1876 $1.00 NGC MS64+ CAC

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This popular Centennial year issue has an original mintage of only 3,200 business strikes. It is a scarce coin in this grade yet it remains affordable. This particular example has the look of a Gem but there are a few very light scuffs on the obverse that are hard to see without magnification.

As of June 2012, this is the only MS64+ example of this date graded by NGC.

1803/2 $5.00 PCGS MS63+ CAC

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BD-4, Rarity-4. I am not always a fan of the plus grade system that both PCGS and NGC employ but in this case I feel that this coin totally deserves some sort of special recognition as it is clearly better than the average MS63 example. The obverse and reverse show a deep, unmolested yellow-gold hue with rich frosty luster and great eye appeal. The strike is sharp and the surfaces are free of all but the smallest ticks in the obverse fields. There are a few adjustment marks on the reverse but this is the sort of early gold coin that is almost never seen any more and it seems as original an example of this type as one could hope for. The last PCGS MS64 1803/2 half eagle to sell at auction was Heritage 1/12: 4850 and this coin, which was also approved by CAC, brought a hefty $57,500. I honestly don't think you could see $25,000 worth of difference between that coin and the one offered here and, to my eyes, the current piece has as much overall eye appeal. A wonderful Bust Right half eagle for the advanced early gold collector and one of the freshest, most attractive example of this specific date that I can recall having seen.

As of June 2012, this is the only MS63+ example of this date graded by PCGS.

1847-C $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

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This is a simply stunning Charlotte half eagle with deep, even green-gold color on the obverse and reverse offering strong proof that this piece is totally original. As is typical for the issue, this piece is well struck with great detail and this makes the 1847-C half eagle a great date to select as a type coin for this denomination and mint. The surfaces are nearly free of marks and there is a considerable amount of luster visible below the deep coloration. As a date, the 1847-C is one of the more common Charlotte half eagles but it is very scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and very rare in full Uncirculated. This is the nicest AU58 example of this date that I have handled in a number of years. This is the sort of Charlotte gold coin that is almost never offered for sale in this age of bright, scrubbed branch mint gold and it will be appreciated by the sophisticated specialist.

1847-O $5.00 PCGS VF35

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The 1847-O is the single rarest New Orleans half eagle and it is an issue that compares favorably to such Southern rarities as the 1842-C Small Date and 1842-D Large Date half eagles. There are probably no more than four to five dozen known in all grades with most in the VF-EF range. There have been just three VF35 examples sold at auction since 1999 with the range of prices widely going from $3,738 to $5,520. The last APR for a VF35 was Heritage 12/11: 4547 (an NGC coin) that sold for $4,025. This Choice VF example has an obverse that is essentially a full Extremely Fine in terms of its appearance while the reverse shows a bit more wear. The eye appeal is quite pleasing for the date and grade and I have seen inferior examples of this issue in EF40 holders. After many years of neglect, the true rarity of the 1847-O half eagle has become widely known but this issue remains a good value in all grades.

1846-D/D $2.50 PCGS EF40 CAC

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Winter 7-K. Early die state with the remnants of the first mintmark punch, far to the left, clearly visible over the top of the 1 in the numerator. This variety has proven to be quite scarce as evidenced by the fact that only eight have sold at auction since 2004; an average of around one per year. The last EF40 example was Heritage 1/05: 8545, that sold for $2,560 in a market that was less attuned to the desirability of this issue. Nicely toned with greenish-gold and orange hues covering surfaces that are lightly marked and which still show a touch of luster. Certainly among the most affordable examples of this popular variety.

CAC has approved just this one coin in EF40 with two better for a total of three in all grades.

The DWN Favorites List

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As I update my website the morning of Long Beach set-up, it got me to to thinking what are some of my numismatic favorites: shows, series, books, sales, etc.? Indulge me as I attempt to entertain you... Favorite City for a Coin Show: New York, by a significant factor. Yes, rooms are expensive and, yes, space is at a premium at any exhibit hall where a show is held. But the last two ANA shows held in New York were by far the two best coin shows I ever had. Not only is New York the financial capital of the world (for now...), it is the epicenter of American coin collecting with thousands of serious, deep-pocketed buyers within a few hundred miles. If it were up to me, I'd have a major coin show in Manhattan at least once year.

Favorite Coin Series: My favorite series seems to change on an annual basis. Obviously, I'm a dealer who favors gold and, equally as obvious, I tend to favor early gold and Liberty Head issues. Right now, I find myself especially intrigued by No Motto half eagles. But I am also very intrigued by Type One double eagles, early quarter eagles, New Orleans eagles and so much more. That's what makes my job fun.

Favorite Coin Book: I would vote for S.S. Crosby's Early Coins of America as the best book on coins ever written and the Garrett/Guth 100 Greatest U.S. Coins as the book that has had the biggest influence on the market in the last decade. But for me, the single best coin book has always been the Redbook. It has everything I need in one neat, simple package and it is the book I refer to more than any other; even my own.

Favorite Coin Website: Based on the amount of time I spend online, I'd have to vote for the PCGS and Heritage sites; the former for its auction prices realized and the latter for its elegant design and unrivaled technology.

Favorite Coin Show: For me, this is a pretty easy one: the FUN show in Orlando, held every year in January. From an economic standpoint, I think the tables are a good value. From a symbolic standpoint, I like the fact that it represents the beginning of the year and seems to offer a Karmic Cleansing (or something like that...). The show is well-run, it's nice to go to Florida in the middle of winter, it's well-attended, and it's a show that has to be considered one of the very best of the year for retail sales. I find the atmosphere more laid-back than the Summer ANA (which is my runner-up for best show) and its a show that, after all these years, I still look forward to attending.

Favorite Coin Auction: That would still have to be the Bass II sale, conducted by Bowers and Merena in October 1999. There were thousands of lots with nearly every single one containing a coin (or coins) that I wanted to bid on. And the coins were fresh, fresh, fresh with an incredible array of depth and quality. What's really remarkable about this sale is that although it was conducted just 13 years ago, in some ways it seems like a hundred; what with no internet, sparse attendance and prices that now seem cheap, cheap, cheap. It is scary to think what this sale would bring in 2012.

Favorite Auction Firm: Given the fact that the coin auction business is essentially a duopoly at this point, it's a lot easier to point to a favorite firm today. Due to their transparency and great customer service, the clear favorite for me is Heritage. I love how Heritage provides me with all the information I need to help me bid and I love how, despite their size, Heritage is willing to go the extra mile when it comes to things like having someone stay late after a long day at a coin show to let me view lots.

Asterisk: Had ANR been able to survive the contraction of the auction business, this firm would probably have been my favorite. They had great people working for them, got nice consignments, produced exceptional catalogs, and were building a first-class website. Their demise was sad for the numismatic auction business.

Favorite Regular Issue Coin Design: This would be a toss-up between the so-ugly-its-charming Capped Head half eagle design of William Kneass (especially the Reduced Diameter issues of 1829-1834) and the cool, elegant Indian Head eagle design produced by Augustus St. Gaudens.

Favorite Pattern Issue Coin Design: Judd-1776. If you don't know what this design looks like, Google it.

Favorite Coins I've Handled In 2012: While not yet half over, this has proven to be a watershed year for DWN in terms of cool individual coins. A few stand-out so far: the finest known MS63 1855-D quarter eagle I bought in the Goldberg's February sale, the NGC MS60 1863 half eagle I recently sold to an eastern specialist, the PCGS F12 1854-S quarter eagle I bought at the "secret" auction in San Francisco, and the group of three Gem Charlotte gold coins I just finished selling over the weekend. I can only hope the second half of 2012 turns out to be as full of great coins as the first half was!

What are some of your numismatic favorites? Let me know by contacting me via email at dwn@ont.com.