Coins We Love - March 23
This week found us in Baltimore, Maryland for the “Spring” Whitman Expo. It was technically the first days of spring, but the weather did not agree. Attendance was limited due to the snowstorm that came through town on Wednesday, causing coin dealers to slip and slide through the streets of Baltimore. For us southerners, it was a beautiful sight, but for the coin show, it took a little bit of wind out of the sails as many dealers and collectors were unable to make it to the show, including our own Gary Adkins. Gary was on the way from Minneapolis when his pilot turned the flight around due to the snow in Baltimore.
Fortunately, the rest of the Virginia crew arrived a day earlier than anticipated to make sure that we were able to take part in the festivities. From the onset, we were swamped with buying opportunities, and people looking to buy. In the end, we were able to participate quite actively in the auction as well as trade quite a few old friends to our wholesale contacts. The lack of dealer attendance turned out to be a good thing for us as we were presented with far more coins than is typical for even a major show. While we missed seeing a lot of our customers and friends at the show, I think that most will be excited to see the wide range of new offerings that we’ll be presenting in the next few weeks. All of that being said, the Baltimore show turned out to be a fine experience for us as we simply turned it into a buying extravaganza! When you’re stranded in your hotel and convention center area, with restaurants closed around you, it simply forces you to work a little more…
I’m sorry that we missed many of you, but we’ll look forward to catching up with you soon, and we hope that you enjoy our coin-related musings below and find something of interest for your collection!
Numismatically yours,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: This rare proof-only issue Liberty Seated Dollar displays stunning, pristine cameo surfaces with almost no detracting blemishes. Its immaculate surfaces that feature frosty devices and flashy fields give this CAC approved gem proof perfect eye appeal. This issue comes from a low mintage of only 300 coins struck. There is only one example in existence graded finer across all grading services with the Cameo designation…in fact there are no Deep Cameo pieces known.
Value: This coin is listed in this week’s auction with the reserve set at the reasonable amount of just $40,000! The PCGS Price Guide for a non-Cameo example in this grade is set at $45k and with the limited number of Cameo pieces, we think that the value on this piece is quite promising for the long-term. This gorgeous piece is perfect for not just collectors of this specific series but for all serious enthusiasts and investors of U.S. Coinage.
Why we love it: scarce, low mintage Carson City Mint Issue Liberty Head Half Eagle with bright yellow-gold coloring. This piece displays light, even wear and crisp, clear details in the devices. This rare issue comes from a mintage of just 7,416 coins.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $16,500 with the CPG at $14,200. Available in this week’s auction with the reserve set at a very reasonable amount of just $12,500. That is $4,000 below the PCGS Price Guide value for this completely original and scarce Carson City Mint Issue Half Eagle!
Why we love it: One of our highlights from our Numismatic Masters Auction #1! The 1866-S No Motto double eagle is a rare coin that was struck in February during the final year of the no-motto (Type One) design. Most experts believe that the majority of the 120,000 pieces were melted with an estimated 175-225 pieces surviving. This example displays beautiful golden-yellow surfaces with plenty of luster. Only nine examples in existence are graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The last two PCGS examples in this grade sold for over $67,000 and $88,000 in 2017 and 2013 respectively, showing that this highlight item simply does not appear, publicly or privately very often. The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at what seems to us a slightly conservative $76,500. It is available in our Numismatic Masters internet auction series ending April 1st, set to sell for any bid above only $54,050. This is an amazing opportunity to own a part of the D.L. Hansen collection from the first auction appearance!
Why we love it: A scarce and early Half Eagle issue that displays truly original and attractive yellow-gold coloring. Its well-struck clear, sharp details, few notable blemishes, and nice luster give this coin great eye appeal and its well-deserved CAC approval. This popular Draped Bust Half Eagle issue comes from a low, original mintage of only 37,628 coins struck.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $18,500; however, we are offering this scarce early Half Eagle with CAC approval at just $16,250 via Make Offer!
Why we love it: A popular, much better date Morgan Dollar from the New Orleans Mint. The coin displays incredible luster and a light tint of golden toning to its mostly bright white surfaces. These gorgeous characteristics combined with its lack of detracting blemishes give it eye appeal so stunning that it looks like it belongs in a 64 holder.
Value: PCGS reflects a value of $10,500 on this coin. As an MS64, the coin jumps to somewhere in the mid-$30,000 range! Available for purchase for the reasonable price of just $8,250 via Make Offer, this is a great opportunity to own this stunning and popular piece in an ideal grade/price range.
Why we love it: A better date gem San Francisco Mint Issue Standing Liberty Quarter that is especially scarce with the Full Head designation. This coin displays incredibly bright white, lustrous surfaces with light, subtle obverse toning. Those stunning characteristics combined with pristine, blemish-free surfaces give it fantastic eye appeal. There are only five examples graded finer by PCGS with the Full Head designation.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide reflects a value of $18,000. Offered with a reserve of $15,250 in this week’s auction, this gorgeous coin is in a fantastic price-point as a 66+ recently garnered over $45,000 in a recent auction!
Why we love it: This bright red ultra-gem type coin for the Lincoln Cent series is of true registry-quality as it displays pristine surfaces with no notable blemishes. Nearly perfect red surfaces covered in stunning luster making for gorgeous eye appeal. There is only one other example of this issue in existence graded finer by PCGS with the Red designation.
Value: Valued at $3,250 by PCGS Price Guide, this coin is available for purchase at the reasonable price of $2,500 via Make Offer. This is a great deal for this blazing red, lustrous ultra-gem with only a single piece graded finer by PCGS!
Why we love it: An early and scarce type coin from the Draped Bust Large Cent series that displays attractive, original surfaces and chocolate brown coloring with an olive-green tint. This affordable example of this popular issue features light, even wear and surprisingly crisp, clear details for the assigned grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued accurately at $400, and it is available for purchase for $375 via Make Offer. An excellent, affordable early Large with smooth surfaces and nice detail for the grade!
Why we love it: A beautiful gem example of this popular and scarce New Orleans Mint Issue Liberty Seated Half Dime. Gorgeous dark lavender toning especially on the obverse with evident strong luster shining through giving this coin high-quality eye appeal. There are only two examples in existence graded finer across all grading services.
Value: With the PCGS Price Guide valuing this coin at $7,500 it seems like an excellent value in this week’s auction with a reserve of just $5,900. Be sure to put your bids in soon, as this beautifully toned gem will likely go quickly in our auction ending this Sunday!
Why we love it: This affordable near-gem type coin from the Barber Dime series displays pristine surfaces that are nearly without any blemishes. This pretty, lightly toned Barber Dime features nice eye appeal with its strong luster, sharply detailed devices and clear, immaculate fields.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $250. It is available for purchase at the fair and reasonable price of just $225 via Make an Offer! That is a solid $25 discount of the PCGS Price Guide value for this affordable and attractive, near-gem Barber Dime type coin!
Why we love it: A gorgeously toned ultra-gem type coin from the Washington Quarter series. The vibrant, rich toning covering the reverse, the mostly white lustrous obverse, and its pristine, overall well-struck surfaces give this pretty gem nice eye appeal.
Value: This lustrous ultra-gem type coin is valued at $185 by PCGS Price Guide. However, it is available for direct purchase at the special CWL price of just $150 via Make Offer!
Why we love it: One of our favorite design types, though short-lived, this is an affordable yet attractive gem example of this popular and desirable Type 1 Denver Mint Issue Buffalo Nickel type coin. This coin displays well-struck, pristine surfaces that are covered with pretty, light toning and incredible amounts of stunning luster.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $275. It is available for purchase at the fair and reasonable price of just $250 via Make an Offer! That is a $25 discount off the PCGS Price Guide value for this lightly toned, gem example of this desirable Type 1 Denver Mint Issue type coin!
Until next time, thanks for stopping by and sharing some time with us to browse our Coins We Love.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters