Two rare coins sell for combined $7.87M at auction

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Heritage Auctions said a Florida event showcasing rare U.S. coins featured two of the most famous rare pieces of currency selling for a combined $7.87 million.

The auctioneer said the Thursday night auction, which netted more than $55 million, included the very first gold coin minted in the United States, a hand-struck 1787 Brasher Doubloon, selling for $4,582,500.

The auction also featured a 1913 liberty head nickel, minted under mysterious circumstances at the Philadelphia Mint and made famous by an episode of 1970s TV series "Hawaii 5-0," selling for $3,290,000.

"The legendary Brasher Doubloon is one of the most important coins in American history because it's the first gold coin struck for the young United States and it's one of only a handful that exist," said Todd Imhof, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, "This is a record auction price for one of these historic, early American coins."