1803/2 $5.00 PCGS MS63+ CAC

BD-4, Rarity-4. I am not always a fan of the plus grade system that both PCGS and NGC employ but in this case I feel that this coin totally deserves some sort of special recognition as it is clearly better than the average MS63 example. The obverse and reverse show a deep, unmolested yellow-gold hue with rich frosty luster and great eye appeal. The strike is sharp and the surfaces are free of all but the smallest ticks in the obverse fields. There are a few adjustment marks on the reverse but this is the sort of early gold coin that is almost never seen any more and it seems as original an example of this type as one could hope for. The last PCGS MS64 1803/2 half eagle to sell at auction was Heritage 1/12: 4850 and this coin, which was also approved by CAC, brought a hefty $57,500. I honestly don't think you could see $25,000 worth of difference between that coin and the one offered here and, to my eyes, the current piece has as much overall eye appeal. A wonderful Bust Right half eagle for the advanced early gold collector and one of the freshest, most attractive example of this specific date that I can recall having seen.

As of June 2012, this is the only MS63+ example of this date graded by PCGS.

1847-C $5.00 NGC AU58 CAC

This is a simply stunning Charlotte half eagle with deep, even green-gold color on the obverse and reverse offering strong proof that this piece is totally original. As is typical for the issue, this piece is well struck with great detail and this makes the 1847-C half eagle a great date to select as a type coin for this denomination and mint. The surfaces are nearly free of marks and there is a considerable amount of luster visible below the deep coloration. As a date, the 1847-C is one of the more common Charlotte half eagles but it is very scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and very rare in full Uncirculated. This is the nicest AU58 example of this date that I have handled in a number of years. This is the sort of Charlotte gold coin that is almost never offered for sale in this age of bright, scrubbed branch mint gold and it will be appreciated by the sophisticated specialist.

1847-O $5.00 PCGS VF35

The 1847-O is the single rarest New Orleans half eagle and it is an issue that compares favorably to such Southern rarities as the 1842-C Small Date and 1842-D Large Date half eagles. There are probably no more than four to five dozen known in all grades with most in the VF-EF range. There have been just three VF35 examples sold at auction since 1999 with the range of prices widely going from $3,738 to $5,520. The last APR for a VF35 was Heritage 12/11: 4547 (an NGC coin) that sold for $4,025. This Choice VF example has an obverse that is essentially a full Extremely Fine in terms of its appearance while the reverse shows a bit more wear. The eye appeal is quite pleasing for the date and grade and I have seen inferior examples of this issue in EF40 holders. After many years of neglect, the true rarity of the 1847-O half eagle has become widely known but this issue remains a good value in all grades.

1857-O $5.00 NGC AU53

Only 13,000 were struck and this is a numismatically significant issue as the final No Motto half eagle from the New Orleans mint. It is considerably scarcer than the majority of the Charlotte and Dahlonega half eagles from this decade and it is a major rarity in Uncirculated with just two or three known. In the middle to higher AU grades, the 1857-O is extremely scarce and there are probably fewer than twenty known. This example has nice luster with a slightly Prooflike finish below light green-gold color. There are a few scattered marks in the fields and a small tick or two on the face. There have been just three APR's for this date in AU53 since 1999.

1854-O $5.00 NGC AU55

While common compared to such issues as the 1846-O and 1851-O half eagles, the 1854-O is far scarcer than the 1844-O. But the 1854-O is much harder to locate in higher grades than is generally realized and it is a genuinely scarce coin in the higher AU grades. This example has lovely delicate light green-gold color atop very lustrous surfaces and it is high end for the date and grade. I think this is a very undervalued issue, as are all choice No Motto half eagles from this mint.

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.

1846-O $5.00 NGC AU50 CAC

Along with the 1851-O, the 1846-O is one of the more overlooked and undervalued half eagles from this mint. It is actually available with about as much frequency as the far more expensive 1846-C. The 1846-O is scarce in the lower AU grades but it remains very affordable. This example is clean for the grade and well detailed with some medium green-gold color that is contrasted by natural reddish hues at the reverse border.

1856-O $5.00 NGC EF40

The 1856-O half eagle is much scarcer than the 1856-C or 1856-D yet it remains a little less expensive; a strange quirk given that it is now more popular than the former and maybe as much so as the latter. This well detailed piece shows a bit of reddish color on the surfaces and no marks of note.

1853-C $5.00 NGC AU55

I bought this coin at the recent Denver ANA show from a dealer who imports coins from Europe. I was surprised to see it in his inventory and so few Charlotte coins seem to have been sent to Europe and when I asked him how often he brought Charlotte and Dahlonega gold coins back to the States he replied "very infrequently; maybe just a few times a year." This delightfully crusty example has deep, dark green-gold color with plenty of dirt in the recesses. There are a few scuffs in the fields but this pierce has very acceptable surfaces for the grade and the color is far, far above-average. This is a nice choice for the collector who wants a single high quality Charlotte half eagle for his set.