Heritage FUN Special Sessions Realize $7.17 Million; Two Early Half Eagles Top at $268,400

This article is based on a CoinNews report published on January 13, 2026. It covers the special sessions that opened Heritage Auctions' FUN US Coins Signature Auction, which the report said continues January 14-17.

Heritage's FUN Special Sessions, featuring two named collections, realized $7,174,036. Two early half eagles (U.S. $5 gold coins) from the Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection shared the top price of $268,400 each: a 1797 BD-4 graded AU58+ by PCGS (HBJ-209) and an 1834 BD-4 graded MS64+ by PCGS with CAC approval (HBJ-268).

Two collections

The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles is a 68-lot group of rare varieties from the early half eagle series. According to the report, Jacobson acquired every early gold variety that Harry W. Bass Jr. had not obtained, except two unique 1797 varieties held by the Smithsonian Institution.

The COL Steven Ellsworth Collection of U.S. Large Cents 1793-1796 was assembled over the last four decades and was presented in partnership with Chris Victor-McCawley's Early Cents Auctions. It included every Sheldon number of the Chain, Wreath and Liberty Cap types, as well as three of the 21 Sheldon "NC" varieties.

Jacobson Collection results

The 1797 coin drew 22 bids. The 1834 BD-4 drew 19 bids. The report says it is tied with one other coin as the finest 1834 Capped Bust half eagle submitted to PCGS, The report adds that only six have ever been graded CAC, two at MS63 and four at MS64, and that this coin is the only MS64+ example.

An 1828 BD-3 half eagle, MS61 PCGS (HBJ-263), sold for $256,200, an auction record. The previous mark of $228,000 was set at Heritage in 2023 for the same coin. It is one of two confirmed pieces; the other is in the Smithsonian.

A 1795 BD-13 Heraldic Eagle five, MS62 PCGS (HBJ-207), sold for $207,400, an auction record for the unique BD-13 variety. Doug Winter called it "one of the very few early gold varieties that is unique."

An 1812 BD-2 Narrow 5D half eagle, MS65 PCGS CAC (HBJ-248), sold for $158,600, an auction record for the variety; the previous record was $105,750. An 1834 Capped Head Left five dollar With Motto, MS64 (HBJ-267), described as the finest of three known examples, brought $122,000, a record for the BD-3 variety. The previous record of $109,250 was set in 2008.

Other results included a 1797/5 BD-7 half eagle, MS61 NGC, and an 1828/7 Capped Head Left half eagle, MS63 NGC, at $195,200 each, and an 1830 BD-2 half eagle, AU55 PCGS CAC, at $122,000.

Ellsworth Collection results

The 98 lots from the Ellsworth Collection were led by a 1795 S-79 Reeded Edge cent, VG Details PCGS. The report says only 10 examples of the S-79 variety are known. The report did not give its price.

A 1793 S-15 Liberty Cap cent, VG8 PCGS, drew 27 bids and sold for $134,200. A 1794 S-53 Head of 1794 cent, AU50 PCGS, reported to be the discovery coin for the variety, brought $109,800. Its provenance includes the Henry C. Miller Collection.

Other results included a 1793 Liberty Cap cent, VF35 PCGS, at $97,600; a 1794 S-38 cent, MS63 Brown PCGS, at $91,500; and three cents at $85,400 each: a 1794 S-32 (MS64+ Brown PCGS CAC), a 1793 S-4 Chain AMERICA (XF45 PCGS) and a 1793 S-5 Wreath (MS62 Brown PCGS).

Comments

Todd Imhof, Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions, said: "Elite collections of exceptional coins produce extraordinary results." Jacobson said he was "very pleased with the results of the auction." Ellsworth said: "I've done about 40 shows a year for 40 years, and this is the best collection I could put together."

Complete results are listed at HA.com/1389.

Source: CoinNews, "Heritage's FUN Auctions Open Strong With $7.17 Million" (January 13, 2026).