Coins We Love: January 23
We're finally feeling a bit more caught up here in the DLRC Headquarters, and things have started moving smoothly once again now that the FUN Show rush is over. We're preparing for our next outing at the end of February to the Atlanta Mid-Winter ANA show. We have more coins coming up from the Hansen Collection in the next few weeks as well as some interesting deals that are in the works. One of the best parts about being in the coin business is that every day is different and that’s precisely what we enjoy.
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: This stunning Indian Head cent has a population of only two, with none higher at PCGS. 1872 is a notoriously difficult date to find in high grades, as the planchets used were often of lower quality, frequently resulting in streaked fields. By contrast, this piece offers smooth surfaces and clear devices. An absolutely special piece by any means, it would be perfect for the advanced Registry Collector.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide gives a conservative $55,000 value, while the CPG comes in at $48,400. The last auction record, from August of 2019, was for the other MS66 which realized $54,000. While they may be the same technical grade, this piece has significantly higher eye appeal and is sure to attract much more attention. It’s also worth noting that the record auction price is from 2007, when one went for a whopping $126,500. Offered with a Starting Bid of $66,000, this piece could be the beginning of a truly special set.
Why we love it: This lightly circulated Charlotte half eagle features light, even wear across the devices and original greenish-gold surfaces. Plenty of original luster remains, creating a bright example. The 1851-C half eagles are notoriously poorly struck with abraded surfaces and harsh cleanings, but this coin’s original surfaces proudly distinguish it from the stock for an already rare date.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide comes in at $5,500, with the CPG at an overly conservative $4,000. Offered via Make Offer for just $4,000, we think that this piece is an ideal addition to a Southern Branch Mint Gold type set.
Why we love it: One of the lowest mintage O-Mint Seated Liberty quarters, this piece is mottled with apricot toning over the lustrous surfaces. Sharp devices and clean fields put this example in the top tier for the grade, as evidenced by the CAC approval. You could say this coin is just peachy.
Value: The CPG puts this at $5,940, while the PCGS Price Guide seems to be wholly inaccurate for this scarce issue. However, this piece is definitively high end for the grade, attractively toned, and comes with the Hansen provenance, which elevates it above the average MS62. Available via Make Offer for just $5,500 this CAC-stickered better date issue is a bargain at this level.
Why we love it: This lustrous beauty is aglow with gorgeous red surfaces. The fields are smooth and frosty with exceedingly subtle shifts in tone. With a population of 18 and only one higher at PCGS, this is an excellent fit for anyone working on a registry set of Lincolns.
Value: With the PCGS Price Guide at $7,500 and the CPG at $8,120, this piece is a steal at the starting bid of only $5,750. Don’t miss out on a chance to add this superb coin to your set!
Why we love it: A very popular Carson City issue, this especially original piece is a solid example of the date. Approved by CAC, the devices are clear and lightly accented by halos of darker gold toning.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $4,500 while CPG sits at $4,310. Our Make Offer price of $4,100 is right in line with both, especially when considering the scarce CAC-sticker.
Why we love it: The 1895-O Morgan dollars were infamously poorly struck. At the time, Mint workers were only concerned with producing dollars as quickly as possible, knowing that the majority would go into storage instead of circulation. It didn’t matter to the workers if they were pretty… so they weren’t. In fact, dies were spaced slightly further apart than the standard, in order to lengthen the life of the die, resulting in weak devices. Even disregarding this piece’s stunning album toning, it joins an incredibly small minority of well struck dollars, existing as a rare high-grade example.
Value: The CPG comes in at $393,200 and the PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $375,000. The only notable auction records are from 2012 and 2018, the most recent of which realized $336,000 for the same specimen offered here. Starting below that price and significantly below the price guides, this coin offers a lot of room for bidding as it is starting at just $325,000.
Why we love it: This high AU exhibits a clear die clash on both sides around Liberty’s profile and the left side of the wreath. Die clashes are common for the series, making this a lovely type coin. From a Civil War-era mintage of only 5,000 pieces, this example is high end for the grade and still shows specks of luster.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $6,250, while the CPG sits at $7,190. Recent auction records have come in closer to the PCGS estimate, which is consistent with our starting bid of $6,250. However, this coin represents the top tier of AU58 examples, and we fully expect it to outperform lower-quality pieces of the same grade.
Why we love it: This stunning early copper is awash with tones of turquoise, violet, seafoam green, and gold – in the right light. In others, it appears with an even chocolate color, making it a good fit in just about any set. The lightly frosted devices contrast with reflective fields for a near-cameo effect. From a mintage of only 20 pieces, this grade has a population of four with only two higher at PCGS.
Value: With a PCGS Price Guide value of $15,000 and CPG value of $13,300, our asking price of $10,500 via Make Offer is a steal for such a high-end beauty.
Why we love it: A common date, but a very uncommon grade. This piece has a population of only nine with but one higher at NGC. Satiny fields highlight devices dripping with luster, all in an even original color. This issue is crisp and well struck, making it an excellent example, ideal for a gorgeous type set.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $16,500, while the CPG suggests $11,600. That’s a pretty big gap, but our starting bid of only $8,700 undercuts both by quite a bit.
Why we love it: This incredibly rare variety only has three graded at PCGS, of which this is the most affordable. Don’t misunderstand – this is a gorgeous piece. Even, medium-chocolate surfaces still show traces of mint luster and highlight detailed devices. The reverse of 1795 is exceptionally clear and distinctive, making this piece an outright steal.
Value: Neither CPG nor the PCGS Price Guide has a value assigned for this Sheldon variety, but the PCGS Price Guide value is at $30,000. Add in the rarity of the S-98 variety, and you have an incredible bargain available via Make Offer at $23,000.
Why we love it: The Gettysburg commemorative was intended to be struck in 1938 for the 75th anniversary of the important Civil War battle but was ultimately dated 1936. This example has sharp details and a satiny luster hidden behind the eye-catching mottled toning. While technically minted only 73 years after the battle, this coin is a powerful tribute to the watershed conflict.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $6,000, with the CPG at $2,120 for MS67 and $18,200 for MS68. Recent auction records have come in closer to $5,000, so the starting bid of $4,900 is quite fair. With only three graded higher, this eye catcher is ready for some active bidding.
Why we love it: This phenomenal top-pop beauty has clean white surfaces and a strike indicative of the era. We know of only one other piece in a gem grade, but no auction records for any in MS65 have been found. This is a prime opportunity to own an incredible piece of history in virtually unrivaled condition.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide doesn’t assign a value for any grades in this date, and auction records top out at a PCGS MS63 example from 2013. Available via Make Offer at a steep discount from the original price for just $18,000.
Why we love it: This is a great example of the popular Knob Ear variety. It’s immediately noticeable by the humorously large knob on Liberty’s ear, caused by a small chip in the die. This piece is an even medium brown with clear fields and sharp devices for the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide comes in at $300 with the CPG at $312. One of our favorite (because it’s so clear!) varieties in the series, it is available via Make Offer for just $275.
Why we love it: This slider is dripping with luster across its golden surfaces. The 1914-D is a semi-key of the Buffalo nickel series, and this particular piece would make a fantastic addition to an AU registry set. We have no doubt that this belongs in a high AU or low MS holder.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this coin at $375 and the CPG comes in at $390. This slider is high end for the grade and offered at a discounted $350 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: Here is a chance to own a piece of history at a discount. This VG details quarter served its time in circulation, surely purchasing food, clothes, and housewares for countless families and rattling around in pockets. Somewhere along the line someone decided to polish it up. Maybe that wasn’t the best choice by today’s standards, but it does give you the opportunity to add this well-loved piece of early silver to your collection at quite a bargain.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide ranges a problem-free VG example from $500 to $650, and the CPG suggests $624 in VG8. This piece is being offered for just $325 via Make Offer. Give this hard-working coin a permanent home in your collection, whether as a pocket piece or a fantastic historic conversation starter!
Why we love it: This piece is a nice circulated example of a key date in the Standing Liberty quarter series. Even wear and attractive color abound, creating a coin that will fit in nicely with any circulated set.
Value: The PCG Price Guide suggests $550 and the CPG is at $520. We feel this piece is fairly strong for the grade and it accordingly has a Make Offer price of $485.
Why we love it: The 1870-S had a very high mintage, but the concentration of collectors at the time were near the Philadelphia Mint, meaning very few S-mints made their way into collections before entering circulation. As a result, very few uncirculated examples are known. This piece is a delightful example of a high-quality circulated issue. It certainly served its time in commerce but was withdrawn earlier than its many contemporaries and was preserved in a lovely XF state.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide recommends $400, while the CPG is at $488. We’re asking even a bit less at just $400 via Make Offer for this strong XF beauty.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters