1860-S $1.00 NGC MS63 CAC

The short-lived San Francisco gold dollars are a neat, highly collectable set. All of these issues (with the exception of the ultra-popular 1856-S) are extremely scarce and very undervalued in Uncirculated. The 1860-S is certainly no exception and there were only 13,000 pieces originally minted. Most survivors are in the EF45 to AU55 range and in Uncirculated this date is very scarce. I have only seen one Gem (a PCGS MS65 that sold for $21,850 in the ANR 1/06 auction) and no more than two or three accurately graded MS64 coins. The present example is one of the few 1860-S dollars in Uncirculated with natural color and surfaces. It shows nice medium to deep green-gold and pale orange hues with satiny, unmolested underlying luster. There are no marks of note and the strike is excellent with the detail and appearance of a P mint dollar as opposed to one from the San Francisco mint. Excellent value for the savvy collector and a really nice example of the second-to-last gold dollar from this facility.

1800 $5.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

BD-2, High R-3. Blunt 1 in date. I paid a lot of money for this coin and it is priced at the level of an AU58. But once you take a quick look at its image (and in person it looks even better!) you will note that it is amazingly choice for the grade with the appearance of a full AU58; if not better. It has become really hard to find nice early gold in the last six+ months and coins like this are quietly being put away by serious, long-term collectors. This piece has absolutely superb deep green-gold and reddish color and it is one of the nicest circulated Capped Bust Right half eagles that I have seen in a number of years. As a date, the 1800 doesn't carry much of a premium over issues like the 1802/1 and 1803/2 but is is considerably scarcer and almost never seen with original color and surfaces. But the date of this coin almost doesn't matter as its "look" is so, so pleasing. I predict that within a few years you will almost never see ultra-crusty circulated early gold like this and I urge you to take advantage of the few remaining chances to purchase coins like these when they become available. CAC has approved ten examples of this date in AU55 with 33 finer.

1856-S $1.00 PCGS AU50

The 1856-S is the only Type Two gold dollar from the San Francisco and it is one of four one-year types of this design (along with the 1855-C, 1855-D and 1855-O). The 1856-S is not an especially rare issue but it is popular and very hard to find with original color and surfaces. This piece has lovely natural green-gold and orange hues on the obverse and reverse and it is nicer than most 1856-S dollars that I see offered for sale in AU55 holders. This is the variety with the crazily doubled mintmark on the reverse (it is common but extremely cool) and there is a massive obverse crack from the throat down into the left field.

1863 $3.00 NGC MS64 CAC

Only 5,000 business strike 1863 three dollar gold pieces were made and due to the economic turbulence of the Civil War, not many were saved. As a result, the 1863 is a scarce coin in higher grades and an issue that is very rare in the MS64 to MS65 range. This piece is very unusual for the issue as it lacks the prominent clashmarks seen on most 1863 Threes. It is semi-prooflike; another unusual situation for an issue that is typically seen with lustrous, slight grainy surfaces. This piece has the appearance of a Gem and I purchased it from one of the sharpest "breakout" wholesalers I know who told me that he graded it a full MS65. While I often disagree with him, I think he was pretty accurate on this and I can't figure out exactly what is keeping it from the 65 level. Since 2005, only three MS64's have sold at auction. The last record is Heritage 1/10: 2125, a PCGS piece, which brought $14,950. That coin had funky color and, in my opinion, it was low end for the grade. The Three Dollar series has numerous excellent values and this high grade 1863 is a piece that should appeal to the sophisticated collector who recognizes true value.

1890 $10.00 NGC PR64 UCAM CAC

A total of 63 Proofs were struck; my best estimate is that around 25 to 30 are known today with most in the PR63 to PR65 range. This piece has the eye appeal and general appearance of a Gem with just a few light hairlines keeping it out of the PR65 mark and a $45,000-50,000 price tag. It is extremely challenging to find accurately graded PR64 gold coins from this era and the majority of nice 64's tend to find their way, sooner or later, into PR65 holders. After I purchased this coin, I gave it some thought and came up with this conclusion: for a touch under $30,000, it would be very hard to imagine a better value in the arena of Proof gold. You can find smaller denomination Proof gold coins that are rarer than this (I have sold some amazing Proof gold dollars and quarter eagles in the last sixty days) but larger denomination Proof gold is very expensive and extremely hard to locate right now. A gorgeous coin and an item that I think makes a lot of sense to salt away as a medium to long term investment.

Ex Heritage 2012 FUN: 4989 where it sold for $29,900.

1877 $20.00 PCGS MS62+

The 1877 is a numismatically significant double eagle as it is the first year of the new Type Three reverse with the denomination spelled out in full as TWENTY DOLLARS. The 1877 double eagle is also a condition rarity with properly graded MS62's being about as nice as this issue is found. In MS63, the 1877 is a very rare coin and it is nearly unobtainable choicer than this. The present example has superb eye appeal with semi-prooflike surfaces that are graced with lovely natural light lemon-gold and rose colors. This date is typically found frosty and with innumerable bagmarks but this piece is incredibly clean and it appears to be amongst the very first struck from this die pair. A few small marks on the cheek and neck of Liberty are probably what keep this coin from grading a full MS63 but I think it is considerably nicer than the last example I have seen graded as such, Heritage 4/10: 2321, slabbed by NGC, which brought $12,650. This is the only 1877 double eagle graded MS62+ by PCGS. They have graded eighteen in MS63 and one in MS64. I think this coin is a wonderful value as a PCGS MS63, which is not likely to be any nicer than this, would probably cost you close to three times the price.

1868 $20.00 NGC AU53 CAC

The 1868 was a "secret" date for many years but its scarcity is now well-known amongst collectors of double eagles. In fact, it is the single scarcest Type Two double eagle from the Philadelphia mint. In my experience, it is seldom available above AU50 and when it is, examples tend to be very low end with poor quality surfaces and no originality. This piece appears to have originated from a European source as it has the dark, rich yellow-gold color with contrasting highlights that is found on coinss that have been stored in overseas valuts. There is a good deal of "meat" below the color and there are fewer marks than usual for the date and grade on the surfaces. If you are collecting this series by date, you know that there aren't many nice 1868 double eagles out there and with Choice AU pieces selling for close to five figures the importance of this nice examples gains in stature and importance. This is one of just two approved by CAC in this grade with six finer.

1846-D $2.50 PCGS EF45

Without much fanfare, I've noted that the demand for nice EF40-AU55 collector quality Dahlonega quarter eagles has shot up dramatically in the last year. Price levels are going up (finally) as a result but these coins remain affordable with nice examples still being offered, from time to time, for less than $3,000. This piece is solid for the grade with good detail and nice medium yellow-gold color. Some dirt can be seen in the crevasses on the reverse. A few old scratches in the lower right obverse are not out of keeping with the assigned grade. As a date, the 1846-D sells for no premium over issues such as the 1844-D, 1845-D and 1847-D but I think it is harder to find with good eye appeal.

1877 $3.00 NGC AU58PL

The 1877 is among the rarest business strikes Three Dollar gold pieces struck at the Philadelphia mint. There were just 1,400 made and there are well under 100 known in all grades. This fully prooflike piece is clearly a business strike as it has some frost in the surfaces and the rims lack the squared configuration seen on Proofs. It is very lightly worn in the fields and on the high spots with pleasing peripheral color on the obverse. A few small ticks are visible in the fields but this piece is uncommonly clean and wholesome for an issue that is seldom seen with good eye appeal. In addition to the regular population figures listed below, NGC has graded two examples in AU58 with a PL designation and five finer than this. The last NGC AU58PL to sell at auction was Heritage 2008 ANA: 1921 which brought $20,700. In my opinion, the present example is nicer and the market seems more appreciative of truly rare coins like 1877 Threes in early 2012 than it did in the Summer of 2008. This is one of two approved by CAC in this grade with none better. An important piece for the specialist.