罕見的 17 世紀美國銀幣拍賣成交價 252 萬美元，創下新紀錄

這枚硬幣於 2016 年在阿姆斯特丹的舊櫃子中被發現，其歷史可以追溯到 1652 年，第一家波士頓鑄幣廠在開業幾週後就被鑄造。

A rare 17th-century American silver coin has set a new record by selling for $2.52 million at auction.

一枚罕見的 17 世紀美國銀幣在拍賣會上以 252 萬美元的價格創下新紀錄。

Discovered in 2016 in an old cabinet in Amsterdam, the coin dates back to 1652 and was struck at the first Boston Mint just weeks after it opened, according to Stack's Bowers Galleries, which facilitated the sale.

據促成此次拍賣的 Stack's Bowers Galleries 稱，這枚硬幣於 2016 年在阿姆斯特丹的一個舊櫃子裡被發現，其歷史可以追溯到 1652 年，第一家波士頓鑄幣廠在開業幾週後就開始鑄造。

Known as a threepence coin, it features a simple "NE" for New England on one side and its value in Roman numerals on the other. Despite its small size - comparable to a nickel - and a silver value of only $1.03 in today's market, its rarity and historical significance made it the most expensive non-gold U.S. coin from before the establishment of the U.S. Mint.

它被稱為三便士硬幣，一側有一個簡單的“NE”代表新英格蘭，另一側有羅馬數字的硬幣。儘管其尺寸較小（與鎳幣相當），並且在當今市場上銀幣的價值僅為 1.03 美元，但其稀有性和歷史意義使其成為美國造幣廠成立之前最昂貴的非金幣。

The coin's journey to auction began when it was found in a pasteboard box labelled "Silver token unknown/From Quincy Family/B. Ma. Dec, 1798." Extensive research and verification by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) confirmed its authenticity and historical value. Coins from the Boston Mint were already collector's items by the late 18th century, as they symbolized New England's growing independence from British rule.

當這枚硬幣在一個標有“銀幣未知/來自昆西家族/B. Ma. Dec，1798”的紙板箱中被發現時，它就開始了拍賣之旅。專業錢幣評級機構（PCGS）的廣泛研究和驗證證實了其真實性和歷史價值。到 18 世紀末，波士頓造幣廠的硬幣已經成為收藏品，因為它們象徵著新英格蘭日益擺脫英國統治的獨立。

This particular coin is one of only three known specimens, with one held by the Massachusetts Historical Society and another stolen from Yale College decades ago, its whereabouts still unknown.

這枚特殊的硬幣是僅有的三枚已知樣本之一，其中一枚由馬薩諸塞州歷史學會收藏，另一枚在幾十年前從耶魯大學被盜，目前下落不明。

The auction featured a fierce 12-minute bidding war, which auctioneer Ben Orooji described as "an exhilarating ride and a career highlight." The final price exceeded presale estimates by more than threefold.

此次拍賣會進行了長達 12 分鐘的激烈競價戰，拍賣師本·奧魯吉 (Ben Orooji) 形容這是「一次令人興奮的旅程，也是職業生涯的亮點」。最終價格超出預售預估三倍以上。

While this coin's record-breaking sale is remarkable, it is not the most valuable U.S. coin ever sold. A 1794 silver dollar believed to be among the first struck by the U.S. Mint fetched $10 million in 2013, and a 1933 "Double Eagle" gold coin sold for $18.9 million in 2021.

雖然這枚硬幣破紀錄的銷售成績令人矚目，但它並不是有史以來最有價值的美國硬幣。一枚1794 年的銀元被認為是美國造幣廠首批鑄造的銀元，2013 年以1,000 萬美元的價格售出，一枚1933 年的「雙鷹」金幣在2021 年以1,890 萬美元的價格售出。