Coins We Love: Springtime Specials
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We’ve certainly hit an interesting point in the coin market over the past week or two. There has been record activity on our weekly internet auctions, with a renewed interest from many long-time collectors who had taken a break from the hobby. We’re also seeing new customers sign up and make offers on the website, which is always encouraging! Interestingly, the phones have been a bit quieter over the past few weeks as we imagine many of you think that we’re not able to staff them, but we’ve been flexible and even with a few of us working from home, I think we’ve been able to stay on top of our customer service. Of course, if you have any unresolved issues, just let me know and we’ll get it taken care of!
Outside of DLRC, we’ve spoken to quite a few of our colleagues and business is understandably quieter for those that just adhere to the show circuits or the wholesale avenues. It’s not as easy to do business remotely, but for those of us that can adjust to the new “normal” I think that things are moving along far better than expected.
On the grading side of things, CAC has closed due to the instructions in New Jersey, but NGC is still fully operational, and we hear that PCGS is operating quietly as well. Overall, things aren’t quite as smooth as before, but they are moving along nonetheless. The big question for the coin business is “when is the next show going to occur”. Well, we’re assuming that nothing is happening in May with the only major event that was on the calendar being the PCGS Invitational in New Orleans. June was to host Long Beach and Baltimore, which we’re assuming will likely not occur, thus leaving the next main event being the ANA World’s Fair in Pittsburgh (August). We realize that this is incredibly small in the big scheme of things and it’s why we’re doing our best to control what we can control at DLRC. Thanks to our long-term relationships we’ve had with our collector base and with dealers around the world, we’ll keep acquiring coins, auctioning them, and doing our best to offer a little bit of comfort to our base of collectors. And for those who just need to take a break and watch from the sidelines, we’re ok with that too. We’ll be here when the time is right, whether it’s buying, selling, or trading. Just let us know how we can be there for you!
Numismatically Yours,
John Brush
Why we love it: One of the premier highlights from the Franklin Frenzy Collection, this flashy cameo proof is tied with two others for the finest known example for the date. The surfaces are boldly reflective with nicely frosted devices, creating a stunning white piece. The first year for Franklin half proofs and a relatively low mintage, this is one of the keys of the series.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $29,500, and the CPG stops at PR67. With the last public auction record coming in at $40,800 a little over a year ago, it’s starting at a bargain level of just $22,500 in this Sunday’s auction. This stunner is certainly worth a look!
Why we love it: A rare date with only 350-450 thought to survive across all grades, this branch mint double eagle usually comes with a weak strike and significant abrasions. This piece however, has good eye appeal for the issue with no individually distracting marks and even color. A solid example of a very rare date, this one won’t last long on our site.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $18,500, and the CPG is at $16,900. The last PCGS-graded example to sell at public auction realized $16,200 in January of 2018. We’re making it available for quite a bit less at just $13,250 via Make Offer.
Why we love it: One of seventy 1856-S double eagles from the famous Ship of Gold, the S.S. Central America, it is a far more difficult date than the more plentiful 1857-S issues recovered from the shipwreck. Housed in the original gold foil holder, this piece has strong, cartwheel luster across the rich orange-gold surfaces. Well-struck and with the bonus of being a shipwreck survivor, this example is sure to shine in any collection.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $19,500 for a non-shipwreck issue. The most recent sales record of a similarly graded piece, without CAC approval, comes from back in 2014 for $19,975. We believe that $19,250 is an ideal starting bid for this sharp CAC-approved example.
Why we love it: This key date S-mint buffalo has a population of four with just five graded finer. Both sides are awash in luminous tones of orange, rose, and blue, with hints of lime. A date usually found with subdued luster and a mediocre strike, this example has crisp details and outstanding eye appeal.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $19,500, with the MS65 CPG price coming in at $13,900. Offered in this week’s auction with a starting bid of $14,250, the only other auction records for the grade are from 2019 and 2014, which realized $18,000 and $18,800 respectively. Neither of those examples exhibited any noteworthy toning, unlike the current coin whose vibrant colors really push its eye appeal over the top.
Why we love it: This popular variety is one of the rarest of the widely collected Indian Head cents, and this is a solid, affordable example. With both CAC and Eagle Eye Photo Seal approval, it’s undeniably strong for the grade with even color and good detail. The reverse is particularly attractive.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this piece at $5,750. We’re making it available for just $5,150 via Make Offer, a fantastic deal for such a solid example. This will make a great addition to any circulated Indian Head cent collection!
Why we love it: This piece is perfect for the grade with light evidence of circulation but plenty of detail. With no noteworthy marks, the toning highlights the devices so the design is bold and clear. If you’re not sold on eye appeal yet, it even has undertones of blue-green and gold when turned in the light. It doesn’t get much better than this for a low-AU example of an early dollar!
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $17,000, and the CPG recommends $19,400. Closing this Sunday, it is being offered with a starting bid of just $14,000. The last auction record for the grade is for a PCGS graded example that sold in March 2019 for $18,000. Don’t miss out on this lightly circulated beauty!
Why we love it: This nice mid-grade example has even, original surfaces with undertones of olive and golden-brown. A popular type coin, this issue has marks expected for the grade but plenty of detail left on the devices. All the legends are bold and clear, with even, pleasing wear on the central devices.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $4,500, but we’re willing to let it go for just $4,000 via Make Offer. This specific example last appeared on the market in 2015 and is sure to fit in beautifully with any circulated type set.
Why we love it: This gorgeous gem is incredibly close to perfect. Bright white surfaces are highlighted by dazzling rim toning, creating small rainbows on the very edge of the coin. Smooth surfaces and a sharp strike top it all off, combining to create one stunning piece.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $5,000, and the CPG is at $4,750. Beginning with a starting bid in Sunday evening’s sale at $4,250, the last piece to sell at public auction brought $6,463 in December of 2019, signifying this lot as an exceptionally fair offering.
Why we love it: Difficult to find in gem grades, and additionally rare in full red, this 1928-D is a bright red beauty. With glowing luster and subtle pink undertones, it absolutely oozes eye appeal. Only two are graded higher with any color designation, making this one of the nicest examples to survive.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $5,200, and the CPG is at $5,310. We’re offering it for just $4,500 via Make Offer, significantly below the guide values. Don’t miss out on this definitive gem.
Why we love it: A stunning example of a proof-only date with a mintage of just 1,097 coins, this beauty has eye appeal in spades. With thickly frosted and well-struck devices, the deeply reflective, watery fields provide stark contrast. A light golden tint highlights the piece, providing the finishing touch to an already exquisite example.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $7,000, but we’ll let it go for as little as $6,250 through our Make Offer function. This beauty would make a wonderful addition to a type set or any collection of trade dollars.
Why we love it: One of the rarest early gold commemoratives, only 10,025 1904 Lewis and Clark gold dollars were sold from the authorized mintage of 125,000. The remaining pieces were melted down, drastically reducing the actual mintage. This is a stunning example with prooflike surfaces and crisp devices.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $6,000, and the CPG is at $6,750. This CAC-approved piece is undoubtedly high end for the grade, and with the lack of availability of CAC-stickered examples, it is offered with a starting bid of just $6,500. Any collector of classic commemorative will appreciate the top-notch quality of this key date.
Why we love it: With none graded higher at NGC or PCGS, this gem is all but unbeatable. Thick satiny luster gleams across smooth surfaces with no marks or abrasions. As the rarest circulation strike quarter from 1965 to date, this beauty is also a key to the series.
Value: The NGC Price Guide puts this piece at $1,100, and the PCGS Price Guide suggests $3,650. We’re willing to do quite a bit better and are offering this one for just $700 via Make Offer. This top pop coin is sure to be a highlight of any clad Washington Quarter collection!
Why we love it: This lovely high-end AU large cent is an eye-catcher with mottled tones of milk and dark chocolate on the obverse. With no noteworthy marks or abrasions, this piece is distinctive while still maintaining an eye appeal that will blend in with just about any mid-high circulated set.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $650. We’re willing to let it go for $575 – a great deal for this attractive and problem-free example. Early copper collectors shouldn’t miss out on this one!
Why we love it: Here is another copper item with a lot of character that is in our auction with no reserve. This 1930 wheat cent has an obverse speckled with rich red, platinum, and sprinkles of chocolate. Only two are graded finer at NGC, and this one is an eye-catcher with rich luster and no noticeable abrasions.
Value: The NGC Price Guide suggests $650, the PCGS Price Guide is at $450, and the CPG recommends $358. We’re putting it up for auction with no reserve and letting you decide what it’s worth.
Why we love it: A common date for no stars Seated Liberty half dimes, this piece would be an excellent fit for a type collection. Stars were added quickly because the empty fields didn’t do well in circulation. Fortunately for this issue, it didn’t see much circulation; with only light rub expected for the grade, the details are still crisp.
Value: The NGC Price guide recommends $545, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $500, and the CPG is at $546. We’ll do a bit better and let this one go for $460 via Make Offer. A nice mid-AU example of a scarce type, this one won't be available for long.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters