1861 $3.00 NGC EF40 CAC

I find it interesting that a scarce coin like this sells for a very small premium over a very common date (such as the 1874 or 1878) yet it is literally dozens of times more rare. This evenly worn, nicely toned example is notable for its pleasing flashes of orange-gold color and, surprisingly, there is still luster seen in the protected areas. Only 5,959 were made and this is a popular issue in any grade due to its Civil War assocation.

This is the only 1861 three dollar gold piece in this grade to be approved by CAC; fourteen have been approved in higher grades.

1865 $2.50 NGC AU58

There are a trio of very rare quarter eagles made at the Philadelphia mint during the Civil War. The foremost is the Proof-only 1863 with a mintage of 30 and just behind this is the 1864. But the 1865 is almost as rare, despite being less heralded, with an original mintage of only 1,520. Clearly, less than three dozen survive and the 1865 is actually as rare as the 1864 in terms of high(er) grade specimens. There are exactly three 1864 quarter eagles in Uncirculated but just one 1865 (a PCGS MS63) and the two dates are reasonably similar in terms of rarity in the AU grades with around ten or so known. The present example is appealing for the date and grade with an especially choice obverse that shows nice peripheral color and fewer marks than normal; the reverse is mostly untoned with a few more marks seen in the fields. I was recently offered an AU55 of this date (for just a shade less than $20,000) which I think was vastly inferior to this coin and the piece offered here is, in fact, one of the nicer examples of this date that I have seen or owned. In the last decade, there have been ten auction records for the 1865 quarter eagle in AU58 ranging in price from a low of $17,250 to a high of $25,875. This date has really not gone up all that much in price while the 1863 and 1864 have shown strong gains of late. In my opinion, the 1865 is very undervalued and as Civil War rarities become more appreciated, I think it has good potential to appreciate in price.

1847-D $2.50 PCGS EF45

If you pay attention to these things, you'll note that the availability of nice, original Dahlonega gold coins of any date or denomination has really dried up in the last year or two. I have a very hard time finding any coins that I like enough to offer to collectors. But it was never easy finding coins like this 1847-D quarter eagle. I have noted in the past that this issue comes with good color more than any other quarter eagle from this mint and this specific example is choice and original with pleasing medium green-gold color. The surfaces are choice and show even wear with plenty of dirt in the recesses attesting to its originality. If you have been looking for a nice, affordable Dahlonega quarter eagle, this piece would be hard to better at less than $3,000.

1851-D $1.00 NGC AU58

As a date, the 1851-D is the second most available Type One dollar from this mint but it is at least two to three times more scarce than the 1849-D. There were only 9,982 produced and this issue tended to see rather heavy circulation with examples usually in the EF40 to AU50 range. Choice AU 1851-D dollars are scarce and examples with natural color and surfaces are quite rare. This piece has some of the most attractive color that I can recall having seen on an 1851-D dollar with both the obverse and reverse showing very deep rich green-gold hues with contrasting shades of russet in the fields. The strike is sharp for the issue with fewer of the usual clashmarks and strong detail seen on the hair, date and mintmark. Below the color, there appears to be a considerable amount of luster and there seems to be no real wear, just a touch of friction on the high spots. This is a superb coin which deserves a strong premium on account of its coloration and it would make a great addition to a Dahlonega set that emphasized eye appeal.

1844-D $2.50 PCGS MS62 CAC

Most of the 1844-D quarter eagles that exist in higher grade are not well struck and the present example, despite being produced from clashed and slightly rusted dies, is very sharply impressed with nearly full centers. The color on this piece is excellent with rich yellow gold color in a concentric ring around lighter centers. A small reeding mark on Liberty's chin, from contact with another coin, is all that keeps this piece from a higher grade. There are an estimated dozen or so 1844-D quarter eagles in Uncirculated and I have never seen one better than MS63. Since 1999, five auction appearances for PCGS MS62 examples of this issue have occured and the prices realized have ranged from a low of $10,350 to a high of $17,250. The coin offered here, which is housed in an older pre-barcode holder, is the only 1844-D quarter eagle in MS62 that has been approved by CAC and none finer have received this coveted seal of approval. An important coin for the advanced Dahlonega specialist.

1842-O $2.50 NGC EF45 CAC

Around half of the known 1842-O quarter eagles have strikes that range from "weak" to "are you kidding me??" This example is actually quite well struck with no serious weakness at the centers. It is also original with nice deep green-gold colors seen on the obverse and reverse and some dirt in the protected areas. The 1842-O is the second scarcest quarter eagle from this mint after the 1845-O and it is a hard issue to find with good eye appeal. Excellent value at less than $1500!

1879-CC $5.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

Tied for Finest Known. This fresh-to-the-market example is not only tied for the finest known 1879-CC half eagle (more on this below), it has a great backstory as well. Around six months ago, it walked into a coin store in Nevada raw, along with a group of otherwise unspectacular bullion-related gold. It was then sent to PCGS where it graded MS62 and was just sold to me. It is stone cold original with superb deep natural green-gold and orange-gold hues seen on the obverse and reverse. There are a few light ticks in the fields but the appearance of this piece is exceptional and this is one of the best CC gold coins from the 1870's of any denomiantion that I have seen. The previous finest known 1879-CC half eagle is a PCGS MS62 in the Battle Born collection that brought a staggering $69,000 when it was sold as Heritage 2/11: 4474. That coin, like this, was totally fresh and had been found in a group of common date gold coins in Europe. It is remarkable that the two finest known 1879-CC half eagles have been introduced to the numismatic community.

1803/2 $5.00 NGC EF40

BD-4, Rarity-4. At the recent CSNS show I made it a point to search high and low for nice quality early gold in EF and AU grades. I would have bought every single piece that was decent and priced at a sensible level. I bought exactly two early half eagles: this coin and an 1808 in AU53 which I sold within three minutes of placing it in my display case. This 1803/2 is a late die state with the cracks joing the base of the 803 very bold. It is deeply toned in purplish-gold hues on the obverse; the reverse is more of a green-gold at the center with rich reds and purples around the border. The detail on the obverse is a touch weak for the grade but this is mostly attributable to the state of the dies; the reverse is well detailed and choice.

1838-C $2.50 PCGS AU55

This numismatically significant issue is the very first quarter eagle produced at any of the branch mints and it is just one of two Classic Head quarter eagles from this mint. From an overall rarity standpoint it is far scarcer than the 1839-C. Only 7,880 were produced and of the few hundred known, many are in much lower grades. This lightly worn example is notable for its sharp overall detail and its warm, even olive-gold coloration. The obverse is clean and choice with just a small mark visible below star nine; the reverse has a few scattered marks including one adjacent to the upright part of the left wing. Even though Charlotte gold is not currently in strong demand, coins like the 1838-C quarter eagle and half eagle are extremely popular due to their first-year-of-issue status.