1855-C $1.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

From the PCGS and NGC population figures, you'd think that AU58 examples of this date aren't all that rare. But in nearly three decades of specializing in Charlotte gold dollars, I think I have seen maybe four or five that were properly graded and this example may be the first I've seen that is crusty AND well struck. Strike and planchet preparation are a huge issue for the 1855-C dollar and over 80% of the known examples are poorly detailed and have numerous issues with the surfaces. Other than some clashmarks at the central obverse and some mint-made roughness at the center of the reverse, this piece has incredible surfaces. It is also undipped and in possession of wonderful color with nicely mottled green-gold and orange hues on the obverse and reverse. In properly graded AU58, the 1855-C dollar is actually nearly as rare as the more celebrated (and far more expensive) 1855-D. CAC has only approved two 1855-C gold dollars in AU58 with none higher than this. A really special coin that would be almost impossible to improve upon in the near future.

1863 $1.00 NGC MS62

After the low mintage 1875, the 1863 is the rarest gold dollar from the Philadelphia mint. While the original mintage figure is a not-especially eye-catching 6,200 business strikes, this date was not saved and the total number known is probably less than 100 in all grades. There are a few Gems known but lower grade Mint State pieces are almost never offered for sale, as evidenced by the fact that there are just three examples in this grade that have appeared at auction since 1999. The last MS62 to sell was Stacks Bowers 11/11: 9165 (encapsulated by PCGS) that brought $7,331. The present example is pleasing with light yellow-gold color that deepens a bit towards the border. There are a few scuffs in the fields that are consistent with the grade. Civil War gold is currently very popular with collectors and as more people begin to collect these issues, they learn that many are really rare in higher grades. An important opportunity for a variety of potential buyers.

1879 $20.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

As with its San Francisco counterpart of this year, the 1879 Philadelphia double eagle is a date that is very scarce in properly graded MS62 and very rare in MS63. I doubt if more than a dozen properly graded MS63's are known (and this number might actually be on the high side) and the last two examples that have traded (both encapsulated by PCGS) brought $17,250 in the Stack's Bowers 11/11 auction. The present example is one of the nicest MS62 1879 double eagles known and it is one of only two approved by CAC in this grade with just one finer. It is frosty and original with nice light orange-gold and rose color atop surprisingly clean surfaces. The 1879-P is an issue that tends to come with excessive abrasions and this piece has just a few small marks clustered in the left obverse field. At around one-third the price of an MS63 example, this 1879 double eagle seems like exceptional value to me.

1852-D $2.50 PCGS AU50 CAC

This low mintage issue (4,078 struck) is one of the harder Dahlonega quarter eagles to find with unmolested surfaces and deep original color. The present example, which is completely fresh-to-the-market is one of the very few 1852-D quarter eagles that I have seen that has absolutely never been cleaned or dipped. It is well struck and well made with lovely deep green-gold color and plenty of dirt in the recesses. I think this coin is clearly superior to most of the examples of this date that I have seen in AU55 holders and I doubt if there are more than a half dozen known (of this date) that show this degree of originality. Dahlonega quarter eagles of this quality are almost never offered for sale and this 1852-D is destined for a very high quality date set. This is the only 1852-D in AU50 approved by CAC with just one example (an NGC MS62) better.

1856-S $20.00 NGC AU58

This date is usually seen with seawater surfaces and original examples are not that easy to locate. This piece is clearly not from the S.S. Central America hoard as it shows natural frosty luster. It has no real wear; just light friction on the high spots of the obverse. I recently wholesaled an MS61 example of the 1856-S double eagle that, in my opinion, was inferior to the present piece for $6,500.

1848-D $5.00 NGC AU55

The unheralded 1848-D is actually one of the scarcer half eagles from this mint and it is extremely hard to find with both original color and a sharp strike. This piece is really well struck with full definition at the centers and borders. Both the obverse and the reverse have nice natural green-gold color with splashes of russet in the reverse fields. There are a few small marks in the obverse fields and on the cheek of Liberty but this is among the better examples of this date that I have offered for sale in the last few years. Whenever I put together a nice set of EF-AU Dahlonega half eagles for a collector, the 1848-D is amongst the last coins that I am able to locate.

1859-S $1.00 NGC AU58 CAC

Only 15,000 were struck and this date is scarce and undervalued in AU55 and above. This lustrous "slider" has considerable luster below appealing even yellow-gold color. There is just a bit of friction seen on the cheek of Liberty and in the obverse fields. In my opinion, you'd be hard-pressed to find a coin that was a better value than this in the $2,000-2,500 range. CAC has approved five 1859-S gold dollars in AU58 and none finer.

1847-C $2.50 NGC AU55

The 1847-C is by far the most available quarter eagle from this mint but it is not an easy coin to find with natural color and surfaces. This example has lovely deep natural green-gold color on both the obverse and reverse and it is extremely well struck with full details at the centers and borders. There is dirt encrusted in the recesses and the appearance of this coin strongly suggests that it has never been cleaned or dipped. With really low end EF examples of this date selling in the $1,750-2,000 range, it seems to me that paying less than $3,000 for a really choice AU is absurdly good value. A perfect piece for the type collector who wants a single nice quarter eagle from the Charlotte mint.

1867 $20.00 PCGS MS60 CAC

A few decades ago, a small hoard of Uncirculated 1867 double eagles was uncovered. These coins are easy to spot as they tend to have great color and luster and plenty of abrasions from rough handling when shipped loose in bags. The present example is clearly from this hoard but it is less abraded than most and it shows lovely rich orange-gold color with tinges of underlying green and rose. I have seen a number of comparable 1867 double eagles graded MS61 by both services and this is a great type example for the collector who wants a better date Type Two double eagle for inclusion in his set of U.S. gold coins.