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.

1843-O Large Date $2.50 PCGS AU58 CAC

Large Date variety. This is probably the single nicest circulated example of this scarce issue that I have seen. It displays superb deep green-gold color on both sides with the reverse a bit less intense in hue than the obverse. There is just a tiny amount of rub seen on the high spots but it is likely that this coin never saw any actual circulation. The 1843-O Large Date is probably the second rarest quarter eagle from this mint in higher grades and it is very rare in Uncirculated with around ten to twelve known. I like this coin a lot more than the nice PCGS AU58 that sold for $5,175 as Heritage 3/11: 4629. If you are a fan of really attractive New Orleans gold coins and you don't want to spend the $8,000-10,000+ that it will cost to find a PCGS MS61 1843-O Large Date quarter eagle, this is the right piece for your collection!

1842 Large Date $10.00 NGC AU58

Large Date variety. There are two varieties of eagles produced at the Philadelphia mint in 1842: the Small Date and the Large Date. The former is the scarcer of the two but the Large Date is more challenging to locate than its mintage figure of 62,884 would suggest. This date is usually seen in the EF40 to AU50 grade range and it becomes very scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58. In Uncirculated, it is a really rare coin and it is an issue that I have not handled in Mint State since the early 1990's. This fresh example shows no real wear but does display some abrasions from having been transported in a bag. The color is a lovely fiery orange-gold hue with some contrasting reddish shades about the devices. There have been no AU58 1842 Large Date eagles sold at auction since 2008 and the last MS60 (a PCGS coin) sold for $10,925 in the Heritage 3/09 sale despite its funky orange coloration. There are many great opportunities for the value-conscious collector in the Liberty Head eagle market and these early dates from Philadelphia offer some of the best value out there.

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.

1850 Large Date $10.00 NGC AU58

There are two distinct varieties of 1850 eagle: the Small Date (the rarer of the two) and the Large Date. The date size on the 1850 Large Date is not as mis-spaced as it is on the 1854-O Large Date eagle but it is easy to recognize, especially in comparison to the Small Date 1850 eagle. The 1850 Large Date is underrated in higher grades and it is actually quite scarce in the lower Mint State grades and very rare in MS62 and above. This very frosty slider shows characteristic light green-gold color with choice surfaces and great detail. There are a few small grease stains near star ten on the obverse that are mint-made. Philadelphia No Motto eagles in AU grades offer the collector with sophisticated taste but a limited bidget the opportunity to purchase very interesting coins that contain a half ounce of gold for very affordable sums.

1810 Large Date $5.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

BD-4, Rarity-2. Large Date, Large 5.. If I had to pick a "sweet spot" for early half eagles (or maybe even for all early gold) it would have to be the AU58 grade. Early gold that is properly graded in AU58 holders can have really nice eye appeal yet it is priced at an amount that is often significantly less than coins in MS60/MS61 holders. Let's look at this 1810 half eagle which is a perfect example. It shows no real signs of having circulated; just what used to be referred to as "cabinet friction" on the high spots. The color is lovely with rich green-gold centers framed by fiery natural reddish-gold at the borders; the reverse has a deeper overall hue than the obverse. Both sides are free of detracting marks and a good deal of luster remains. The last nice PCGS AU58 example of this date to sell at auction was Spink/Smythe 5/11: 11 that brought $12,075. If you need a nice example of the Capped Head Left half eagle type or you collect these by date, this coin will look great in your set!