Coins We Love - June 14
his week has been a “busy” week for the coin department at DLRC. I (John) am back in the office for a few weeks after a week on the road working on the Hansen Collection, Jason is picking up a pair of collections along the Eastern Seaboard, Matt has gotten his hands dirty with a large bullion deal, Julia is processing an upcoming consignment of over 1,000 duplicates from the Hansen Collection, Marty is confirming that everything is done in an orderly manner and is recorded correctly in inventory, and Emily is enjoying a week of family vacation. While this is where all of the “glamour” is at David Lawrence, it’s certainly not the entirety of the situation. Mike spent 4 days with me on the road and returned to a typically busy week with his shipping department, where their usual several hundred orders have to hit the road. Imaging has been rocking out a record number of photos for these new collections, and Brian is keeping us all in-line and making sure that we get out of the office at a reasonable hour.
There’s always more going on behind the scenes at DLRC than one would suspect, but this at least gives you a quick glance into what happens when things are moving. We’re typically a little slower in processing during the summer as collectors hit the beach on vacation, but this June has started with an unusually quick pace. Overall, we’ll keep running until the ANA and hopefully things keep moving at this pace...if we were dealing in something else, we might not feel that way, but since we’re dealing with coins, it never feels like work. It’s truly enjoyable and it keeps things interesting every day! As for now, we’ll supply a few highlights from this week’s auction and items that are available on the website for purchase. As always, we hope to hear from you!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: The 1796 quarter is a one-year type coin that is highly sought by collectors as a first-year issue of all quarter dollars. This choice AU example of this key date rarity displays lovely rose and golden highlights with plenty of luster remaining in the fields. As one of our favorite early American issues, the 1796 25c has long been an elusive, yet popular item for type sets and is sure to gain some attention!
Value: Only one example graded PCGS AU53 has ever sold at auction fetching a very high $76,375 due to its CAC approval. Though with a CPG Value of $65,300 we feel that our reserve in our weekly auction of just $61,500 leaves bidders with plenty of room to get this incredible coin at a fair price.
Why we love it: The year of 1803 was the last year of production of circulation strike Bust Dollars before the major design changes of the 1830s. Thus, the 1803 was produced in a less prolific manner and is much tougher than the 1798-1799 issues of this type. This lustrous slider features gorgeous rose and gold tints throughout the obverse with light blue tones hiding beneath the stars around the rim. This piece is certainly high end for the grade and one of the nicest examples we’ve seen in some time!
Value: The PCGS Price Guide values this scarce early dollar type coin at $23,500 , but the most recent auction record came from January where a CAC-stickered piece sold for over $41,000! All in all, this is the only other PCGS example in this grade to sell since 2011 and we find the current reserve level of $20,000 to be a very fair level on an underrated date.
Why we love it: A very popular classic Commem from a low mintage of only 6,571 coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the independence of Texas in 1836. General Sam Houston and Stephen Austin, founders of the Republic and State of Texas depicted on reverse. This ultra-gem example is toned gorgeously with pristine, lustrous surfaces and is tied for the finest known at NGC.
Value: As an NGC-graded finest known coin we are able to offer this piece for far less than the PCGS Price Guide of $24,000 and even less than the anomaly that is the $13,200 sale in April of a comparable example. With a reserve of just $4,600 we see it being met very quickly.
Why we love it: This is one of our favorite issues of the series and this coin by far outshines any of the other MS66 examples that we’ve seen in some time. In fact, this coin was submitted several times by its previous owner for a grade of MS67! I think that it would certainly be worth trying once again, but that’s not our forte and we’ll pass along the opportunity to another owner. This gem example possesses incredibly high-quality eye appeal and features beautifully pristine, fully lustrous surfaces with perfect, original rich yellow-golden coloring. From a moderately low mintage of just 361,667 coins struck, in which only 19 are graded finer by PCGS and are all for the most part unattainable.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $9,500 with the most recent sale bringing $9,400 through auction last September. This stunning, lustrous gem example of this First Year of Issue Saint Gaudens is available in this week’s auction reserved at just $8,750 giving bidders a great shot at paying less than its recent auction prices realized.
Why we love it: This is a scarce and underrated New Orleans Mint Liberty Gold Eagle that becomes even more exciting as this particular example as the minor variety of a Repunched Mint mark. This lovely example possesses surfaces that are nearly proof-like as the fields have subtle mirrors on top of the gorgeous luster. Its originality, pretty yellow gold color, and lack of mostly any wear give it fantastic eye appeal. From a mintage of just 81,780.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide values this scarce O-Mint Gold Eagle at $9,500 in its pretty choice AU condition even with its minor variety. We have the coin reserved very fairly in this week’s auction $1,250 below that amount at just $8,250.
Why we love it: A scarce and highly desired Denver Minted key date in the Walking Liberty Half Dollar series. This choice uncirculated example comes with beautiful, rich golden toning with some rose highlights that you do not normally see on Walkers. The strong underlying luster is just the icing on the cake for this gorgeous eye appeal of this incredible coin.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are both very generous on their evaluations at $10,500 and $9,380, which does show the respect and admiration these reputable sources have for this key issue Walker. Our best price for this uniquely toned scarce Walker is set at just $6,750. Thousands below the price guides.
Why we love it: Proof Morgans have long been a popular item for collectors due to their size and propensity to be either gorgeously white or beautifully toned. However, the mintages are incredibly low compared to their circulation strike versions. This distinctly cameo looking proof Morgan Dollar comes from a tiny mintage of just 886 pieces struck. Mostly white surfaces with pristine mirrors and no notable blemishes make for fantastic eye appeal and overall quality so high that this CAC approved gem would certainly be considered high-end for the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide values this proof Morgan at $4,000; however, PCGS does not factor in any premium for a CAC Sticker into their estimates. There is a $2,500 price jump to MS65 that cannot be ignored. With that said, we are glad to offer a best price of just $3,800 via the Make Offer function even with the CAC approval.
Why we love it: A very scarce later Issue Quarter Eagle of the Charlotte Mint that is only bested by 16 other pieces at PCGS from a mintage of just 9,056 coins struck. Gorgeous original surfaces with light orange tints in the fields give this coin the ideal overall look for its grade as the chatter and marks are relatively subtle.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are exactly the same on their estimated value of this coin of $10,000, which should bring great assurance to bidders that the figure is accurate and fair. Even with that said we have our example reserved in this week’s auction at just $8,750.
Why we love it: A satiny CAC approved gem example of this slightly better date D-Mint Barber Half Dollar. It displays light golden-gray surfaces with amazing luster and no notable marks that make quite nice for the grade. The overall eye appeal is simply captivating in which this stunner is truly at the highest end of the grade given and the CAC approval is there to prove it.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $5,250 in MS66 but in MS67 you can tack on another zero as it jumps to $52,500 in value. Considering the premium of a CAC sticker which this coin has earned in being at the top end of its MS66 grade we think a best price of $5,950 is very fair and leaves the door open to limitless possibilities.
Why we love it: The ideal Trade Dollar type coin. This deeply, richly toned piece has a pretty rose-gold hue to it along with nicely subdued luster underneath. The coin is very true to the grade is every regard.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $1,100 with the CPG Value quite comparable at $1,020. This great NGC graded Trade Dollar type coin is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $875.
Why we love it: A far scarcer date to locate in the Gold Dollar set. Only 10,000 coins struck, this early San Francisco issue displays plenty of luster and nice overall yellow-gold tints. A very tough date to find in higher grades as only 4 pieces are graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The most recent sale of this date and grade brought $7,050 just 4 years ago. The PCGS Price Guide and CPG value it a bit higher at $9,000 and $8,750 respectively. The best price via Make Offer for our example is just $6,750, undercutting all three figures stated above.
Why we love it: A very desirable and popular key date to the Standing Liberty Quarter Series. This choice VG example creates an option for nearly all collectors to be able to obtain this scarce coin. Evenly worn surfaces that are completely original with nice detail and a very visible date for the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set accurately and fairly at $250. We are offering this key date Standing Liberty Quarter for outright purchase via Make Offer for that same $250.
Why we love it: Gorgeous, deep cameo proof issue with amazing overall eye appeal. From a mintage of just 73 coins, only a single Deep Cameo designated example is graded finer by PCGS. The approval by CAC is not surprising as these mirrors are pristine and saying this coin is of the highest quality for the assigned grade would be an understatement.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set reasonably for such a scarce and desirable proof Quarter Eagle at $11,000. We are offering this deep cameo gold piece for outright purchase via Make Offer for just $10,500.
Why we love it: Popular and scarce Commemorative issue from a mintage of just 11,400 pieces struck. Issued for the 100th anniversary of the admission of Missouri to the Union. This CAC approved gem example is pristine and also richly toned with very bright underlying luster shining through. Just 3 plus grades are finer at PCGS.
Value: he PCGS Price Guide values this scarce Commem at $5,500; however, PCGS does not factor in any premium for a CAC Sticker into their estimates. With that said, we are still offering a best price of just $5,000 even via the Make Offer function even with the CAC approval.
Why we love it: A fascinating lot of ten stunning, lustrous gem Franklin Half Dollar type coins. All the pieces display pristine mostly white gem surfaces that feature well-struck devices, few blemishes and strong luster. This is a great opportunity to acquire these attractive Franklin Halves for a fair price.
Value: Valued at a combined $520 by the PCGS Price Guide and $610 by CPG, this lot of gem Franklin Halves is available in auction with No Reserve.
Why we love it: A great, affordable type coin for the popular Capped Bust Half Dollar Series. This piece is a truly choice XF as the wear and color are light and even across the surfaces with mostly all details still sharp and clear. This coin can seemingly pass for a low-end AU as it is so surprisingly lustrous.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set extremely accurately at $250 in its choice XF grade. We are offering this affordable Capped Bust Half Dollar type coin below the price guide at just $225 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: A gorgeous near-gem example of this low mintage date Gold Dollar type coin from just 11,156 pieces struck. The coloring is incredible as it displays yellow gold throughout but within that there are some subtle orange-peel tones making this coin beautiful. The excessive luster and blemish-free surfaces make the coin look like a true MS65 gem.
Value: Between the CAC approval and pristine surface quality its somehow just an MS64, so the corresponding CPG Value is $1,020. Available via Make Offer at $1,000, which is an excellent potential value to collectors considering the upside this piece possesses.
Why we love it: A popular and desirable Key Date Barber Quarter from the San Francisco Mint that is famously known as being part of the “Big 3” along with the 1901-S and 1913-S This fully original low-grade example provides a great method for acquiring this scarce date for an affordable price. This Barber Quarter comes from a low, original mintage of just 188,039 coins struck.
Value: Valued at $525 by the PCGS Price Guide and $468 by CPG, this famous key date Barber Quarter is available in auction with No Reserve and is ready to be added to mostly any numismatic collection in this price range.
Why we love it: A lovely gem Jefferson Nickel Full Steps type coin that displays excessive amounts of stunning luster. It also features mostly white, pristine surfaces with a light tint of color. This high-grade example of this early Jefferson Nickel Issue is actually pretty scarce with these Full Steps.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $175 with the CPG Value much higher at $280. This gem Jefferson Nickel is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $225, which is quite reasonable as its falls right in the range of the price guides.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters