1848-C $5.00 NGC AU50

The 1848-C half eagle is reasonably available in lower grades but it becomes scarce in properly graded AU and it is very rare in Uncirculated. This is a date that is not often seen with original color and surfaces. This particular example has attractive deep green-gold hues with some reddish overtones noted on the obverse. The strike is better than average for the issue while the surfaces are clean but for two small digs near stars eleven and twelve. With really low quality EF examples of Charlotte half eagles selling for $2,000-2,250 this nice AU50 seems like a great value at less than $3,000.

1872-CC $20.00 PCGS AU55

The 1872-CC, like the 1871-CC, is an issue that was used in commerce and, as a result, it is not often seen today in grades above EF45 to AU50. It is extremely rare in Uncirculated and lustrous, properly graded AU55 to AU58 coins are rare and in great demand. This piece is outstanding for the date and grade with bright, lustrous surfaces that have a nice rich yellow-gold hue. There is more than enough luster present to strongly suggest that this coin could grade AU58 but I think there are just a few too many tiny nicks on the obverse for it to do so at PCGS. The eye appeal of this coin is far better than average and unless you have ample patience and a big budget to buy an Uncirculated example, this 1872-CC is really about as nice as the date comes. Of the twenty-two finer that PCGS has graded, only two (an MS60 and an MS62) are in Uncirculated holders. A rare and important early date Carson City double eagle.

1855-D $2.50 NGC AU53

Only 1,123 examples were struck and the 1855-D is the second rarest Dahlonega quarter eagle, trailing only the 1856-D. This date is of the highest rarity in Uncirculated (I just bought the finest known, a PCGS MS63, for $86,250) and there are probably not more than a dozen or so known in properly graded About Uncirculated. When available--which is not often--the typical 1855-D grades EF or so and is characterized by faulty planchets and bright, problem-ridden surfaces. This piece was struck on a decent planchet and it has natural russet color on the upper obverse and the right reverse. The strike is irregular as usual with some weakness at the borders but the stars are full and have complete radial lines. There is a mint-made reverse defect on the reverse rim at 3:00 which I think actually adds a bit of character to the overall look and is not a negative given its position on the reverse. I can probably count on one hand the number of 1855-D quarter eagles that I have seen with color that was as appealing as this coin's and this example would fit comfortably into even the finest set of Dahlonega quarter eagles. Ex Heritage 4/11: 5332, where it sold for $14,950

1806 Knobbed 6 $5.00 NGC EF45

BD-6. Rarity-2. It is actually harder to find early gold in lower "collector grades" (i.e, VF and EF) than it is in the higher "investor grades" and this is due to the fact that these issues tended not to circulate heavily. Nice EF Bust Right half eagles are always popular and this EF45 should generate a good degree of interest, especially because there is no date premium for this issue. The surfaces show even natural deep green-gold color with some dirt in the protected areas and there are no major disturbances other than an old scrape in the right obverse field. The 1806 Knobbed 6 is perhaps the most available Bust Right half eagle in all grades and it is a perfect choice for a type collector or for a collector with good taste but a limited budget.

1839/8 $2.50 NGC MS60

The 1839 quarter eagle is a rarer coin in Uncirculated than the better-known Charlotte and Dahlonega issues of this year yet it is priced at about half as much. It is not only the most undervalued Classic Head quarter eagle by a long shot, it is a coin whose virtues I have long extolled as among the best values in all of the rare date gold market. In Uncirculated there are probably fewer than ten known and the best I have personally seen is a PCGS MS62 that Heritage sold as Lot 6189 back in their June 2004 auction. At the recent Long Beach sale there was a small hoard of 1839 quarter eagles that was made available to me. Most of the coins were circulated but there was an NGC MS60 and a PCGS MS61 CAC that were priced at $9,500 and $13,750 respectively. I feel that the MS60 I am offering here is a nicer coin than its MS60 counterpart as this one has much of its original skin and pleasing butter-yellow color. There is a bit of chatter on the portrait and a thin, old scratch from star three to the mouth of Liberty that limits the grade. A great buy for the savvy quarter eagle specialist.

1852-C $5.00 NGC AU55

The pricing on this date has become very compacted as an AU55 coin is now worth just a 25-35% premium over a decent quality Extremely Fine. This, in my opinion, makes a nice AU55 like this a good value at current levels. This piece shows strong overall detail and nice natural reddish-gold and green colors. There are some scattered marks visible including a few in the left obverse field and a bar-like depression (mint made?) on the left side of the truncation. The 1852-C is one of the most common half eagles from this mint, making it an affordable choice for a type set.

1847-D $2.50 PCGS AU58 CAC

If I were going to choose a date to employ as a Dahlonega quarter eagle type coin for a set it might well be the 1847-D. This date is among the very best made quarter eagles from this mint and it is a date that can be found with good color as well. The present example has a remarkable "hammered" strike with as much detail as you'd expect to see on a Philadelphia quarter eagle of this era. It shows medium even green-gold color with slight contrast on the relief details. There is no real wear noted, just a bit of friction. I just sold an NGC AU58+ example of this date for $5,000 and the only difference between that example and this is that the NGC coin had more intense color. CAC has approved nine 1847-D quarter eagles in this grade with none finer. The PCGS and NGC population figures for this date are both way inflated in AU58 and higher grades by resubmissions.

1884-CC $20.00 NGC AU55

This is among the more available dates from this mint but it is hard to locate clean, original pieces with nice surfaces and good eye appeal. This example has never been dipped or processed and it shows attractive rich green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. A small mark on the bridge of the nose is probably all that keeps this coin from grading AU58. Very pleasing and a great introductory CC double eagle for the new collector.

1893-O $10.00 PCGS MS63

I have never seen a better example of this date than this coin and it is closer to grading MS64 than any 1893-O eagle I know of. Every MS63 1893-O eagle that I am aware of has tons of abrasions in the fields; to the point that the luster can be impaired. This piece looks more like a 1903-O than an 1893-O with relatively few marks of note, rich, frosty luster and lovely light rose, green and orange-gold color. If this coin had graded MS64, it would have been a "pop 1" example with a potential value of well into five figures. I don't often get excited about Condition Rarities but this is a great coin that deserves to be in the finest collection of New Orleans eagles.