SPARTA, Mich. — Precious metal investing rises during economically uncertain times, and this maxim was apparent during Viperbid’s “Coins, Cards and Collectibles” online auction held June 27.

Several lots of US Morgan silver dollars fueled the auction’s silver craze. One featured lot contained four, good condition, 1921 Morgan silver dollars. After an opening bid of $50, 14 additional bids pushed the selling price to $142, which was close to spot price for silver on that day.

An uncirculated 1883 CC Morgan silver dollar, in government issued holder, finally sold for $227 after 18 bids while a lot of three uncirculated 1923 Peace silver dollars sold for $106 after 15 bids.

But the centerpiece coin of this auction proved to be a 1927 brilliant (professionally graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America), uncirculated $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coin that 28 bidders fought over. For those not in the know, the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, or $20 gold coin was minted by the US Mint from 1907 until 1933, primarily for use in international trade. The coin is named after its designer, famed artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens. And the $20 Saint-Gaudens is considered, by many collectors, to be the most beautiful US coin ever minted. The 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle is also among the most valuable of all US coins. One sold in 2002 for $7.5 million, which, in comparison, makes the final bid of $1,530 for the 1927 coin seem quite reasonable.

“Reasonable” is a good word to sum up Viperbid Auctions. Its manager, Ron Ducharme, Jr. said, “My father, Ron Ducharme, and I have been in the auction business about five years, but we started Viperbid about a year ago to offer an online auction for companies struggling in the present economy. Our goal is to help our clients by giving companies that are either going out of business or downsizing a helping hand in liquidating inventory and assets.” Viperbid is a company’s “One day online auction advantage.”

Many of Viperbid’s auctions are industrial-type auctions, explaining why the June 27auction was only Viperbid’s sixth “Coins, Cards and Collectibles” auction. But with over 180 lots offered, this was a fabulous one-day auction.

Another silver coin offered was a 1946 uncirculated Booker T Washington commemorative half dollar. Considered a cross-collectible (Black memorabilia too), in lighter bidding, this coin sold for $12.50.

Along with coins, there were several collectible sports cards offered to investors. A scarce 1954 Topps “Al Kaline” rookie card (# 201) opened at $50 and, after nine bids, sold for $210.

Two other Topps cards cards of interest were a 1962 Mickey Mantle (# 200) and 1966 Joe Namath (#96).

In 1962 the New York Yankees won their 27th pennant and won The World Series, defeating the San Francisco Giants in seven games. Mantle ended the year with a .321 batting average—the third highest of his career. Mantle’s 1962 card attracted nine bidders and eventually sold for $155.

Namath’s card sold at $110 with just three bids. During his 1966 season with the New York Jets, Broadway Joe threw for 3,379 yards—his second best passing season.

Since this was a general collectibles auction, porcelain figurines were well represented also. There were a total of 19 Precious Moments figurine lots. A 1989 Precious Moments “Tell it to Jesus” figurine, showing a little girl talking on the phone to Jesus, sold for $21.50 after five bids. And a 1983 Precious Moments “Bless You Two” figurine, which would make an excellent wedding gift, sold for the opening bid of $5.

Like all of Viperbid’s online auctions, this “Coins, Cards and Collectibles” auction was a one-day auction; it started at 8 a.m. and began ending at 6 p.m. when lots were removed from the auction in 50-lot blocks. If a lot has had a bid in the last 10 minutes, the lot’s bidding time is extended for an additional 10 minutes to give bidders a chance to respond and not be outbid by late bidders.

Viperbid automatically notifies bidders if they have been outbid, inviting bidders to protect their future investments.

Since online auctions attract distant bidding, Viperbid helps arrange shipping.

Ron said that Viperbid, for now, averages two auctions a month, but “our future goal is to have an auction a week.”

Contact: (800) 480-1085,

www.viperbid.com