1871-CC $10.00 PCGS AU55

The 1871-CC eagle is an intriguing date. It is the second most available Carson City eagle from this decade (after the 1874-CC) but, like all the early issue gold and silver from this mint (i.e., pre-1875), it circulated very extensively in the Western states and, as a result, it is exceedingly rare in high grades. I am aware of just two Uncirculated 1871-CC eagles and it is a very rare coin in properly graded AU55 to AU58. This lustrous example is the first higher grade 1871-CC that I have seen in many years that is not overly bright from a recent dipping. It shows nice medium yellow-gold color with a slight reddish-orange tint as it is tilted towards the light. The surfaces show an acceptable number of marks for the grade with a few scuffs in the fields and two small reeding marks (from contact with another coin) on Liberty's neck. I think this coin is significantly nicer than Stack's-Bowers 2011 ANA: 7730 (graded AU58 by NGC and sold for $25,875) and it is the first PCGS AU55 to be available since Heritage 2007 ANA: 1975 which sold for $19,550 in a market which was far less appreciative of high quality CC eagles than the current one. There are a few auction records of over $25,000 for PCGS AU55's in 2006. A very important coin that will, no doubt, find a home in a very important collection of Liberty Head eagles.

1875-CC $20.00 PCGS AU58

There are oodles of 1875-CC double eagles graded AU58 by both PCGS and NGC but only a small handful have the eye appeal of this coin. It has very rich orange-gold color with contrasting deeper highlights (it is likely from a European source) and a good deal of luster is present on both the obverse and the reverse. Some light scuffing on the obverse removes this coin from an MS61 grade but it is free of actual wear and the reverse is extrmely choice with an MS62 or better appearance. This is as nice a "slider" example of this popular date as you are likely to find and it would make a great type coin for the collector looking for one special Type One CC double eagle for his set.

1846 $10.00 NGC AU55

The pre- Civil War Liberty Head eagles from the Philadelphia mint are led by the 1844 and the 1858. The next scarcest issue is the 1846 which is a date that is not as well known as the these two. It is likely that not more than 100 are known and this date is usually seen very well worn with VF and EF coins being typical. The present example shows nice deep natural green-gold color with some fiery orange and reddish undertones. As always, the surfaces are abraded; this is an issue that seems to have been well-circulated and roughly handled. There are no overtly detracting marks and the eye appeal is far above-average for the date. There have been just eight AU55's sold at auction since 2000 and my best guess is that this represents just three or four distinct pieces. The 1846 eagle is just about unavailable finer than this.

1860-S $20.00 NGC AU55

Recently expatriated from Europe and very crusty with plenty of dirt in the recesses, especially on the reverse. This coin has enough body to grade AU58 but there is a very thin and easy to miss hairline on the obverse from the area between stars four and five on the obverse into the top of the head. The typical AU55 example of this date is bright and very heavily abraded. This piece shows nice orange-gold and rose color and lacks the dense abrasions so typical to the issue. Scarcde in properly graded AU55, very scarce in AU58 and very rare in Uncirculated.

1861-S $20.00 NGC AU58

You can disregard the NGC population of this date. In AU58 it is quite scarce and it is a really tough coin in Uncirculated that is nearly impossible to find above MS60 to MS61. This fresh example has a good deal of luster, minimal marks and nice medium orange-gold color. It is cleaner than usual and quite well detailed with better sharpness at the centers than what is normally seen for the date. A small grease stain at star two on the obverse is as made and shows that this piece has not been dipped. If available, an MS61 1861-S double eagle would cost in excess of $15,000 and it probably would not have much more eye appeal than this "slider." Since the beginning of 2009, only three AU58 1861-S double eagles have appeared at auction and I have had only three in inventory in close to two years.

1880-CC $5.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

A very high end coin for the grade with as much "meat" and overall eye appeal as many Carson City half eagles that I have seen in AU58 holders. The Carson City mint produced just five half eagles in the 1880's. The 1880-CC is the second most available but it is very hard to find in properly graded AU55. This example has nice medium green-gold color and it is as well struck as any 1880-CC that I have seen. A hint of orange-gold toning can be seen when the surfaces are tilted towards a light source. A few shallow marks in the left obverse field do not detract. A great looking coin that should appeal to both type collectors and date collectors.

1880-CC $5.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

Thus ultra-lustrous super-slider probably was never in circulation but it shows just a hint of friction on the high spots of the obverse; the reverse grades at least MS61 by itself. The light orange-gold obverse is clean and boldly detailed with just a few small marks in the fields; the reverse is exceptionally free of marks. The 1880-CC is a much scarcer date than the 1882-CC and it is very rare in Uncirculated with fewer than a dozen properly graded pieces known. If available, a PCGS MS61 with a CAC sticker would cost around double the price of this AU58. In my opinion, this coin is a great value and it would fit well into just about any high end collection of CC half eagles.

1851-O $20.00 PCGS EF40 CAC

If you want to buy a nice quality New Orleans double eagle and you have less than $5,000 to spend you basically have two choices: the 1851-O and the 1852-O. Of the two dates, the 1851-O is a bit harder to find. This very attractive example shows natural green-gold color with areas of reddish toning at the borders. There is some luster present and the surfaces are nice for the date and grade. A shallow mint-made planchet flake between the two final stars on the obverse does not detract and the reverse is clean, choice and lovely. You won't find many nicer EF examples of this date than the present coin.

1855-O $10.00 PCGS AU50

Despite a mintage of just 18,000 coins, the 1855-O eagle is an overlooked rarity that is scarce in all grades and genuinely rare in AU and better. This example has delightful natural green-gold color and great luster with nice surfaces. There are just a few small marks behind the neck and this is a very high end coin for the grade with the "body" of an AU53 to AU55. The stars are flat at the centers as on all known examples. I have not seen an original 1855-O eagle of this calibre in at least half a year, if not more. The last PCGS AU50 to sell at auction was Heritage 1/09: 5534 (which I purchased) and, before this, none was sold since the ANR 1/05 auction. The PCGS population figures for this date are very inflated by resubmissions and I'd venture a guess that this is one of the nicest pieces known in a PCGS AU50 holder!