Coins We Love - July 12
This week finds most of us in the office while Gary paces the bourse floor at the Summer FUN show in Orlando. While this makes for a very boring message in this week’s CWL, it hopefully will bring hundreds of new coins to the website. So, we have a different sort of message this week. Recently Emily, our favorite editor of the CWL emails and the person many of you speak with on the phone had a chance to visit her first coin show, so we asked her to chime in with a few thoughts…we hope that you enjoy them below.
Sincerely,
John Brush & Your Friends at David Lawrence
Adventures of a Numismatic Novice
By Emily Bateman
A lot of our office life is centered around coin shows. I book the flights and hotels, they go and bring back boxes of coins, I scan in all the new inventory, and it would move along the line to be made ready for auction. Then the process would happen all over again, sometimes within the same month. The guys would occasionally complain but still seem to have a good time and do a lot of business in only a few days, all while in interesting cities.
After two years of working here, I asked if I could go experience one from the other side. Maybe I would hate it. Maybe I would find my true calling. How would I know if I didn’t go and see what it was like? JB said yes to my request, I booked my hotel and flight and I was off to the Summer Baltimore Show (with supervision, of course). Read More on our Recent Blog Post
Why we love it: The 1839 Gobrecht dollar is much scarcer than the 'type coin' 1836 Gobrecht, even though it is valued comparably. This coin features frosty gold tints throughout with subtle light orange highlights on the obverse. This near-gem piece displays an unusually gorgeous eye appeal as most examples are quite unattractive and dark. One of the 300 pieces struck in 1839, an estimate of 60-75 pieces are expected to exist, with there being only 11 examples graded finer by NGC.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide sits at $100,000, but this is a variety and grade that rarely trades hands. In fact, another Proof 64 has not sold since 2010 (!) and a Proof 65 recently garnered $164,500. With a Proof 63 also bringing $67,500 last year, we think that this piece is a nice value in this week’s auction with the reserve set at just $80,000! That is a generous 5-figure discount off the PCGS Price Guide value for this famous and highly desired numismatic rarity!
Why we love it: Living in the hotbed of the Confederacy, Virginia, we love seeing these and find that they move quite quickly in today’s collectibles market. A lovely, toned example of this rare and famous restrike of the Confederate States of America Half Dollar, the coin displays lustrous, beautifully toned surfaces that feature hues of deep lavender with highlights of blue-green. There are only four originals known to exist, making these restrikes the only collectible designs. Highly sought after by collectors of Confederate coinage, only 500 of these historic rarities were struck around 1879 with just ten graded finer at PCGS. There is an exhibit in the nearby Confederate Museum of Richmond, but this piece grades much finer and is certainly of museum quality for those needing a tax write-off!
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $17,500. It is available in this week’s auction with the reserve set reasonably low at just $14,000! That is a sizeable $3,500 discount off the PCGS Price Guide value for this popular and scarce restrike of the Confederate States of America Half Dollar!
Why we love it: The 1895 Morgan Dollar is famously known as a proof-only rarity and more specifically as the set-stopper to the entire series. Between the fact that there were no business strikes produced and the mintage was limited to 880 coins, this coin is found desirable by any advanced numismatic enthusiast and of course, especially by collectors of the series. This gem cameo example displays pristine proof surfaces with no detracting blemishes and incredible eye appeal.
Value: We never have trouble selling 1895 Proof Morgans, in fact, when we’re looking for them, we simply cannot locate them! Luckily, this piece comes to us as part of the Midsummer Silver Dollar Collection and we are sure to see it sell! The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $94,500. It is available in this week’s auction with the reserve of $80,000! That is a high, nearly $15,000 discount off the PCGS Price Guide value for this stunning gem example of this popular, key Morgan Dollar Rarity!
Why we love it: This gorgeous replica marks the centenary anniversary of the renaissance of American coinage designs, specifically the famous and desirable Standing Liberty Quarter series. This nearly perfect modern commemorative issue was struck in .9999 fine 24-karat gold and is housed in a First Strike Holder.
Value: We have a number of these available and would love to move a few this week, so we’re offering a special deal on these! The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $575. It is available for purchase at the reasonable price of just $425 via Make Offer! That is a solid discount of over $100 off the PCGS Price Guide value for this stunning issue commemorating a famous and desirable series in numismatic history!
Why we love it: A lovely registry-quality gem from the Barber Dime series with nearly perfect, beautifully toned surfaces. The color this coin possesses features pretty golden highlights and deep blue-green hues. This toning along with the underlying luster and lack of blemishes make for premium eye appeal. This piece is tied for the finest known in existence graded by PCGS.
Value: The CPG lists this piece at $10,000 with the PCGS Price Guide at $9,000 and is available for purchase via Make Offer at $8,350. A fair price for this arguably under-graded, CAC approved ultra-gem Barber Dime that is tied for the finest known at its grading service!
Why we love it: This is our favorite date in the Draped Bust Half Dollar series that is far tougher than most non-specialists would suspect. In fact, it becomes nearly impossible to find in high grades. This example displays minimally worn, lustrous surfaces with gorgeous orange-gold toning that creates unique, captivating eye appeal. Hailing from a low mintage of just 29,890 coins struck in which only nine coins are graded finer by PCGS and only two finer CAC-stickered pieces.
Value: The CPG value for this coin is set at $33,900 with the PCGS Price Guide much higher at $39,000. There is a previous auction record of nearly $29,000 and slightly over $30,000 in recent years, but with the AU58 CAC example bringing over $70,000, we think that this coin is a fantastic value at less than half the price. Reserved in this week’s auction for just $31,500, we think that this piece is an excellent long-term value as you simply will not see more of these come out of the woodwork. Compared to a 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle, this is an amazing value for the true collector.
Why we love it: A scarce and highly sought-after Liberty Eagle struck during the famous Gold Rush year of 1849. The eye appeal of this historic issue is ideal for the grade as there are a minimal amount of marks, strong luster and attractive coloring throughout. This very early Liberty Gold Issue comes from a moderately low mintage of just 653,618 coins struck in which there are only 11 others graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The CPG lists this coin at $8,750 with PCGS Price Guide coming in at $8,250. It is available via Make Offer for the reasonable amount of just $7,750. That is a solid $500 discount off the PCGS Price Guide Value and double the discount off the CPG Value for this rare and desirable Gold Rush year gold piece!
Why we love it: Any No Motto Seated Dollar issue is extremely difficult to locate in gem condition. PCGS has only graded 70 coins this high in the entire series, and for the Civil War year of 1861, there are only five graded at PCGS in MS65 or finer. This issue is known to have significant problems with bag marks in which this example uniquely does not, with just few on the obverse that do not detract at all from the stunning eye appeal. It displays strong, smooth luster over brilliant white surfaces with a light, original golden hue. This piece is perfect as gem Seated material for an impressive, high-end type or a date set.
Value: We have actually handled this coin twice previously, having sold it for $61,000 (to a dealer!) in 2011. It found its way back to us somehow from a completely unexpected source, but we welcomed it home. With the CPG coming in at the 2011 wholesale value of $61,100, this piece seems like a nice value at far less in this week’s auction. It is available in this week’s auction with the reserve set drastically lower at $45,000. This potential offer comes in well into the 5-figures below the CPG value for lovely coin that truly defines a condition rarity perfectly!
Why we love it: A gorgeous and incredibly unique Half Cent gem with immaculate, lustrous surfaces that feature captivating coloring. This stunning piece displays pretty, smooth brown tones with blazing red-orange highlights around the rims, creating some of the most beautiful eye appeal we have seen from any Half Cent. This later Half Cent issue comes from a low mintage of just 55,358 coins originally struck in which it is tied for the finest known graded by PCGS with the Red-Brown color designation.
Value: This is truly a one of a kind piece to add to a high-end collection of Half Cents or to an advanced collection as its beauty comes second to none. The coin is deserving of its CAC approval as it possesses the surfaces and eye appeal of a MS67 making the price of $14,000 via Make Offer, very fair!
Why we love it: A lightly toned gem example of this affordable later date issue Shield Nickel type coin. This coin features subtle golden tints throughout with solid luster and well-struck devices that are nearly completely blemish-free making for nice eye appeal.
Value: Available via Make Offer for $450, this example has a PCGS Price Guide of $525 and a CPG Price of $572. This pretty, lightly toned gem example of this popular Shield Nickel type coin can be yours at a fair, low price!
Why we love it: A gorgeous gem example of this slightly better date Buffalo Nickel. This coin displays perfect eye appeal as its incredibly strong luster, subtle rose-gold toning and lack of marks make it truly captivating. There are only three examples of this early Denver minted Buffalo Nickel graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The CPG lists this piece at $7,190 with the PCGS Price Guide at $8,000, and it is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $6,250. An excellent value for this lustrous, lightly toned gem example of this early, scarcer issue Buffalo Nickel!
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 $500, this example has a PCGS Price Guide of $600 and a CPG Price of $618. It’s an excellent price for this attractive, near-gem example of this great Half Cent type coin!
Until next time, thanks for stopping by and sharing some time with us to browse our Coins We Love.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters