Coins We Love - November 1
The Baltimore show was a rousing success for DLRC. The pre-show activity was on par with what we expected because of it being the last big event of 2018 in the numismatic world, and dealers were incredibly active searching for new items for inventory. We also happened across a nice number of our old friends once the retail attendance started. Unfortunately, the retail activity was a little slower than we’ve seen in the past, but it does seem to be the overall anomaly for us as we’ve had so much activity through the website, it’s been rather daunting to keep up lately!
All that being said, we were very pleased with the results of the show and were eager to return home and get things rolling again. We’ll be producing many new items in the coming weeks, and we hope that you enjoy this week’s special offerings as we start to enjoy the Fall season of Virginia Beach!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: The 1921 Zerbe Proof was a rare special striking presented to Farran Zerbe, a well-known collector of the era. This near-gem example displays attractive mirrored surfaces that feature limited blemishes along with a lovely golden tint. From a miniscule mintage of only 200 coins originally struck, there are just 17 others graded finer by NGC.
Value: he PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $13,500 with the CPG Value coming in comparably at $13,000. The reserve for the coin in this week’s auction is set at just $11,750. This is an incredibly fair value for a near-gem example of the popular and scarce 1921 Zerbe Proof.
Why we love it: The 1926-S is a highly desirable key date Buffalo Nickel from the San Francisco Mint that is scarce in all Mint State grades but becomes nearly unattainable in gem condition. This stunning near-gem features vibrant rainbow toning around the periphery of both sides with a golden center that, along with its flashy underlying luster, makes for incredible, unique eye appeal. From a lower mintage for the series of just under a million, there are only 16 others graded finer by NGC.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $13,000 even, with the CPG Value at $13,300, yet it is available for purchase far below both Price Guides via Make Offer for just $10,000. This gorgeously toned key date Buffalo Nickel graded MS64 is in the ideal collector “sweet spot” as it jumps in the six figures in any gem condition!
Why we love it: This is a surprisingly scarce issue to find with CAC approval. In fact, there are only seven other pieces with CAC approval, with none finer. The 1904 Lewis & Clark issue is a popular key piece to the $1 Gold Commemorative Series. This gorgeous ultra-gem features incredibly high-quality eye appeal from its excessive amounts of luster, immaculate surfaces and stunning coloring. From an extremely low mintage of only 10,025 coins originally struck, there are just two others graded finer by PCGS.
Value: This ultra-gem is truly one of the nicest examples of the issue that you’ll see on the market, with its CAC approval and pristine, lustrous surfaces. However, this piece is reserved at just $13,500 in this week’s auction. The PCGS Price Guide has it valued right at $11,000 in a flat MS67 and an astonishing $73,500 in MS68, which also makes this grade the “sweet spot” for collectors right before such a massive price jump.
Why we love it: The 1794 Half Dime is an exciting, highly desired first-year of the Draped Bust Type, as well as the first year of the denomination, unless one counts the famed 1792 half dime which is likely a trial piece. This coin has a pleasing overall look, with its true originality, gunmetal gray color and light, even wear. Two light scratches in the face are apparent under magnification but do not detract much at all from the beauty of this rare piece. This Popular 1794 issue comes from an extremely low mintage of just 7,756 coins struck.
Value: he PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $10,250 with the CPG Value set a bit higher at $11,800. This rare first year of issue Half Dime is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $9,850, which is on par with PCGS but nearly $2,000 below CPG’s estimate!
Why we love it: This early O-Mint Issue Double Eagle is desirable and incredibly scarce in all grades. This CAC approved example is truly an AU coin stuck in an XF holder as there are still real hints of remaining luster, light, even wear and nice, original coloring. This First Year Liberty Head Double Eagle Business Strike issue comes from a low, original mintage of just 141,000 coins struck.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued quite generously at $11,000 with the CPG Value more fairly at $9,500. This scarce, early New Orleans Mint Issue Liberty Head Double Eagle is reserved in this week’s auction just below both the CPG Value and far lower than PCGS at just $9,200 even with CAC approval.
Why we love it: The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter is a low mintage key date whose popularity and scarcity both transcend the series and American Numismatics as a whole. This coin is sought-after greatly by collectors of Standing Liberty Quarters, Key Dates and really any and all serious enthusiasts of U.S. Coinage. This satiny, blast white example of this famous issue is even more desirable as it is in Mint State condition with a Full Head.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has the value of this famous key date set at an even $15,000, yet this Full Head example is available via Make Offer for just $12,000. This is a good value at a sizeable $3,000 off the PCGS Price Guide for this blast white, lustrous example of the scarce and highly desired 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter.
Why we love it: A popular, better date No Arrows type coin for the Liberty Seated Quarter Series that in high gem grades becomes scarce. This stunner comes with rich toning on both sides, highlighted by its lovely rose-gold obverse, which is complemented nicely by its flashy underlying luster and pristine surfaces. From a low mintage of only 44,200 coins originally struck, there are just two others graded finer by PCGS, both just a single grade up.
Value: The last PCGS examples that have appeared in auction have realized $19,975 and $16,675, making this example a fantastic value via Make Offer for just $13,500. We purchased this coin from a dealer friend of ours who needed a quick turnover and our opportunity now becomes yours! The PCGS Price Guide has the value of this coin set realistically at $20,000.
Why we love it: A popular and scarce early Bust Dollar that is perfectly suited for an impressive type set. This wholesome XF example represents the grade nicely as the coin is completely original and features light, even wear with rich, attractive coloring. This Draped Bust Dollar issue comes from an extremely low mintage of just 7,776 coins originally struck.
Value: The most recent sale of a PCGS graded example brought just over $9,100 in 2017, which is directly on par with the best price of $9,500 for our piece available here. The PCGS Price has it valued at $11,500, which is a full $2,000 above our offering for this incredible Draped Bust Dollar type coin.
Why we love it: A slightly better date, early Lincoln Cent housed in an Old NGC Holder. This fresh, original gem example displays pretty, rich toning across the entire coin combined with otherwise pristine, lustrous surfaces. This example of this early Lincoln Cent issue is tied for the finest known graded by NGC with the Red Brown Color Designation.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide values this coin at $525, yet you can acquire this lovely, unique example for just $500. That is a $25 discount off the price guide even with this beautiful coloring and eye appeal in an Old NGC Holder with a CAC Sticker.
Why we love it: The Fugio Cent is among the most popular and desirable of all Colonial Issues. This near-gem example displays lovely, original brown surfaces with nice luster and a strong strike with great detailing for the issue. There are only 24 examples of this Fugio Cent Issue graded finer by PCGS with the Brown Color Designation.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $4,850 with the CPG Value set a bit lower at $4,500. This Popular Fugio Cent in near-gem condition is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $3,850, which is below both Price Guides including a full $1,000 below PCGS’s estimate!
Why we love it: A scarce and underrated early issue from the Liberty Head Gold Eagle Series that is hard to find in AU grades and becomes nearly impossible to locate in Mint State. This attractive piece possesses a few pockets of remaining mint luster, pretty coloring and limited wear making it an ideal example of the grade. From a low mintage of only 7,200 coins originally struck, there are surprisingly just 23 others graded finer by PCGS.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $18,500 with the CPG Value at $18,200. Such agreeable values from both PCGS and CPG gives the estimates solid credibility. This scarce, early Liberty Head Gold Eagle is reserved in this week’s auction just below both Price Guides at just $17,250, with the added pedigree of one of the legendary, but under-appreciated collectors of a previous generation, Byron Reed.
Why we love it: An ideal type coin for the Proof Liberty Seated Dime Series as this piece is both attractive and affordable. This example features lovely blast white surfaces that show much fewer blemishes as to what would be expected from a MS62, especially the obverse. This Proof Liberty Seated Dime comes from an extremely tiny mintage of just 590 coins originally struck.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide value sits at $450, but we are offering this coin via Make Offer for a small discount at just $425. That is $25 off the PCGS Price Guide for this pretty, affordable example of this low mintage proof Seated Dime type coin.
Why we love it: One of the most affordable graded examples of this great early Bust Quarter type coin you’ll find. This piece is completely original with no cleaning or damage, making it the perfect method toward completing a type set without breaking the bank. This piece comes from a moderately low mintage of just 206,124 coins originally struck.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide has this coin valued at $475 with the CPG Value coming in a bit higher at $533. This Draped Bust Quarter type coin is available for purchase via Make Offer for just $400 even, which is a fair price point as it comes decently far below both price guides.
Why we love it: This immaculate ultra-gem Denver Mint Issue Washington Quarter is tied for the finest known in existence across all grading services. This nearly perfect-quality example shows zero notable marks or blemishes. The eye appeal of the coin is simply stunning as it is lightly toned with a strong strike and excessive amounts of luster.
Value: The most recent sale of an NGC graded example brought just over $880 at a Heritage Auction in 2017, which shows how incredible of a value and opportunity that is presented here with a best price of only $625 for our piece. That is $255 lower than a past sale of the exact same date and grade combination.
Why we love it: A fantastic type coin for the Capped Bust Half Dollar Series as this piece is rich in both color and originality, yet still affordable. This example shows great detail and even wear, which suits the grade well. An easy, affordable method of filling a hole in a nice Bust Half type set.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide value sits at $375, but we are offering this coin via Make Offer for a fair discount at just $315. That is a solid amount of $60 off the PCGS Price Guide for this affordable yet original example of this great Capped Bust Half Dollar 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