There are always interesting coins coming and going from our offices and at DWN many of these never make the website. We share some of these coins from time to time and we’d like to present some “secret” coins which we have sold in the last thirty days.

1. C. BECHTLER $5 K-23 GEORGIA, 128 Grains. PCGS/CAC AU58

The very first half eagle struck in Georgia was the fabled Templeton Reid issue dated 1830 which is exceedingly rare. For most collectors, the practical alternative to this issue is a Christopher Bechtler $5. Three varieties were made in the early 1830s which used metal from the Georgia gold discoveries of this era and these are designated as GEORGIA GOLD on the obverse. For an avid collector of Dahlonega gold, these are an essential addition to a half eagle set.

*C. Bechtler $5.00, K-23 Georgia, 128 grains, PCGS AU58 CAC*

The most available of the three varieties (K-21 through K-23) is the 128 Grains, RUTHERF: issue which is designated as Kagin-23 in the standard reference work on pioneer gold. This variety is regarded as a High R-5 in terms of its overall rarity, which means that there are an estimated 40-50 known in all grades. This variety is extremely rare in higher grades with maybe two or three known in AU58 and another two or so known in Uncirculated; the finest of which grades MS62 at NGC.

This example is exceptional for the issue and for the grade with nice, natural color on both sides; but not with the funky, almost-too-dark hue seen on certain higher grade Bechtler issues. The pedigree is equally impressive with this piece having resided in the Allan, Kagin and Clifford collections.

CAC is notoriously strict on Bechtler half eagles and this is the only example of this variety to have been awarded a sticker from this service.

I sold this coin to a Dahlonega half eagle collector from Georgia who is quietly assembling one of the finest sets ever. He may never purchase another Bechtler issue, but this piece fits well into his specialized set and I think it really adds a lot to it.

2. 1857-S $3.00, PCGS/SSCA #2 MS63

There are just four collectable Three Dollar gold pieces from San Francisco and all of these are rare to very rare in Uncirculated. Until the discovery of six Uncirculated pieces in the second salvage of the famous S.S. Central America shipwreck, the 1857-S was nearly impossible to locate in Uncirculated. The best 1857-S Three from the wreck is an incredible MS67 with a hefty price tag and the next best, graded MS65 by PCGS, sold via private treaty earlier this year. Which left this nice PCGS MS63 as the best available for this date.

A long-time client of mine has specialized in Three Dollar gold pieces for over two decades and his wonderful set is posted on the PCGS Set Registry as the South Texas collection. The 1857-S was one of the very few dates that this collection didn’t include in Uncirculated and this MS63 was a nice upgrade to the PCGS AU58 which he had.

The coin itself was extremely appealing with excellent luster and an appearance which belied it shipwreck status. Some of the higher grade pieces from the wreck do not have matte surfaces and they were expertly conserved to keep their natural look.

Prior to handling this coin, I had never sold an Uncirculated 1857-S three and this was a really fun coin for me to handle.

3. 1829 $2.50, PCGS/CAC MS64+

All six of the Capped Head Left/Reduced Diameter quarter eagles (1829-1834) are rare, low mintage issues and all are very rare in the higher Uncirculated grades. The 1829 is a sleeper issue in this series. It is lumped with the 1830-1832 as a “common date” but it appears for sale far less often than these three issues. It is also a more popular date given its status as a first-year-of-issue.

There are a few dozen 1829 quarter eagles known in Uncirculated but most of these are in the MS60 to MS62 range. In MS64, this issue is rare and there are only two Gems known: the Pogue I: 2053 coin which grades PCGS MS65 (it sold for $105,750 in 2015) and the incredible Jung Type Set coin, graded MS67 by PCGS, which brought a strong $316,250 in the 2006 ANA auction.

I have been working with an eastern collector for close to a decade on a world-class set of early quarter eagles (1796-1834) and the 1829 was an issue which was missing from the set. When I saw this coin come available in the recent October 2019 Legend Auction in New Orleans, I suggested to this collector that the coin would be an excellent addition to his impressive set.

The coin is simply outstanding with glowing natural green-gold and yellow-gold color and fiery cartwheel luster on both sides. A few small ticks in the obverse fields likely preclude a Gem grade but this piece is clearly special and it has been wonderfully preserved for the better part of two centuries.

We purchased the coin for $76,375 and it joined a number of other memorable coins in this collection.

Are you interested in acquiring coins like the three which we sold during October 2019? If so, please feel free to contact Doug Winter by phone at (214) 675-9897 or send him an email at dwn@ont.com.