1862 $3.00 PCGS PR63 CAC

Byron Reed Collection pedigree. One of 35 Proofs struck; there are probably as few as nine to ten known. This is one of the few absolutely original Proof gold coins on the market. It was last sold in 1996 and before this it had resided in the Byron Reed/Omaha City Library collection since the 1890's. The obverse and reverse show deep natural cloudy orange-gold color over reflective surfaces. It appears that the contrast is good enough to designate this coin as a Proof but the aforementioned toning has slightly obscured the frosted nature of the portrait; if dipped (yikes!) this contrast would be fully evident. There are a a few old hairlines on the surfaces (not from cleaning but from cabinet friction) and a few mint-made lines in the planchet before the U in UNITED. The rarity of this date as a Proof is evidenced by the fact that there have been just two pieces sold at auction since 1999: a PCGS PR64 in 6/04 that sold for $50,600 and another PCGS PR64 that brought $37,950 in May 2006. This piece is an amazing combination of rarity, pedigree and beauty and it should be very attractive to Proof gold collectors or Civil War specialists.

Ex Spink America 10/1996: 78 (where it sold for $15,400), earlier in the Byron Reed/Omaha City Library collection. The original auction flip accompanies the coin.

1862 $10.00 NGC MS60

In the "new" coin market of 2012, Liberty Head eagles have become among the most popular series with rarity-loving collectors. And formerly overlooked dates like the 1862 have grown greatly in stature. The 1862 eagle is scarce in any grade with probably less than 100 known from the original mintage of 10,960. When available, it tends to come in the EF40 to AU50 range and it is extremely scarce in AU55 to AU58. In Uncirculated, this date is a major rarity with just three known to me: the present example, a second NGC MS60 (ex Heritage 2003 ANA: 10437) and an NGC MS63 from the S.S. Republic that is off the market in the finest collection of Liberty Head eagles. The example I offer here is nearly fully lustrous and unquestionably free of wear with rich rose and yellow-gold color. As is befitting an MS60 Civil War gold coin, this piece does have some dense marks but these are mostly confined to the fields and they are shallow and well-dispersed. This is an extremely important coin for the collector of Liberty Head eagles or rare, high grade Civil War coinage and it represents what may be the only chance you have in many, many years to obtain an Uncirculated example of an 1862 eagle.

1862 $20.00 NGC AU58

The 1862 is the "king" of the Civil War double eagles and along with the 1859, it is the rarest double eagle from this mint until the Big Five ultra-low mintage issues from the 1880's and early 1890's. Not only does the 1862 have the loweast mintage figure of any business strike from this era (not including the Paquet issues, of course) but it has a decidedly low rate of survival with just north of 100-150 pieces known from the mintage of just south of 100,000. The 1862 is very scarce in the higher AU grades and very rare in Uncirculated. Prices have risen appreciably for this issue over the years but given the level of demand for it, they are not out of whack. The present example is a lovely slider with the body and appearance of a fully "new" coin but just a few too many small ticks on the surfaces to grade MS60. Unlike most 1862 double eagles, this piece has nice color with flashes of rose and light orange-gold seen atop very frosty surfaces. The strike is sharp and the overall appearance is very high end for the date and grade. There have been three auction records for this date since April 2011 in AU58 and the results have been remarkably consistent: $23,000, $23,000 and $25,300. The level of demand for this issue remains consistent as well and there are numerous Type One double easgle collector and Civil War gold specialists who covet the 1862 double eagle

1862 $10.00 NGC AU53 CAC

As recently as a few years ago, the true rarity of this Civil War eagle was not really known outside of the Liberty Head eagle specialist community but this changed when a PCGS AU58 example sold for $25,300 in the Stack's 8/10 auction. There were 10,960 struck but most 1862 eagles were melted and the number known today is likely no more than 100-125 in all grades. I have never seen or heard of an Uncirculated piece and this date is very rare in the higher AU grades. Most of the coins in AU holders are heavily abraded and have been dipped and this clean, natural-looking coin has the best eye appeal of an 1862 eagle that I have seen in years; including the aforementioned PCGS A58. It has a good deal of luster below medium natural green-gold color and there are not many marks of note on the surfaces. A small area of natural toning surrounding the eagle's head and upper wings serves as ready identification. CAC has approved three 1862 eagles in AU53 and three better.

1862 $1.00 PCGS PR66DCAM CAC

I'd like to think that I'm not overly prone to hyperbole when it comes to describing coins but I'm going to go out on a limb and state that this 1862 Proof dollar is one of the single best looking pieces of Proof gold that I have seen in years. It has remarkably strong contrast between the devices and the fields and it has clearly never been dipped or processed as have most Proof gold coins. A careful look at the surfaces with a 5x glass shows virtually no marks and a total absence of hairlines. A total of 35 Proof gold dollars were struck in 1862. Some were not sold and others were later impaired. All told, there at most fifteen known of which maybe four or five are Gems. The present example is clearly the second finest, trailing only the Eliasberg: 50 coin which was later sold as Scotsman 10/08: 790 (and graded PR67 Ultra Cameo * by NGC) where it brought a record $51,750. Proof gold coins of this quality, regardless of date or denomination, are almost never available and the fact that this amazing piece is a rare issue and a Civil War date makes it especially desirable.

1862 $1.00 PCGS PR64 DCAM CAC

One of only 35 Proofs struck. It is likely that as few as 14-16 examples are known in Proof and this date rivals a number of other better-known, higher-priced issues in this series. This is a wonderfully choice example for the grade with bright, highly reflective fields and full cameo contrast. Both sides are superbly toned in deep natural orange-gold hues and there are just a few wispy hairlines (not from cleaning) seen on both sides. For the sake of identification, a tiny curved mint-made lintmark between DO in DOLLAR is mentioned. I think coins like this are exceptional value and I would strongly recommend putting early Proofs of all denominations away for a long-term hold as they seem to have lots and lots of upside. PCGS has graded just two in PR64DCAM with two better. This is the only example in this grade (with a DCAM designation) to have received CAC approval.

Ex Goldberg 2/06: 874 where it sold for $16,675

1862 $20.00 PCGS AU53

The 1862 is the rarest Philadelphia double eagle struck up through 1881 (not including, obviously, the exceedingly rare 1861 Paquet reverse). For many years it was an obscure issue that I literally had to beg collectors to buy. Today, when nice examples are offered, they cause considerable excitement. I recently offered a nice PCGS EF40 example of this date and within a day of listing on my website, I had six orders for it. That's why I'm pleased and somewhat amazed to be offering a second example; and in PCGS AU53, no less! This example is very clean for the issue and has far fewer marks than what is typically seen on this usually-baggy date. The color is a light to medium green-gold with orange tinges and there are a few areas of deeper color in the reverse fields. Since 1994, there are only nine auction records for this date in AU53. That's an average of one coin in AU53 every two years or so; proving the difficulty of finding this date in the lower AU grades. If you collect Type Ones or you fancy Civil war gold coins, you know how tough this date is and what an important opportunity this represents.