Ye Olde Coins We Love
Many of us are stuck at home, working, collecting, playing with our kids, or walking our dog (or cat). It’s a completely different ordeal than we’ve dealt with before and it’s not something that most of us prefer. However, we appreciate all of you who are considered “essential” personnel and the medical professionals that are out there in the thick of things. Thank you for your service! In a military-based town, we see service people frequently and they are not only our neighbors, but our family. While your service is different, it’s also very similar, and we truly do appreciate it.
As a company, we are doing our part in the coming weeks to stem the spread of the virus. In Virginia, the governor’s statements have left much space to discuss, but we’ve been asked to keep our staffs below 10 people at all times if possible. We’re doing our best with our new staggered office hours and while you may experience a slight delay in response from your favorite coin, shipping, or billing person, we’re still here and we’ll get back to you. We’re working from home as best we can and we’re still moving forward with our auctions in the coming weeks…the best part about what we do is that we can stay slightly ahead of our imaging and auction needs and by being one of the most active coin buyers, we’re well-stocked on inventory and fresh, new coins for our customers. So, while we’re slowing down the office-work a bit, we hope to make it not noticeable at all for our customers. We hope to continue to give the same great service as always and that as a customer you won’t see a difference!
We’ll spare you the further HR-based adjustments we’re making in our office, but suffice it to say, we’re definitely seeing the importance of taking care of our staff in the long term as well as our customers. Without a vital balance of both, DLRC wouldn’t be the company it is.
The Coin Market:
I’m not going to lie, we’re seeing a slight reduction in sales of coins under $250. We get it. We have to buy groceries first before our hobby. That being said, we’re still solid collectors and think of these as the backbone of our hobby. It won’t slow us down from offering these, we’ll probably stock more as we know these will come back when things normalize…and hopefully we can get better prices for you as we make these types of coins “easy” for our sellers.
Coins over $500…well, we’ve seen a TON of action on these. In fact, we had one of our busiest online auction events last week. Bidding was widely based and there were many new folks and people who hadn’t bought coins in some time. We’ve also sold more coins over $10,000 than we would have expected during this time. All in all, we still see a solid base for the coin market and with bullion jumping all over the place, we expect that to likely continue. The bullion market often carries over into rare coins when the premiums get too high and as collectors gain an appreciation for rarer items.
This week we’re offering a fantastic assortment of coins that come from a collector in nearby Williamsburg, Virginia. Painstaking assembled over the past 15 years during the latter stages of a career and earlier stages of retirement, these coins were certainly appreciated by the owner who is now looking for a new caretaker of these numismatic treasures. We hope that you enjoy the selection that we highlighted below and the other coins in the collection you can see here.
We also have a large number and a diverse variety of classic, rare coins to browse as well. So, if you’re stuck at home and the dog is tired of walking, please take a moment and browse the website or our offerings below. If there’s anything of interest, feel free to make an offer or contact us and we’ll be happy to serve!
Sincerely,
John Brush and Your Friends at DLRC
Why we love it: This popular pattern (or test strike) coin is toned a pleasant russet brown, with a splash of blue on the reverse. There’s plenty of detail left on the devices, with rub only immediately noticeable on Liberty’s shield and the high points of the eagle on the reverse. The Gobrecht Dollars were struck in rather small numbers from 1836 to 1839 as the United States was attempting to not only redesign the nation’s coinage but to reintroduce the denomination to the mint’s coinage roster. The design was basically accepted as a standard issue, but with the removal of Christian Gobrecht (the designer)’s name at the base of Liberty on the obverse. This completely original piece is also CAC-approved, reinforcing that it’s high-end for the grade.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this coin at $15,500, though this specific specimen has sold for over $17,000 twice in the past two years. A starting bid at $16,000 leaves plenty of room for bidding on this original beauty.
Why we love it: As a major highlight to the Ye Olde Colonial Gold Type Set Collection, this coin is a one-year type and a rare date of its own merit; the 1808 quarter eagle is a coin always in high demand by type and gold collectors alike. From a mintage of only 2,710, this piece shows plenty of remaining luster across smooth, sunny gold surfaces. The central devices are sharply struck with no distracting marks. This piece is an excellent example and is sure to garner some interest from multiple specialties.
Value: The NGC Price Guide suggests $155,000, with the PCGS Price Guide at $185,000, and the CPG recommends $151,200. We view these levels to be rather steep in the current marketplace, but ignoring those, we’re starting the auction bidding off way below any of them at just $100,000, leaving plenty of room for interest. An AU58 example hasn’t appeared for public auction since 2011, and we expect to see a lot of interest on this popular, collectible beauty.
Why we love it: This famous variety features a ring of small stars among the denticles on the reverse, still clearly visible from roughly 5:00 to 9:00 on this piece. The reverse die buckled early in its life, resulting in only 50-60 surviving examples. Most issues have a higher grade obverse, as demonstrated in this VG example.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $40,000, and the CPG is at $42,400. We’re making it available for just $36,500 via Make Offer, well below both price guides. This is a popular variety that’s always in demand, so don’t miss out on this pleasing example.
Why we love it: Another scarce quarter eagle, this example comes from a mintage of just 6,448 after a hiatus in the denomination since 1808. This straw-gold piece has slightly prooflike fields and plenty of luster in addition to sharply struck devices. Strong in both eye appeal and technical quality, this beauty is sure to garner some attention.
Value: The NGC Price Guide sits at $28,000, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $27,500, and the CPG is a bit lower at $21,800. We’ve decided to start is off closer to the CPG estimate at just $21,000 for a starting bid.
Why we love it: With a population of only four with two finer, this gem comes from an original mintage of just 1,000 pieces. The obverse is golden with blue and orange tints around the rim, while the reverse is vibrant blue. The devices are well struck and lightly frosted, creating a gentle cameo effect. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest examples extant.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $15,000, and the CPG is quite a bit lower at $10,600. We’ll even do a little better than the CPG and let this one go for just $10,500 via Make Offer. The last publicly auctioned example realized $15,275 in 2016, making this a fantastic opportunity.
Why we love it: As the first U.S. gold coin, the 1795 small eagle $5 is a very popular issue among many different groups of collectors. This dazzling AU example has lots of luster across the medium gold surfaces. Hints of rose highlight the rims and the devices show minimal wear. Problem-free examples are hard to come by for his historic piece, and this one is stunning.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide lists $50,000, and the CPG suggests $48,400. We’re starting the bidding off at just $42,000. The last public auction was in December of 2019, when another AU53 with significantly less eye appeal sold for $42,000.
Why we love it: Typically seen in VF through XF, this flashy AU piece has loads of mint luster gleaming from its greenish-gold surfaces. With minimal wear from circulation and no distracting marks, this beauty is sure to attract both type and gold collectors.
Value: The NGC Price Guide puts this coin at $19,500, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $18,000, and the CPG recommends $17,500. We’re starting it in auction much lower than any of the guides at just $14,250, giving you the chance to own this rare type at a fraction of the book value. Don’t miss out on this one!
Why we love it: From a mintage of 450, this beauty is a great type coin from the Civil War era. Bright white, lustrous surfaces abound with reflective fields and frosted devices, creating a cameo effect. This beautiful coin has been well preserved and will fit in nicely with just about any set.
Value: The NGC and PCGS Price Guides both put this piece at $4,750, and the CPG suggests $4,960. We’ll let it go for just $4,100 via Make Offer, well below any of them. Don’t miss out on this Civil War beauty!
Why we love it: A relatively common date, a sharp strike, and a reasonable price tag combine to make this piece an ideal fit for type collectors. The original yellow-gold surfaces are dripping in luster with sharply struck devices and smooth fields. Approved by CAC, this beauty is high end for the grade and will make an excellent addition to your collection.
Value: The NGC Price Guide is at $17,050, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $15,000, and the CPG is a bit lower at $13,900. We’re starting the bidding off at $14,000, just about on par with the CPG. This should leave plenty of room on this high-end example.
Why we love it: This strong AU piece has better eye appeal than many MS examples of the type. There’s plenty of luster across the straw-gold surfaces with well-struck devices for the date. There are no distracting marks or noticeable wear, making this a very high-end example for AU.
Value: The NGC Price Guide suggests $28,750, the PCGS Price Guide recommends $27,500, and the CPG is at $20,000. We’re starting it well below any of the three at just $18,500, which leaves loads of room for bidding. We last sold an AU58 example in 2017 for $23,000.
Why we love it: This stunner has a population of just three with two finer at PCGS. It’s vibrantly toned with speckles of orange, rose, blue, and gold covering the obverse. The reverse has a light golden center with rims of blue and green. Sharply struck beneath the toning, this gem will make a fantastic type coin or addition to a high-end Barber quarter set.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide is at $7,750, and the CPG suggests $7,500. We’ll let it go for well below either – just $6,500 via Make Offer. A piece with this kind of toning should command a premium, but this is your chance to get a true standout coin for a bargain.
Why we love it: This popular territorial gold coin comes from the Colorado Gold Rush, which is generally overshadowed by the earlier California Gold Rush. This piece is a flashy gold with no distracting marks. The devices are usually softly struck, particularly around “Pike’s Peak” on Lady Liberty’s crown.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $16,500, and the CPG is at $14,500. We’re kicking the bidding off at $13,000 with plenty of room. This is the first example of such a coin that we’ve had the pleasure to offer, and we expect to see plenty of interest from gold specialists.
Why we love it: This highly desirable key date is ablaze with brassy-red luster across smooth fields. A small dash of toning across the top right obverse gives it a bit of personality. Any Lincoln cent collector will appreciate this gem in an old green-label holder.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide and the CPG both put this piece at $5,000. We’ll do a little better and are offering it for $4,550 via Make Offer. The last two comparable examples we’ve sold have both gone for over $5,000, so this is a bargain on such a pristine key date.
Why we love it: This piece is an absolute gem with satiny, original surfaces, no noticeable marks, and CAC approval. Three are graded higher, but we just can’t bring ourselves to crack it out of this perfectly preserved old holder in hopes of an upgrade. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a nicer example.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide puts this gem at $16,000, and the CPG suggests $20,000. This example is nicer than your standard MS67, and with the old holder to boot, we think it’s a great bargain at $21,500 through our Make Offer function. It will surely become a highlight of your collection.
Why we love it: The rarest of the Series 1900 $10,000 Gold Certificates, only six surviving examples are known of the Friedberg 1225a. Of those six, this is the finest graded on a technical level. The punch cancels are limited to the signature area and aren’t overly distracting, while the rest of the note is crisp and vibrant.
Value: We’re starting this fantastic, collectible note with a starting bid of $7,500. As one of only six surviving examples, and the finest graded at that, this note is sure to be a highlight of any collection.
Why we love it: This is a Half Shekel of Hannibal, leader of Carthage and fierce enemy of Rome. In the Second Punic War, Hannibal marched his elephants across the Alps to attack Rome. This coin was minted to celebrate the successful crossing of the Alps. As a student of Ancient History, these issues are fascinating as Hannibal was likely the only leader during the heyday of Roman powers that could have challenged the growing Empire. Ultimately, likely due to political squabbles at home and a lack of support and reinforcements from Afrida, the Cathaginians ultimately won numerous battles, but lost the war. This devastated Hannibal’s army and is regarded as one of the pivotal moments in the history of Europe. Interestingly, Hannibal reinvented himself upon returning home in defeat and was a worthy leader of the Carthaginians before they were eventually decimated by the Italians to the north. This beautifully uncirculated piece is dripping with history.
Value: We’re starting bidding off at $7,875 and expect it to end close to $9,000 in auction. This is an absolute must-see for lovers of history, particularly anyone interested in the Roman Empire. This over-2,000-year-old piece commemorates a critical moment in Western history.
Why we love it: This stunning proof would make an excellent type coin. Flashy white centers are surrounded by vivid tones of rose and blue towards the rim, especially on the obverse. The devices are crisp and sharply struck with no noticeable blemishes. Utterly dripping with eye appeal, this beauty is just begging to be part of a proof type set.
Value: The NGC Price Guide lists $1,900, the PCGS Price Guide suggests $1,350, and the CPG is at $1,120. That’s quite a spread in prices, but we’re making it available for just $1,000 via Make Offer. This is a phenomenal deal on a truly gorgeous piece.
Why we love it: This bust half would make an excellent type coin or be well-suited to a bust half variety specialist. With a population of two and four finer of the O-119 variety, this AU piece is near the top of the pile for the variety. Light centers are surrounded by slightly darker russet toning. The devices are still crisp with plenty of detail left.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $625, and the CPG is at $377. That’s a rather stark difference, but we’ll side with the CPG and offer this one for just $325 via Make Offer. This lovely piece won’t last long!
Why we love it: This scarce New Orleans issue is from an original mintage of just 84,000 pieces. Very rare in MS, AU grades are a nicely affordable range for this date. This example is a nice greenish-gold with some light rub, but still highly detailed with no distracting marks.
Value: The PCGS Price Guide suggests $1,150, and the CPG is at $1,090. We’re willing to let this one go for just $850 via Make Offer, well below either guide. This is a great deal for this scarce date, and it will be an excellent addition to your collection.
Check out all of the available "Coins We Love" from past newsletters