1847 $5.00 PCGS MS61

To the naked-eye, this example has the appearance of an MS63 but a pair of small scratches on the reverse above VE in FIVE has caused PCGS to properly net grade it to MS61. That said, this is a lovely 1847 half eagle with rich, velvety luster, nice orange-gold color and complete definition on the obverse and reverse. The 1847 is perhaps the most available No Motto half eagle from this decade (and one of the three or four most common No Motto issues of any date) which make it affordable and ideal for type. With marginal quality AU coins now selling for around $1,000, a nice PCGS MS61 at just a small premium over this represents excellent value.

1876-CC $20.00 NGC AU55

This nicely detailed mid-range AU example would make an excellent type coin for the double eagle collector due to its very clean surfaces. Both sides show light rose color and have a good amount of luster.

1841 $10.00 NGC AU50

A nice, fresh deeply toned example with attractive green-gold color that is contrasted by russet hues in the protected areas. This coin has enough "body" to grade AU55 but it is a bit abraded, as is typical for the issue. The 1841 eagle is not a common date. It is mostly seen in VF-EF and it is undervalued in the lower AU grades. In Uncirculated, this date is very rare. With common date Liberty Head eagles in AU now trading for close to $1,000, a genuinely scarce date like the 1841 at such a small premium seems like exceptional value to me.

1888-O $10.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

I generally don't buy this date unless I see a specific coin that is outstanding and this coin is, in a word, outstanding. It is semi-prooflike with splendid rich natural straw-gold color. A few light scuffs in the fields remove this coin from an MS63 grade but it is far nicer than usual for the grade and pretty comparable to some of the 1888-O eagles that I have seen in 63 holders. As a date, the 1888-O is only moderately scarce in MS62 but I think this coin is great value compared to an MS63 at $4500-5500. This is one of six examples approved by CAC in this grade with just two finer.

1880-O $10.00 PCGS AU55

Simpson/Hall pedigree.. This date has been a favorite of mine for many years. Only 9,200 were struck and it is the third rarest With Motto eagle from this mint after the very rare 1883-O and the rare 1879-O. When available, the 1880-O eagle is typically seen in the EF40 to AU50 range and nice mid-range to high-range AU's are quite scarce. This very lustrous example would grade AU58 were it not for a few marks on Liberty's neck. It displays considerable mint luster and has nice orange-gold and rose coloration. The last PCGS AU55 example to sell at auction was the Heritage 2010 ANA coin that brought $3,450. Since then, the market for better date Liberty Head eagles has risen appreciably and I think this coin is good value.

1852 $20.00 NGC MS61 CAC

Normal Date variety. For many collectors, the most realistic Type One double eagles to acquire in Uncirculated are the 1851 and 1852. A few years ago, it was possible to buy a nice, fresh Mint State example for around $5,000. But these coins are hugely popular and prices have now crept up to the $7,000-8,000 range. This lovely fresh-to-the-market example has great orange-gold and rose color atop slightly scuffy but very frosty and vibrant surfaces. There is no evidence whatsoever of dipping and the naked-eye appearance is very high end for both the date and grade. If you need a nice Type One double eagle for your set, I'd suggest you don't wait any longer as it is not out of the question that similar quality coins will approach the five-figure marks in just a couple of years.

1889-CC $20.00 PCGS MS61 CAC

There was still a strong demand for double eagles in commerce during the late 1880's as evidenced by the fact that most 1889-CC's are seen with a good deal of wear. The 1889-CC is a scarce issue in Uncirculated and nearly all examples that are "new" grade MS60 to MS61. This example is notable for being among the more original 1889-CC double eagles known and it shows lovely deep, rich rose and orange-gold color on the obverse and reverse. Both sides lack the spots typically seen on this issue and the luster is excellent. There are some light abrasions on the obverse that limit the grade while the reverse is very choice and it grades at least MS62 on its own. This is one of just two 1889-CC double eagles in MS61 to have been given CAC approval and only two finer examples currently exist with CAC stickers.

1814/3 $5.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

BD-1. High R-4/Low R-5. Fewer than 100 pieces are known in all grades. Struck from strongly clashed dies as is typical for this issue. A lovely example of this rarity with great luster, a nice strike and pleasing light to medium pale rose and orange-gold coloration on the obverse and reverse. A few trivial marks on the obverse narrowly remove this from the MS63 level. The 1814/3 is many times rarer than the 1813 and compares favorably with the 1818 and 1820 in the fabled Capped Bust half eagle type that was produced from 1813 to 1829. A nice PCGS MS62 1813 half eagle in MS62 with a CAC sticker is worth around $20,000 in this market. At around a 25% premium, the 1814/3 in this grade seems like an amazing value to me as it is far, far scarcer and nearly impossible to find choicer. In September 2008, Superior auctioned a decent quality PCGS MS62 example for $27,600. If you are looking for this a nice example of this fabled type, you would be hard-pressed to find better value than this 1814/3!

Ex Heritage 8/11: 7540 where it sold for $22,450

1834 $2.50 NGC MS65 CAC

Classic Head variety. Small Head. A remarkable coin that appears to be among the first Classic Head quarter eagles produced from this die pair given its nearly fully reflective surfaces. This is the sort of coin that before third-party certification was sometimes called a "Proof" or "Specimen Strike" and it has amazing eye appeal as a result of its reflectivness and rich orange-gold color. There are a few small ticks in the fields but this is clearly a special coin. Classic Head quarter eagles in Gem have peculiar auction records. PCGS is brutally tough when grading these MS65 or better and the only two sales records in the last few years for PCGS 65's (both in 2008) were $54,625 and and $89,125 respectively. I have, as you can no doubt guess, tried to cross this coin to PCGS given its higher value and, so far, have had no luck. But I do think this it has some potential of crossing in the future (especially if it were submitted with the "right" coins) and, obviously, it has enormous upside. But you are buying a coin and not a holder (hopefully) and you should be aware that this is one of the finest Classic Head quarter eagles to be available in some time. Only three 1834 Classic Head quarter eagles in MS65 have been approved by CAC with just one better.