1875 $20.00 NGC MS62+ CAC

If you collect U.S. gold coins by type, you probably are aware that the Type Two double eagle is an issue that gets noticeably rarer (and more expensive) as you go up the grading scale. An MS63 will cost you $8,000 or so and I just saw a nice PCGS MS64 trade between dealers at the Denver ANA show in the mid-$30's. This makes a nice MS62+ a great value and the perfect Type Two type coin for the collector on a budget. This piece has superb deep rich orange-gold color and there are just a few too many tiny scuffs in the left obverse to call it a full MS63 (but, boy, is it close...). NGC has graded just eleven 1875 double eagles in MS62+ with no plus grades higher. Coins like this make a lot of sense to me and I doubt if all but a handful of ultra-savvy collectors could tell the difference between this MS62+ and and MS63 if the labels in the slab were covered.

Only one 1875 double eagle has been approved by CAC that grades higher than MS62+.

1881-CC $10.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

If you collect high grade, Condition Census quality Carson City eagles, you know that the 1881-CC is essentially unavailable above MS62. I know of at least six different PCGS MS62's (and have handled four of these) of which all are placed in tightly-held collections. This example, which comes from the exact same source as a very similar quality PCGS MS62 I sold at the FUN show to a CC specialist, is bright and very lustrous with nice medium rose shadings over light golden surfaces. The strike is very sharp and there are just a few minor scuffs seen here and there in the obverse fields; the reverse grades MS63 on its own. The last PCGS MS62 with a CAC sticker to sell at auction was Heritage 6/11: 5208 which brought $13,800. Back in June 2004, a PCGS MS62 sold for $16,100 in the Goldberg auction. With the CC gold market poised to be reignited by the upcoming sale of the Battle Born collection, I would suggest that serious collectors take advantage of opportunities such as this 1881-CC eagle while they are still available.

1844-D $2.50 PCGS MS62 CAC

Most of the 1844-D quarter eagles that exist in higher grade are not well struck and the present example, despite being produced from clashed and slightly rusted dies, is very sharply impressed with nearly full centers. The color on this piece is excellent with rich yellow gold color in a concentric ring around lighter centers. A small reeding mark on Liberty's chin, from contact with another coin, is all that keeps this piece from a higher grade. There are an estimated dozen or so 1844-D quarter eagles in Uncirculated and I have never seen one better than MS63. Since 1999, five auction appearances for PCGS MS62 examples of this issue have occured and the prices realized have ranged from a low of $10,350 to a high of $17,250. The coin offered here, which is housed in an older pre-barcode holder, is the only 1844-D quarter eagle in MS62 that has been approved by CAC and none finer have received this coveted seal of approval. An important coin for the advanced Dahlonega specialist.

1879-CC $5.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

Tied for Finest Known. This fresh-to-the-market example is not only tied for the finest known 1879-CC half eagle (more on this below), it has a great backstory as well. Around six months ago, it walked into a coin store in Nevada raw, along with a group of otherwise unspectacular bullion-related gold. It was then sent to PCGS where it graded MS62 and was just sold to me. It is stone cold original with superb deep natural green-gold and orange-gold hues seen on the obverse and reverse. There are a few light ticks in the fields but the appearance of this piece is exceptional and this is one of the best CC gold coins from the 1870's of any denomiantion that I have seen. The previous finest known 1879-CC half eagle is a PCGS MS62 in the Battle Born collection that brought a staggering $69,000 when it was sold as Heritage 2/11: 4474. That coin, like this, was totally fresh and had been found in a group of common date gold coins in Europe. It is remarkable that the two finest known 1879-CC half eagles have been introduced to the numismatic community.

1893-O $5.00 NGC MS62

The 1893-O is the most available With Motto half eagle from New Orleans but it is not plentiful in properly graded MS62 and it is very scarce in MS63 or above. This frosty piece has cleaner surfaces than usual for the date and grade.

1874 $10.00 PCGS MS62

The 1874 is basically the only Philadelphia eagle struck between this year and going back to the early 1860's that can be found from time to time in Uncirculated grades. When available, most are seen in the MS60 to MS61 range and properly graded MS62's are scarce. This piece has a very fresh appearance with nice luster and pleasing green-gold fields that are contrasted by orange-gold borders. There are a few scattered abrasions on the obverse that limit the grade but the originality of this piece makes it very appealing. The last APR for a PCGS MS62 is Heritage 4/11: 6649 which brought $4,025 and which was, in my opinion, not quite as nice as this example in spite of being approved by CAC. With this series becoming more and more popular, good values such as this are becoming more and more limited.

1882-S $20.00 PCGS MS62 CAC

Along with the 1879-S, 1880-S and 1881-S, the 1882-S double eagle is one of the true condition rarities in the Type Three series. In MS63, this coin sells for $15,000-16,000 (if you can find one) which makes a high end MS62 like this at around a quarter of the price a seemingly superb value. This coin is very fresh with lovely rose and light green-gold color atop very frosty, undipped surfaces. There are just a few too many marks on the obverse to grade this a point higher but it is close in quality to the few MS63 coins that have been offered at auction in the last few years. If you are a collector of Type Threes, why not save your money for the really rare coins and stick with a choice MS62 to fill your 1882-S hole?

1849-O $1.00 PCGS MS62

This is not only a numismatically significant issue as it is the first New Orleans gold dollar, it is also scarce in MS62 and above. It is certainly more available in MS62 than its counterparts from Charlotte and Dahlonega but it is much more affordable and it tends to be better made as well. This frosty green-gold example is well detailed with just a few light marks in the fields. A good type coin for the New Orleans collector.

1840 Narrow Mill $5.00 PCGS MS62+ CAC

This numismatically significant issue is the first Liberty Head half eagle to feature the second use of the Liberty Head design. While very common in lower grades, the 1840 (which is found with a Narrow Mill and Broad Mill variety) is scarce in Uncirculated and it becomes genuinely rare in properly graded MS62 and above. This fresh-to-the-market example is amongst the best 1840 half eagles that I have seen in years with exquisite green-gold and orange color atop very choice frosty surfaces which clearly have never been cleaned or brightened. The reverse shows a bold, bisecting crack that begins at the right side of the A in STATES, goes through the eagle and ends at the right side of the V in FIVE. A few wispy lines in the obverse fields narrowly keep this coin from a higher grade but its level of eye appeal is really off the charts and it would make a fantastic No Motto type coin for someone who wants a piece that is truly "special." This is the only 1840 half eagle in MS62 to have been given a "plus" designation by PCGS and it is the nicest example of this date that I have personally seen since the Heritage 3/06: 1853 coin (ex Pittman/Farouk/Green) that sold for $43,125 in an NGC MS65 holder.