Just got my $1 1855 gold piece!

westflorida

I really love this coin. The coin on Heritage looks scratched up, although when I look at it with the naked eye it looks perfect, although I am sure under magnification it has scratches. Does anyone else collect the Type 2 variety of the $1 gold pieces? Any history on them?

http://coins.heritageauctions.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=67013&Lot_No=25442

Thanks, Steve

JJM

linky help

ziggy29

Well, as someone who has been putting together an AU-58 type set off and on (before Fletcher started buying everything in sight), I've noticed that in the AU-58 (and to some extent AU-55) grade at least, this is the most vastly overrated type coin. It blows away even the 1853 A&R half in the overpriced department, and that's impressive.

The 1854 and 1855s are seen in AU-55 and AU-58 FAR more frequently than the Type 1s, and WAY WAY more frequently than the Type 3s. Look at any auction of gold dollars in choice AU. I guarantee you 2/3 of them will be Type 2. Yet these are selling for over a grand in solid AU-58, despite being common as dirt. Yes, they are scarcer in MS, which is what puts price pressure on the choice AUs, but still.

I just can't get myself to spend a thousand dollars on a tiny piece of gold which is so ridiculously common. But that's just me -- obviously, a lot of people can, or else it wouldn't be selling for $1000+ in 58.

westflorida

Thanks ziggy29,

You are a definite downer

kmcoin

Nice coin!

I'm still trying to figure out what area of us gold to focus. I'm leaning towards putting together
a liberty head half eagle mint set. Have fun with the gold dollars!

mrcommem

That is a nice looking 55 gold dollar. You have picked a tough series to collect even though there are just a handful of coins. You have two big stoppers the coin below:



and the 1855 C. Both have really jumped in value the past five years.

mrcommem

and a 55 Philadelphia issue.