Coins We Love: A Return to Normalcy
This week was a return to normalcy for us at DLRC. Last week, three of us were holed up in Utah working through the D.L. Hansen Collection as we are working to get the coins housed individually with a new custom label by PCGS in anticipation of exhibiting or displaying some of the coins in the future. In the interest of brevity (and recovery), we’ll not elaborate too much on the week until we have a chance to write out a more in-depth synopsis in the coming week. Overall, it was an incredibly productive week (and a fun one). It’s a pleasure and an honor to work with the collection, but there’s always something even better about sleeping in your own bed at night, even if we did add a puppy to our household that needs constant attention.
On an incredibly sad note for DLRC, our longtime friend and customer, Bradley Hirst passed away last week at his home in Richmond Indiana. Brad was a long-time David Lawrence customer and friend of John and his father David. We were privileged to help Brad build and auction the famous Richmond Collection in 2004-2005 which consisted of 45 complete sets of US coins from Indian cents to $20 double eagles.
Notable highlights included a finest known 1894-S dime (NGC Proof-66), an 1885 Trade dollar (NGC Proof-62), a complete set of Stellas and a 1927-D Saint (NGC MS62). The sale in total topped twenty-five million dollars and remains the only live auctions that DLRC has ever hosted.
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: The 1879 is the first of the low mintage issues of the late Seated quarter series with just 13,600 coins struck. A pristine, lustrous gem covered with a lovely peach tint Truly a high-end example of this grade as it is quite difficult to find anything wrong with this beauty.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and the CPG Value are quite fair and comparable at $6,000 and $6,560 respectively. In this stunning PCGS-graded, CAC-approved ultra-gem condition, we are offering a reasonable value for our starting bid for this gorgeous Seated quarter at $6,000 even.
Why we love it: Many coins were produced with a mintage of 815,000. Although, the date saw heavy circulation and few survivors of decent quality remain. Mint State pieces are particularly rare, and this nicely attractive example with light honey-golden surfaces is a highlight in our offerings. Only five pieces are graded as such by PCGS with three coins graded higher.
Value: With the PCGS Price Guide valuing this coin at $4,500 it seems like an excellent value with a best price via Make Offer of just $3,800. That is quite an exciting price point at $700 beneath the price guide.
Why we love it: A normally common date Morgan Dollar whose surfaces, condition and pedigree turn it into an incredible numismatic commodity. Straight out of the D.L. Hansen Collection, this ultra-gem displays stunning, reflective proof-like surfaces with light iridescent rim toning and gorgeous eye appeal. Hailing from a low original mintage of just 13,886 pieces, this piece would fit in a wide variety of collections or as a focus of Carson City coinage.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide value for this finest graded PL Morgan is set at $11,500. Even with the Hansen pedigree, we are starting the bidding at just $10,000.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable Carson City Mint Liberty Half Eagle. This CAC approved example displays clear, crisp details, light, even wear, and lovely original coloring. This key Liberty Half Eagle issue comes from an original mintage of just 13,886 coins struck.
Value: With a CPG value of $6,880 and the PCGS Price Guide at $6,250, this coin can be had for the later $6,250 via Make Offer. Comparable to the price guides and simply being a key Carson City gold issue makes this offer extremely intriguing.
Why we love it: The 1895 Morgan Dollar is famously known as a proof-only rarity and more specifically as the set-stopper to the entire series. Between the fact that there were no business strikes produced and the mintage was limited to 880 coins, this coin is found desirable by any advanced numismatic enthusiast and of course, especially by collectors of the series. This near-gem cameo example displays pristine proof surfaces with no detracting blemishes and incredible eye appeal.
Value: We never have trouble selling 1895 Proof Morgans; in fact, when we’re looking for them, we simply cannot locate them! CPG has this coin valued at $75,000. It is available in this week’s auction with the starting bid at just $67,500 even with CAC approval! That is a high discount off the value for this stunning gem example of this popular, key Morgan Dollar Rarity!
Why we love it: Proof Morgans have long been a popular item for collectors due to their size and propensity to be either gorgeously white or beautifully toned. However, the mintages are incredibly low compared to their circulation strike versions. This gorgeous proof Morgan Dollar comes from a tiny mintage of just 755 pieces struck. Mostly white surfaces with pristine mirrors and no notable blemishes make for fantastic eye appeal and overall quality so high that this gem would certainly be considered high-end for the grade!
Value: With the PCGS Price Guide valuing this coin at $9,000, it seems like an excellent value with a best price via Make Offer of just $7,100. That is quite an exciting price point at almost two thousand beneath the price guide.
Why we love it: The 1881 Quarter Eagle is one of those scarce dates that are desired highly by collectors of all gold coinage. From a mintage of just 640 pieces, the 1881 $2.5 is simply an impossible date to locate in an acceptable state. This nice, eye-appealing AU is a quality survivor that will not last long on our website.
Value: With a mintage of under 1,000 pieces, this coin is clearly a scarce item, no matter the condition. The PCGS Price Guide and the CPG Value are quite fair and somewhat comparable at $4,750 and $5,750 respectively. In this lovely PCGS-graded AU condition, we are offering a reasonable value for our starting bid for this rare Quarter Eagle right in the middle of the price guides at $5,350.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable Charlotte Mint Liberty Quarter Eagle with fully original color and surfaces. The remaining luster along with its nearly Mint State level eye appeal make it seem under-graded. This Rare C-Mint issue Quarter Eagle comes from a low, original mintage of just 18,140 coins struck in which only 15 are graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The CPG reflects a value of $12,200 with the PCGS Price Guide standing at $10,000, which we feel is more accurate. Offered with a best price of $10,250 through our Make Offer function, this is a great opportunity to own this scarce Charlotte issue Quarter Eagle.
Why we love it: A slightly better date D-Mint Indian Gold Eagle from a lower mintage of just 343,500 coins struck. Satiny surfaces boast frosty luster and lovely eye appeal that, along with a noticeable lack of marks, make for the perfect, ideal gem look. The issue is much scarcer in quality Mint State grades making this coin that much more desirable.
Value: The CPG Value is set at $3,750 for this scarce stunning CAC approved near-gem Indian gold piece. Considering the price guide, we are glad to offer a lower starting bid at just $3,650.
Why we love it: A popular issue as this date is one of the earliest of all Double Eagles with only the single prior year being available to collectors under this denomination. This lustrous slider has no visibly detracting wear and the most ideal yellow gold coloring one can ask for.
Value: With the PCGS Price Guide valuing this coin at $5,000, this is an incredible value as our best price via Make Offer is just $3,600. That is quite an exciting price point at well over one thousand dollars under the price guide.
Why we love it: The $50 Humbert, commonly referred to as the “Gold Slug,” is such a scarce and unique issue desired highly across numismatics. These were a reliable currency used in the period of the California Gold Rush, before the United States could produce enough coinage for everyday use. This piece is an impressive survivor as it possesses such great detail and eye appeal.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $42,000, although our example has a starting bid $6,000 lower at just $36,000. That is an excellent value for this famously popular Gold Slug as its rarity and desirability are unmatched among California Territorial Gold!
Why we love it: An affordable example of a scarce Carson City Mint issue Twenty Cent piece that comes from a low mintage of just 133,290 coins. This coin represents its Fine grade well as the wear is not too deep and most of the details and design are still visible.
Value: Offered via our Make Offer function for $365, this coin has a higher PCGS Price Guide value of $375. It’s an excellent value for this scarce and popular Twenty Cent piece that becomes much more expensive and rarer as the grade goes up.
Why we love it: A great type coin for the famously desirable Capped Bust design. This choice VF example is toned naturally on the obverse that screams originality. The surface quality and detail are in line with what is expected from this grade. Light even wear with no super detracting blemishes.
Value: We estimate this coin to be worth $250, and the PCGS Price Guide has it valued at $265. However, this coin is a No Reserve lot, so the bidder truly decides the value. An excellent opportunity to fill a hole in a type set at a great price.
Why we love it: An affordable yet attractive example of this popular key date Indian Cent. All the surfaces are completely original and evenly worn with solid, pretty chocolate brown coloring throughout. This highly desirable key date offers everything a collector would expect from the ideal VF Indian Cent at a fair price point.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $340 even with the CPG Value a little bit higher at $390. This key date Indian Cent is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $320, which is a fair discount off the PCGS Value of $20 and a more generous discount off the CPG Value of over $70.
Why we love it: A popular Peace Dollar issue that is known to be quite common making it an affordable and desirable type coin in gem level grades. This example is nicely toned mostly on the obverse and, as expected for the grade and issue, displays perfect blazing luster. The eye appeal of this piece certainly does not disappoint.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $725 with its plus grade. We gladly offer it with a best price via our Make Offer function on the website for just $525. $200 less than PCGS value!
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters