1863-S $20.00 NGC AU55

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Medium S mintmark variety. This example seems to have original surfaces and its "Euro" style appearance makes me almost certain it is not from one of the shipwrecks that are the source of many higher grade 1863-S double eagles. The strike is well above average for the date with nearly full radial lines within the obverse stars and some definition on the hair strands. This date is actually fairly tough in this grade with original surfaces and I personally like the naked-eye appearance quite a bit.

There are two mintmark varieties for this date: the Small S and the Medium S. The latter appears to be more scarce.

1852-C $5.00 PCGS AU50 CAC

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A textbook example for the grade with good detail, outstanding peripheral orange-gold color and a decent amount of remaining luster. The 1852-C is among the more common Charlotte half eagles which make this a perfect date for type purposes. Some light marks in the left obverse field do not detract.

CAC has approved three in this grade with twelve finer.

1841 $5.00 NGC MS64*

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Early date Liberty Head half eagles just aren't supposed to look like this...but if you do want a No Motto example of this type with wonderful eye appeal, than the 1841 is a great choice. Not only is this date typically well made, there was a small hoard at one time (maybe eight to ten coins?) that grade MS64 to MS65 by today's standards and which are notable for their fantastic appearance(s). The present example is amazingly flashy with blazing frosty/semiprooflike hybrid luster and full cameo contrast on the obverse. There is a small cluster of marks behind the eagle's head that keeps this from grading MS65 but the eye appeal, as I mentioned above, is suggestive of a full 65. The first Gem that I can recall seeing of this date was the Milas: 439 coin (graded MS65 by NGC) that sold for $34,100 all the way back in 1995. Since then, other nice pieces have sold in the $20,000 range including two in the Bass sales (1999 and 2000) graded MS64 by PCGS. A stunning coin that would work well in nearly any type set of mid-19th century United States gold.

Note: The NGC and PCGS population figures for this date are well inflated due to resubmissions.

1876 $5.00 NGC AU55 CAC

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With a mintage of just 1,432 coins, the 1876 half eagle is a very scarce issue in all grades. What is interesting about this date is its grade distribution. When available, the 1876 either tends to come very worn and very ugly or very nice (MS62 to MS65). It is sometimes available in high grades due to a small group of five or six pieces that was found a few years ago and, in fact, a nice PCGS MS62+ from this source just sold at the Stack's Bowers 2012 ANA auction for $16,450. The present example has a look that is seldom found on circulated 1876 half eagles: one that is totally original with deep natural green-gold and rose hues on the obverse and the reverse. The surfaces are very clean with just a few tiny scattered marks; a tiny obverse rim bump at 11:00 is barely visible. After years of neglect, coins such as this are becoming appreciated for their rarity and the 1876 is among the rarer half eagles ever produced at the Philadelphia mint.

This is currently the only 1876 half eagle in any grade that has been approved by CAC.

1844 $5.00 NGC MS61 CAC

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This totally "new" example is very well struck with nice frosty luster and pleasing natural medium to deep greenish-gold color which is "right" for this date. A few ticks in the fields limit the grade but this piece is choice and fresh. The 1844 half eagle is very common in all circulated grades but it is relatively hard to locate in properly graded MS60 to MS61, scarce in MS62 and rare in full MS63 and better. I still believe that No Motto Philadelphia half eagles from the 1840's are a sort of Final Frontier of American gold coins and they offer the collector a tremendous amount of value.

CAC has approved just one example of this date in this grade with two finer.

1842-O $5.00 NGC AU55

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The true rarity of this date is not widely known but it is the second hardest New Orleans half eagle to locate both in terms of overall and high grade rarity. There are well under 100 known from the original mintage of 16,400 and unlike dates like the 1840-O, 1843-O Small and Large Letters and 1845-O, it is virtually non-existent in higher grades. There are exactly three known in Uncirculated (all placed in private collections) and probably another ten to twelve properly graded AU pieces. The present example is one of the few 1842-O half eagles that I have ever seen with fully original color and both sides show a handsome deep, rich green-gold hue. There are a few minor marks in the fields including a small cut between the final star and the back of the neck but this date is known for its rough surfaces and this piece is much more choice than usual in that regard. There has been exactly one auction record for an AU55 for this date in the last decade: the ANR 3/04: 1398 coin (graded by NGC) that brought $8,625 in a market that was far less appreciative of rare New Orleans gold coinage. This coin is a great combination of rarity and beauty and I think it is a great value at less than $10,000.

1835 $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

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The 1835 is many times scarcer than the 1834 Plain 4 although it sells for just a small premium. This very choice example is fully original with choice surfaces, a good strike and pleasing russet color that becomes iridescent as the surfaces are tilted towards a light source. I was able to acquire a few very nice CAC-approved Classic Head half eagles at the Philly ANA show and these are far, far nicer than usual for the grade.

CAC has approved fourteen in this grade with just four higher than this.