1839-D $2.50 NGC EF45 CAC

Variety-1. The 1839-D is not the rarest Dahlonega quarter eagle (that honor belongs to the 1856-D) but it is clearly the most popular and certainly the most historically significant. It has the dual distinction of being a one-year type and a first-year-of-issue which gives it a very broad range of appeal. While not really a rare coin, it is very hard to find with original color and surfaces. The present example is one of the nicer collector grade 1839-D quarter eagles that I have owned in some time. It has good detail and choice surfaces with rich natural orange-gold pastel color. There is nice balance between the obverse and the reverse with more detail on the feathers than usual. The last EF45 1839-D quarter eagle to sell was a PCGS example in the Heritage 12/10 auction that brought $6,325.

CAC has approved two in this grade with six finer.

1863-S $20.00 PCGS EF45

Medium S mintmark variety. Attractive and original with pleasing medium greenish-gold color. A few small ticks on the surfaces are consistent with the assigned grade.

1889-CC $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Choice for the grade with deep natural colors seen on the obverse and reverse. A small mark in the left obverse field is the only abrasion of note. This is not an especially scarce date but it is hard to find the 1889-CC with color as rich as seen on this coin.

CAC has approved nine in this grade with twenty-five finer.

1856 $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Along with the 1855, the 1856 is one of my favorite "sleeper" dates in the Type One double eagle series. It is still not priced at a huge premium over a common issue like the 1851 or 1852 but, as even a cursory glimpse at population figures will show, it is many times scarcer than these dates. This example is choice and original with rich, even orange-gold color that is accentuated by some deeper colors at the left obverse and correspoding reverse.

This is one of two approved by CAC in this grade with eleven finer.

1863-S $2.50 NGC EF45

After the extremely rare 1854-S, the next scarcest San Francisco quarter eagle is the unheralded 1863-S which narrowly eclipses the 1862-S. Only 10,800 were made and the survival rate is very low with probably no more than 1% still known. Auction records for EF45's are very scant over the last decade with just five seen from 2000 to the present. The most recent was Heritage 7/12: 4734 at $2,300 and the one right before this was Heritage 9/05: 4346 at $2,530; both were encapsulated by NGC. This example is light green-gold color with good detail but a bit of weakness on the reverse; the obverse is nicely detailed. There are a few small scuffs in the fields that do not detract. Trends is too low on this date as the last four APR's (dating back to 11/03) are for more than $2,000. A good coin for the savvy collector who appreciates undervalued Civil War issues.

1868 $10.00 PCGS EF45 CAC

Despite a low mintage of 10,630 business strikes, the 1868 is accorded just a small premium over a common date. It is certainly the most affordable Reconstruction era eagle from this mint but I find it fairly hard to locate and clearly undwervalued. This is a very appealing, high grade example with very original surfaces that show deep green-gold, orange and pale rose hues. A good deal of dirt can be seen on both sides. Great value for the savvy collector!

CAC has approved two in this grade with just three finer.

From the RYK Collection.

1882-O $10.00 PCGS EF45 CAC

The 1882-O is the most available of the three undervalued New Orleans eagles made between 1880 and 1882 but it is scarce and an excellent value. Only 10,820 were produced. This evenly worn piece has rich green-gold and orange colors over typical surfaces.

CAC has approved three in this grade with seven higher.

From the RYK Collection.

1869-S $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Housed in an older NGC third generation holder and graded sometime in the late 1980's. By today's standards, I grade this coin AU50 to AU53. Clean and problem-free with a significant amount of luster showing on the obverse and the reverse.While not really a scarce date, the 1869-S double eagle is tougher to find with good eye appeal than many collectors realize.

CAC has approved three examples in this grade and twenty finer than this.

1872-S $20.00 PCGS EF45 CAC Gold Sticker OGH

Old Green Label Holder, CAC Gold Sticker. By today's standards, this coin grades AU53 to AU55. Lustrous with splashes of light yellow-gold color. It is pretty amazing that this coin was ever graded EF45 as it shows little in the way of wear! A pleasing example of this somewhat available Type Two san Francisco issue.