1859-C $1.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

The 1859-C is the rarest Type Three gold dollar from Charlotte (and among the rarest dollars from this mint) but it is actually less rare than the 1857-C in higher grades. Like the 1857-C, the 1859-C has a very distinctive appearance due to its method of manufacture. This piece is actually very well produced for the issue with a nice planchet that is less defective than usual. The strike is sharp with a full date and much bolder denticles than usual. Unlike nearly every 1859-C dollar that I've seen in the last few years, this piece hasn't been processed and it shows very nice original green-gold color. A small shallow planchet defect, as made, rests on the rear of Liberty's throat. You could look for years and not find a more attractive circulated 1859-C dollar than this. CAC has approved just two examples of this date in AU53 and none finer than this.

1851-D $5.00 NGC VF35

The 1851-D is one of the half dozen scarcest half eagles from this mint and it is far harder to find in all grades than such better known (and more expensive) issues as the 1838-D, 1839-D, 1846-D/D and 1860-D. This example is completely original and is just on the cusp of being a full EF40 coin. It shows deep, natural color on both sides and has good overall detail for the date and grade.

1847-D $5.00 NGC AU58

The 1847-D is sort of a "secret date" as far as knowledgeable Dahlonega half eagle collectors go. It is generally lumped with such common issues as the 1849-D, 1852-D, 1853-D and 1854-D but it is many times scarcer, especially in higher grades. As with the quarter eagle of this date, when the 1847-D half eagle is found nice, it tends to have some of the nicest color of any Dahlonega half eagle. And this example has, in my opinion, especially nice color. The obverse and the reverse are both toned in lovely deep green-gold hues with fiery orange-gold highlights which become quite dramatic as the coin is tilted towards a light source. The strike is as sharp as one is likely to find on a Dahlonega gold coin of any date and the surfaces show an acceptable number of abrasions for the grade. One abrasion is worthy of mention: a small reeding mark (from contact with another coin) in the right obverse field near star eleven.

1839-C $5.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

After many years of neglect, both the 1839-C and 1839-D half eagles have gained respect as one-year types. The 1839-C has become highly sought-after not only by collectors of Charlotte gold and half eagles specialists but by collectors looking for neat, "significant" coins. The present example is the second high grade 1839-C half eagle that I have been fortunate to handle in the last three months (after many years of going without one) and it is among the nicest circulated 1839-C half eagles that I can recall having seen. To the naked eye, this coin has the look of an MS61 due to its thick, satiny luster and lovely natural yellowish-gold and orange hues. It is remarkably well struck with great detail on the obverse and the reverse and the surfaces are very clean with just a few microscopic ticks visible below magnification. If you can find an Uncirculated 1839-C half eagle it is likely to cost more than double the amount of this lustrous, nearly Mint State piece. A great addition to a collection that is focused on coins with character. This is currently the only 1839-C half eagle graded AU55 that has been approved by CAC.

In Heritage's 8/11 auction, a non-CAC 1839-C half eagle in PCGS AU55 realized $9,775.

1875 $2.50 NGC PR65 UCAM

One of only 20 Proofs struck. Unlike the other low mintage Proof quarter eagles of this era, the 1875 is a rarity in business strike format as well with a mintage of just 400. In Proof, there are an estimated dozen or so 1875 quarter eagles of which maybe four or five Gems are known. The present example has the strongest cameo contrast that I have seen on a Proof of this date and it certainly deserves to have received the Ultra Cameo modifier. It has extremely stark black and white contrast between the devices and the fields and the visual impact is really quite stunning. There are no significant hairlines or lintmarks; a small spot on the obverse serves as quick identification. In Heritage's January 2011 sale of the Miller Collection, there were two Proofs of this date that were graded many years ago as PR64 by NGC but both seemingly were destined to upgrade to PR65 by today's standards; they realized $46,000 and $47,294, respectively. This is one of just two graded PR65 Ultra Cameo by NGC and it is amongst the finest known examples of one of the the rarest single dates in the Liberty Head quarter eagle series. Many people do not realize this, but a Gem Proof 1875 quarter eagle is rarer than the legendary Three Dollar gold piece of this date and the latter is a $250,000+ coin in Gem Proof.

Ex Heritage 9/08: 3351 where it sold for $48,875

1845-O $5.00 NGC AU55

Struck in light green-gold and a boldly impressed, minimally worn example with lots of "meat" left on the surfaces. There are a few marks seen on the surfaces but none are detracting or out of keeping with the assigned grade. I have long felt that this was an undervalued date in nearly any grade and I think that AU55 is a "sweet spot" for the issue. I recently sold an EF 45 example of the 1845-O for $1,650 and it seems to me that a nice AU55 at just a little bit more than double that amount makes no sense from a value stand point. In AU55, the far more common 1845-D half eagle trades for more than the 1845-O and I'm not sure that this makes sense from a value standpoint either. Have you been looking for a nice No Motto half eagle from this mint? Perhaps this coin is the right one for you!

1847-D $2.50 NGC AU55

If I were looking for an affordable Dahlonega quarter eagle for type purposes, I'd want to own a coin like this 1847-D. It has pleasing natural green-gold color and tons of dirt encrusted in the protected areas that proclaim its originality. As is typical for this issue, the strike is very good with nearly full detail seen at the centers and the borders. The 1847-D is among the more available quarter eagles from this mint but it is scarcer than the 1843-D, 1844-D and 1845-D, making it very sensible for a type set.

1894-O $5.00 PCGS MS61

While seemingly not that scarce in MS61, virtually all of the 1894-O half eagles I have seen in said holders are sliders that do not make the proverbial grade. The present example is strictly "new" and is actually quite choice for the date and grade. It has great luster and nice subtle golden color with a few identifying areas of coppery toning (including a small spot on Liberty's neck) that give it superior eye appeal for the issue. The 1894-O is numismatically significant as the final Liberty Head half eagle from this mint. It is common in circulated grades but rare in the lower Mint State grades and very rare in MS62 and above, as evidenced by the fact that PCGS has graded just seven in this grade or better. The last two PCGS MS61's to appear at auction, in the Heritage 6/11 and Stack's Bowers 7/11 sales, both sold for $2,530 and were both inferior to this example.

1857-S $3.00 NGC AU55

Only 14,000 examples of this date were struck and the 1857-S is one of just four collectable Three Dollar gold pieces from the San Francisco mint. As a date, the 1857-S is generally a scarce issue and it is seen most often in the EF40 to AU50 grade range. It is rare in properly graded AU55, very rare in AU58 and extremely rare in Uncirculated. This pleasing example is totally fresh to the market and it comes from the same source as the lovely AU58 1857-C gold dollar that I purchased at the Baltimore show, It is one of the few 1857-S Threes I have seen that has natural color. The obverse and reverse both show attractive medium russet-gold with mottled underlying reddish hues. The strike is far above average for the date and the surfaces are very clean with none of the marks usually seen on this date. The most recent NGC AU55 example of an 1857-S Three Dollar to sell at auction was Heritage 1/11: 6813 which brought $6,613. The example offered here is far superior due to its color and eye appeal. An important coin and an issue that I personally believed is very undervalued in higher grades.