Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, enjoys watching the items sold at auctions held by our WorthPoint Industry Partners. We thought it would be a great idea for him to select some of his favorite sold items and explain why those sales stood out to him. Gaining insights from Will is an excellent way to learn about buying and selling trends in our industry. We want to empower you to buy and sell with confidence. Take a look at his thoughts on a few of our partners’ recent sales.
On April 19, 2025, WorthPoint added 319,419 items to its Price Guide, totaling $369,079,311.57, with an average lot value of $115.54. A few standout paintings made their way into the top lots, adding some colorful highlights to the day.
Bright Spots
Another busy day in the books, and this time we’re heading west—to Lot 345 Auctions in Pueblo, Colorado. It’s always a little surprising when an auction with coastal-level quality pops up in the middle of cattle country, but hey, antiques and fine art know no bounds. The results were a mixed bag, but there were some bright spots. Two works by Theodore J. Richardson—famed for his vivid Alaskan landscapes—both sold at respectable prices. His Taku Glacier watercolor brought in $2,260.81, making it the third-highest price we’ve seen for the artist. It was a strong piece, beautifully framed, and clearly found the right buyer.
The second Richardson painting, Iceberg, Alaska, came in lower at $1,338.64—still solid, but not quite floating at the top of the market. The real sleeper hit, though, was a gem of a harbor scene by Warren Shepperd, tucked quietly into the sale. This Gloucester, MA painting, with its charming coastal backdrop and generous size (about 27″ x 21″), sold for $1784.85. That’s what we call a steal, especially for an artist who’s seen prices north of $30,000. Sometimes, the best finds aren’t the flashiest—they’re just waiting in the wings for someone with a good eye and a little bit of luck.
A History of Breaking Records
If you’re into coins—and I mean really into coins—the data drop we just loaded from Heritage Auctions is one for the books. Tucked into their January 2021 sale were not one, but two Brasher Doubloons, the numismatic equivalent of spotting a unicorn and its cousin at the same watering hole. The 1787 New York-style Doubloon, graded MS-65, lived up to its mythic status by selling for a jaw-dropping $9,360,000. This coin has a history of breaking records every time it surfaces—which is about as often as Halley’s Comet—and once again, it didn’t disappoint. Crafted by Ephraim Brasher, a legendary silversmith and neighbor to George Washington, it stands as a shining example of early American private gold coinage.
Its rarer sibling, the 1786 Lima-style Doubloon, came in at a still-staggering $2,100,000. Only two examples are known to exist, and while it’s the scarcer of the two, its value trails behind, perhaps due to its design mimicking the Spanish Pillar Dollar rather than boldly shouting “America” from the rooftops. But make no mistake: this coin carries serious historical weight. Brasher didn’t just mint money—he set the gold standard (literally), influencing everything from early U.S. currency design to the purity and composition of official coinage.
A Standout Sale
Freeman’s Hindman‘s recent Native American sale was a standout, bringing rare and distinctive items to the auction block. Among the highlights was an Eastern Plains Calumet Pipe, with its stunning steatite bowl, which soared to an impressive $32,000. This intricate piece, dating from the first half of the 19th century, features a delicate stem adorned with earthly and celestial depictions, wrapped with dyed horsehair and embellished with plaited quillwork. Another remarkable item was a vividly painted buffalo robe that captured the essence of Native American history. The robe’s sunburst design, surrounded by scenes of Sioux warriors engaging with the Crow, brought $23,040—a testament to the power and beauty of indigenous artwork. The sale, which amassed $843,288 with an average lot price of $2,487.58, reflected both the historical significance and artistry of these incredible items, showcasing their unique narratives and cultural heritage.
Just Massive
In one of the more unusual lots of the day, North Country Auction in Grand Forks, MN, featured a massive 1961-era neon sign from the iconic “Home Economy” Store, which went for just $1,552.50—a steal considering its history and size. Standing at a towering 18 feet, the sign was a true piece of local history and had previously been restored at a staggering cost of $50,000 in 2012. This double-sided tin sign, with its neon lights and protective plexiglass covering the “ECONOMY” letters, was disassembled for transport, though it’s no small task, requiring heavy equipment for loading. If you were looking for a deal on something else, you could also grab a 1977 Topps baseball card set for just $201.25, which includes rookie cards of Andre Dawson and Dale Murphy—quite the bargain in the world of vintage sports memorabilia.
Will Seippel is the founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and dealer of just about all things antique—with an emphasis on ephemera— since 1984. He is also the creator and founder of HIP, a website devoted to recording the best of the world’s history that has been saved on film.
WorthPoint—Discover. Value. Preserve.
Credit: Source link
