1867 $5 gold coin found in Texas cigar box sells for $97,600
An extremely rare 1867-S Liberty Half Eagle $5 gold coin, discovered in a Texas closet, sold for $97,600 at a Heritage Auctions event, quadrupling its previous record. Graded MS63 by PCGS, it's now considered the finest known example of the coin, which belonged to a Union soldier and was passed down through generations.
Why it matters
This discovery significantly impacts the numismatic world by establishing a new benchmark for the condition and value of 19th-century American gold coins, highlighting the potential for valuable historical artifacts to be found in unexpected places.
An 1867 $5 gold coin made in San Francisco and forgotten inside a cigar box in a Texas closet has sold at auction for $97,600 (£74,800). The sale price was more than four times the coin's previous record. The coin, officially known as an 1867-S Liberty Half Eagle, was found during an estate appraisal in Buda, Texas. Appraisers discovered a green milk crate hidden in a bedroom closet. Inside were two shoeboxes and an old cigar box containing the historic coin and other 19th-century currency. According to auction details published by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, experts from the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) examined the rare gold coin and gave it a Mint State 63 (MS63) grade. This confirmed it as the finest-known surviving example of this coin. It ranked two full grade points above the next best example. The coin was sold at Heritage Auctions' GACC U.S.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in