The New York-style 1787 Brasher doubloon is arguably the world's most famous numismatic rarity, and the Stickney-Ellsworth-Garrett-Partrick example is the finest of the mere seven known specimens.
Acquired by pioneer numismatist Matthew Stickney in 1848, the present coin has been offered publicly only twice in all the intervening years since its discovery. On both occasions it set a world-record price for any coin ever offered at auction. In its first appearance, in Henry Chapman's sale of the Stickney collection in 1907, it realised $6,200, shattering the previous record of $2,165 set by the 1822 half eagle the year before. This record stood for 22 years. When it was next offered, as part of the Garrett Collection in 1979, it realised an equally spectacular $725,000, a record price that was not surpassed for a decade. This time around it has done it again, selling at Heritage auctions for a spectacular $9,360,000 - that's £6,882,325!
