1851 $5.00 PCGS MS61 CAC

While very common in circulated grades, the 1851 half eagle is quite scarce in Uncirculated and really rare in MS62 and above. Unlike any other MS61 example of this date that I have seen, this example is very fresh and flashy with great frosty luster and nice natural medium green-gold color. A few light scuffs in the left obverse field narrowly remove this from a grade of at least MS62. This is one of just two MS61 examples of this date that have been approved by CAC with two finer. An affordable yet impressive No Motto type coin and a great value at less than three thousand dollars.
br> Ex Heritage 1/09: 5413 where it sold for $2,760.

1860 $20.00 PCGS AU58

The 1860 double eagle sells for a reasonably small premium over the 1861 in this grade yet it is many times more scarce. And, relative scarcity aside, this "super slider" is as nice an AU58 Type One double eagle as you are going to find with great luster, lovely natural rose and orange-gold color and very pleasing surfaces which are far less abraded than normal for this issue. In fact, this piece has much better eye appeal than many Type One double eagles that are graded MS60 and MS61. A small grease stain on the reverse, located below the right scroll end, is mentioned for the sake of accuracy.

1842-O $5.00 NGC EF40

While not all that widely known, the 1842-O is the second scarcest half eagle from this mint (after the 1847-O) and it is actually rarer than virtually any half eagle from Charlotte or Dahlonega in terms of the total number of coins known to exist. This piece has the "right" color for the date with a deep lime-green hue seen on the obverse and reverse. The surfaces are clean and the wear, while fairly extensive on both sides, is even and acceptable for the grade. The last 1842-O half eagle in EF40 to sell at auction was the Stacks 1/07: 5115 coin (graded by NGC) that sold for $5,500 and before this the ANR 3/05: 691 example (graded by PCGS) sold for $3,680. Very rare, very undervalued and very nice.

1882 $2.50 NGC MS62+

Only 4,000 business strikes were produced and this issue is scarce and undervalued in all grades. This is a beautiful example for the grade with the body and eye appeal of coins that I have seen in MS63 or even MS64 holders. It is totally original with nice light green-gold color and thick, satiny luster on the obverse and reverse. If you want to collect a challenging set with good potential upside, you might consider the quarter eagles from 1880 to 1890. This period includes many challenging, low mintage dates which can generally be found in the lower Uncirculated grades for $2,500-5,000. This 1882 is good value as an MS63, which isn't likely to be significantly nicer than this, will cost you around $3,000 if you can find one.

1869 $1.00 NGC MS63

Only 5,900 business strikes were made and this issue tended to circulate unlike the low mintages Gold Dollars from the 1880's which were hoarded. This bright, lustrous piece has a great appearance and a few light handling marks on the obverse narrowly remove it from a higher grade. Only six MS63 pieces have sold at auction since June 2005. In my opinion, coins like this at under $2,000 are excellent value in today's market.

1851-D $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

Sharp Mintmark variety. The 1851-D is one of the rarer half eagles from this mint in terms of overall and high grade rarity. It is almost never seen in AU grades with a sharp mintmark and I doubt if more than ten are known that have natural color and surfaces. In fact, the last PCGS AU53 with a strong mintmark to be offered for sale was Bass III: 434 which brought $3,680 all the way back in May 2000. This piece has lovely deep natural green gold color with some dirt visible in the protected areas of the lettering. As with all known examples of this die pair (Variety 25-Q) there is weakness noted at the centers. This is the first really nice example of this date that I have seen or sold in many years and I regard it is being highly undervalued. This is the only AU53 1851-D half eagle to have received CAC approval and only one finer example of this date has been stickered by this service.

1842-D Small Date $5.00 PCGS EF45 CAC

Let's say you want a Dahlonega half eagle and you have a budget of around $3,000. You can buy a washed-out boring 1853-D for around $2,250. Or you can spring for a few hundred dollars more and buy a coin like this that is both a scarcer date and choice and original. Or, as we at DWN like to say, a "coin with character." This is a very choice piece with deep natural green-gold color and nice surfaces. Some lightness of strike around the borders is noted and this is not uncommon for the issue. CAC has approved just four in this grade with one finer. A tough date to find with nice color and surfaces.

1882-CC $5.00 NGC AU55

The 1882-C is the most available Carson City half eagle made prior to 1890 and this makes it a great type coin for the collector seeking an affordable but interesting date. This example is choice and original with plenty of luster seen below nice natural russet-gold color. As is the case with original examples of this date, this piece has a slightly grainy texture which I find very appealing. Some dirt can be seen on the reverse and this attests to this coin's originality.

1880-CC $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

This is exactly the sort of coin that I like: a bright, intensely lustrous slider that has more eye appeal than just about any example of this date that you are likely to find in an MS61 holder. But the real beauty of this coin is its high degree of value: an MS61 is going to cost you $11,000-13,000. And the 1880-CC half eagle, while a scarce and desirable issue, is really not a coin that I would suggest spending five figures on unless you are compelled to build a Condition Census level quality set of CC half eagles. This coin probably saw no real circulation but it has a slight amount of friction on the high spots. It is well struck and very lustrous with light rose overtones atop choice surfaces. As is the case with this date, it is extremely well struck on both the obverse and reverse. A great type coin for the collector who wants to own one high quality pre-1890 half eagle from this mint.