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Old Green Label Holder. By today's standards this coin grades AU50 to AU53 but there are a few noticeable mint-made grease stains on the right obverse. Light yellow-gold color covers very lustrous surfaces. This is a tougher date than many collectors realize although it sells for virtually no premium over a common Type Two issue in this grade.
Old Green Holder. By today's standards I grade this coin a solid AU55 with a shot to grade AU58. It has a nice medium to deep orange-gold and green "Euro" appearance but it is not overly dark. This date is usually seen with pronounced abrasions in the fields and this coin is cleaner than usual. A very nice Type Two double eagle.
CAC has approved one example in AU50 with eighteen finer than this.
This unheralded issue is actually one of the rarest Liberty Head quarter eagles of any date. Only 2,823 were struck and just four dozen or so are known with most in the VF to EF range and characterized by extremely poor eye appeal. This fresh-to-the-market example is one of just a handful of 1842 quarter eagles that I have seen with natural color and choice surfaces. Both the obverse and the reverse show deep green-gold color and there is a considerable amount of dirt within the recesses of the reverse lettering. The surfaces are clean and choice while the level of eye appeal is as high as for any EF example of this date that I have seen or handled. There are only five auction records for EF45 1842 quarter eagles since 1991 (three PCGS coins and two NGC coins) and the last record is Heritage 1/08: 3826 that sold for $4,888. If this were a Charlotte or Dahlonega quarter eagle in this grade of comparable rarity it would be a five figure coin or close to it. An exceptional piece for the savvy collector.
Old Green Label holder; CAC Gold Sticker. By today's standards, this coin grades MS60 to MS61. Frosty with mellow old gold color contrasted by some deeper hues on the obverse. Lightly abraded in the fields but totally original and very pleasing.
CAC has approved seven in this grade with 252(!) finer. It is not known how many have gold stickers.
Old Green Holder. CAC Gold Sticker. By today's standards, this piece grades at least AU55 if not AU58. A choice, original example and clearly not a seawater coin as it was encapsulated prior to the discovery of the S.S. Central America hoard. Satiny with light rose and orange-gold coloration gives this coin good eye appeal and the surfaces are very clean for the issue.
CAC has approved two in AU50 with seventeen finer. There population report does not designate how many have received gold stickers but I would assume the number is very small.
Old Green Holder. I grade this coin a solid EF45 by today's standards. A handsome "Euro" example with deep green-gold color accentuated by darker highlights on the obverse and reverse. The surfaces are extremely clean. A nice example of this popular Civil War issue.
CAC has approved just this one coin in EF40 with seventeen in higher grades.
The 1887-S is the scarcest San Francisco double eagle produced after 1882. For years it was a totally unheralded sleeper but it has become better recognized by specialists. This date is moderately scarce in MS60 to MS61, scarce in MS62 and rare in MS63 and better. For most collectors, an MS62 represents the "sweet spot" for this date as a properly graded PCGS MS63, if available, will cost in the area of $14,000-15,000. This example is choice and original with very attractive rose and green-gold color with a splash or orange at the central obverse. There are a few light ticks in the fields that are consistent with the assigned grade. The last two APR's for PCGS MS62 1887-S double eagles are $4,600 for Heritage 1/12: 6706 and $4,888 for Stack's Bowers 11/11: 9929 (approved by CAC).
As a date, the 1837 is the most undervalued of all the Classic Head half eagles from the Philadelphia mint. This nice, original example shows attractive deep original green-gold color with a considerable amount of dirt seen on the reverse. Nearly every example of this date that I have seen has been dipped or conserved and pieces with good eye appeal are actually quite scarce.
This is the only 1837 half eagle in this grade to have received approval from CAC. A total of nineteen higher have been approved as well.
A well-detailed example with enough luster seen to suggest a slightly higher grade. This date should bring a much higher premium over the more common 1875-CC than it currently does.
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