A Quick One: The Type Collector's Dilemma

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A Quick One: The Type Collector's Dilemma

The dilemma that I speak of is this: given an average budget of around $5,000 per coin, is it advisable to buy a common date in the best affordable grade, or a scarcer date at the same price point? A quick caveat: this dilemma does not exist, of course, for certain issues like Type Two dollars as coins like the 1855-O are one-year issues with no ability to select from a variety of dates.

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"Wow...the Coin is Better Looking in Hand!"

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At least once a week we hear from a client who calls excitedly or emails us immediately, pleased with their most recent purchase. And they always say the same thing, "You know, I loved the photos, but this coin looks even better in person!" So that begs the question - why do I not show you exactly what you can expect when you open a package from DWN?

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Battle of the Classic Head Fives: The 1838-C vs. The 1838-D

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Battle of the Classic Head Fives: The 1838-C vs. The 1838-D

If you ask most casual collectors which of these two issues is the rarer or more desirable, I’m guessing most would select the 1838-D. Let’s look at the Tale of the Tape for each issue and then I will add some analysis.

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Why Does the 1861-C Half Eagle Get No Love?

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Why Does the 1861-C Half Eagle Get No Love?

I recently sold a nice PCGS/CAC AU55 1861-C half eagle and it made me think: why is the 1861-C less than one-third the price of the 1861-D in higher grades and why doesn’t the 1861-C have more of a fuss made over it?

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Why is the Dated Gold Market Holding its Own?

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Rare date gold seems to be “where the action is” in the 2016 coin market and I, for one, am glad I don’t have an inventory full of Gem type coins or other less interesting numismatic items.

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Cool Coins from the 2016 FUN Show: Choice AU 1861-D Gold Dollar

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Cool Coins from the 2016 FUN Show: Choice AU 1861-D Gold Dollar

The 1861-D is, without a doubt, the most popular gold dollar. It has a minute original mintage figure believed to be in the range of 500-1,000 coins, and it has extreme multiple demand levels on account of its incontrovertible origin as a Confederate product.

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What's Hot, What's Not: The US Rare Gold Coin Market in 2015/2016

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What's Hot, What's Not: The US Rare Gold Coin Market in 2015/2016

As is tradition at DWN, at the end of every year we summarize our experiences buying and selling choice and rare United States gold coins and attempt to predict what will be the “hot” and “not so hot” areas in the market. 

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The 15 US Gold Coins Which All Collectors Should Own

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The 15 US Gold Coins Which All Collectors Should Own

Even if you are an ultra-specialized collector of U.S. gold coins—let’s say with an emphasis on Type One double eagles or Dahlonega half eagles—there are still specific important gold types which you might find compelling. A collector recently asked me for a list of a dozen gold issues which fell out of his range of specialization but which I felt might make good additions to his set.

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