Coins We Love: Office Updates and Spring Breaks
Well, Spring Break was last week for my kids and it was a rather surreal experience. I was lucky enough to spend two days at the office, but the typical beach trips were nowhere to be found. We did have a fantastic outing with a few fishing rods at a nearby (empty) pond at least. I think the fish were quarantining too as there wasn’t a single bite!
Truthfully, this period of partial staff at the office has really helped us focus on several aspects of our business that we’ve ignored recently. Efficiency is one. Our average order volume over the past 2-3 weeks is up by about 30% and with our shipping department running at about 60% attendance, it’s been quite an exciting time. We have to thank Mike, Katie, and Kathy in our office as they have really been flexible with their schedules and have really stepped up to try to prevent our customers from seeing the changes we’ve had to make internally.
You may ask what on earth have I been doing spending only two days in the office? Well, my wife has asked me the same thing, but I have been productive. As you might have seen, we’ve made some very small (but noticeable) changes to the website: The banner at the top, the menu bar, and some added clarity on how to find the myDLRC button. A few weeks ago, we revamped the myDLRC section as well. This week’s updates are on the search screens and the individual item screens. The colors work together better, it’s a bit of a smoother look, and we’re trying to make it a bit more self-explanatory. Of course, if you have any issues or you want to tell me what we need to do to make it easier for you, please let me know! We’re taking this time at home to make things a little more user-friendly so when we’re back to full staff, we’ll be ready to run once again.
As for coins in this week’s sale, you’ll notice a heavy focus on some Barber Quarters that we picked up in the Pogue auction. One quick note about these coins is that they are absolutely amazing. Mr. Pogue’s eye for quality on these coins was severely underrated. In fact, the coins weren’t all the highest graded (I think the set was the 3rd or 4th best), but the overall quality of each individual coin was stunning. It was a joy to simply view the coins. Luckily, we followed the auction of these coins very closely and being that we’ve long specialized in the series, we were closely in tune with the coins that we thought slipped through the cracks. The coins we’re offering here are pieces that we thought should bring far more than they did. In fact, we bought a few of these 30% below our max bids! While this isn’t something we frequently do, we wanted to highlight these purchases as they truly were incredible opportunities, and I guarantee that if you see any of these in-hand, you’ll want to hold on to them.
That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading, and we hope that you enjoy a few of these Coins We Love!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: With only one graded higher, a single MS67+, this gem is perfect for the Registry Quality collector. Sharp details and bright red luster give this coin plenty of eye appeal, and distinct die clash marks give it additional character. While it’s a perfect fit for a registry set of Indian Head cents, it could also make a great addition to a type set as a common date.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $15,000, and the CPG comes in at $12,100. We’re starting the auction much lower at just $7,750, leaving plenty of room for bids before it closes on Sunday evening. The last example we sold in this grade realized $10,150 in 2017.
Why we love it: This scarce Civil War date is usually poorly struck with very flat obverses and slightly sharper reverses. This example shows some weakness in the hair, but most obverse stars have full radial lines. The reverse is crisper, as expected, and with bright luster and even color, this CAC-approved piece has great eye appeal for the issue.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and the CPG both put this issue at $5,000. We are in full agreement, and will sell this one for $5,000 via Make Offer. The last AU58 to sell at public auction realized $5,280 in February of this year, so this is a superb deal on a historic issue.
Why we love it: The 1934-S is the key to the Peace Dollar series, and this is a stunning example. Luster shines out from beneath tones of russet and gray-gold. With CAC approval you can be sure that this example is strong for the grade, and not to be missed by Peace Dollar collectors.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide recommends $6,250, and the CPG puts it at $6,000. We’re willing to let this one go for just $5,750 via Make Offer. We last sold an MS64 example in 2019 for $6,000 – you can now get this one even cheaper. Don’t miss out!
Why we love it: This semi-key wheat cent is dripping in satiny luster with a light woodgrain texture. With only 14 graded higher, topping out at MS65, this coin offers plenty of bang for your buck and would be a great option for the budget-conscious collector of high-end wheats.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and the CPG both suggest $5,000. This auction has a starting bid of just $3,750, ending Sunday. There is plenty of room for bids on this gorgeous piece, which would be an excellent addition to a registry set.
Why we love it: One of the most popular key dates in the widely collected Morgan Dollar series, the 1895-O is highly sought-after. This example has a great prooflike flash in the fields, and in low MS, is a fantastic value for such a key issue. For the budget-conscious, this is an excellent option to fill a gap in your collection.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $19,000, and the CPG suggests $15,100 in MS60 or $27,800 in MS62. We’re making this one available for just $14,500 via Make Offer, lower than the CPG value for an MS60. The last publicly auctioned MS61 realized $16,200 in February of this year.
Why we love it: One of the blue chip coins of numismatics, this is a phenomenal example of the widely popular three-legged buffalo nickel. Created by the over-polishing of a die, this rarity is one of the most sought-after pieces in the series by specialists and general collectors alike. This example has satiny luster with hints of gold toning and a sharp strike.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $40,000, and the CPG is at $27,800 in MS65 or $64,100 in MS66. Our starting bid is at just $26,500, below even the CPG value for a half grade lower. The last MS65+ example to be sold at public auction realized $31,725 in January 2019, making this an excellent opportunity for a value conscious collector/investor.
Why we love it: One of the most readily available New Orleans eagles from the 1840s, this piece would be an excellent and affordable fit for a type set. With plenty of details and an especially crisp reverse, this bright gold coin is a great example of an O-Mint coin.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $4,250, and the CPG sits at $3,620. We’re making it available for $3,600 via Make Offer, below the last comparable auction. The most recent sale of a PCGS-graded example in AU55 was in April of 2019 and realized $4,320.
Why we love it: With only three graded finer, this ultra gem is a sight to behold. The flawless fields burst with luster, with small dashes of neon rainbow toning at the rims. Struck to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Elgin, Illinois, this piece was part of the commemorative boom from 1934 to 1939.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $11,000, and the CPG is at $10,000. We’ll do better than that and let you purchase this one today for $9,500 via our Make Offer function. Perfectly suited for a registry set, these don’t come up for sale above MS67 very often, so act fast!
Why we love it: This stunning gem was part of the Pogue Collection, and it’s easy to see why – with light gold centers surrounded by deep russet rings and hints of blue, it’s positively dripping in eye appeal. Sharply struck, lustrous, and from a population of two with one finer, it does not get much better than this.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $22,500, and the CPG puts this piece at $13,900. We’re starting the auction bidding at $14,500, ending this Sunday. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own this jaw-dropping beauty from one of the most famous collections of numismatics.
Why we love it: With only three graded finer at NGC and none finer at PCGS, this Peace Dollar is phenomenal for the date. The 1925-S notoriously suffers from an extremely poor strike, resulting in incredibly few examples in MS65 or higher. As a result, it is the rarest Peace Dollar in gem grades. Fortunately, this one offers sharp details, bright luster, and dabbles of russet toning.
Value: The NGC Price Guide puts this piece at $20,600, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $27,500, and the CPG recommends $27,200. This auction will close Sunday and the bidding is starting at just $12,000, well below any of the guides. Don’t miss out on this condition rarity while it lasts!
Why we love it: An immensely popular overdate, the 1806/5 is easily visible with the naked eye. This example is a very pleasing XF with strong details and light traces of luster hidden under the light gray surfaces. When turned in the light, gentle pastel toning can be seen on the obverse. An enchanting piece to see in-hand and strong for the grade, this coin will be an excellent addition to any collection.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $4,000, with the CPG at $4,380. We’re willing to let it go for less than that and are making it available for just $3,850 via Make Offer. The last example of this overdate we had was an F12 piece in early 2018, so be sure to snap this one up!
Why we love it: The 1908-S Double Eagle has the lowest mintage of the series with only 22,000 pieces struck. This MS60 example has strong luster and hints of deeper gold toning around the obverse rims. With plenty of eye appeal for the grade, this is a wonderful budget example.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $10,500, and the CPG recommends $11,800. We’re willing to let it go for just $9,250 via Make Offer. As the lowest mintage issue of a popular series, the 1908-S is always in demand in all grades.
Why we love it: One of the three biggest key dates of the Barber Quarter series, and the lowest mintage of any 20th century silver coin, this beautiful 1913-S comes from a mintage of just 40,000 pieces. This example is wonderfully preserved with bright cartwheel luster and a frosty gold patina. You won’t want to pass up on this chance to fill a difficult hole in your Barber Quarter set!
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $24,000, and the CPG suggests $20,300. With the starting bid at $19,750 and the auction ending this Sunday, you’ll want to follow this lot closely! We haven’t gotten to offer an example of this key date in MS64 since 2007, so don’t miss it while it’s here!
Why we love it: This popular territorial gold piece comes from the California Gold Rush, a consistently beloved part of American history. This example is a rustic toned AU with deeper gold tones highlighting the obverse legends. With plenty of detail left, this one is a must-see for gold lovers.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $10,250, but we’re willing to let it go for just $9,500 via Make Offer. The last PCGS example in this grade to sell at auction was in 2018, so these don’t come up for sale every day.
Why we love it: One of the rarest Barber Half proofs, this specimen comes from a mintage of just 627 pieces. This one survives with incredibly smooth fields and crisp devices, all covered in gentle pastel tones of blue, violet, and orange. Destined for a Barber proof set, this beauty is yours for the taking.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $1,500, and the CPG is at $1,220. We’re making this one available for just $1,150 via Make Offer. The last public auction for an MS64 realized $1,560 in December of 2018, well above what we’re asking. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!
Why we love it: This gorgeous high-grade set shows off the beauty of the Texas commemorative design. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Texas’ independence, these three pieces are bright white and full of luster. This is an excellent starting place for a commemorative half collection but would also stand as a strong addition to an existing set.
Value: While the NGC Price Guide gives this group a combined value of $985, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $715, and the CPG is at $722. We’re offering this stunning group at a starting bid of $550, a significant step below the retail value of the coins individually.
Why we love it: While the timeframe is a bit off from the present coin, one of our favorite Netflix finds during the quarantine has been the series Medici the Magnificent. The show focuses on the historic Medici family of Florence, Italy during the Renaissance, and a brief visit to Venice to meet the Doge was the highlight of a few episodes. The Grosso was introduced as a denomination in Venice in 1193 under doge Enrico Dandolo. This example may be cleaned, but it has an amazing amount of detail left with even the facial expressions – one of the high points of the coin – still clearly visible. Only one of the type, an AU53, has been straight-graded at PCGS.
Value: PCGS doesn’t venture an estimate on the price of the one straight-graded example, but we’re going to offer this one for $250 via Make Offer. This fascinating coin is an incredible piece of history and sure to be a great addition to your collection.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters