1854-D Large D $5.00 PCGS AU53 CAC

Large Mintmark variety. Many examples of this date are softly struck but this piece is a nice exception to that rule with good central detail and more sharpness than usual at the edges. The surfaces are clean and satiny with natural light to medium green-gold color. As this is the most common half eagle from this mint, it would make a great type example for the collector seeking a single affordable but reasonably high grade piece from this mint. CAC has grade approved just two in this grade with three finer.

1801 $10.00 PCGS AU55 CAC

BD-2, Rarity-2. I recently sold an NGC AU58/CAC example of this date and I like the present example more because it is so totally original. The surfaces have a lovely deep and vivid russet-gold color with subtle reddish undertones that add great appeal. The strike is sharp for the issue with full details at the borders and centers and there are no adjustment marks or other mint-made planchet issues. While actually fairly common in AU, most AU55 and AU58 1801 eagles have been harshly cleaned or processed at one time and have mediocre eye appeal as a result. This piece, in spite of a few old hairlines on the surfaces, is as choice as any AU example of this type that you are likely to find. For a number of years of years, I stopped buying Heraldic Eagle tens as I thought they were overvalued relative to the rarity. But I am now buying these coins again as I find them easy to sell due to their popularity. Let's face it: it is hard not to be pretty mesmerized by a 200+ year old coin of this size and beauty, not to mention one with as much historic significance. A fantastic addition to an early gold set.

1854-O Large Date $10.00 NGC MS63

Large Date Variety. As most collectors know, any No Motto eagle in MS63 or higher is rare. New Orleans eagles in this grade range are all but unheard of. Only two dates are sometimes seen in this grade, the 1847-O and 1851-O and even those are very rare. But to find an 1854-O Large Date in MS63 is almost unheard of. There are approximately seven to nine known in Uncirculated but this includes some pieces from the S.S. Republic and at least a few in MS60 to MS61 that I think are marginally "new." There are exactly two known in MS63 and none finer. PCGS has graded a single example which I sold to a California collector in 2005; it is originally ex Heritage 1/99: 8181 and it sold for $31,050 back then. This second example is also a coin that I handled before and it is listed as coin #2 in the Condition Census in my 2006 book "Gold Coins of the New Orleans Mint, 1838-1906." It has been off the market for at least a decade and I was able to reacquire it at the recent Long Beach show. It has an amazing naked-eye "look" with glittering semi-prooflike surfaces that are free of chatter or friction and which show rich yellow-gold color. There are a few light lines on the surfaces and a touch of mint-made planchet roughness on the reverse but this piece has an amazing appearance that is unlike nearly any other example of this variety that I can recall seeing. Usually, the texture of this date is frosty and it has a sunken, slightly concave appearance. This piece has a great strike and its "look" suggests that it is one of the very first struck of this variety. Coins of this quality and rarity are seldom available these days and when they are they typically appear at auction where they tend to bring crazy prices. If you are a serious collector of New Orleans gold, Liberty Head eagles or you just want something special to put away, give this coin some serious consideration.

1850-D $2.50 PCGS EF45 CAC

From the standpoint of remaining luster and skin, this piece grades at least a full AU50 but PCGS has been conservative on account of some weakness of strike on the reverse which is fairly common for this date. There is some very nice color visible on both the obverse and reverse with more of this honey-gold and russet hue seen on the obverse. Really a nice example for the date and grade and a good coin for the date collector who favors choice, original Dahlonega quarter eagles. CAC has approved just two in this grade with seven finer.

1875-CC $20.00 NGC AU55

It is likely that this piece was sourced from Europe as it has the crusty "Euro" type of look that is seen on coins that have been stored overseas. The surfaces are lustrous and toned to a mellow orange-gold with some rose hues outlining the devices. There are no serious marks and this coin, which shows only the slightest wear, is choice and appealing. This would be a perfect Type Two Carson City double eagle for the collector seeking a single attractive example from this mint.

1875-CC $20.00 PCGS EF45

I can remember a few years ago running a promotion on Extremely Fine CC double eagles and selling nice coins for around $1,750. Today, I have to pay around $2,500 (or more) for the same coins and they are no longer available in any sort of quantity. This lustrous example looks more like an AU50 to AU53 than an EF45 and it represents just about the nicest available quality for less than $3,000.

1850-D $2.50 NGC AU53 CAC

Beginning with this issue, the quarter eagles from the Dahlonega mint become rarer than the previous five years and much less well made. This original example has nice green-gold color with plenty of dirt in the recessed areas of the obverse and reverse. In higher grades, the 1850-D is almost never available and this pleasing piece is just about the best quality available to collectors.

1847 $2.50 NGC MS63 CAC

One of the things that I like about Philadelphia quarter eagles is that you can still buy important Condition Census coins for less than $10,000. Take this 1847 for example. As a date, the 1847 is quite undervalued and it is actually scarcer in terms of overall rarity and high grade rarity than its heralded branch mint counterparts. There are likely no more than ten Uncirculated 1847 quarter eagles known of which only one, a PCGS MS64 that I sold to the owner of the greatest collection of Liberty quarter eagles ever formed, a few years ago. This particular example is bright and very lustrous with a vibrancy that is not often seen on quarter eagles of this era. The surfaces show some scattered abrasions from handling with none of these worthy of specific mention. Some 1847 quarter eagles are weakly struck on the eagle's legs but this one has full feathers. No MS63 examples of this date have ever been sold at auction. A coin with great upside potential.

1872-S $2.50 NGC AU55 CAC

Unlike the half eagle and eagle of this year, the 1872-S is not an impossible issue to locate in Uncirculated. That said, it is not common and nice AU's are undervalued, in my opinion. This piece is choice and original with a good deal of luster visible below rich natural orange-gold and reddish hues on the obverse and reverse.