1849 $5.00 PCGS MS62

Normal Date variety. At first glimpse, this impressive ultra-flashy coin has the appearance of a borderline gem but as it is tilted towards the light, some friction can be seen in the left obverse field. The high spots are free of wear and the surfaces are free of deep, problematic abrasions. A light yellow-gold hue adds appeal and the strike is razor sharp. The 1849 half eagle is common in all circulated grades and only moderately scarce in MS60 to MS61. But it is rare in MS62, very rare in MS63 and there is just a single piece that I have ever seen in MS64: Heritage 7/09: 1509 which sold for $16,100. PCGS has only graded three in MS62 with none better. There have been just eight auction records for 1849 half eagles in this grade since 1991 and a PCGS MS62 brought $4,830 all the way back in 1999 at the Bass II sale.

1858-C $2.50 NGC EF45 CAC

As the second most available Charlotte quarter eagle, this date gets no price premium for rarity which makes it ideal for type purposes. Speaking of ideal, the appearance of this coin is really attractive for the grade with rich natural coppery-reddish colors on the obverse which are contrasted by lots of dirt in the protected areas. This is the sort of a coin that was graded Choice EF even before slabbing started as it shows excellent overall detail and even has a hint of luster in the protected areas. It has become more and more difficult to find Southern branch mint gold coins of this quality yet the premium for this piece over a horrible processed EF45 is still only 10-15%.

1841 $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

ANS Museum Pedigree. This early date No Motto half eagle is not really a rare date but it is seen far less often than any other Philadelphia half eagle from this decade except for the 1842. The 1841 half eagle is unquestionably scarce in the higher AU grades and it is very hard to find with original color and surfaces. This beautiful piece has dark, even green-gold color with some underlying reddish-orange shadings that are made more intense by the remaining luster. There is a considerable amount of dirt in the protected areas, especially on the reverse. This is the nicest circulated 1841 half eagle that I can recall having seen. It is the only AU58 example of this date accorded approval by CAC with just one better piece having been stickered.

Ex Stack's 1/11/07: 2048, ANS Collection duplicates

1890-CC $20.00 PCGS AU58

This lustrous slider is free of noticeable wear but does show just a bit too much friction in the obverse fields to qualify as a Mint State coin. That said, with its nice light rose and orange-gold hues, it has tremendous eye appeal. The most prominent mark is a small scrape between stars eleven and twelve on the obverse. The 1890-CC is the most available CC double eagle from this decade and its affordability in comparably high grades makes it of interest to the type collector.

Ex New England Rare Coin Auctions 3/1982: 2301

1876-CC $20.00 PCGS VF25 CAC

Rainy Day Collection pedigree. Evenly worn, problem-free and original. This is one of the more affordable CC double eagles that you are likely to see in the market. With gold approaching $2,000 per ounce, the number of slabbed CC double eagles priced at under $2,500 is dwindling to just a few.

1846 Large Date $5.00 NGC MS61

Large Date variety. The Large Date is, by far, the scarcer of the two varieties of half eagle produced at the Philadelphia mint in 1846. In Uncircuated, this variety is actually quite rare and I can't recall personally having seen more than a handful in MS60 or better until a small group of MS64's was found in the S.S. New York treasure a few years back. This bright yellow-gold example has a very frosty obverse and a slightly PL reverse with very good detail. There are a number of small, shallow marks in the fields that in keeping with the grade assigned by NGC.

1853 $20.00 PCGS MS61 CAC

Normal Date variety. The 1853 is a much scarcer date than the 1851 and 1852. But it remains reasonably affordable in the lower Uncirculated grades and this makes it a sensible issue for the collector who is searching for a nice non-shipwreck Type One double eagle as a type coin. This is a fresh and extremely high end piece with strong claims to an MS62 grade. It is undipped and never-messed-with and, most importantly, it is totally "new" with no hint of friction on the high spots or luster breaks in the fields. The surfaces are slightly ticky in the open areas but this is compensated for by the attractive soft golden color and swirling frosty luster. MS61 is a good value grade for this date as an MS62, if available, is likely to cost in excess of $13,000-15,000. Only three examples in MS61 have been given CAC approval with two higher.

Ex New England Rare Coin Auctions 3/1982: 2291

1840-O $5.00 NGC AU58

Narrow Mill variety. Unlike the 1838-C+D and the 1839-C+D half eagles, the first-year-of-issue 1840-O half eagle remains overlooked and undervalued. It is an issue that is most often seen in VF to EF grades and nice AU's are scarce. This lightly worn yellowish-gold piece is sharply detailed and has much of its original "skin." There are scattered marks seen in the fields with most located in the upper reverse above and behind the head of the eagle. The NGC population figure for this date in AU58 is well-inflated by resubmissions as evidenced by the fact that no AU58's have sold at auction since May 2008. An historically significant issue as the first half eagle from this mint and a pleasing slider example.

1855-O $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Pittman Collection Pedigree. The 1855-O is the third rarest New Orleans double eagle, after the 1854-O and the 1856-O. Given that nice examples of either of these dates is a $200,000++ expenditure, for most collectors the 1855-O is the most important double eagle from this mint that they will purchase. The 1855-O is a nearly impossible issue to find with original color and nice surfaces and this coin is far above-average in both regards. It is very well detailed and it has not been scrubbed or dipped as shown by its warm greenish-gold patina. Most amazingly, it shows only a few very light abrasions in the fields. This example is immediately recognizable by a small natural planchet flaw on the obverse rim below the 55 in the date. This actually adds character to the appearance, in my opinion, and in no way detracts. While not identified on the holder by NGC, this is clearly the Pittman coin and it is one of the last major double eagles that he acquired in his storied collecting career. The last EF45 to sell was Heritage 7/11: 4993 (graded by PCGS) that realized $34,500. That coin had numerous abrasions in the fields and it was not accorded a sticker by CAC. In fact, only three 1855-O double eagles in EF45 have been approved by CAC and none above this. A very important coin for the Type One collector and a piece that combines beauty, rarity and numismatic history in one neat package.

Ex Pittman: 1131, Merkin 10/66: 374