1847-D $2.50 PCGS AU53

This well struck example shows nice light green-gold clolor and has plenty of dirt encrusted in the protected areas of the obverse and reverse. The eye appeal is excellent for the date and grade and to the naked eye, this coin has the appearance of an AU55 to AU58. The 1847-D is among the more common quarter eagles from this mint, making it an ideal choice for the type collector seeking a single example.

1869 $20.00 PCGS AU58

The 1868-1871 Philadelphia double eagles have some similarities in rarity as all are tough issues in AU grades and very scarce to rare in Uncirculated. The 1869 is probably the most available of these four dates in AU58 but this choice "slider" has the sort of eye appeal that is almost never found on this date. There is a slight amount of rub on the obverse while the reverse is choice and it grades at least MS61 to MS62 on its own. The color is a pleasing orange-gold hue with some rose shadings while there are almost none of the deep marks often seen on this issue. Trends jumps to $9,000 in MS60 and it is hard to find an attractive, legitimately "new" 1869 for less than $10,000-12,500.

1883-O $10.00 NGC AU53

For years, I literally begged clients of mine who collected New Orleans gold to buy an 1883-O eagle. Here was a coin, I would say, that had everything going for it: a mintage of just 800 coins, a total population of around three dozen in all grades and a status as not only the rarest eagle from this mint but a coin that rivaled the 1854-O and 1856-O double eagles as the rarest gold coins of any denomination from New Orleans. For once, I was right and prices for this date has really exploded in the last two or three years. That said, I still think the 1883-O eagle is a good value and the supply of this issue is in no way able to keep up with the fervent demand. This remarkable coin was just discovered in Europe and it has lovely "Euro" color with deep green-gold and orange hues on the obverse and reverse. I have handled virtually every 1883-O eagle that has come onto the market in the last decade and I can only remember two others that were fully original like this. Even more incredible about this coin is its very clean surfaces. Most 1883-O eagles are excessively abraded and they tend to have the marks accentuated by their reflective, semi-PL fields. This coin has a few old ticks visible below the color but absolutely none of these deserve to be mentioned individually. The overall level of eye appeal for the date is really off-the-charts and this is the best example of this date I have seen in at least two years. Amongst recent offerings, the best comparable was Stacks Bowers 2011 ANA: 6741. Graded AU53 by NGC, it sold for $67,333. The Heritage 2011 FUN: 5209 coin, graded AU55 by NGC, brought $63,250 and it was both unattractive and recolored. This is one of the most important New Orleans eagles that I have offered all year.

1839 $5.00 NGC AU55

The 1839 is a one-year type that is finally gaining the recognition it deserves. Interestingly, I saw not one but two (!) PCGS MS63 CAC examples of this date at the recent Baltimore show, both priced in the $30,000's. Yes, it would be great to own one or both of these but not every collector has a spare 30K lying around. For those of you that do not, how about a nice, choice example at under $2,000?

1858-S $20.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

This is exactly the sort of coin I am describing when I write about "super sliders" and I have a special fondness for Type One Liberty Head double eagles with this sort of visual appeal. This coin really has no wear of any consequence on its surfaces but there is just a hair too much friction to call it an MS61. That said, it is lovely with nearly full luster, razor sharp detail and surfaces that are almost totally free of the severe abrasions which are almost always seen on this date. The 1858-S double eagle is quite scarce in properly graded AU58 and it is very rare in Uncirculated. If you could find one, a PCGS MS61 example of this date will cost in excess of $12,500 (probably more with a CAC sticker) and I seriously doubt you would see enough difference between this high-end slider and an MS61 to merit the doubling in price. CAC has approved only three examples of this date in AU58 and just a single example better than this.

1810 Large Date, Large 5 $5.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

BD-4. R-2. Well struck in green-gold with pronounced clashmarks on the obverse and some roughness in the die as struck. This piece is as original an example as one could hope for with deep, even green-gold color on the obverse and the reverse. There are a few light vertical and horizontal adjustment marks on the obverse that are very hard to see without magnifcation and I feel that they are not detracting. This piece probably never entered circualtion but it does show some very light rub on the high spots meriting the assigned grade. The 1810 Large Date, Large 5 is the most available of the four major varieties of half eagle produced during this year. Since it gets no date premium for its rarity, it is an ideal coin to use for type purposes. This coin isn't priced at a level much higher than a schlocky, processed Capped Bust Left half eagle in AU58 and, as such, it represents a very good value for the connoiseur.

1802/1 $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

BD-1. High R-4. Centered overdate variety. This is clearly an above-average example for the grade with nice green-gold color which is accentuated by some flashes of medium orange-gold and reddish hues at the obverse border and across much of the reverse. There is some light friction on the obverse but not much in the way of actual wear; the reverse on its own grades a full AU58 and is very choice. This piece is well struck and well made with nice balance and choice surfaces. This issue has always been a favorite with collectors as it has such a bold, clear overdate. A welcome exception to the rule that early gold in this price range is never original and attractive.

1802/1 $2.50 NGC AU53

BD-3. R-5. This variety is easily identifiable by the presence of noticeable repunching on star one on the reverse. This piece was recently purchased "over the counter" by one of my suppliers on the East Coast and from its appearance, I have to guess that it is a coin that was either in an old-time collection or accumulation for many, many years. It has an especially original appearance with even, dark rich green-gold color that is accentuated by some pale coppery hues around the devices. There is a good deal of dirt in the protected areas and this is always an unusual (and welcome) occurance on an early gold coin, especially one that is nearly 210 years old. The strike is typically weak at the very center of the obverse and reverse while the borders are sharp. Under magnification, there are some very light vertical obverse adjustment marks through the portrait and a few light, old marks in the fields. In the just-concluded Stack's Bowers November sale, another NGC AU53 example of this date (with a CAC sticker) sold for $18,400. A wonderful Draped Bust, Stars Obverse quarter eagle for the type collector.

1858-D $1.00 PCGS MS61 CAC

It is hard to state this with certainty due to the position of the coin in the holder, but this piece looks to be a bit off center with a prominent border at the lower obverse and the corresponding reverse; if this is the case it is something that I have not seen before on any 1858-D dollar. I purchased this coin from a very savvy wholesale dealer at the Baltimore show who tried submitting it a number of times to PCGS for an MS62 grade. It is not hard to see why as it is sharp and vibrant with great luster and pleasing pale rose color. The 1858-D is the second most available Type Three gold dollar from this mint in higher grades (after the 1859-D) which makes it a good date for type purposes. There are probably around twenty or so known in Uncirculated with nearly all of these in the MS60 to MS62 range. This is the only 1858-D in MS61 that has been approved by CAC; only one finer Uncirculated coin has been approved as well.