1863 $5.00 NGC MS60 CAC

This is among the most exciting coins that I have offered this year, both for the Liberty Head half eagle specialist and for the collector who is focused on highly important rarities. Only 2,442 1863 half eagles were struck and this is, in my opinion, the second rarest half eagle from this mint after the 1875. There are fewer than three dozen known in all grades and the few that exist tend to be in the EF40 to AU50 range and are characterized by very poor eye appeal. This fresh example has fully original sunset-gold colors on the obverse and reverse and full satiny luster. The surfaces are remarkably choice with just a few small scuffs visible to the naked eye and there is a complete absence of rub or wear on the high spots. I feel that NGC was conservative when they graded this coin as it has the visual appeal of a coin that grades at least a point or two higher. NGC has recorded two examples of this date in Uncirculated: this piece in MS60 and an MS61. I have never seen the MS61 but I'm told, from reliable sources, that it is nowhere near as nice as the present example. I believe that this coin is the single finest known business strike 1863 half eagle; a rather remarkable feat considering the rarity of this issue and its high collector appeal due to its Civil War date of issue. I don't have to stress the importance of this offering and it is certain to become a centerpiece in its new collection.

1863 $20.00 NGC AU55 CAC

The 1863 is the second rarest Type One double eagle from Philadelphia (and, no, I'm not counting the 1849 or the 1861 Paquet reverse...) trailing only the 1862. It is not often seen in any grade and when it is available it tends to come with heavy wear, heavy abrasions and poor eye appeal. This example is among the best 1863 double eagles that I have handled in the last few years. It is very lustrous and it shows light wear that is limited to the high spots. There is some natural coppery-red toning below even green-gold and pale orange highlights and the surfaces are free of the deep, detracting abrasions that characterize this issue. I purchased this coin from an "upgrader" who thought it would wind-up in an AU58 holder and, honestly, I think he's being overly optimistic. If you collect Type One double eagles or specialize in Civil war gold, you know how hard it is to find nice, lightly circulated examples of this date.

1863 $1.00 NGC MS62

After the low mintage 1875, the 1863 is the rarest gold dollar from the Philadelphia mint. While the original mintage figure is a not-especially eye-catching 6,200 business strikes, this date was not saved and the total number known is probably less than 100 in all grades. There are a few Gems known but lower grade Mint State pieces are almost never offered for sale, as evidenced by the fact that there are just three examples in this grade that have appeared at auction since 1999. The last MS62 to sell was Stacks Bowers 11/11: 9165 (encapsulated by PCGS) that brought $7,331. The present example is pleasing with light yellow-gold color that deepens a bit towards the border. There are a few scuffs in the fields that are consistent with the grade. Civil War gold is currently very popular with collectors and as more people begin to collect these issues, they learn that many are really rare in higher grades. An important opportunity for a variety of potential buyers.

1863 $3.00 NGC MS64 CAC

Only 5,000 business strike 1863 three dollar gold pieces were made and due to the economic turbulence of the Civil War, not many were saved. As a result, the 1863 is a scarce coin in higher grades and an issue that is very rare in the MS64 to MS65 range. This piece is very unusual for the issue as it lacks the prominent clashmarks seen on most 1863 Threes. It is semi-prooflike; another unusual situation for an issue that is typically seen with lustrous, slight grainy surfaces. This piece has the appearance of a Gem and I purchased it from one of the sharpest "breakout" wholesalers I know who told me that he graded it a full MS65. While I often disagree with him, I think he was pretty accurate on this and I can't figure out exactly what is keeping it from the 65 level. Since 2005, only three MS64's have sold at auction. The last record is Heritage 1/10: 2125, a PCGS piece, which brought $14,950. That coin had funky color and, in my opinion, it was low end for the grade. The Three Dollar series has numerous excellent values and this high grade 1863 is a piece that should appeal to the sophisticated collector who recognizes true value.

1863 $20.00 NGC AU58

The 1863 is the third rarest Type One double eagle from this mint, after the 1862 and the 1859. But because of its Civil War date of issue it is generally in greater demand than the latter. It is a hard issue to find in the higher AU grades and it is rare (and expensive) in Uncirculated. This light yellow-gold example shows no real wear to speak of; just some light friction on the face of Liberty. The left obverse field shows a cluster of small marks near the outline of the portrait while the reverse is clean save for a small spot on the left side of the shield. The most recent auction price realized (APR) for this date in AU58 is Heritage 3/11: 4926 (a PCGS coin) that brought $14,953 in their March 2011 sale. I have had the good fortune of selling two other AU58 examples of this popular issue in the last three months and both sold quickly (with multiple orders received on the first day they were listed on my website).

1863 $20.00 PCGS AU58

The two rarest Civil War double eagles are the 1862 and 1863, in that order. Both dates have become quite expensive in Uncirculated grades, making nice AU58's (like this coin) a viable option for most collectors. This piece is semi-prooflike and very boldly detailed with no real wear but enough friction on the high spots to accurately grade it as an AU58. But this isn't your average, run-of-the-mill AU58. It is a lovely "super slider" with nice light orange-gold and rose color and great overall eye appeal. There are some abrasions on both sides, probably from being shipped loose in a bag, but other than a shallow scrape below star one on the obverse, none of these are very detracting. The last few AU58 examples of this date that I have seen at auction or on the bourse floor have traded in the $14,000-15,000 range but lacked the overall eye appeal that this piece has in spades. A terrific coin for the advanced collector of Type One double eagles or the Civil War gold specialist.