1867 $20.00 PCGS AU50 CAC, OGH

Old Green Holder. By today's standards I grade this coin a solid AU55 with a shot to grade AU58. It has a nice medium to deep orange-gold and green "Euro" appearance but it is not overly dark. This date is usually seen with pronounced abrasions in the fields and this coin is cleaner than usual. A very nice Type Two double eagle.

CAC has approved one example in AU50 with eighteen finer than this.

1867 $5.00 NGC EF45

After years and years of neglect, coins like this are finally starting to get their due. And for good reason. Let's take a quick peek at the 1867 half eagle. This Reconstruction Era issue has an original mintage figure of just 6,870. The combined PCGS/NGC population for the date is 88 coins which, of course, includes many resubmissions. The likely number known is fewer than 100 and it may be as low as 75. Yet despite this coin's obvious rarity, Trends is a paltry $1,750. Collectors are more into value and rarity than ever before and series like Liberty Head half eagles have numerous issues like the 1867. People may not buy this coin to start a date run but they know value when they see it. Not to mention the fact that this particular coin is really pleasing for the grade with natural light rose and green-gold color and some luster remaining on both sides. A few marks can be seen in the left obverse fields but overall this is a solid coin for the grade and an impressive value for less than $2,500.

1867 $5.00 NGC PR63 CAM

50 struck; around a dozen or so are known today. As with all proofs of this year the comparably "high" mintage of 50 is misleading as it is clear that a number went to the melting pot after going unsold. To date, NGC has graded just six Proof 1867 half egales while PCGS has graded eight; this figure, of course, includes regrades, crossovers, etc. This example is among the few affordable Proof half eagles of this era that is available. It has fully reflective surfaces that show no signs of cleaning but there are a few contact marks in the obverse fields; the reverse is clean and choice. There hasn't been a Proof of this date/denomination sold at auction since December 2009 and there are just eleven auction records since 2000. A Gem Proof example of this issue would cost at least three times the asking price of this piece if it were even available. An important piece of Proof gold for the savvy specialist.

1867 $20.00 PCGS MS60 CAC

A few decades ago, a small hoard of Uncirculated 1867 double eagles was uncovered. These coins are easy to spot as they tend to have great color and luster and plenty of abrasions from rough handling when shipped loose in bags. The present example is clearly from this hoard but it is less abraded than most and it shows lovely rich orange-gold color with tinges of underlying green and rose. I have seen a number of comparable 1867 double eagles graded MS61 by both services and this is a great type example for the collector who wants a better date Type Two double eagle for inclusion in his set of U.S. gold coins.

1867 $5.00 PCGS EF45

Few coins offer better value than the Reconstruction Era half eagles from the Philadelphia mint and the 1867 is amongst my favorite dates from this period. Only 6,870 business strikes were made and fewer than 100 pieces exist today. PCGS has graded just 34 in all grades and this date is seldom found in grades above the EF45-AU53 range. This example is just about perfect for the grade with nice medium to deep orange-gold color that is contrasted by deeper hues at the borders. The surfaces are very clean with fewer marks than usual for the date and grade. The last two auction prices realized for examples in this grade were both $2,070; these are for an NGC and a PCGS coin back in $2,070. Interestingly, only two other APR's for EF45 examples have been recorded since 1999. A whole lot of coin for not a whole lot of money.

From the RYK Collection

1867 $5.00 NGC AU55

Only 6,870 examples of this date were minted and the survival rate is even lower than one might expect for a Reconstruction Era gold coin. I believe there are fewer than 100 known in all grades and this is confirmed by the fact that there are just 34 graded at PCGS and another 53 at NGC (that's 87 "grading events" which could translate to as few as 40-50 distinct coins). This slightly reflective example has typical surfaces for the issue but it lacks any of the deep, poorly situated marks that characterize most higher graded 1867 half eagles. The color is a light rose gold and there are vestiges of dirt in the protected areas of the reverse. The last 1867 half eagle in AU55 to sell was Heritage 2011 FUN: 6915 (slabbed by NGC) which was extensively abraded and inferior to this piece; it sold for $3,594. For under $4,000, this is a fantastic value as it is not far removed from the Condition Census and it is a legitimately rare coin in this grade.