Did you know Stack’s Bowers Galleries set a
record for the most valuable non-error modern United States coin ever to be
sold at auction? During our Rarities Night session of our official auction of the ANA
World’s Fair of Money, lot 5231, a 1964 Kennedy half dollar produced as part of
an unreported Special Mint Set (SMS) and certified SP-68 by PCGS, sold for an
astounding $156,000, setting a new record.
Excitement over the 1964 SMS Kennedy half
dollar has grown steadily in recent years, with several examples selling for
mid-five and low-six figures over the past decade. There are just over a dozen
known for this rare issue, among which this piece ranks with the finest. It is
the key issue of the Kennedy half dollar series, representing a holy grail for
specialists and advanced PCGS Registry Set participants.
These coins emerged onto the market as part
of five-piece SMS sets sold by Stack’s in various auctions throughout the early
1990s. The very first set appeared in Stack’s sale of June 1991, and additional
sets were sold through 1995. These were offered by Stack’s from the estate of
dealer Lester Merkin, but they can likely be traced back to Eva Adams, director
of the United States Mint from October 1961 through August 1969.
While Special Mint Sets were produced in high
numbers and offered to the public in 1965, 1966 and 1967, there were no
official SMS sets struck for 1964, raising questions about the existence of
these sets and the coins therein. Whatever the circumstances surrounding their
production, these coins are some of the most elusive issues of the modern U.S.
era and always create excitement among collectors.
While the 1964 SMS half dollar sold in the
Stack’s Bowers ANA Auction represents a new record for non-error modern U.S.
coins, the firm has actively traded in "modern" coinage since the 1930s,
offering newly-struck pieces directly from the Mint for collectors to fill in
their sets.
More recently, they set the record for modern
U.S. error coins in August 2011 with their sale of a 1975 No S dime for $349,600. With just
two examples known, the 1975 No S is the rarest of the several No S die errors
that have been found on Proof coinage from the late 20th century.
While technically die errors, the No S issues are actively collected alongside
the regular Proof issues from the era.
With expertise and auction experience across
all coinage from ancient to modern times, Stack’s Bowers Galleries is a proven
resource for every collector. To learn more about this record-breaking 1964 SMS half dollar,
or to discuss your own treasured collection, please contact Stack’s Bowers
Galleries at 800-566-2580 or consign@stacksbowers.com.
