1852 $20.00 PCGS MS61

While very common in all circulated grades, the 1852 double eagle is very scarce in Uncirculated and is almost never seen above the MS61 to MS62 level. So far in 2012, there have been exactly two MS61 examples that have sold at auction: a PCGS/CAC piece that brought $10,925 in Heritage's 4/12 sale and an NGC/CAC MS61 that realized $9,775 in this firm's 3/12 sale. The present example is certainly more "new" than these others with fuller luster and very, very choice surfaces. A few light scuffs in the left obverse field seem to be all that separates this piece from a higher grade and the level of eye appeal is quite high for the grade. There is a big price jump to MS62 for this date and a nice PCGS MS61 like this should appeal to most Type One collectors.

1846-O $5.00 NGC AU50 CAC

This was a date that I used to see from time to time but, for some reason, the supply of decent 1846-O half eagles has dried up in recent years. I'm not sure if someone is hoarding these or if the popularity of New Orleans gold amongst collectors has dried-up the supply. The present example is the first 1846-O half eagle that I've offered in some time and it has nice medium orange-gold and greenish hues atop relatively choice surfaces. There have been just five APR's for 1846-O half eagles in AU50 in the last decade and the high water mark is $3,738 set by Heritage 1/06: 5159.

CAC has approved just this one 1846-O half eagle in AU50 with five finer.

1852-O $10.00 NGC AU58

After the New Orleans eagle production soared to 263,000 in 1851, it dropped back down to 18,000 in 1852. The 1852-O eagle is tied for the fifth rarest of twenty-one No Motto issues from this mint and it becomes extremely rare in properly graded AU58 and above. I know of two or three in Uncirculated (the best is an NGC MS61 that is ex Byron Reed: 160 and it sold for over $30,000 back in 1996) and just three or four others in AU58. This example is oustanding for the date and grade with just a small amount of friction in the left obverse field keeping it from an MS61 grade. The surfaces are every clean with nearly no abrasions and nice medium orange-gold color. Very few examples in this grade have reached the market in the last decade with the last APR of note being the PCGS example sold as B+M 8/10: 1730 that brought $20,700. This is the best 1852-O eagle that I have handled in years and it will become an important addition to an advanced set of New Orleans eagles.

1890-CC $20.00 PCGS AU55

The first of three choice, original examples of this date and, unlike the other two, seen with some semi-prooflike flash below deep green-gold and orange hues. This piece has some minor discoloration at the CA in AMERICA (probably from storage) and is a bit more abraded than the next two.

1890-CC $20.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

This totally original Gem Slider is about as close to Mint State as you can get and it is more attractive than many 1890-CC double eagles that I have seen in MS60 and even MS61 holders. The surfaces are lightly marked, nominally rubbed and frosty. Really a nice example and perfect for the type collector who wants one very appealing CC double eagle for his set.

CAC has approved seventeen examples of this date in AU58 with a dozen finer.

1890-CC $20.00 NGC AU55+ CAC

One of a small group of original "Euro" examples of this date that I recently purchased (along with the PCGS AU55 listed above and the PCGS AU58 listed below) and a coin that sure seems like it should be graded as a full AU58. NGC's conservative grade is your gain as you get a coin with the look of an AU58 at a discount. The color and surfaces are as original as you can find on a CC double eagle and coins like this have become very, very hard to find in today's market.

CAC has approved 25 1890-CC double eagles in AU55 with 29 finer. It is not known how many AU55+ examples have CAC approval.

1883 $1.00 PCGS PR64 CAM CAC

One of 207 struck. An estimated four to five dozen Proofs of this date are known and the 1883 is far scarcer than the 1884-1889 gold dollars which were issued in quantities of 1,000 and above. This borderline Gem example has superb "black and white" contrast and would be a full-blown Gem were it not for two small but noticeable lintmarks in the obverse field adjacent to the tip of the portrait. If you have always wanted to own a genuinely rare Proof gold coin and you'd like said coin to have legitimately good eye appeal, this is a rare opportunity indeed.

CAC has approved just one 1883 gold dollar in PR64CAM with three finer than this.

1807 $2.50 NGC AU55

BD-1, R-3. Of the three denomination of early gold, the quarter eagle is the single hardest to locate with good eye appeal. When available, early quarter eagles tend to have been poorly struck and are often found with either mint-made defects or bright, liberally abraded surfaces. The present example is very choice for the grade with natural deep green-gold color on the obverse and reverse that strongly suggests that no dipping or "improvements" have befallen the surfaces. As is common for this date, the centers are not fully detailed and there are some mint-made vertical adjustment marks on the portrait that are well-concealed by the depth of the color. The 1807 is by far the most available date of this type with an original mintage of 6,812; nearly one-third the total of the 19,487 quarter eagles made between 1796 and 1807. As a result, it is the perfect date for the type collector as it carries no rarity premium. The last AU55 1807 quarter eagles to appear at auction, between April 2009 and August 2010, sold for $20,700, $20,700 and $21,850, respectively.

1858-S $20.00 NGC AU55

Another nice, fresh example with medium natural green-gold color on the lightly marked, lustrous surfaces. The price spread between AU50 and AU55 for this date is not that great, meaning that this is a practical option if a collector wants to "step up" to a higher grade.