1806 Round 6 $5.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

This fresh to the market example has glowing yellow-gold color and excellent luster which is unusual for the date as many 1806 Round 6 half eagles are dull and satiny in texture. The strike is a bit better than usual for the variety with good detail at the centers and sharp denticles; the radial lines in the stars are, as usual, flat. There are a few scuffs in the obverse fields and a small mint-made area of roughness on the left side of the I in LIBERTY while the reverse is extremely clean and would grade at least MS63+ on its own accord. The last two PCGS MS62 examples of the 1806 Round 6 half eagle were Stack's Bowers 2011 ANA: 7660 and Heritage 2010 ANA: 3479 which brought $25,875 and $21,850 respectively. This coin has really exceptional eye appeal and it is the perfect grade for most type collectors as a PCGS MS63, if available, would cost $35,000+ and might not be all that much better than this.

1843-D $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

Medium D mintmark variety. Very well struck as is typically the case of this date and variety with full radial lines within the stars and sharp, individually defined hair and feather details. The color is an attractive medium to deep green gold which is "correct" for original examples of this date. This coin would probably grade AU55 or even AU58 if it were not for the presence of a reeding mark on Liberty's throat and small, thin nick on the cheek. A great piece for the type collector or a good piece for the new Dahlonega specialist who wants to get his feet wet with a nice quality but affordable half eagle.

1856-D $5.00 NGC EF45

I almost never see this date in the EF grades. Most 1856-D half eagles are in higher grades (AU53 and up) and this is due to the presence of a hoard as well as a lack of circulation. But this piece is not only a Choice EF, it has lovely warm reddish-gold color at the borders and smooth, lightly abraded surfaces. The strike is typically soft with the radial lines in the stars very flat and somewhat beveled edges.

1853-D $5.00 NGC AU53 CAC

Large D mintmark. This coin has among the more interesting back stories of any D mint half eagle that I've offered for quite some time. I purchased it from a dealer in the United States who imported it from Europe. This dealer, who is extremely knowledgeable about U.S. gold coins, says that this is one of the very few Dahlonega pieces that he has been able to buy in the last few years. He added that both Charlotte and Dahlonega coins are almost never found in Europe, despite his careful scrutiny of tens of thousands of gold coins every year. Besides the neat story, the coin itself is pleasing with lovely multi-hued reddish-gold hues on the obverse and, more extensively, on the reverse. Both sides are lightly abraded and both show a good deal of natural dirt in the protected areas. The 1853-D is one of the most common Dahlonega half eagles but you could look for years and not find an example with better color than this

1872-S $10.00 PCGS AU53

Almost certainly from Europe as evidenced by the deep orange-gold color contrasted by darker toning on the highlights. Choice and very lustrous with some light scuffs in the left obverse field; the reverse is cleaner and very lightly marked. The 1872-S eagle is an overlooked issue with an original mintage of only 17,300. I believe that there are around 150-200 known with most seen in the VF-EF grade range. Properly graded AU53 to AU55 examples are very scarce and the 1872-S is a true rarity in Uncirculated withe just two or three known with claims to an Uncirculated grade. The last PCGS AU53 to be sold at auction was Stack's 8/10: 1153 which brought $3,450; before this was the B+M 7/06 coin (lot 1644) that sold for a strong $5,175. A really nice example of this underrated issue.

1875-S $5.00 NGC EF45+

While certainly not in the same league as the legendary Philadelphia half eagle of this year, the 1875-S is a very scarce issue in its own right. Only 9,000 were struck and it is likely that only 70-80 pieces are known. That makes the 1875-S a scarcer issue than the 1875-CC half eagle as well as a number of better known and higher priced half eagles of this era. Light orange-gold color is contrasted by some flashes of reddish-gold at the borders and within the protected areas. A good deal of luster is present but this coin is kept at the EF45 level by the presence of numerous small ticks in the fields. This piece is very similar in overall quality to Heritage 1/10: 3987 (graded EF45 by PCGS) that sold for $2,530. At less than $3,000 this seems like good value.

1862 $1.00 PCGS PR64 DCAM CAC

One of only 35 Proofs struck. It is likely that as few as 14-16 examples are known in Proof and this date rivals a number of other better-known, higher-priced issues in this series. This is a wonderfully choice example for the grade with bright, highly reflective fields and full cameo contrast. Both sides are superbly toned in deep natural orange-gold hues and there are just a few wispy hairlines (not from cleaning) seen on both sides. For the sake of identification, a tiny curved mint-made lintmark between DO in DOLLAR is mentioned. I think coins like this are exceptional value and I would strongly recommend putting early Proofs of all denominations away for a long-term hold as they seem to have lots and lots of upside. PCGS has graded just two in PR64DCAM with two better. This is the only example in this grade (with a DCAM designation) to have received CAC approval.

Ex Goldberg 2/06: 874 where it sold for $16,675

1853-D $5.00 PCGS AU58

Large D Mintmark. This choice slider has good luster and pleasing medium orange-gold colors on the obverse and the reverse. The strike is somewhat above-average for the issue with less beveling at the rims than usual but some overall bluntness at the centers and on the radial lines of the stars. There is just the slightest amount of friction seen on the high points of the obverse; the reverse is fully Uncirculated and grades MS61 or better on its own. The fields are a bit scuffy with a few shallow marks seen on both sides. The 1853-D is among the more available half eagles from this mint but choice, original AU58 examples like this are not easy to locate. Personally, I'd rather have this coin in my collection than the typical rubby, dipped MS61 at nearly double the price.

1883 $3.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

Only 900 business strikes were made. The 1883 Three Dollar has the lowest mintage figure of nearly any affordable 19th century U.S. gold coin. After all, how many regular issues have a mintage of just 900 coins yet can be purchased in high-end AU grades for less than $5,000? This is a very high end example with semi-prooflike surfaces that show lovely coppery-orange color on the obverse and reverse. There is just a smidgen of wear seen on both sides and the fields are clean and attractive. One of the really fun sets to assemble is a date run of Three Dollar gold pieces from 1879 to 1889. This ten year group includes a number of low mintage coins (three have fewer than 1,000 business strikes) yet nothing is very expensive or impossibly hard to find. The last PCGS 55 example of an 1883 to sell at auction was B+M 2/08: 2514 which brought $3,795.