1891-CC $10.00 PCGS MS61

Graded by PCGS at their Paris facility and clearly a fresh coin from Europe with lovely rich color and a two-tone "Euro" appearance. Just a bit too scuffy to grade MS62 but very high end for an MS61 and obviously never dipped, processed or otherwise "improved." The 1891-CC is the most common Carson City eagle by a mile which makes it an ideal coin for type purposes. I love the appearance of this example.

1804 14 Stars $2.50 NGC EF40

BD-2, Rarity-4. There are two distinct varieties known for this issue. The first, with thirteen stars on the reverse, is extremely rare. The more common variety has fourteen reverse stars and it is estimated that around 150-200 are known. Early quarter eagles didn't circulate with much regularity, so the 1804 is most often seen in About Uncirculated and the lower Mint State grades. It is extremely hard to find a problem-free piece in a "collector grade" and that's why this 1804 is a special coin. It is evenly worn with lovely rich natural green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. The obverse is well-defined and has the sharpness of a "45'; the reverse is weakly detailed at the border and there is a noticeable old scratch from the rim through the E in UNITED and into the right wing. The overall eye appeal of this coin is really quite exceptional and if you have been looking for a comparably affordable type coin to represent the Capped Bust Right quarter eagle issue, this piece is perfect.

1863-S $20.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

As with most of the Civil War era San Francisco double eagles, the 1863-S is a condition rarity. Some Uncirculated pieces are known from the discovery of the Brother Jonathan and S.S. Republic shipwrecks but pieces in MS62 and above with original surfaces are very rare. This fresh-to-the-market example has a remarkable appearance for the grade with natural frosty luster and appealing light yellow-gold color. As on all known examples, the obverse strike is not totally defined while the reverse is considerably sharper. The surfaces have the body of an MS63 to MS64 but there are two small reeding marks near Liberty's bun that narrowly remove this piece from a higher grade. The last PCGS MS62 to sell at auction was Heritage 12/09: 1923 (at $18,400) which, while not designated as such, was clearly a shipwreck coin with dull, lackluster surfaces. This is the finest 1863-S double eagle that I have owned in a number of years and it is one of just three in MS62 approved by CAC with none finer. A very important piece that is destined for a world-class set of Type One double eagles.

1869 $20.00 PCGS AU55

The 1869 is in the second-tier of Type Two Philadelphia double eagle scarcity along with the 1870 and 1871. This issue is not often seen choicer than AU55 to AU58 and it is seldom found with original color and choice surfaces. This fresh example has lovely rich natural orange-gold and rose color with some darker highlights from bag storage. There are just a few small marks on both sides and I have seen a number of inferior 1869 double eagles graded AU58. No PCGS AU55 examples of the 1869 double eagle have appeared at auction since Heritage 1/10: 4127 and that example realized $4,025. This date becomes very expensive as you go up the grading ladder and for most collectors a solid AU55 such as this will fit well into their Type Two set.

1854-S $1.00 NGC MS61

The 1854-S is historically significant as the first gold dollar from the San Francisco. It is also a scarce, undervalued issue in Uncirculated that is seldom seen above the MS61 to MS62 range. This example is strictly "new" with nice light rose and orange-gold colors and an excellent strike. A few small, scattered marks on the obverse keep this at the 61 level but the reverse is quite choice and it grades at least a point higher on its own. The last auction price realized for an MS61 example of this issue was Heritage 4/11: 6265 (graded by NGC) that sold for $2,990. Only five MS61's have appeared at auction since the beginning of 2005.

1854-O Large Date $10.00 NGC AU55 CAC

Large Date variety. This extremely original coin is probably sourced from Europe as it has a distinctive "Euro" appearance with very rich orange gold surfaces accentuated by darker contrasting hues on the high spots. This coin has seen very little in the way of actual circulation but it does have some scattered scuffs on the surfaces including a small vertical line in the cheek of Liberty. This fascinating variety employs a silver dollar date logotype that is way too big for the available space. Many die varieties exist and on this piece, there is a significant die crack between the 18 in the date going up to the base of the neck. The 1854-O Large Date eagle is moderately scarce in properly graded AU55, rare in AU58 and very rare in Uncirculated. At under $3,000 for a nice AU example, I think this coin is great value.

1859 $1.00 PCGS MS66 CAC

While common in lower grades and available in Uncirculated up to the MS63 level, the 1859 gold dollar is rare in Gem. There were 168,000 struck but many were melted and unlike the low mintage dollars of the 1880's, no one was saving coins in the years leading up to the Civil War. This superb example has dazzling frosty luster and lovely pale rose hues below a rich orange-gold overtone. The surfaces are nearly free of any contact marks although a few mint-made clashmarks can be seen on both sides. A bit of striking weakness on the LL in DOLLAR and the 5 in the date is typical for the issue. This would make a great type coin for the collector who wants to own an early date Type Three gold dollar in essentially unimprovable condition. CAC has approved just two in this grade and two finer.

Ex Heritage 8/11: 5333 where it sold for $5,463.

1854-O Small Date $10.00 PCGS EF45

Small Date variety. Evenly worn and attractive with pleasing deep green-gold and orange hues on the obverse and reverse. The strike is sharper than usual for the issue and the surfaces are very clean with no detracting abrasions. A small dirt spot can be seen at the back of the base of Liberty's neck. This is the scarcer of the two varieties of 1854-O eagle even though the Large Date is generally accorded more respect due to its visual appearance. An affordable, numismatically interesting No Motto eagle from the New Orleans mint.

1864 $1.00 PCGS AU55

This overlooked Civil War issue has an original mintage of just 5,900 and it is likely that no more than 150 or so survive in all grades. Despite its obvious scarcity, the 1864 is affordable and undervalued. It is almost never seen in circulated grades, suggesting that most were melted and those that survived were hoarded during the dark years leading up to the end of the war. This piece has nice bright yellow gold color, just a smidgen of wear and very clean surfaces. There are only three auction prices realized for the 1864 gold dollar in AU55 since 2003 and the last two examples, both graded by PCGS, brought $1,150 and $1,208 respectively.