1853-D $2.50 NGC AU58

One of just 3,178 examples struck and one of the scarcer issues in the Dahlonega quarter eagle series with fewer than 100 known to exist in all grades. This coin shows a good deal of "body" with unusual semi-prooflike fields on the obverse and, to a lesser extent, on the reverse. There is minimal wear seen below splashes of reddish-gold color and not much actual wear can be detected on the high spots. The only mark worthy of mention is a small obverse dig before the eighth star; the reverse is clean and choice. Weakness of strike at the lower portion of the devices on the reverse is commonly seen on this issue. This date is very rare in Uncirculated and with MS60 Trends at $17,000, the value of this nice slider example seems obvious to me.

1843 $2.50 NGC AU58

Despite the high original mintage figure of this date, it is scarce in higher grades. This lustrous, lightly worn example has rich yellow-gold color and is removed from consideration at a higher grade by the presence of a small obverse line at the right obverse.

1845-D $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

A very attractive slider example with pleasing even medium reddish-gold colors on the obverse and the reverse. This tends to be a well-made issue and this coin is no exception with a very strong strike at the centers and borders. The surfaces are clean with just a few marks in back of the neck visible to the naked eye and the amount of actual wear is minimal. The 1845-D is one of the more available Dahlonega half eagles but choice, original AU58 pieces such as the present example are very scarce and I think they are good value when compared to the common dates from the 1852-1854 era. In Uncirculated, this date sells for $10,000 and up which makes a nice AU58 a very good value, in my opinion. This is a great type coin for the collector who would like to own a single choice Dahlonega half eagle.

1861-S $2.50 PCGS AU58 CAC

Unlike its quarter eagle counterpart from Philadelphia, this Civil War issue has a low original mintage and a small survival rate. Only 24,000 were struck and most of the remaining pieces show considerable wear from heavy use in local commerce. This date is quite rare in properly graded AU58 and it is extremely rare in Mint State with no more than three or four known. This is a pleasing "slider" with nearly full luster seen below rich rose and orange hues which are deeper on the reverse than on the obverse. The strike is sharp with nearly full leg feathers on the eagle and only a few small ticks in the fields can be seen with the naked eye. The last PCGS AU58 1861-S quarter eagle to sell at auction was Heritage 11/03: 7235 that sold for $4,830 nearly a decade ago. Since 1999, there have been only seven APR's for AU58's of this date. After years of neglect, coins such as this are finally getting the acclaim they deserve but I feel they are still undervalued.

This is currently the only 1861-S quarter eagle in any grade to have been approved by CAC.

1857-O $2.50 PCGS AU58 CAC

This numismatically significant date (it is the final quarter eagle made at the New Orleans mint) is more available now than a few decades ago due to some small hoards. However, really nice AU58 and better examples are still scarce and this gem slider is among the finest AU58 1857-O quarter eagles that I've seen with lovely lemon-gold color, choice surfaces and a razor-sharp strike. If you saw this coin out of its PCGS holder, you'd have no trouble grading it MS61and I have seen many examples of this date in 61 holders that couldn't hold a candle to this wonderful piece. And at half the price of a mediocre MS61...well, it's a great value as well.

CAC has approved six in this grade with four finer. A total of seventeen 1857-O quarter eagles have been approved by CAC.

1858-S $20.00 NGC AU58

This straight-from-Europe 1858-S is one of the nicer examples of this date that I have handled and I have owned some gorgeous 1858-S double eagles in the last few years. This is a "gem slider" with great surfaces and very attractive deep color but without the extensive marks typical to the issue. There is some dirt in the protected areas and a small obverse grease stain (as made) can be seen on Liberty's jawline. This is a very scarce date in properly graded AU58 and MS60 Trends jumps to $10,500. If you can find an MS61, you will pay at least $12,000-14,000 and, in all likelihood, it won't be as attractive as this coin. I love the value that choice AU58 Type One double eagles present and coins like this seem like a really good deal to me.

1851-O $20.00 NGC AU58

Only two New Orleans double eagles, the 1851-O and the 1852-O, are seen with any regularity in the higher AU grades but both are very scarce in properly graded AU58 with original color and surfaces. This lovely example, with a semi-prooflike texture noted below glowing yellow-gold color, is an interesting late die state that shows strong evidence of die lapping on the obverse stars (especially four through nine) that is the result of overzealous polishing of the dies in an attempt to eradicate die rust. Only a touch of light rub can be seen on the cheek of Liberty and in the fields but my guess is that this was the result of friction from a coin cabinet as opposed to time spent in circulation as there are only a few small ticks in the fields as opposed to the usual dense abrasions. As you might expect, this date takes an enormous price jump in the next grade(s) up. If you can find an MS61 (and I doubt it will be a whole lot nicer than this "slider") you are probably looking at $35,000-40,000.

1847-C $5.00 PCGS EF40

This coin is so crusty that if it were raw, I would handle it only with rubber gloves...it's that dirty! There is dirt, in fact, all over the obverse and reverse recesses and this nicely contrasts with the deep, natural green-gold color. You can spend around two thousand dollars on a processed EF40 with no character or you can pay a few hundred dollars more and own a piece that is unmolested and as nasty as all get out...your choice.

1841-D $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

Small D mintmark variety. This coin shows excellent detail and has virtually no real wear but there is just a touch too much friction seen on the obverse and reverse to grade it Uncirculated. Nonetheless, it has eye appeal that is superior to examples that I have seen in MS61 holders. The obverse is very choice with considerable amounts of frosty luster and nice light golden-orange color; the reverse is a bit less lustrous and its color shades a bit more towards rose hues. As a date, the 1841-D is a curious issue as it is a bit more available in Uncirculated than dates such as the 1840-D and 1842-D Small Date but it is rarer from an overall perspective. In the higher AU grades, the 1841-D is seldom offered for sale and very few auction appearances have been recorded in the past decade for coins grading AU55 and AU58. With a nice Uncirculated 1841-D now costing in the $15,000+ range, this choice "slider" should appeal to many collectors.

This is the only 1841-D half eagle in AU58 to have been approved by CAC. Only one finer has been approved.