1892-O $10.00 NGC MS62

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As with the 1893-O, 1894-O and 1895-O eagles, this is a date that is almost never seen above MS62 due to the fact that the majority of examples that weren't melted were shipped overseas and were extensively abraded as a result. This hand-selected example is from a small hoard of recently found 1892-O eagles and it was the single best coin due to its relative paucity of marks, good luster and nice orange-gold color.

1859-S $20.00 NGC AU53 CAC

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A clean, original example and one of the few 1859-S double eagles that I have seen that has not been recently dipped or processed. The color on this piece is deep but it doesn't appear to be from a European source as it lacks the ultra-dirty look that such coins display. As a date, the 1859-S is hard to find in grades above AU53 to AU55 and it is very rare (and expensive) in Uncirculated.

CAC has approved two in this grade and fourteen finer and a total of nineteen. Over 1000 examples have been graded in total.

1890-CC $10.00 NGC MS60

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A solid coin for the grade and one which, unlike most CC eagles in MS60 holders, is really new. This example has good luster with very rich mint frost clearly seen below light rose and yellow-gold color. The 1890-CC is many times scarcer than the 1891-CC yet it commands less than a 2x premium in the lower Mint State grades. This affordable example is perfect for the new collector who wants a high grade Carson City eagle but who wants to avoid the ubiquitous 1891-CC.

1814/3 $5.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

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BD-1, High R-4. This second year of issue Capped Head Left emission is sometimes lumped with the common 1813 but it is many times rarer. An estimated 100 or so exist and this issue is seen most often in the AU50-MS60 range. In properly graded MS62, it is quite rare and the availability of examples of this quality is typically limited to major auctions. This coin has a very choice obverse with the appearance of a full MS63; a few scattered marks at the upper reverse preclude a higher grade. The color is a rich lemon-yellow hue (which is "right" for the issue) and the luster is characteristic of uncleaned 1814/3 half eagles (and there aren't many left...) with a hybrid satiny/frosty texture. The last PCGS MS62CAC example to sell at auction was Heritage 10/11: 4876 (at $25,300) and that coin, while attractive, had a prominent line of Liberty's face. A great type coin for the advanced collector.

CAC has approved four in this grade with three better.

1877-S $20.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

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Superb quality for the date and grade with a semi-prooflike obverse and a mostly frosty reverse which are both covered with lovely orange-gold and green shadings. This coin is about as close to being an MS63 as is possible and the dealer I purchased it from (one of the smartest in the business) told me he tried it multiple times in an attempt to get it into an MS63 holder. And he did so with good reason as a PCGS MS63 example of this date, if available, would be an easy sell in the $17,000-19,000 range. Heritage 6/12: 5281, also graded MS62 by PCGS and also approved by CAC, just sold for $7,475 and in my opinion it was not as attractive as the present example. A significant issue due to its status as the first Type Three double eagle from the San Francisco mint and a truly lovely coin for the date and grade.

CAC has approved four in this grade with none higher.

1872 $1.00 PCGS MS63 CAC

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When I was offered this coin I thought to myself that it had been a long, long time since I'd seen an 1872 gold dollar in this grade. A quick check revealed that the last MS63 1872 gold dollar to be sold at auction was all the way back in October 1999 and that coin (ex Bass II: 181) brought $2,530. I was further sold by the fact that this is a truly nice coin for the grade with good color, clean surfaces and legitimate eye appeal. I think the PCGS population figures for this date are insanely swelled by resubmissions and the fact that no MS63's have sold at auction in thirteen years makes me feel that their population figures have to be discounted. If you are a slave to Trends, you won't but this coin but if, like me, you are intrigued by the fact that the last MS63 gold dollar sold brought $2,520 thirteen years ago....you'll buy this coin and you won't think twice!

1807 $2.50 PCGS EF45 CAC

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BD-1, R-3. The 1807 is the most available early quarter eagle with an estimated 250-300 known to exist in all grades from the original mintage of 6,812. It is usually seen in the AU50 to MS62 range which makes it a date (and a type) that is priced out of the range of many collectors. In problem-free EF45, the 1807 is seen even less frequently than its low population figures would suggest (can you say "regrades??") and this is verifiable by the fact that no PCGS EF45 has sold at auction since Heritage 2/03: 8094. This example has warm sunset gold color at the borders which frames green-gold centers; a dab of reddish color can be seen at the central reverse. For the grade, there is a good amount of luster and the surfaces are free of severe abrasions, adjustment marks or imperfections. I think this coin is much closer to AU50 than EF45 (I tried a number of times to upgrade it) and you would be hard-pressed to find another Capped Bust Right quarter eagle in this grade and price range with as much eye appeal as this piece.

1874-CC $20.00 NGC AU53 CAC

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Until a few years ago, this was a misunderstood date that was thought to be reasonably common. We now know that the 1874-CC is scarce in all AU grades and rare in Uncirculated with anything over MS60 to MS61 being virtually unobtainable. This example has the body and appearance of an AU55 to an AU58 but it has just a few too many small, shallow nicks to be graded as such. It will make an excellent date representative for most collectors of CC double eagles.

CAC has approved four 1874-CC double eagles in AU53 with twelve finer.