1807 Bust Right $5.00 PCGS MS63 CAC, OGH

Bust Right variety. BD-1, High R-4. Small Reverse stars; the only one of the six half eagles struck this year with this reverse and a distinct naked-eye variety as such. Old Green Holder. A stunning, semi-prooflike example with deep natural yellow gold color seen over the partially reflective fields. Well struck and well made with no significant abrasions or mint-made planchet issues; nicely detailed at the centers and borders with most of the fine design elements showing nearly full clarity. This piece is housed in an old holder and it was last graded at least two decades ago. Unlike so many Bust Right half eagles in MS63 holders, it hasn't been dipped or enhanced and it has really exceptional overall eye appeal. While common in the lowest Uncirculated grades, the 1807 Bust Right becomes rare in properly graded MS63 and it is extremely rare above this with just five finer at PCGS (four in MS64 and a single MS65). The last MS63 to trade at auction was an NGC coin (Heritage 1/12: 4855) which was not CAC approved and which was not high end for the grade; it brought $21,850. You have to go all the way back to the Superior 1/06 sale to find a PCGS MS63 at auction; that coin brought $20,700. Given the fact that the present example is PCGS graded graded, CAC approved and in an old green label holder (quite a triumverate!), I think it is worth at least a 20% premium above the above-referenced NGC example. As of 1/12, only three 1807 Bust Right half eagles graded MS63 have been approved by CAC with two finer than this. A great example for an advanced type set or date run of early half eagles.

1869 $1.00 NGC MS63

Only 5,900 business strikes were made and this issue tended to circulate unlike the low mintages Gold Dollars from the 1880's which were hoarded. This bright, lustrous piece has a great appearance and a few light handling marks on the obverse narrowly remove it from a higher grade. Only six MS63 pieces have sold at auction since June 2005. In my opinion, coins like this at under $2,000 are excellent value in today's market.

1853-D $5.00 NGC MS63

Large D. Winter Variety 29-V. 1853-D half eagles are generally seen with two "looks." On most coins, the strike is soft and the rims are beveled. On a smaller number, the strike is sharp and the rims are fully formed. The present example is clearly one of the sharpest 1853-D half eagles that I have seen and it is as sharp as you would expect a Philadelphia half eagle of this era to be. The coin is very frosty with nice medium yellow-gold and orange color. There are a few small marks near the bridge of Liberty's nose; what appears to be a scratch from star two to star four on the left side of the obverse is mint-made. This is among the three or four most common dates in the Dahlonega half eagle series but it is rare in Uncirculated and very rare in MS63. There have been six auction records since 2000 in this grade but at least three are for the same coin. The last record of note is Superior 8/07: 953 (at $15,525) which was graded MS63 by PCGS. A word or two on value: in the recent Stack's Bowers November auction, an 1854-D half eagle in MS64+ (admittedly a nicer coin than this 1853-D but a comparable date) sold for a strong $49,450 while a pair of 1852-C half eagles (which are similar in rarity to the 1853-D) graded MS63 and MS63+ by PCGS both brought between $18,000 and $19,000. After years of neglect, the market for very high grade C+D half eagles is finally turning around and collectors are beginning to recognize the great values that these coins represent.

1800 $5.00 NGC MS63 CAC

BD-2, Rarity-3. Blunt 1 variety. While not given much of a premium over more common dates of this type, the 1800 is a scarce issue in the higher Uncirculated grades and an issue which doesn't get the respect that it deserves. I have built a number of date sets of 1800-1812 half eagles in MS63 and above and nice examples of the 1800 have always proven to be elusive. This high end example has a very fresh appearance with attractive even light green-gold hues on the obverse and the reverse. This coin is really "as struck" and it has the body and appeal of a borderline Gem but there are a few mint-made issues that need to be noted. There is a small, thin vertical planchet flaw on Liberty's face that is hard to see as well as some very faint adjustment marks at the obverse center. On the reverse, there is a tiny crack in the planchet that curves from the top of the arrows into the shield. But other than these, the surfaces are immaculate and the overall eye appeal is well above average for the date. There have been just two MS63 examples of the 1800 half eagle in MS63 sold at auction in the last two+ years.

Ex Heritage 10/11: 4859 where it brought $29,900.

1813 $5.00 PCGS MS63 CAC

BD-2. R-4. The Capped Head Left, Large Diameter type, struck from 1813 through 1829, contains some of the rarest gold issues ever produced by the United States mint. Only the 1813 is somewhat readily available in the lower Uncirculated grades and this makes it the ideal date for use in a type set of U.S. gold. This example is original and choice for the grade with very nice intense lemon-gold color on both sides. The strike is typical for the date with some softness on the border beads but good overall detail at the centers. There is some light marking in the obverse and reverse fields that limits the grade but the freshness and eye appeal of this coin make it as nice a Fat Head half eagle as you are likely to find in this grade and price range. The next grade up (in a PCGS holder and with a CAC sticker) will cost you over $55,000 if you can even find one!

CAC has given approval to ten examples in this grade and seven higher than this.

1891-CC $10.00 PCGS MS63 CAC

Recently found in Europe and graded by PCGS at their Paris facility. It is not often that I purchase this date due to the fact that it is so common by the standards of Carson City eagles. But this is such a choice, high end and fresh 1891-CC eagle that I felt I had to add it to my current inventory. It is from the same little group of CC eagles that featured the 1883-CC and 1893-CC listed above and below and it merits special consideration for its dazzling frosty luster, rich natural golden-orange color and overall eye appeal. This piece is as well made as any Philadelphia or San Francisco eagle of this era with all details up and bold. The surfaces show just a few light, well-dispersed ticks and were it not for a small cluster of abrasions in the left obverse, it would receive strong consideration at the 64 level. The 1891-CC eagle is common in MS60 to MS62 but it is scarce in MS63 and rare above this. Given the fact that it is a "generic" issue in the CC eagle series, most advanced collectors are happy to have an example in MS63 in their set, especially as properly graded MS64's seem expensive at $15,000+ for a properly graded example.

1845 25C PCGS MS63

There are few areas in the market that offer better value than No Motto Seated Quarters and I am especially fond of the Philadelphia quarters from the 1840's. This choice, fresh example shows light russet-gold centers that are framed by flashes of fiery apricot-gold at the borders. There are a few scattered marks in the obverse fields that limit the grade but this is among the few 1845 quarters that I have seen that weren't either bright white from a recent dipping or dark and full of friction. Only four PCGS MS63's have sold at auction since 2000 and the last coin to trade was Heritage 9/08: 1512 that brought $1,783. Exceptional value at under $2,000!

1871 $2.50 PCGS MS63

As with most of the Reconstruction Era quarter eagles, the 1871 is a forgotten rarity that is typically seen in circulated grades. Only 5,350 were produced of which a few hundred are known. I believe that around 15 or so are known in Uncirculated (maybe less) and most are in the MS60 to MS62 range. This choice example has a fresh, vibrant appearance with great rose and orange-gold color. There are a few light scuffs in the fields and a faint reverse grease stain above and behind the head of the eagle. In the February Heritage Long Beach sale a comparable example (graded MS63 by NGC) brought $4,830. Coins like this seem like great value to me.