1876-CC $20.00 PCGS VF25 CAC

Rainy Day Collection pedigree. Evenly worn, problem-free and original. This is one of the more affordable CC double eagles that you are likely to see in the market. With gold approaching $2,000 per ounce, the number of slabbed CC double eagles priced at under $2,500 is dwindling to just a few.

1846 Large Date $5.00 NGC MS61

Large Date variety. The Large Date is, by far, the scarcer of the two varieties of half eagle produced at the Philadelphia mint in 1846. In Uncircuated, this variety is actually quite rare and I can't recall personally having seen more than a handful in MS60 or better until a small group of MS64's was found in the S.S. New York treasure a few years back. This bright yellow-gold example has a very frosty obverse and a slightly PL reverse with very good detail. There are a number of small, shallow marks in the fields that in keeping with the grade assigned by NGC.

1853 $20.00 PCGS MS61 CAC

Normal Date variety. The 1853 is a much scarcer date than the 1851 and 1852. But it remains reasonably affordable in the lower Uncirculated grades and this makes it a sensible issue for the collector who is searching for a nice non-shipwreck Type One double eagle as a type coin. This is a fresh and extremely high end piece with strong claims to an MS62 grade. It is undipped and never-messed-with and, most importantly, it is totally "new" with no hint of friction on the high spots or luster breaks in the fields. The surfaces are slightly ticky in the open areas but this is compensated for by the attractive soft golden color and swirling frosty luster. MS61 is a good value grade for this date as an MS62, if available, is likely to cost in excess of $13,000-15,000. Only three examples in MS61 have been given CAC approval with two higher.

Ex New England Rare Coin Auctions 3/1982: 2291

1840-O $5.00 NGC AU58

Narrow Mill variety. Unlike the 1838-C+D and the 1839-C+D half eagles, the first-year-of-issue 1840-O half eagle remains overlooked and undervalued. It is an issue that is most often seen in VF to EF grades and nice AU's are scarce. This lightly worn yellowish-gold piece is sharply detailed and has much of its original "skin." There are scattered marks seen in the fields with most located in the upper reverse above and behind the head of the eagle. The NGC population figure for this date in AU58 is well-inflated by resubmissions as evidenced by the fact that no AU58's have sold at auction since May 2008. An historically significant issue as the first half eagle from this mint and a pleasing slider example.

1855-O $20.00 NGC EF45 CAC

Pittman Collection Pedigree. The 1855-O is the third rarest New Orleans double eagle, after the 1854-O and the 1856-O. Given that nice examples of either of these dates is a $200,000++ expenditure, for most collectors the 1855-O is the most important double eagle from this mint that they will purchase. The 1855-O is a nearly impossible issue to find with original color and nice surfaces and this coin is far above-average in both regards. It is very well detailed and it has not been scrubbed or dipped as shown by its warm greenish-gold patina. Most amazingly, it shows only a few very light abrasions in the fields. This example is immediately recognizable by a small natural planchet flaw on the obverse rim below the 55 in the date. This actually adds character to the appearance, in my opinion, and in no way detracts. While not identified on the holder by NGC, this is clearly the Pittman coin and it is one of the last major double eagles that he acquired in his storied collecting career. The last EF45 to sell was Heritage 7/11: 4993 (graded by PCGS) that realized $34,500. That coin had numerous abrasions in the fields and it was not accorded a sticker by CAC. In fact, only three 1855-O double eagles in EF45 have been approved by CAC and none above this. A very important coin for the Type One collector and a piece that combines beauty, rarity and numismatic history in one neat package.

Ex Pittman: 1131, Merkin 10/66: 374

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.