Collectors are hungry for genuinely rare coins, whether they be key large cents, deep mirror prooflike Morgan dollars or rare branch Mint Proof coins, and they are willing to spend what it takes to get what they want.

Middle Date Coronet cents, struck 1816 to 1839, historically have been viewed as less "sexy" than the Early Date cents of 1793 to 1814. The second auction of the Dan Holmes Collection, offered for sale on May 30 by Ira and Larry Goldberg, produced strong prices for rarities and nonrarities alike.

While part two lacked the million-dollar rarities of the first auction in September 2009, its strong prices showed a built-up hunger in the market for hard-to-find coins.

The Heritage June Long Beach auction realized nearly $10 million, with the top coin being an 1866 Seated Liberty, With Motto dollar, graded Proof 67 ? cameo by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. It brought $69,000.

What is remarkable is that the auction achieved a nearly eight-digit total without any "great rarities" or even any coins cracking the six-figure mark.

Market commentary is often focused at the top end of the market, but an auction like the Heritage sale shows that there is palpable demand at the mid- and upper-mid levels as well, even when there are no individual headliners.

The Heritage Long Beach auction included a strong run of rare deep mirror prooflike Morgan dollars, including 1891-O and 1892-O Morgan dollars, graded Mint State 65 DMPL. Both brought $57,500.

The coins were the highlight of a group that was exhibited at several shows as part of a tour sponsored by Professional Coin Grading Service.

The prices on the DMPL coins were very strong. One can't be sure if the provenance aided in the strong prices, but the auction certainly exposed the coins to a broad collector base.

Another special coin that has changed hands recently is an 1876-CC Seated Liberty dime graded Proof 66 by PCGS. In its market report, New Jersey dealer Legend Numismatics wrote that it paid in excess of $200,000 for the branch Mint Proof, and that the firm "instantly" sold it, with four serious buyers interested in the dime.