Coins We Love - April 25
This week’s CWL comes to you live from Schaumburg, Illinois, the home of the Central States Numismatic Society Show. While some may say we are in Chicago, the only Chicago-like part of here is the pizza and the traffic. That being said, it’s a convenient suburb, and it attracted a larger variety of dealers this year, which was nice to see. In fact, it’s been one of the more active CSNS shows in recent memory. Mike, Gary, and I are actively attending, and if you follow our Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts, you’ll see some of the action that’s going on there. If you’re not into social media, we understand, but we’re doing our best to add a bit of additional flavor to DLRC with our newly updated social media platforms.
This week’s CWL features two really fresh collections that are offered in this Sunday night’s auction. The Prestige Collection of 19th Century Type features several extremely scarce dates and various high quality pieces all that are fresh and were recently uncertified coins. The Cavalier Collection of $5 Indian Gold is one of the nicest overall sets of $5 Indians as far as quality and eye appeal that we’ve seen in quite some time.
We hope that you’ll find a few pieces of interest here and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us! As always, we’ll have our phones open from 7:00pm-9:00pm EST on Sunday night and we’ll be checking emails over the weekend, so don’t miss out!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: The 1929 Half Eagle is a well-known, highly desired rarity that earned this pedigree by most of its original mintage having been melted down. This fresh, CAC approved example has high-quality, choice uncirculated surfaces that have a fair potential shot at an upgrade. The coloring is simply ideal for the issue, and this piece here would satisfy any advanced numismatist.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value both have a positive opinion for the value of this rarity with respective estimates of $42,500 and $37,500. Our example has a starting bid in this week’s auction a few thousand below both price guides at just $33,500.
Why we love it: A popular Civil War Date Liberty Seated Half Dime in stunning ultra-high-grade gem condition. These frosty, lustrous surfaces are blast white and feature no blemishes worth stating, making for truly perfect eye appeal. This beauty is of the highest registry quality imaginable as it is tied with just four others for the finest known example graded by PCGS.
Value: This coin, being the finest known example for the issue on top of being from a PCGS grade population of just five, is as close as it gets to defining the phrase “one of a kind” and is incomparable to any price guide. However, our reserve amount of $12,000 is set to acquire this perfect Half Dime, which we feel creates an excellent value to bidders.
Why we love it: A richly toned gem example of this scarce Civil War Era Issued Liberty Seated Dime from a minuscule mintage of just 11,000 coins struck. PCGS has graded only four pieces finer as the CAC approval of this example places it not too far off. The surfaces are beautifully original with dusky rose, blue, and golden highlights and subtle underlying luster.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide sits at $11,000, but this CAC-approved example is available with the reserve set $500 lower at just $10,500 in this week’s auction. The PCGS Price Guide value does not factor in any premium for a CAC sticker yet our reserve still comes in below for this scarce lovely toned gem Seated Dime.
Why we love it: A desirable New Orleans Mint Issue Liberty Seated Quarter from a lower mintage of just 260,000 coins struck in which only a single piece has been graded finer by PCGS. Truly a registry quality gem as this example is bested by just one other coin and is far nicer than the others graded MS65. Gorgeous blue-green around the periphery and lovely rose at the center along with incredible luster and pristine surfaces make for fantastic eye appeal.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide comes in a bit high at an estimate of $27,500 for this coin but the CPG Value is far fairer and more accurate at $24,200. This beauty is the second nicest example of the entire issue in our eyes, yet we have the reserve set even lower than the CPG Value in this week’s auction at just $24,000.
Why we love it: This rare proof-only issue of the popular Twenty Cent denomination that is desirable in gem condition and comes from a mintage of only 350 coins. The obverse features orange central highlights with blue and magenta rim tones surrounding the near Cameo fields. The reverse is amazing with rose, blue, and golden highlights throughout.
Value: The CPG Value of this stunning rare gem proof 20-Cent Piece is set at $24,200. Even with all the eye appeal and toning this example offers we are still undercutting that estimate by almost $3,000. We have set the reserve in this week’s auction at the reasonable amount of just $21,500.
Why we love it: Proof Liberty Seated Quarter struck during the final year of the Civil War from a tiny mintage of just 500 pieces. These lilac colored fields look nearly cameo and are perfectly immaculate making the CAC approval unsurprising. It’s the gorgeously toned reverse with blue and pink-rose highlights that really makes the eye appeal of this gem remarkable.
Value: The most recent sale of a CAC approved example of this date and grade combination was through an auction in 2015, which brought $7,050. Along with that, the CPG Value estimates this coin to be worth $6,880. Our example is reserved in this week’s auction quite reasonably as it is set just below both these figures at $6,750.
Why we love it: Beautifully toned proof Liberty Seated Quarter from an extremely low mintage of just 950 coins stuck. The complete originality and notable lack of blemishes and marks makes for well-deserved CAC approval. The orange, gold and blue highlights across these pristine surfaces make the eye appeal of the highest quality. Just one with a plus grade is finer at PCGS.
Value: There has not been a sale recorded for this date and grade combination in almost a decade making this quite an opportunity for such a lovely registry quality item. The PCGS Price Guide has it valued at $4,500 in MS67 and $7,500 with a plus grade. Reserved at just $5,750 in this week’s auction, we feel that is a fair value as this piece is CAC approved.
Why we love it: A registry quality ultra-gem cameo example of this scarce proof Barber Half Dollar from a low proof mintage of 813 pieces. Simply pristine with lovely frosted devices and toned mirrored fields highlighted by blue, magenta and orange tints. There are only three examples graded finer by PCGS with the Cameo designation.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide sits at $15,000 and $10,000 higher in 68CAM, but this CAC-approved example is available with the reserve set at just $16,000 in this week’s auction. The PCGS Price Guide value does not factor in any premium for a CAC sticker making our small premium of $1,000 an excellent value when the next grade is valued at $25,000.
Why we love it: A slightly scarcer S-mint Morgan in general but designated as the VAM 3 (Doubled Stars) variety, this piece is the finest graded by PCGS. Some chatter on the cheek and otherwise mostly pristine surfaces make this coin true to the grade. It has a pleasing look overall as it is bright white and features just about as much luster as you can ask for from a Morgan Dollar.
Value: This coin, being designated as the VAM 3 (Doubled Stars) variety on top of being the finest known graded by PCGS, defines the phrase “one of a kind” and is incomparable to any price guide. However, our reserve amount of $6,250 is set to acquire this Morgan, which we feel creates an excellent value to advanced VAM collectors.
Why we love it: Popular and scarce first year of issue Indian Half Eagle from the San Francisco Mint from a small mintage of just 82,000 pieces. This lovely, lustrous Half Eagle features orange peel tints and fields notably lacking in marks that makes the coin a true shot at gem in our eyes.
Value: The most recent sale of this date and grade combination was through auction in 2018, which brought $10,200. Along with that, the CPG Value estimates this coin to be worth $12,100. Our example has a starting bid in this week’s auction below both these figures at just $10,000 even.
Why we love it: The 1909-O is a key date rarity and by far the lowest mintage coin in the series with only 34,200 struck. It is also quite popular as the only New Orleans issue in the entire set adding to its desirability. This richly golden-yellow colored example sure looks like an MS63 with clean, mark-free surfaces.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value both show great respect for this rarity with respective estimates of $60,000 and $62,900. Our example has a starting bid in this week’s auction far below both these figures at just $47,500, which we find to be a fantastic, fair value especially compared to past auction records.
Why we love it: The 1911-D is a famously known key date across all Indian denominations whose desirability is so strong that any collector of U.S. Gold Coinage would love one for a quite impressive collection. From a low mintage of just 72,500 coins struck. This lovely uncirculated example is extremely unique as the surfaces display a deep, rich rose tint that you do not normally see.
Value: The most recent sale of this date and grade combination was through a 2018 auction, which brought $18,213. Along with that, the CPG Value estimates this coin to be worth $22,400. Our captivating example of this key date Half Eagle has a starting bid in this week’s auction below both these figures at just $18,000 even.
Why we love it: A scarce gem cameo proof Liberty Seated Half Dollar. This pristine cameo gem displays gorgeous mirrors. The surfaces are lightly toned with some blue and magenta around the rim adding even more to the eye appeal. This is the second finest known cameo example from the low mintage of 800 coins struck in proof format.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide sits at $8,750, but this CAC-approved example is available with the reserve set $750 lower at just $8,000 even in this week’s auction. The PCGS Price Guide value does not factor in any premium for a CAC sticker yet our reserve still comes in below for this stunner.
Why we love it: A gorgeously toned ultra-gem example of this scarce proof-only issue Three Cent Silver that is also the key to the Type 3 Set. This coin features nearly perfect surfaces that seem almost cameo and completely blemish-free. The toning displayed here is stunning with its blue, rose and golden tints. From an extremely low mintage of just 600 coins struck in which it is tied for the finest known at PCGS with no cameo designations.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide sits at $9,750, but this CAC-approved finest known example is available with the reserve set at just $8,500 in this week’s auction. That is a generous discount of $1,250 off the PCGS Price Guide value, which does not factor in any premium for a CAC sticker. A beautiful, scarce coin at such a fantastic value that the reserve has already been met.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters