Coins We Love: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Numismatics
While we were closed for a few days last week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we offered a few different sales events on our website as well as a trio of our weekly auctions. Though the general opinion in the market has been that things slow down in the last quarter of the year, the past long weekend proved differently. Our website was as active as we’ve seen it in recent months and coins of all sizes, types, and values were moving to new homes. Overall, we were thrilled to see the activity and hope that the fever continues during the month of December. While we’re not planning on attending any shows during the month of December for the first time in years, we still have hundreds of coins from the Hansen Collection coming up in auction as well as purchases that we’ve made through the office that are beginning to take over our vault. Our buying has been quite impressive in recent months and because of this, we’ve had more fresh new coins to sell than we’ve had in years.
This isn’t intended to discourage anyone who does have coins to sell, in fact it should encourage it! While we’re not attempting to offer phone books of items unreserved in our weekly auctions, we’re aiming to offer the best quality, service, and values that we can, and we’re proud to increase our inventory as it only allows for more variety for our customers. Overall, we’re very optimistic for the month of December, and we’re looking forward to getting into the New Year at the FUN show in Orlando as heavy buyers as always. Until next week, we hope you find something of interest here or just enjoy the beautiful coin photography featured below!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: A gorgeous gem example of this slightly better date Barber Half Dollar from the D.L. Hansen Collection. This CAC’d stunner is of the highest registry quality in which it is tied for the finest known. Pristine blast white surfaces covered in blazing luster.
Value: The most recent auction record of a similar example sold in 2015 for $22,325. The PCGS Price Guide is comparable at $22,500. Our white, lustrous gem example of this lower mintage Barber Half has a starting bid of just $21,000 even with its CAC approval.
Why we love it: An early incredibly rare proof issue from the Liberty Seated Quarter Series. Amazing specimen with boldly struck devices that contrast noticeably against its flashy mirrors. From an extremely low mintage of just 10 coins, this piece is certainly for those that prefer a limited mintage and an item that is purely irreplaceable.
Value: This coin, considering its minuscule mintage and D.L. Hansen pedigree, defines the phrase “one of a kind” and is incomparable to any price guide. However, our starting bid in this week’s auction of $24,000 for this amazingly well-struck rare proof Seated Quarter is in our opinion a fair and reasonable value.
Why we love it: Also known as Judd-1635, this is the world-famous Stella named for the 5-pointed star on the reverse. Just 425 of these coins were struck, mostly for the purposes of handing out to Congressmen to examine. With lovely rose-gold tint and stark originality, this piece is super high end for the grade and attractive as it should be. In fact, we view the coin as a Proof 63 when it comes to quality and technicality, but we're happier to have it as a nice, original CAC’d Proof 62.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG value on this coin are extremely comparable at a respective $140,000 and $144,000. This closeness in estimates should bring potential bidders great assurance on the accuracy of those numbers. The starting bid in this week’s auction is set reasonably at just $137,500.
Why we love it: We rarely get to offer a coin with the coveted Gold CAC sticker, but to explain why is a bit difficult. CAC states that a coin with a gold sticker would garner a sticker at the next grade level (65 in this case). In fact, we think that this coin would grade at least a 65, if not a possible 66. That being said, we love the coin and don’t need to play the “grading game” to sell a nice coin! Pristine blast white surfaces covered in blazing luster. This coin is a true gem that is well deserving of its CAC approval as it has the surface quality and eye appeal of a coin a grade or even two higher.
Value: This coin, considering its elusive, coveted Gold CAC sticker is unparalleled and therefore it would be impossible to compare to any price guide in the current grade. A MS65 CAC’d example recently garnered $5,640 and $7,500 in a recent auction making this coin available via Make Offer for $6,000 a fair value.
Why we love it: The 1873-CC Liberty double eagle was produced at a lower mintage of just 22,410 pieces. Due to rough storage and transport, most examples are quite marked-up with heavy bag-marks. The present specimen is a bit of an exception and is quite lustrous with quality eye appeal. The appropriate amount of marks for the grade are noticeable, but overall the piece is quite appealing.
Value: The most recent auction record of a similar example sold in August of this year for $22,800. The PCGS Price Guide and CPG value on this coin are extremely comparable at a respective $25,000 and $23,600. The starting bid in this week’s auction is set at just $20,000.
Why we love it: A CAC approved ultra-gem example of this popular P-Mint Walker from the D.L. Hansen Collection. The eye appeal is lovely with its beautifully natural lustrous surfaces and a light pink-orange tint. Just one plus graded example is graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The most recent auction record of a similar example sold in June of this year for $7,344 and the PCGS Price Guide is comparable at $7,000. Our toned ultra-gem Walking Liberty Half Dollar has a starting bid of just $6,250 even with its CAC approval.
Why we love it: A choice uncirculated example of this scarce, early Gold Dollar issue struck at the popular Dahlonega Mint. From a low mintage of just 9,882 pieces struck, in which just eight others are graded finer by PCGS. Flashy, attractive surfaces with ideal yellow-gold coloring and plenty of luster.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $8,500 in its choice uncirculated condition. We gladly offer a best price via the Make Offer function of just $7,750. That is a solid $750 discount off the price guide for this incredible D-Mint Gold Dollar.
Why we love it: A gorgeous choice cameo proof example of this rare 3-Dollar Princess Gold from the D.L. Hansen Collection. Gleaming cameo fields with nice reflectivity when turned in hand. Frosty devices stand-out nicely, with pleasant orange-gold tints. From a lot mintage of just 106 pieces, far fewer have survived and are available for collectors.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG value on this coin are set respectively at $15,000 and $12,700. Our starting bid is set far lower giving potential bidders plenty of room at just $11,900.
Why we love it: Scarce and desirable early Liberty Double Eagle minted in New Orleans from the D.L. Hansen Collection. From a lower mintage of just 190,000 pieces struck in which just eight others are graded finer by PCGS. Nice eye appeal for the grade with limited marks and radiant greenish gold prooflike surfaces.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $52,500 without any premium factored in for its great D.L. Hansen pedigree. We gladly offer a starting bid in this week’s auction of just $48,650. That is a solid $3,850 discount off the price guide for this scarce, early O-Mint Double Eagle.
Why we love it: A slightly better date type coin within the Indian Cent Series. This rich, bright red example features incredible coloring and blazing luster that, along with its immaculate gem surfaces, make for perfect eye appeal. This Indian Cent Issue has only two other examples in existence graded finer by PCGS with the Red Color Designation.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $6,250. It is available for purchase at the low price of just $4,975 via Make Offer. That is an entire $1,275 below the PCGS Price Guide value for this blazing red gem example of this scarcer type coin from the Indian Cent Series.
Why we love it: A beautifully superb ultra-gem Buffalo Nickel of fantastic registry quality. Just five other examples of this issue with plus grades are graded finer by PCGS. Lovely golden red rim tints with frosty centers, this piece is certainly high end for the grade with stunning overall eye appeal.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $6,500 in its ultra-gem condition. We gladly offer a best price via our Make Offer function of $4,500. That is a generous $2,000 discount off the price guide for this stunning toned Buffalo Nickel.
Why we love it: Beautifully toned choice uncirculated example of this Draped Bust Quarter. From a lower mintage of 121,394 coins struck in which just 10 examples are graded finer by PCGS. Light golden centers yield outwardly to bands of plum, indigo, and seafoam green. Shimmering mint luster visible under the vibrant toning on both the obverse and reverse.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG value on this coin are set respectively at $22,500 and $19,400. Our starting bid is set far lower giving potential bidders plenty of room at just $16,350.
Why we love it: This lovely, affordable near-gem type coin from the Braided Hair Half Cent series displays pristine surfaces, nearly completely without any blemishes with attractive, subtle luster. It features ideal coloring for the issue along with premium eye appeal as it seems as if it could pass as a red-brown coin.
Value: Offered via Make Offer for $450, this example has a PCGS Price Guide of $600 and a CPG Price of $618. It’s an excellent price for this appealing, near-gem example of this great Half Cent type coin.
Why we love it: An affordable and beautiful near-gem type coin for the Indian Cent series with pretty, bright red coloring and pristine, nearly blemish-free surfaces. The lustrous fields, even red color and well-struck devices give this attractive, fully original gem nice eye appeal.
Value: PCGS lists this date and grade for $250. We are offering this example for $225 via Make Offer, and we think it is a great opportunity to own such an attractive coin at a reasonable price.
Why we love it: A scarce and popular key date Buffalo Nickel from the San Francisco Mint. This affordable choice VF example displays completely original toned surfaces that are worn lightly and evenly, making this coin a fair representation of the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has a value of $350 for this date and grade. However, we are offering this example for $300 via Make Offer, and we think it is a great opportunity to own such a great key date S-Mint Buffalo Nickel at a sensible price.
Why we love it: A great type coin for the famously desirable Capped Bust design. This choice AU example is toned naturally across these lustrous surfaces that scream originality. The surface quality and detail are in line with what is expected from this grade. Light even wear with no super detracting blemishes and crisp detail.
Value: Our best price via our Make Offer function on the DLRC website is set at $500. The PCGS Price Guide has this Capped Bust type coin valued at $575 leaving a potential buyer with a $75 discount.
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 is set at $225. The PCGS Price Guide has this DMPL Morgan valued at $240, a fair $15 discount for potential buyers.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters