1858-S $20.00 NGC AU50 CAC

Well struck and clean for the grade with nice natural green-gold color. At less than $3,000, coins such as this are very good value and represent a nice "double play" with nearly an ounce of bullion coupled with genuine numismatic scarcity.

1860-S $20.00 NGC AU55

I bought a pair of higher grade 1860-S double eagles at the recent Baltimore coin show and, in my opinion, this example is nicer than the other (a PCGS AU58) which I sold wholesale. This piece has deep, rich green-gold color with a good deal of remaining luster. It is somewhat weakly struck for the issue with plainly bevelled edges and a lack of detail (even for this issue) on the hair below the tiara. Still, this is a premium coin on account of its originality and I find the 1860-S to be an extremely hard issue to find with natural color and surfaces.

1857 $20.00 NGC AU55

While not as scarce or as undervalued as the 1855 and 1856 double eagles, the 1857 is a tough issue in its own right. This piece has the luster and body of an AU58 but just a few too many small ticks on the surfaces to properly grade as such. The color, a light green with underlying flashes of rose, is very appealing. A good value for the Type One specialist.

1847 $5.00 NGC MS62

The 1847 is one of the more available No Motto half eagles in higher grades but it is not common in properly graded MS62 and even harder to find with the sort of "look" that this choice example shows. The surfaces are frosty and clean with lovely deep, rich green-gold color. There are a few light dirt spots clinging to the letters and one larger area of dirt (possibly a grease stain?) at the dead center of the obverse. This choice, sharply struck piece has clearly never been cleaned or dipped and it would make a perfect type example for the collector with sophisticated tastes but a somewhat limited budget.

1878-CC $20.00 NGC AU53

Along with the 1879-CC, this is one of the harder CC double eagles to find in any grade and it becomes nearly impossible to locate in AU58 and above. This example has beautiful deep natural orange-gold and greenish color which is "right" for the issue; most 1878-CC double eagles have been dipped and are bright as a result. A raised die scratch on the neck of Liberty is diagnostic and should not be construed as damage; a few small grease stains on the face of Liberty are mint-made as well. Only one example of this date in AU53 has been sold at auction since late 2009 (Heritage 3/12: 4284 at $11,500) and there are auction records of over $10,000 for AU53's dating back to June 2008. An important coin for the CC double eagle specialist.

1856-S $2.50 NGC MS61, ex-Eliasberg

With the 1854-S being priced out of the reach of most collectors, the 1856-S is, for all intents and purposes, the earliest date quarter eagle that is available from this mint. The 1856-S is common in lower grades and only marginally scarce in the higher AU range but it is very scarce in Uncirculated and nearly unavailable higher than MS61 to MS62. This well struck example has nice frosty luster and an even, pale green-gold color. There are a few minor scuffs in the fields that are consistent with the grade but no trace of rub can be found on the high spots. My best guess is that there are around ten properly graded Uncirculated 1856-S and the PCGS/NGC populations are severely inflated by resubmissions. An interesting, numismatically significant coin made all the more desirable by its unbeatable pedigree.

Ex Scotsman 10/08: 801 ($4,600), Bowers and Ruddy 10/82: 179 ($550), Eliasberg collection.

1843 $10.00 NGC AU55

Doubled date variety. The 1843 eagle, like the quarter eagle of this date, is somewhat of an anomaly. Although 75,000+ were struck, the survival rate is low and it is almost never seen above AU55. In fact, I have only handled two in AU58 and none in Uncirculated in my nearly three decades of specializing in this series. This example is one of the few totally original 1843 eagles that I have seen with attractive deep, even green-gold color with some contrasting highlights. There are scattered marks in the fields with the only one(s) of note located around star ten. There are many undervalued condition rarities in the No Motto eagle series and I feel that nice, higher grade 1843's are among the better values from this decade.
CAC has only approved three 1843 eagles in all grades and none higher than AU50.

1853-C $5.00 NGC AU50

This example has the exact look that I really like on a Southern branch mint coin: dark, deep russet and green-gold splashes with plenty of dirt seen in the protected areas. There isn't any luster to speak of but this is primarily on account on the depth of the color. There is a small hairline in the left obverse field and a tiny rim mark at 4:00 that appears to be of mint origin. Good value at less than $3,000.

1875-CC $20.00 NGC AU58 CAC

This lustrous "slider" has just the slightest amount of friction on the high spots of the obverse that removes it from a Mint State grade; the reverse is MS61 to MS62 on its own. If you don't have the budget to afford an Uncirculated example but you want a great-looking piece for type purposes, than this might be the exact right coin for you.

CAC has approved 16 examplew in this grade with another 23 in higher grades.