Coins We Love - May 9
Thanks for all the comments regarding last week’s message on the Spike 150 Event at the Utah State Capitol. I was impressed by the number of connections that many of you had to that bit of history, and I love hearing back from the readers. Sitting at the keyboard without an audience is a rather terrifying thing sometimes, but when the responses start coming back, it reminds us why people enjoy these peeks into our numismatic lives.
This week was a return to normalcy in the office. It felt like it had been too long since having a normal week in the office, but we were ultra-productive in getting coins listed, imaged, and ready to go as well as working on a few new marketing projects. Next week brings about another active week with auction lot viewing in New York and a PCGS Invitational Show in New Orleans, in addition to daily office work. I tried to explain to my wife that “coins never sleep” but she didn’t quite understand. Well, if you’ve been on our website at 3am, you probably get it… Anyhow, I’ll stop the rambling here and will leave you with some coins below to whet the numismatic appetite. We hope that you enjoy this week’s offerings and we’ll look forward to next week on the road!
Numismatically Yours,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: One of the big three key date Barber Quarters, the 1913-S comes from the lowest mintage of any 20th century silver coin issue with just 40,000 coins struck and few preserved in high grades. This lovely, lustrous gem has stunning, mostly white surfaces with a small splash of toning that are simply pristine in every sense. The excessive luster and lack of detracting marks make for gorgeous eye appeal.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value estimates this piece at $42,500 with the CPG Value right on point with it at $42,400. This immaculate gem example of this famous key date Barber Quarter is available in this week’s auction with the reserve set below both price guides at just $34,000.
Why we love it: A scarce and desirable two-year type coin Flowing Hair Half Dollar approved by CAC for its quality for the grade. 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 CPG Value for this coin is set at $12,100 with the most recent sale of this date and CAC approved grade in March bringing $12,338. Our pretty, original choice XF example of this rare early Half Dollar type coin is available in this week’s auction with the reserve set below both figures at just $12,000.
Why we love it: A better date Peace Dollar from the San Francisco Mint that becomes especially rare when found in gem condition. This satiny gem example displays pristine, lustrous surfaces that are mostly white with a touch of gold, which gives this scarce, desirable piece lovely eye appeal. There is only one example of this Peace Dollar issue graded finer by NGC.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are identical on their estimates with a strong $20,000. Being right on point with each other should bring even greater assurance to potential buyers on the accuracy of the value estimation. Our NGC-graded gem example is available via Make Offer for just $15,000.
Why we love it: A better date S-Mint Morgan Dollar that becomes far scarcer in premium gem grades such as this. This gorgeous gem is dripping in luster with pristine, blazing white surfaces complimented by some rose-gold toning at the rim. This piece is of true registry quality between its impeccable surfaces and only being bested by five examples at PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value of this coin is set at $27,500; however, we are glad to offer this piece at a far lower reserve in this week’s auction at $20,500. We find this amount to create a fair and truly fantastic value considering the plus grade since a full 67 has a PCGS Price Guide Value of a staggering $65,000.
Why we love it: A popular and scarce early Bust Dollar Overdate that is perfectly suited for an impressive type set. This lovely AU example represents the grade nicely as the coin is completely original and features light, even wear with rich, attractive coloring. Its wholesome light gray surfaces that are highlighted by blue-green toning give this piece nice eye appeal.
Value: The CPG Value of this coin is set at $8,810, and we are glad to offer a reasonable reserve in this week’s auction by comparison at just $7,500. That is such a great value for such a unique, pretty example of this popular overdate Bust Dollar.
Why we love it: A popular final year Morgan Dollar from the San Francisco Mint. This blast white gem displays perfect, strong luster, barely any blemishes, and simply stunning overall eye appeal. Registry Quality is not even enough to describe how exciting this piece is between being tied for the finest known at PCGS and its unmatched beauty for the issue. It is destined for a truly magnificent set of Morgans.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value of this coin is set at $13,500, which although is fair, we are proudly offering it at a more reasonable reserve in this week’s auction of just $12,250. There is no upgrading beyond this coin at PCGS, so this is quite an opportunity to fairly acquire the best of the best for this final year Morgan Dollar issue.
Why we love it: A popular much better date Morgan Dollar from the New Orleans Mint. The coin displays incredible luster and blazing white choice uncirculated surfaces. These gorgeous characteristics combined with its lack of detracting blemishes give it eye appeal so stunning that this coin is truly the perfect representation of its grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $10,000. It is available for purchase at the low and reasonable price of just $7,000 via Make an Offer. That is an entire $3,000 below the PCGS Price Guide value for this popular and scarce New Orleans Mint issue Morgan with incredible luster and stunning eye appeal.
Why we love it: This desirable and lustrous Liberty Nickel type coin displays pristine gem surfaces with noticeable rich toning. The colors highlighted on this piece are rose-gold, magenta and a light blue hue. Surprisingly there are only 34 examples of this popular Liberty Nickel issue in existence graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set at $350 with the CPG Value a bit higher at $410, which neither accounts for this desirable toning. We are offering this gem Liberty V Nickel type coin with an estimate of just $350 as a no reserve lot in this week’s auction.
Why we love it: The Dime from 1966’s Special Mint Set in nearly perfect Mint State condition. It is unsurprisingly tied for the finest known across all grading surfaces as just a few faint marks give it its highly respectable MS69 grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has a bloated estimation of this coin’s value at $900 due to a lone, excessive sale record of nearly a thousand dollars. We feel that our best price of $200 via Make Offer for this NGC grade example is fairer and creates an excellent value for the buyer.
Why we love it: A desirable and popular San Francisco Mint Washington Quarter that is widely known as a set-stopper in its business strike series. This lovely AU example displays well-struck, mostly white, lustrous surfaces with ideal eye appeal for the grade. This key date comes from a lower mintage of just 408,000 coins struck.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this Key Date Washington Quarter is set at $250 with the CPG Value right on par with it at $240. We are offering this relatively affordable lustrous slider with an estimate of just $210 as a no reserve lot in next week’s auction.
Why we love it: A great type coin for any Bust Half Dollar type set at this price point. This piece is fully original with little visible wear and completely natural coloring. The characteristics of this coin’s eye appeal and surface quality are well reflective of the grade.
Value: Valued at $400 by the PCGS Price Guide, this AU Bust Half Type coin is available in auction with No Reserve and is ready to be added to a fine type set.
Why we love it: A relatively affordable example of this scarce and desirable New Orleans Minted Liberty Seated Dollar. This wholesome, choice AU coin displays just the slightest amount of wear across its original surfaces that still boast nice detailing. There were only about half a million coins minted for the popular Pre-Civil War O-Mint Date.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and CPG Value are comparable on their estimates of this desirable O-Mint Seated Dollar at a respective $950 and $1,020. We are offering this coin as a Vault Value in this week's auction at a reasonable reserve of $825.
Why we love it: This popular and scarce California Fractional Gold issue features frosty devices and flashy fields with attractive and original golden coloring. This Territorial piece’s beauty, lack of major blemishes and clear, sharp details in the devices add up to a nice, ideal eye appeal. Used as currency by the many people who traveled the road to the California Gold Rush, these coins are popular amongst collectors and historians alike.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide Value for this coin is set at $650 and that is not even factoring in the premium and desirability of an OGH. We are offering this choice uncirculated Fractional Gold Piece with an estimate of just $550 as a no reserve lot in this week’s auction.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters