1884-CC $20.00 NGC AU55 CAC

In years and years of specializing in Carson City double eagles, I can't recall a time that these coins have been more popular than they are now and I forecast continued growth in this market due to a greater demand than supply. The sort of coin that people are really clamoring for now are common and slightly better dates in EF and AU with great eye appeal; exactly like this example. There is minor wear seen on both sides, no detracting marks and attractive natural light golden-orange color. In short, this is exactly the sort of CC $20 you should be buying if you are just getting interested in this historic, highly collectable series.

CAC has approved seventeen in this grade with another twenty-five finer than this.

1864 $20.00 PCGS AU50

While certainly not as scarce as the 1862 and 1863 Philadelphia double eagles, the 1864 is a tough date in its own right, especially with non-shipwreck surfaces and natural color. This example is very clean for the issue with no deep marks and both sides are covered with medium green-gold color that changes to pale red-gold at the borders.

1863-S $20.00 NGC AU55

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.

1841 $5.00 NGC MS64*

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

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.

1842-O $5.00 NGC AU55

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.

1838 $5.00 NGC AU55 CAC

Very deep natural reddish-gold covers the obverse and the reverse. This piece shows slight wear only and it has choice surfaces. This is the final year of issue for the type and as a date the 1838 is much scarcer than the 1834 Plain 4 or 1835.

CAC has approved four in this grade with fifteen higher than this.

1835 $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

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.

1834 Plain 4 $5.00 PCGS AU58 CAC

Classic Head variety. If you are a collector with a $2,500-5,000 per coin budget and you like "old gold," it is a natural to look at Classic Head quarter eagles and half eagles. And there are few coins more appealing than a "gem slider" Classic Head half eagle, especially with the look of this piece. Both the obverse and reverse have glorious natural fiery reddish-gold color with the obverse more intense in hue than the reverse. There is no real wear; just some friction and bag handling in the fields on both sides. You'd have to spend at least double the asking price of this coin to find one that was nicer and even than it might not have this coin's wonderful overall eye appeal.

CAC has approved twenty-four in this grade with another nineteen finer.