Coins We Love - March 7
Some weeks are easier to pontificate on the ongoings of DLRC than others. This week has been an absolute whirlwind. We’re back from our abbreviated trip to Baltimore in full strength, and we’ve had another record week of orders on Monday (Shout out to Mike, Mary, Katie, and Kathy in our shipping department!) All of that being said, it feels like we haven’t had time to breathe. Typically, we designate Thursday and Friday as catch-up days so that we can feel like we end the week with our head out of the sand. At the moment, I’m thinking we might be here all weekend if that’s our goal! Anyhow, we’ll plug away until we can’t do any more and hopefully next week brings a more interesting comment on the office, the coin market, and life in general. Until then, we wish you a happy first week of March and don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: A popular and scarce high-grade Gold dollar from a New Orleans Mintage of just 140,000 coins. This near-gem is of true registry quality as the originality and beauty exceeds the assigned grade, and PCGS only views two others as finer. Beautifully lustrous with no noticeable marks.
Value: In this near-gem grade, it is excessively rare and truly underrated. PCGS has graded only two finer and a sale of the same date and grade combo from PCGS has not occurred in over a decade! The PCGS Price Guide does value the coin at $13,000 with the CPG at $11,500. This piece is reserved in this Sunday’s auction for just $11,750.
Why we love it: The 1914-D Lincoln Cent is a popular key date that is highly desired across numismatics in which it becomes even more rare and highly sought after in gem condition with full red color. This gem example displays blazing red, pristine surfaces that feature strong luster and no detracting blemishes, giving the coin fantastic eye appeal. There are only 17 other pieces graded finer by PCGS with the Red designation.
Value: The most recent sale of this exact date and grade combination in PCGS Secure Holder realized $14,400 at an auction in July of 2018. The CPG Value as well as the PCGS Price Guide have this date and grade valued at $14,500, yet this example offered here in this week’s auction is reserved at just $13,000.
Why we love it: A scarce, earlier issue CC-Mint Liberty Gold Eagle from a low mintage of just 16,767 coins struck. This choice AU example possesses strong striking along with original, rich golden coloring and some subtle yet pretty signs of remaining luster. Those characteristics combined with the lack of any detracting wear make for nice eye appeal for the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value and CPG Value for this coin are set respectively at $17,500 and $15,100, which we find the latter to be far fairer and more accurate. Our NGC graded choice AU example of this scarce CC-Mint Gold Eagle is available for outright purchase for thousands below both price guides at just $13,000 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable two-year type coin Flowing Hair Half Dollar housed in an Old Green Label Holder. This wholesome choice XF example displays light, even wear that barely hinders the devices of this historic design. Those solid remaining details and pretty, original surfaces and coloring could make this piece potentially pass for a low-end AU.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value and CPG Value for this coin are set respectively at $10,500 and $12,100, which we find the former to be far more accurate. Our pretty, original choice XF example of this early Half Dollar type coin is available for outright purchase far below both price guides at just $9,500 via the Make Offer Function.
Why we love it: A rare Civil War Date Half Eagle from a miniscule mintage of just 4,170 coins struck, in which surprisingly at just an AU50, only 16 pieces are graded finer by PCGS. This relatively affordable rarity displays lovely lightly toned surfaces with subtle signs of remaining luster and a small amount of even wear that makes the CAC approval unsurprising since this coin seems like the perfect AU53.
Value: The most recent sale of this rare date graded AU50 by PCGS brought $11,750 at auction without CAC approval, and their price guide values it at $12,500 one grade up. Considering this information, we feel that our lovely under-graded example of this scarce Civil War gold issue comes at an excellent value with a reserve of just $12,500 in this week’s auction.
Why we love it: The Long Island Commemorative is quite popular from a lower mintage of 81,826 coins authorized to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the first white settlement on Long Island by Dutch colonists. This stunning CAC approved, registry quality ultra-gem is tied for the finest known at PCGS and displays perfect eye appeal from its pristine, lustrous surfaces that are covered in rich rainbow toning.
Value: This coin has a PCGS Price Guide Value of $9,500 with its plus grade but not yet factoring in any premium for the CAC approval. This gorgeously toned immaculate ultra-gem example with a CAC Sticker is available in this week’s auction reserved at an incredible value, thousands below the price guide for just $6,200.
Why we love it: A better date O-Mint Seated Dime whose desirability and scarcity increases greatly when found in gem condition like ours here as there are only two others graded finer by PCGS. This piece is pristine with no detracting marks and subtle underlying luster that complement its unique toning nicely. This gorgeous color consists of a stunning mixture of orange, gold and a hint of rose on both with some blue-green on the obverse.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value and CPG Value for this coin are set respectively at $5,500 and $5,620. Our pretty, toned gem example of this scarce O-Mint Dime is available for purchase for hundreds less than both price guides at just $5,000 via the Make Offer Function.
Why we love it: A scarcer proof-only 3-Cent Nickel Issue from an extremely low mintage of just 510 pieces struck. An ultra-gem that belongs in a high-end registry set as the coin is tied for the finest known at PCGS and displays premium eye appeal. There are no marks noticeable enough to speak of and it’s the lovely, light rose-gold toning that completes the excessive beauty of the piece.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this registry quality, finest known gem is set at $7,500. Our pristine rose-gold toned example of this proof-only Three-Cent Nickel Issue is available for outright purchase for $1,250 less at just $6,250 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: An attractively wholesome example of this much better date Indian Cent that will not break the bank. This pretty choice VF has original chocolate brown coloring and relatively light wear especially on the reverse, which makes this piece an accurate example of the grade.
Value: The CPG Value comes in at $325 with the PCGS Price Guide right on the same mark of $325 for this scarcer Indian Cent. With a best price via Make Offer of $275, this is a perfect opportunity to acquire a great coin at an even better value being $50 below both price guides.
Why we love it: A reasonable yet attractive New Orleans Mint Issue Liberty Seated Half Dime. A CAC approved choice uncirculated example of this first year of the new legend-obverse design type. The eye appeal is lovely as the surfaces are mostly bright white with subtle toning, strong luster and so few detracting marks that make it look high-end for the assigned grade.
Value: The CPG Value for this coin is set at $390, which does not even factor in the premium of the CAC sticker. Our beautiful choice uncirculated example of this popular O-Mint Half Dime is available at just $335 via Make Offer even with its CAC approval.
Why we love it: A relatively affordable example of this scarce Draped Bust Quarter type coin. The first Quarter produced by the United States Mint that is easily accessible to mostly all collectors in lower grades like this as the 1796 and 1804 are key rarities. This piece is not too badly worn for the VG grade and is completely original in all aspects.
Value: The CPG Value comes in at $650 with the PCGS Price Guide right on the same mark of $650 for this early, scarce Busy Quarter type coin. Available via Make Offer at $525, this is an excellent value to acquire this piece of Draped Bust Coinage being $125 below both price guides.
Why we love it: An intriguing lot of eight 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: The PCGS Price Guide reflects a combined value of $224 for this lot of gem Franklin Halves. The group is available for purchase right around that same price of just $225 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: A popular, more common O-Mint Morgan, in which this example earns a completely new level of importance as it comes from the famously known GSA Hoard. This coin is a fair representation of its choice uncirculated grade as it features just a few notable marks that keep it out of a 64 holder. Otherwise, the luster and faint golden tint give the piece quite pleasing eye appeal.
Value: The GSA Hoard is one of the most well-known and commonly collected hoards in numismatics but among Morgan’s, it is by far the most prolific. It commands a premium for its historic numismatic background leaving it incomparable to price guides for ordinary 1884-O dollars. We feel that our best price via Make Offer of $250 is both reasonable and simply a fantastic value.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters