1855-O $1.00 PCGS AU53

The 1855-O is the only Type Two gold dollar from New Orleans and its status as a one-year type makes it very popular with a broad range of collectors. It is nowhere near as scarce as the 1855-C or 1855-D but it so much more affordable than these two issues. This particular example has wonderful eye appeal for the issue with intense rich orange-gold colors seen on the obverse and reverse. There is a small scrape below TAT in STATES that removes this coin from strong consideration at the AU55 level. Choice, attractive and great value at less than $2,000.

1859-S $20.00 NGC AU55 CAC

A choice and very fresh example with an obvious "Euro" appearance. The obverse is a deep orange-gold with contrasting darker highlights; the reverse is much lighter with pleasing pale rose and yellow-gold hues. Both sides are quite lustrous and show fewer abrasions than usual for this date. The 1859-S is common below AU55 but it is scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and very rare in full Mint State. It is an especially ahrd coin to locate with good eye appeal as most are poorly struck and extremely baggy. This piece is among the nicer circulated 1859-S double eagles that I have seen or handled in the last few months.

1862 $20.00 PCGS AU53

The 1862 is the rarest Philadelphia double eagle struck up through 1881 (not including, obviously, the exceedingly rare 1861 Paquet reverse). For many years it was an obscure issue that I literally had to beg collectors to buy. Today, when nice examples are offered, they cause considerable excitement. I recently offered a nice PCGS EF40 example of this date and within a day of listing on my website, I had six orders for it. That's why I'm pleased and somewhat amazed to be offering a second example; and in PCGS AU53, no less! This example is very clean for the issue and has far fewer marks than what is typically seen on this usually-baggy date. The color is a light to medium green-gold with orange tinges and there are a few areas of deeper color in the reverse fields. Since 1994, there are only nine auction records for this date in AU53. That's an average of one coin in AU53 every two years or so; proving the difficulty of finding this date in the lower AU grades. If you collect Type Ones or you fancy Civil war gold coins, you know how tough this date is and what an important opportunity this represents.

1864-S $20.00 NGC MS61

While not designated as such by NGC, my guess is that this coin is one of the examples recovered from the S.S. Brother Jonathan. It has a slightly semi-granular texture and even light yellow gold color which is reminiscent of the better quality coins from this remarkable group. The eye appeal is really excellent with pleasing color, great detail for the issue (including full radial lines within the stars on the obverse) and very minimally abraded surfaces. A small area of scuffing in the left obverse field is probably all that is keeping this coin from an otherwise-possible MS62 grade. Since the beginning of 2009, only four MS61 examples of this popular Civil War date (all encapsulated by NGC) have sold at auction and anything graded higher than this is very difficult to locate as one might imagine. An important Type One double eagle for the advanced collector.

1856-S $10.00 PCGS AU50

Medium S mintmark. A fresh European example recently graded by PCGS in their Paris office and notable for strong luster, light even wear and nominally abraded surfaces. Not really a rare coin in this grade but a pleasing, wholesome piece which is desirable as an affordable early SF mint eagle.

1874-CC $20.00 NGC VF30 CAC

If there is such a thing as a "Gem VF" Carson City double eagle, this is it. While extensively worn, this piece has clean surfaces which are overlaid with deep reddish toning; more-so on the reverse than on the obverse. Ironically, this date is probably harder to find in VF than it is in EF or AU and it would be a perfect introductory coin for the new collector who wants to get his feet wet in the area of Carson City double eagles.

As of the end of June 2011, this is the only 1874-CC double eagle in VF 30 that has received CAC approval.

1848-O $10.00 PCGS AU50

The 1848-O is tied with the 1850-O and the 1854-O Small Date as the eleventh rarest of twenty one No Motto eagles from this mint. I estimate that there are a few hundred examples known but from personal experience, I do not see this date very often in the AU50 to AU55 range; the "sweet spot" for many collectors of this series. The present example is very lustrous with light orange-gold and rose color atop surfaces that, as usual, show a number of scuff marks from handling. The strike has some weakness at the center, especially on the reverse. Overall, a very presentable example of a date that has just a few dozen known in this grade range.

1853-O $10.00 PCGS AU55

While very common in lower grades, the 1853-O eagle is much scarcer than generally realized in AU55, rare in AU58 and exceedingly rare in Uncirculated with just three or four currently known. This example, which is fresh from Europe and has the three-pronged gasket within the slab that is indicative of a coin graded in PCGS' Paris office, has lovely deep green-gold and rose-orange color with some dirt within the protected areas. A considerable amount of luster remains and the fields show fewer marks than usual for the date. The last comparable to sell at auction was Heritage 1/11: 7030, graded AU55 by PCGS, that realized $2,530. This example is nicer and it is exceptional value at under $3,000.

1858-C $5.00 PCGS MS62

This important coin has an interesting background and appearance. It is part of a small group of half eagles that was found in New England a short period ago. The stars of this group were an amazing pair of 1840-C (graded MS63 and MS64+, respectively, by PCGS) that were later consigned to the Heritage January 2011 sale. This 1858-C half eagle, which was also in that sale, was bought back by the consignor due to an overly-zealous reserve but it later sold privately and is now available at a more reasonable level than it would have taken to buy it at the auction. This coin has the body and skin of a virtual Gem but it has been net graded (properly) by PCGS due to some mint-made planchet roughness on the obverse and reverse; the most notable areas of roughness are on the left obverse field and the cheek of Liberty. The remainder of the coin is sensational with thick, creamy luster and virgin original color that tends towards a rich natural orange-gold hue. As a date, the 1858-C is common in circulated grades but it is very rare and much under-appreciated in Uncirculated. I estimate that there are around a dozen Mint State coins known with the finest of these being Heritage 1/04: 3038 ($29,900; as PCGS MS63) that is now in an NGC MS64 holder. The Bass II: 1106 coin, graded MS62 by PCGS, brought $23,000 back in October 1999 and an NGC MS62 sold for $18,975 in the 2003 ANA auction. The aforementioned planchet roughness on this coin makes it a piece that is not for everyone but I think this 1858-C is one of the very finest known and you aren't likely to ever see a fresher example.