1875-CC $20.00 NGC AU55

It is likely that this piece was sourced from Europe as it has the crusty "Euro" type of look that is seen on coins that have been stored overseas. The surfaces are lustrous and toned to a mellow orange-gold with some rose hues outlining the devices. There are no serious marks and this coin, which shows only the slightest wear, is choice and appealing. This would be a perfect Type Two Carson City double eagle for the collector seeking a single attractive example from this mint.

1875-CC $20.00 PCGS EF45

I can remember a few years ago running a promotion on Extremely Fine CC double eagles and selling nice coins for around $1,750. Today, I have to pay around $2,500 (or more) for the same coins and they are no longer available in any sort of quantity. This lustrous example looks more like an AU50 to AU53 than an EF45 and it represents just about the nicest available quality for less than $3,000.

1850-D $2.50 NGC AU53 CAC

Beginning with this issue, the quarter eagles from the Dahlonega mint become rarer than the previous five years and much less well made. This original example has nice green-gold color with plenty of dirt in the recessed areas of the obverse and reverse. In higher grades, the 1850-D is almost never available and this pleasing piece is just about the best quality available to collectors.

1847 $2.50 NGC MS63 CAC

One of the things that I like about Philadelphia quarter eagles is that you can still buy important Condition Census coins for less than $10,000. Take this 1847 for example. As a date, the 1847 is quite undervalued and it is actually scarcer in terms of overall rarity and high grade rarity than its heralded branch mint counterparts. There are likely no more than ten Uncirculated 1847 quarter eagles known of which only one, a PCGS MS64 that I sold to the owner of the greatest collection of Liberty quarter eagles ever formed, a few years ago. This particular example is bright and very lustrous with a vibrancy that is not often seen on quarter eagles of this era. The surfaces show some scattered abrasions from handling with none of these worthy of specific mention. Some 1847 quarter eagles are weakly struck on the eagle's legs but this one has full feathers. No MS63 examples of this date have ever been sold at auction. A coin with great upside potential.

1872-S $2.50 NGC AU55 CAC

Unlike the half eagle and eagle of this year, the 1872-S is not an impossible issue to locate in Uncirculated. That said, it is not common and nice AU's are undervalued, in my opinion. This piece is choice and original with a good deal of luster visible below rich natural orange-gold and reddish hues on the obverse and reverse.

1848-C $5.00 NGC AU50

The 1848-C half eagle is reasonably available in lower grades but it becomes scarce in properly graded AU and it is very rare in Uncirculated. This is a date that is not often seen with original color and surfaces. This particular example has attractive deep green-gold hues with some reddish overtones noted on the obverse. The strike is better than average for the issue while the surfaces are clean but for two small digs near stars eleven and twelve. With really low quality EF examples of Charlotte half eagles selling for $2,000-2,250 this nice AU50 seems like a great value at less than $3,000.

1872-CC $20.00 PCGS AU55

The 1872-CC, like the 1871-CC, is an issue that was used in commerce and, as a result, it is not often seen today in grades above EF45 to AU50. It is extremely rare in Uncirculated and lustrous, properly graded AU55 to AU58 coins are rare and in great demand. This piece is outstanding for the date and grade with bright, lustrous surfaces that have a nice rich yellow-gold hue. There is more than enough luster present to strongly suggest that this coin could grade AU58 but I think there are just a few too many tiny nicks on the obverse for it to do so at PCGS. The eye appeal of this coin is far better than average and unless you have ample patience and a big budget to buy an Uncirculated example, this 1872-CC is really about as nice as the date comes. Of the twenty-two finer that PCGS has graded, only two (an MS60 and an MS62) are in Uncirculated holders. A rare and important early date Carson City double eagle.

1855-D $2.50 NGC AU53

Only 1,123 examples were struck and the 1855-D is the second rarest Dahlonega quarter eagle, trailing only the 1856-D. This date is of the highest rarity in Uncirculated (I just bought the finest known, a PCGS MS63, for $86,250) and there are probably not more than a dozen or so known in properly graded About Uncirculated. When available--which is not often--the typical 1855-D grades EF or so and is characterized by faulty planchets and bright, problem-ridden surfaces. This piece was struck on a decent planchet and it has natural russet color on the upper obverse and the right reverse. The strike is irregular as usual with some weakness at the borders but the stars are full and have complete radial lines. There is a mint-made reverse defect on the reverse rim at 3:00 which I think actually adds a bit of character to the overall look and is not a negative given its position on the reverse. I can probably count on one hand the number of 1855-D quarter eagles that I have seen with color that was as appealing as this coin's and this example would fit comfortably into even the finest set of Dahlonega quarter eagles. Ex Heritage 4/11: 5332, where it sold for $14,950

1806 Knobbed 6 $5.00 NGC EF45

BD-6. Rarity-2. It is actually harder to find early gold in lower "collector grades" (i.e, VF and EF) than it is in the higher "investor grades" and this is due to the fact that these issues tended not to circulate heavily. Nice EF Bust Right half eagles are always popular and this EF45 should generate a good degree of interest, especially because there is no date premium for this issue. The surfaces show even natural deep green-gold color with some dirt in the protected areas and there are no major disturbances other than an old scrape in the right obverse field. The 1806 Knobbed 6 is perhaps the most available Bust Right half eagle in all grades and it is a perfect choice for a type collector or for a collector with good taste but a limited budget.