Bingham Collection Shatters Auction Records
Earlier this year the GreatCollections Coin Auction of Greg Bingham’s exceptional 144-coin, complete set of classic commemorative half dollars shattered many previously published price records and far exceeded price guide indications.
Bingham’s commemorative sets had received recognition for their exceptional quality from certication services in their competitive online Registry programs.
Greg Bingham, 71, was an all-star linebacker for the Purdue Boilermakers and the Houston Oilers (1973-1985). He was also a history bu and the history behind rare coins most interested him. Bingham noted, “I’m a monster tone collector – in other words, it’s like collecting artwork with pretty colors.”
Toning on silver coins is a slow, natural process where a coin turns color over time. Many collectors pay substantially more for coins with beautiful toning because the attractive colors make the coin stand out. Toning on a silver coin is a chemical reaction from moisture which serves as a catalyst for oxidation.
Bingham built sets of historical silver classic U.S. commemorative coins, minted from 1892-1954, with beautiful toning. He was also particular about the overall quality of the coins he collected. Most coins were chosen for having minimal bag marks, good detail from striking and good original luster along with monster toning.
Bingham set out to obtain a design type
set of all 50 coins but soon decided to seek pristine examples of all 50 design types including every date and every mint they were made, all 144 coins.
Most of Bingham’s coins in the auction graded MS66, or better, with some grading as high as MS68+. Some of the coins in the Bingham Collection were graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and some were graded by NGC. Also, many of Bingham’s better coins were Certied Acceptance Corporation (CAC) approved meaning they were solid or premium quality for the grade. is enhanced their value at auction.
Mint state coins are graded on a scale of MS60-70 with a MS60 being a new coin that is usually heavily bag marked and oen has substandard luster. An MS70 coin would be considered perfect with great luster, strike and toning.
Earlier this year, a monster toned, nest known 1923-S Monroe 50¢ in PCGS MS67+ CAC sold for $102,000.00 –three-times experts’ estimates of its worth at a Stacks Bowers Auction. at set the groundwork for more record-shattering bids in the Bingham sale. Highlights of the sale including photographs, mintages, population and many record-shattering prices are shown below.
Bingham is known for saying, “You may pay a bit too much for the right coin, but you always pay too much for the wrong coin.” That philosophy served him well as the spectacular results of the auction conrm.