Coins We Love: Fall Sports & Coin Books
Fall is definitely upon us, and our travel and show schedule has slowed considerably. It’s always great to be a coin collector, but the Fall is specifically a great time to be a sports fan. Here in Virginia, we're happy to see our Washington Nationals doing well in the World Series. First baseman, Ryan Zimmerman, is a Virginia Beach native and had the first Fall Classic home run in the franchise's history in game 1. Should be very interesting tonight as Houston will look to climb back into it with a game 3 victory. No team has ever come back to win the World Series down 3-0 which is what the Astros are hoping to avoid. To all the sports enthusiasts out there - enjoy the Series, the College and NFL football and start of the NBA Season!
In a recent Facebook post we included the question: "What tips do you have for beginners in the hobby?" A quick comment from Travis yielded a popular adage in numismatics, "Read the book before you buy the coin." This is very good advice, but finding good sources for information on specific topics can be difficult and sometimes costly. We’re happy to pass on a fantastic resource for numismatic reference material that is quick and free to the coin collecting community. If you haven’t visited the Newman Numismatic Portal yet, I think you're in for a real treat. This website offers over 1000 different titles than can be read online or downloaded. You can search by author or title and is a growing library of books, articles and periodicals that anyone can use and contribute to. Catalogs from our Richmond sale are listed here, each with prices realized, as well as other DLRC Press books: The Complete Guide To Barber Dimes, Barber Quarters, Barber Coinage and Washington Quarters. These and many, many other useful numismatic reference guides are a fantastic resource for collectors at all experience levels.
Happy researching, browsing, bidding and collecting!
Sincerely,
Jason Smith and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: Similar to the Pollock-4055 pattern cent, this Pollock-Unlisted cent is believed to be from the experimental roller press that General Motors created for the Mint. This piece is simpler than the Pollock-4055 and is therefore thought to predate it. The machine made by GM had to be shut down to replace cracked dies, the dies were cracking more often due to the speed and the press and its dies required frequent lubrication, and some of the oil leaked onto the metal strips used for coins, causing an undesirable ripple effect. The only lasting evidence of this press are the prototype coins printed in the press, such as this one.
Value: This coin, being a rare pattern with General Motors being involved with the production and comparable to the Pollock-4055, defines the phrase “one of a kind” making it incomparable to any price guide. However, our starting bid of $7,500 is a very reasonable starting point in our opinion as this piece has such an interesting backstory and incredible overall rarity.
Why we love it: This piece is the finest graded for this pattern issue, a full grade finer than the Simpson Collection example. Struck in silver with a reeded edge, this is one of the earlier strikes for the design as evident from the die state. A truly beautiful piece with blue-green, magenta and rose-gold throughout both sides.
Value: This coin, being the finest known example for the issue on top of being CAC approved, defines the phrase “one of a kind” and is incomparable to any price guide. However, our starting bid of $51,750 for this finest known ultra-gem Pattern is in our opinion a fair starting point.
Why we love it: A gorgeous near-gem example of this desirable and ideal type coin issue for the Capped Bust design (large size). This CAC approved stunner displays frosty silver centers with light lime and golden tints making for incredible eye appeal. Only 54 other examples exist graded finer across both grading services.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $7,500 with its plus grade and $4,850 without it. We sold a comparable but less attractive piece in 2018 which brought $4,600 at auction with another sold in 2017 for $7,200. This beauty has a starting bid of $5,000 in this week’s auction.
Why we love it: A rare Carson City mint seated dollar from a tiny mintage of 3,150 coins. Only a pair of MS63 examples and an MS65 is graded finer by PCGS; this piece hails from an extremely limited survivorship of the already low mintage. Attractive smoke-gray and copper-gold surfaces with a solid strike and ample luster.
Value: The last example of this date and grade sold for $39,950 in April 2017, with this example coming in at quite a bit less. The PCGS Price Guide value is $37,500. An attractive example of this scarce date and desirable coin, there are not many opportunities finer (only two!) making this a fair and vital opportunity with a starting bid at just $29,500.
Why we love it: A slightly better date than the typical 1926 and 1932 examples, we rarely see any coins of this type in MS66 condition. Gorgeous, lustrous surfaces with blazing luster and fantastic eye appeal. From a lower mintage of 442,000 coins in which just three examples are graded finer at PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are a bit indifferent on the estimate for this piece at a respective $15,000 and $13,300. Even with those estimates, we are gladly giving bidders fair room with a starting bid in this week’s auction of only $12,000.
Why we love it: The stunning choice uncirculated Half Eagle is a fresh and original no motto type coin from the Civil War era. Beautiful light orange tints with frosty, lustrous surfaces. This coin comes from a relatively low mintage of 688,084 and looks high-end for the assigned grade as shown by the CAC approval.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $5,750 although a premium for the CAC approval is not factored into that estimate. The starting bid for this lovely CAC’d beauty is set reasonably at $5,850 in this week’s auction.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable Quarter Eagle from a mintage of just 17,781 out of the ever so popular New Orleans Mint. The limited marks for the grade, frosty luster and ideal yellow-gold coloring make for pleasing eye appeal. Only 21 other examples exist graded finer at PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are set comparably at a respective $15,000 and $15,700. Even with those estimates, we are gladly giving bidders plenty of room with a starting bid in this week’s auction of only $12,500.
Why we love it: A lustrous, original gem that is truly high-end for the grade as the CAC approval would show. Beautiful rose and orange highlights with blue peaks through the rim tints make for outstanding overall eye appeal. Only four pieces are graded finer by both services combined for the date and variety.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $55,000 with its plus grade, although a premium for the CAC approval is not factored into that estimate. The starting bid for this lovely CAC’d gem is set reasonably at $57,470 in this week’s auction.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable date in the Seated half dollar series that is also highly sought after by Carson City collectors. From a lower mintage of just 214,560 coins. This lustrous slider comes with frosty surfaces nearly, completely lacking in any signs of wear. Truly a choice AU with notably flashy, stunning eye appeal.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are a bit indifferent on the estimate for this piece at a respective $5,250 and $6,250. Even with those estimates and a most recent sale in 2017 of $4,935 of a comparable piece, our best price via Make Offer is still just $5,000.
Why we love it: This is a popular Pine Tree Shilling from the early Colonial American period making it quite an intriguing and historic piece. A wholesome choice VF example with deep coloring and a relatively clear, stronger strike for the issue. The detail and surface quality are right in line with the assigned grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide is inflated in our opinion as their estimate for this shilling is set at $5,300. The most recent sale brought $4,440. Our example is available for purchase via Make Offer for the low price of just $3,500.
Why we love it: The Hawaii-Waterhouse Token was not used as currency in Honolulu, rather it was an advertisement piece ordered to be produced by John Thomas Waterhouse. The obverse depicts King Kamehameha. A rare token offering original surfaces with moderate to deep charcoal devices and steely grey to dusty charcoal fields.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide is inflated in our opinion as their estimate for this token is set at $10,500. Our example is available for purchase via Make Offer for the low price of just $8,000. An exciting $2,500 discount!
Why we love it: Deeply toned gem example of this scarce date Indian Cent housed in an Old NGC Holder. Lovely wood-grain toning and excessive luster give this coin eye appeal that is both original and beautiful. Only seven coins exist finer graded by NGC with the same Red-Brown designation.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $2,500, although a premium for the CAC approval is not factored into that estimate. The best price for this scarce, lovely CAC’d Indian Cent gem is set reasonably at $2,250 via our Make Offer function.
Why we love it: The 1872 Two Cent Piece is the key to its set as the original mintage was just 65,000 with only a couple thousand surviving today. This CAC’d key date has original surfaces with ideal coloring and subdued wear. Wholesome choice VF coin that could easily pass for an XF40.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide is set a bit high in our opinion at $900 as their estimate does not include a premium for CAC. Our example of this key date 2-Cent Piece is available for purchase via Make Offer for the low price of just $875.
Why we love it: Scarce proof-only 20-cent piece issue with only 600 coins struck in total for this date making the 1878 quite desirable among collectors. Mostly blast white with a hint of rose toning along with a surprising lack of marks for the assigned grade. Flashy and original eye appeal in every aspect.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide is somewhat inflated in our opinion as their estimate for this Proof Twenty Cent piece is set at $4,000. Our example is available for purchase via Make Offer for the low price of just $3,200.
Why we love it: The 1884-O is a common yet popular Morgan Dollar date out of the New Orleans Mint. This choice uncirculated example displays gorgeous Deep Mirror Proof-like surfaces that depict the grades accurately. Mostly blast white with just a faint golden tint making for nice eye appeal.
Value: Our best price via our Make Offer function on the DLRC website is set at $225. The PCGS Price Guide has this DMPL Morgan valued at $240 leaving a potential buyer with a fair $15 discount.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable Quarter Eagle from a mintage of just 38,856 out of the ever so popular Charlotte Mint. The limited wear for the grade, remaining frosty luster and ideal yellow-gold coloring make for fantastic eye appeal. Only 18 other examples exist graded finer at PCGS.
Value: The most recent comparable sale came through an auction in 2018 bringing a total of $5,640. The PCGS Price Guide has the coin valued at $6,250. We proudly offer a best price lower than both numbers stated above at just $5,350 via Make Offer.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters