1850-D $5.00 PCGS EF40

The 1850-D is among the scarcer half eagles from this mint both in terms of overall and high grade rarity. It is one of the single hardest issues to find with good eye appeal due to poor quality of strike and most survivors having been cleaned. This example is fully original with deep orange-gold and green colors that change to purple as the coin is tilted towards the light. The mintmark is not as sharp as on other issues of this era but it is fully legible. A far above-average example of this challenging issue.

1876-CC $20.00 PCGS EF40

Old Green Holder. Graded many years but still an accurate EF40 in my opinion. Slightly Prooflike with some medium orange-gold color seen over typically abraded surfaces. An affordable CC double eagle.

1848-C $2.50 NGC EF40 CAC

Sharply struck for the date with none of the central weakness seen on many examples and nicely toned with rich reddish-gold and pale blue colors on the obverse and reverse. A visually pleasing coin and an affordable Charlotte quarter eagle that is perfect either for the new date collector or the type collector seeking a single affordable issue

1861-C $5.00 NGC EF40

For a number of reasons, the 1861-C is the most interesting half eagle struck at the Charlotte mint. It is the final issue from this facility with a small production of just 6,879 coins. But it is the fact that at least 887 were made after employees signed a Loyalty Oath to the Confederacy that makes it so intriguing. Unfortunately, there is an absolute way by which to determine which coins were made by the rebel minters. As a date, the 1861-C used to be held in nearly as high regard as the 1861-D half eagle but that issue now sells for a three to five time premium in EF and AU grades, I think the 1861-C is now hugely undervalued given its story and its scarcity. The example I am offering here is pleasing for the grade with natural russet shadings on the obverse and reverse. The surfaces are a bit "ticky" but these marks are common for the issue and are actually less detracting than is usual. I personally like this coin more than the NGC EF45 that Heritage just sold as Lot 5029 in their June auction for $7,188. It is interesting to note that only two EF40's have sold at auction since 1996 and the last, ANR 3/05: 704, brought $6,900.

1846-D/D $2.50 PCGS EF40 CAC

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.

1856-O $5.00 NGC EF40

The 1856-O half eagle is much scarcer than the 1856-C or 1856-D yet it remains a little less expensive; a strange quirk given that it is now more popular than the former and maybe as much so as the latter. This well detailed piece shows a bit of reddish color on the surfaces and no marks of note.

1861 $3.00 NGC EF40 CAC

I find it interesting that a scarce coin like this sells for a very small premium over a very common date (such as the 1874 or 1878) yet it is literally dozens of times more rare. This evenly worn, nicely toned example is notable for its pleasing flashes of orange-gold color and, surprisingly, there is still luster seen in the protected areas. Only 5,959 were made and this is a popular issue in any grade due to its Civil War assocation.

This is the only 1861 three dollar gold piece in this grade to be approved by CAC; fourteen have been approved in higher grades.

1803/2 $5.00 NGC EF40

BD-4, Rarity-4. At the recent CSNS show I made it a point to search high and low for nice quality early gold in EF and AU grades. I would have bought every single piece that was decent and priced at a sensible level. I bought exactly two early half eagles: this coin and an 1808 in AU53 which I sold within three minutes of placing it in my display case. This 1803/2 is a late die state with the cracks joing the base of the 803 very bold. It is deeply toned in purplish-gold hues on the obverse; the reverse is more of a green-gold at the center with rich reds and purples around the border. The detail on the obverse is a touch weak for the grade but this is mostly attributable to the state of the dies; the reverse is well detailed and choice.

1869-S $5.00 PCGS EF40 CAC

Despite a comparably high original mintage of 31,000, the 1869-S is a scarce issue in all grades. It fits squarely in the category of "formerly-unpopular-but-suddenly in-favor" as with many P+S issues from the 1850's, 1860's and 1870's. This example is attractive and solid for the grade with nice orange-gold color atop reasonably clean and choice surfaces; the reverse is a full 45 on its own. The last PCGS EF40 example of this issue to sell at auction was Heritage 4/06: 2774 which sold for $2,070. This is pone of just two examples of this date with CAC approval in this grade with just one finer.

From the RYK "Dirty Gold" collection