Unfortunately, Stewart's untimely death occurred last Thanksgiving, Ian continued. This once-in-a-generation collection is truly a gift from Stewart and his estate, and we are eternally grateful.
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