SUPERB PCGS/CAC MS61 1803 EAGLE

BD-3, R-4. Small Stars reverse; designated by PCGS.

Capped Bust Right/Heraldic Eagle ten dollar gold pieces were made from 1797 through 1804. Some of the dates in this run aren't rare from an overall standpoint but this series is perhaps the most frequently abused early gold and only a small percentage of the survivors are accurately graded, let alone choice and original.

This is the first Uncirculated early date eagle that I have stocked in some time and it is not for lack of trying to buy them. I get offered these coins regularly but I HATE most of the pieces I see and feel they are both processed and vastly overgraded.

This is a really special coin. It is totally original with rich green-gold color which changes to a warm russet in the obverse fields. There is no wear whatsoever and abundant underlying luster can be seen on both sides. Many 1803 eagles show weakness of strike but this piece is remarkably bold with the exception of the truncation which is weak.

Only one PCGS MS61 1803 Small Stars eagle has sold at auction since 1998 (!) and it brought $41,000 back in May 2008.

To give you a better idea of the appearance rarity of this date, the combined PCGS/NGC population for MS61's is 30 but only three have been deemed worthy of approval by CAC.

You can cut corners and buy a washed-out MS61 example of this type for $30k+ or you can buy one that looks like this and get a coin to be proud of. Its your choice...

CAC has approved 3 in this grade with 9 finer.