#33-Half Eagles, Air Jordan, and Lady Liberty
"I would like to paint the way a bird sings." -Claude Monet
Coins, Cards, Collector Cars, and Collectibles!
Thanks for reading The Attic Capital Newsletter - discovering, pondering, sharing… and hopefully inspiring the next generation of collectors.
Three Things -
You could read about rare coins, sports cards, and cool collectibles all day long - but right now I only have three things for you to consider.
#1 - Half Eagles Soaring
A recent Stack’s Bowers auction featured several record Half Eagle sales. One of them being the amazing 1815 Half Eagle, one of only six in private collections, and the second finest known example.
The entire lot, including the rare Half Eagle, sold for $720,000.
Past owners of the 1815 Half Eagle coin include Johns Hopkins University, and Edward Cogan, who auctioned coins from 1858 to 1879 and is regarded as the “father of U.S. coin collecting.”
#2 - Key Dates and Rarities
Browse the PCGS rare coin indexes, and you’ll notice a trend. Nearly all of the collector coin prices indexes look very similar. Dipping down in 2016 - 2019, then taking off like a rocket in 2020.
But there’s one PCGS coin index that’s slightly different. The “Key Dates and Rarities Index” price gains extend almost off the chart, as you can see below. Price gains far beyond any other coin index.
In fact, going back to 1970, the Key Dates and Rarities index has gained 7,161%.
It’s just another reminder of how the ‘best of the best’ coins have been in huge demand by collectors with almost-unlimited resources. Big-time collectors have spent big-time money in the last 3 years wrestling over, and bidding up the greatest coins on the market.
#3 - Jordan Rules
The very first Sports Illustrated magazine featuring Michael Jordan on the cover sold at a Heritage Auction last week for $126,000.
The magazine from December 10th, 1984, includes the very-appropriate headline, “A Star Is Born.” The sale was a new all-time record for any graded magazine.
I’ve already checked my “attic” for old stacks of Sports Illustrated mags, but my humble pile of S.I. archives only go back to about 1986. Dang!
Read more about the crazy value of Air Jordan collectibles.
Favorite Quote -
“"I would like to paint the way a bird sings." - Claude Monet
Do You Need Help?
Is My National Park Quarter Worth Anything? - Sure! It’s worth at least 25 cents. But the most valuable have a “W” mint mark and a “V75” Privy Mark. A quarter with these two markers, and in great condition, and you could be holding a coin worth hundreds of dollars.
Why Did Lamborghini Name Their Car the “Countach” - There’s never been a more fitting name for an automobile. In the early 1970s, the supercar maker unveiled the “Countach” to shocked, astonished, and stunned onlookers, and changed the game. The feeling you get from looking at the car was the actual definition of it’s name.
Why is Claude Monet So Popular? - Some people just can’t imagine why, or how a painting could be worth 100 million dollars. But I can tell you why art collectors pay tens of millions for a Monet. It’s because he was literally attempting to paint AIR - the atmosphere! He was pursuing the impossible.
After I learned more about Claude Monet, I concluded that all his paintings are extremely undervalued!
Featured Articles -
Feel free to share a few of our recent stories, and help me inspire the next generation of collectors!
1944 Steel Penny Breakdown - There seems to be some confusion over 1943 & 1944 steel pennies. I get a lot of people trying to sell their 1944 steel penny to me. While I really hope your penny is steel, these coins are so rare it makes it hard to believe dozens of people want to sell them to me. Brush up on your steel penny knowledge here.
What are the Most Valuable Football Cards? - Football season is upon us, here are the most valuable auction sales of all time. It’s an eclectic mix of modern and vintage cards.
The First G Wagon – Complete History of the Epic Mercedes Rig - The G Wagon wasn’t always an ultra-luxurious sled. It began as an Iranian military all-terrain vehicle. Nowadays, collectors are restoring and reselling vintage G Wagons for huge money.
The Historic 1922 Peace Dollar - Some coin experts estimate over 80% of Peace sliver dollars were destroyed and melted-down because of the Coinage Act in the 1960s. Find out why every coin collection needs a few beautiful Peace coins.
Question for You -
What is your favorite Twitter account and YouTube Channel in the collector community? Coins, comics, manuscripts, cards, cars, vintage watches… whatever it is, let me know so I can shout them out!
We have a YouTube Channel, but I need your help. I’m looking for a suggestion for the next video!
Our visitor traffic is steadily growing - and they love collecting! Do you want to advertise with us? Reach out for rates.
Update - I’m still working on my Attic Capital Giveaway Plan! I will get there… eventually… and when I do, it will be epic! Mark my words.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!