Coins We Love - December 27
We hope that everyone has recovered from the holiday season and is preparing for the New Year and what 2019 might hold out for you and your collection. In our last CWL of the year, we like to wrap up a review of the past year, but this year has been bit more difficult than most.
We hope that everyone has recovered from the holiday season and is preparing for the New Year and what 2019 might hold out for you and your collection. In our last CWL of the year, we like to wrap up a review of the past year, but this year has been bit more difficult than most. While it was a successful year overall for the company: we saw growth in personnel, coins that we handled, auction opportunities, and in overall opportunities for our team members, collectors, and partners. However, we also saw considerable loss as we lost friends, family members, and co-workers in the last year that were unexpected as well as having several long-time team members that decided to go in different directions. It was certainly a challenging year for us at DLRC, but we’ve survived and we’re looking forward to starting anew in 2019.
In anticipation of 2019, we start off the second week of January with our return to Orlando for the 2019 FUN Show! Thankfully it’s a week later in the year than is typical, so we get a little bit more preparation time. That being said, if there’s anything that you’d like us to bring from our current inventory to Orlando, please email us at coins@davidlawrence.com and we’d be happy to do so! Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at David Lawrence
Why we love it: A rare proof Liberty Half Eagle that is housed in an Old Green Label Holder. Like the other gold denominations of this popular, scarce year, it has a tiny mintage of just 25 coins! Barely half are estimated to exist today, and the date is nearly never seen on the market making this a special opportunity. This example offers stunning color and surprisingly clear surfaces for the grade giving it a uniquely pleasing eye appeal.
Value: The CPG Value has an estimated worth of $15,700 set on this scarce proof Half Eagle in PR61. In all honesty, with no similar items having sold EVER, we feel that this number is surprisingly accurate based upon the lack of availability of coins of this date. It is featured as part of the 1873 Collection in this week’s auction with the reserve set just below that price at $15,500.
Why we love it: The 1873-CC Gold Liberty Eagle is an issue that does not exist in any uncirculated grades due to the heavy wear that pieces of this mint and decade endured. From an already small mintage of 4,543, PCGS estimates just 78 to have survived with only ten graded finer than this example at NGC. This original AU example displays flashy yellow luster over lightly and evenly worn surfaces that provides quite attractive eye appeal for the grade.
Value: The CPG Value of this coin sits at $54,400, based upon the non-CAC PCGS example that sold in 2016 for $44,650. Shortly before an AU53 realized $58,750 in another public auction. The PCGS Price Guide’s evaluation of $40,000, which seems to be far too conservative based upon the recent sales records. Overall, we simply love the scarcity of this rare date and our pretty AU example of this rare CC-Mint Gold Eagle is available in this week’s auction reserved a few thousand below PCGS’s estimate at a VERY reasonable $36,000.
Why we love it: Another rare proof issue from this fabled year, the $3 is a beautiful near-gem Deep Cameo example. An original mintage of approximately 40 to 50 pieces were produced, in which only around a dozen Open 3 varieties are estimated to have survived. This coin is incredibly fresh with a light haze in the obverse right field. Otherwise this piece is a true Proof 65 Deep Cameo. John Albanese of CAC stated that he thought it was a sure thing as a Proof 64+, but we both preferred it in the purer, non-plus graded holder as a piece that looks like a true 65 Deep Cameo.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin in PR64 with Deep Cameo surfaces is $135,000 not counting the premium brought with the CAC approval. Even with that CAC sticker and $80,000 price jump to the next grade up, we have this piece reserved in this week’s auction at that same $135,000 number the PCGS Price Guide has set.
Why we love it: A gorgeous gem example of this scarce underrated Denver Mint Issue Buffalo Nickel. These fully struck, golden toned, extremely lustrous surfaces give this piece superb eye appeal. The CAC approval is unsurprising given the eye appeal and noticeable lack of marks, making this coin an extraordinarily nice example of the grade. Only three examples were graded finer at PCGS with just a plus grade and none better than that.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set at $14,000 even, which does not even factor in the premium of a CAC sticker. This golden toned lustrous gem key date we have offered for outright purchase has a best price of $13,500 via Make Offer, which is $500 under PCGS’s estimation even with the CAC approval.
Why we love it: The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent is a famously popular key date rarity desired highly across all of numismatics. It comes with the Eagle Eye Photoseal, and hails from a low original mintage of just 1,500 coins struck. This near-gem example displays wholesome eye appeal highlighted by its lovely brown tones and mostly pristine surfaces that are free of any notable marks.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and the CPG Value are comparable on their respective estimates of $20,500 and $20,300 for this coin. Even with its near-gem level grade and Eagle Eye Photoseal, this famous, rare Flying Eagle Cent is being offered in this week’s auction reserved at just $19,000 even.
Why we love it: A registry quality ultra-gem example of this early Buffalo Nickel Issue that features stunning eye appeal. These surfaces are perfectly struck with excessive amounts of luster and gorgeous rose-gold toning throughout. Not only does this piece possess incredible captivating beauty as is, but it is one of the nicest that we’ve ever offered as it is already tied for the finest known at PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set at $6,750 with the plus grade, which does not even factor in the premium of a CAC sticker. This finest known one of a kind stunner we have offered for outright purchase is CAC approved and still can be purchased for $1,000 under PCGS’s evaluation at the best price of just $5,750 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: A completely original, flashy gem example of this rare proof Flying Eagle Cent type coin from a microscopic mintage of only 200 coins. This 1858 Issue is incredibly underrated and undervalued compared to its famous 1856 counterpart. This piece is lightly toned and displays gorgeous, immaculate surfaces and eye appeal with an Eagle Eye Seal of Approval.
Value: The most recent sale of this date and PCGS grade combination came in March of this year at auction and brought $33,600. The PCGS Price Guide has it valued at $27,000 and the CPG Value comes in a good bit higher at $31,500. Even with all these reputable numbers stated we have our example reserved at just $26,000 making this an excellent value and opportunity for such an incredible Proof Flying Eagle Cent.
Why we love it: The first year of issue for the Barber Quarter series in which PCGS has graded just five pieces finer than this example. This ultra-gem displays lovely rose tones with bright blue highlights across pristine, lustrous surfaces that show no visible blemishes. Between the immaculate surfaces, perfect eye appeal and CAC approval, there is an argument to be made that it is under-graded.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set at $7,750 in a 67 holder with the plus grade. This beautifully toned ultra-gem first year Barber Quarter is available for sale via Make Offer at the best price of only $6,500, which even with its CAC approval is an entire $1,250 below the price guide.
Why we love it: A scarce post-Civil War Liberty Quarter Eagle, the yellow-gold tints are lovely and are complemented perfectly by the excessive luster. This is not your average MS61 Quarter Eagle as the eye appeal is so beautiful and the expected marks just are not as prominent as one would expect for the grade. From a low mintage of just 4,320 coins struck, only 10 others have been graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set at $4,500 in a 61 holder without any other premiums. This lustrous, bright yellow-gold scarce date Quarter Eagle is available for sale at the best price of just $4,350, which even with its CAC approval can be bought via Make Offer for less than the price guide.
Why we love it: An affordable example of this popular late issue key date Indian Cent from the San Francisco Mint. From a lower mintage of only 309,000 coins struck. Despite the lower grade, the detail of the devices is still quite relevant, and the coloring and wear is smooth and even. This truly choice VF piece is well-deserving of the CAC approval as the chocolate brown obverse and streaky reverse give it nice eye appeal for the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $525 with the CPG Value coming in a bit lower at $488. This affordable example of this highly desired key date S-Mint Indian Cent is available via Make Offer for a solid amount under both price guide evaluations at $425 even with the CAC approval.
Why we love it: A reasonable yet attractive New Orleans Mint Issue Liberty Seated Half Dime. A CAC approved choice uncirculated example of this first year of the new legend-obverse design type. The eye appeal is lovely as the surfaces are mostly bright white with subtle toning, strong luster and so few detracting marks that make it look high-end for the assigned grade.
Value: The CPG Value for this coin is set at $390, which does not even factor in the premium of CAC sticker. Our beautiful choice uncirculated example of this popular O-Mint Half Dime is available at the low best price just $350 via Make Offer even with its CAC approval.
Why we love it: A gorgeous, lustrous example of this Franklin Half Dollar that is especially scarce in gem condition. This lovely gem displays strong luster and pristine, blast white surfaces. Between the lack of blemishes and incredible luster and eye appeal, this coin truly represents the grade well. Tied for the finest known graded by PCGS without Full Bell Lines.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $650. It is available for purchase at the reasonable price of just $525 via Make Offer. That is a solid $125 discount off the PCGS Price Guide value for this beautiful gem example of this better date Franklin Half Dollar which is tied for the finest graded by PCGS.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters