1851-O $20.00 NGC AU53

While certainly not a "rare"coin in this grade, it has become quite challenging to locate an AU50-55 example of the 1851-O (or the 1852-O, for that matter) that has good overall eye appeal. I like the present example quite a bit for the grade on account of its pleasing orange-gold and reddish color and abundant remaining luster. In fact, this piece has the skin and body of an AU55 but it is just a hair too abraded to accurately encapsulate as such. There is a scrape (from contact with another coin) on Libery's hair below star eight on the obverse as well as some other scatterered signs of contact; the reverse is clean and choice. This piece is from an early state of the dies with full stars on the obverse and good detail seen at the centers. In any grade higher than this, you are looking at a low five-figure expenditure, making a choice AU53 example like this the "sweet spot" for many collectors.

1851-O $20.00 NGC EF40

This is a solid coin for the grade with nice natural medium green-gold color that shows some underlying flashes of reddish-gold most noticeably at the upper reverse periphery. Struck from a late state of the dies with lapping having partially removed some of the stars on the obverse; stars six and seven are actually somewhat hard to see with the naked eye. There are a few small, scattered marks seen on the obverse including a cluster before the lips of Liberty; the reverse is clean and choice. This is an affordable example of one of the two affordable double eagles from this mint.

1856-D $2.50 PCGS AU55 CAC

The 1856-D quarter eagle has the lowest mintage figure of any coin ever struck at the Dahlonega mint and it is the single rarest issue from this mint. Only 874 were produced of which an estimated three to four dozen exist. The coin that the 1856-D quarter eagle offers an interesting comparison to is the 1854-D three dollar of which just 1,120 were struck. The 1856-D, in my experience, is easily twice as rare and in Choice AU it is maybe three times as rare. In spite of this, the 1856-D is currently valued at around 25% less than the 1854-D three dollar in comparable grades. The present example is the nicest 1856-D quarter eagle to come onto the market in at least a year and I think it is considerably nicer than the NGC 58 that Heritage sold as Lot 4697 in their October 2011 auction for $40,250. I purchased this coin from one of the sharpest "crackout" dealers in the business and he spent at least six months trying to get this coin into a Mint State holder. I actually think he's got a point on this example and it really does seem to be free of wear and deserves consideration to be in an Uncirculated holder. As with all 1856-D quarter eagles, it is crudely struck but it shows better than average overall detail. There is dirt in the protected areas and the color is a nice medium rose and green-gold hue. The coin is easily identifiable by a small spot on the reverse in the field below the left base of the A in STATES. Overall, this is a simply outstanding coin. If you collect Dahlonega gold you are certainly aware of its significance but I'd also give it a glowing recommendation to the individual who is looking for a great piece to salt away for a few years.

Ex Scotsman 10/11: 389 where it sold for $41,975. This was before it was approved by CAC.

1836 Script 8 $2.50 PCGS AU58

While common enough in scrubbed-up AU grades, a choice, original AU58 example of the 1836 quarter eagle is not an easy coin to find. This piece is as fresh as these come with dusky russet-gold colors on the obverse and reverse. Weakness of strike is seen at the centers and this is typical for the issue. To find a better example of this date (or type) you'd have to step up to the MS61 level and spend more than twice the price of this piece.

1892-O $5.00 PCGS AU53

After a 35 year hiatus, production of half eagles resumed at the New Orleans mint. Only 10,000 were struck and the 1892-O is scarce in any grade. But unlike the No Motto issues from this mint, the 1892-O is more of an absolute rarity than a condition rarity. Very few circulated examples are known and this date is most often seen in the AU58 to MS61 range. There hasn't been a slabbed AU53 example at auction since the advent of third-party grading and just two slabbed AU55's since 1987. The present example is orginal and pleasing with natural deep color at the borders ringing the lighter centers. This piece would grade at least AU55 were it not for an abrasion that runs from below the throat into the left obverse field. There are few US gold coins that are better value than the 1892-O and this is among the most affordable examples I've handled in years.

1854-D Large D $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

Large Mintmark variety. Many examples of this date are softly struck but this piece is a nice exception to that rule with good central detail and more sharpness than usual at the edges. The surfaces are clean and satiny with natural light to medium green-gold color. As this is the most common half eagle from this mint, it would make a great type example for the collector seeking a single affordable but reasonably high grade piece from this mint. CAC has grade approved just two in this grade with three finer.

1801 $10.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

BD-2, Rarity-2. I recently sold an NGC AU58/CAC example of this date and I like the present example more because it is so totally original. The surfaces have a lovely deep and vivid russet-gold color with subtle reddish undertones that add great appeal. The strike is sharp for the issue with full details at the borders and centers and there are no adjustment marks or other mint-made planchet issues. While actually fairly common in AU, most AU55 and AU58 1801 eagles have been harshly cleaned or processed at one time and have mediocre eye appeal as a result. This piece, in spite of a few old hairlines on the surfaces, is as choice as any AU example of this type that you are likely to find. For a number of years of years, I stopped buying Heraldic Eagle tens as I thought they were overvalued relative to the rarity. But I am now buying these coins again as I find them easy to sell due to their popularity. Let's face it: it is hard not to be pretty mesmerized by a 200+ year old coin of this size and beauty, not to mention one with as much historic significance. A fantastic addition to an early gold set.

1854-O Large Date $10.00 NGC MS63

Large Date Variety. As most collectors know, any No Motto eagle in MS63 or higher is rare. New Orleans eagles in this grade range are all but unheard of. Only two dates are sometimes seen in this grade, the 1847-O and 1851-O and even those are very rare. But to find an 1854-O Large Date in MS63 is almost unheard of. There are approximately seven to nine known in Uncirculated but this includes some pieces from the S.S. Republic and at least a few in MS60 to MS61 that I think are marginally "new." There are exactly two known in MS63 and none finer. PCGS has graded a single example which I sold to a California collector in 2005; it is originally ex Heritage 1/99: 8181 and it sold for $31,050 back then. This second example is also a coin that I handled before and it is listed as coin #2 in the Condition Census in my 2006 book "Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint, 1838-1906." It has been off the market for at least a decade and I was able to reacquire it at the recent Long Beach show. It has an amazing naked-eye "look" with glittering semi-prooflike surfaces that are free of chatter or friction and which show rich yellow-gold color. There are a few light lines on the surfaces and a touch of mint-made planchet roughness on the reverse but this piece has an amazing appearance that is unlike nearly any other example of this variety that I can recall seeing. Usually, the texture of this date is frosty and it has a sunken, slightly concave appearance. This piece has a great strike and its "look" suggests that it is one of the very first struck of this variety. Coins of this quality and rarity are seldom available these days and when they are they typically appear at auction where they tend to bring crazy prices. If you are a serious collector of New Orleans gold, Liberty Head eagles or you just want something special to put away, give this coin some serious consideration.

1850-D $2.50 PCGS EF45 CAC

From the standpoint of remaining luster and skin, this piece grades at least a full AU50 but PCGS has been conservative on account of some weakness of strike on the reverse which is fairly common for this date. There is some very nice color visible on both the obverse and reverse with more of this honey-gold and russet hue seen on the obverse. Really a nice example for the date and grade and a good coin for the date collector who favors choice, original Dahlonega quarter eagles. CAC has approved just two in this grade with seven finer.