A Gaggle of Rattler & OGH Walkers, A Plethora of Morgans and OGH Gold, Classic Head Gold, Type &
TomB
Posts: 22,105 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have a small assortment of coins listed below. Shipping and insurance are paid for by me and all items may be returned within a two week (14-day) period for complete refund. Payment accepted by personal, bank or business check or money order, USPS money order and PayPal options. I prefer to avoid the use of PayPal with the fees that are associated with this option, but if it is required please let me know. Any questions may be asked within the thread or sent to me via PM or to my email address of tbush@tbnumismatics.com. Thank you for your time.
1) 1914-D Lincoln Cent NGC F15 $325.00
The 1914-D Lincoln cent is one of the two well known key dates for the regular issues within this series. While the 1909-S VDB gets most of the press, the 1914-D is actually quite a bit more difficult to find with choice surfaces than one might expect. This coin has an even, medium depth brown throughout both sides and looks quite balanced. The obverse presents itself as a coin that might grade full VF, but the reverse suggests it was struck with a die that was becoming fatigued and this is seen by the poorly defined base to the wheat stalks and some areas within the central letters. Overall this is a really nice coin that would do well either in its current slab or also if it were to be cracked out and placed into a choice circulated Lincoln cent album. This coin is priced much closer to dealer ASK for F12 than BID for VF20 even though the quality is such that the coin is pushing the VF20 grade. $325.00
2) 1863-S Seated Liberty Half-Dime PCGS MS65/CAC $4,650.00
Truly a delightful little coin with a light golden obverse containing hints of red and blue toning flecks throughout paired with a soft, pastel lilac reverse. The coin has a strongly clashed obverse and appears original with good luster and no singular marks of any consequence. This issue had a low mintage that has seen exceptionally low numbers of survivors over the years. It is one of the toughest coins to find in the long running Seated Liberty half-dime series and in gem grades there are estimated to be a mere dozen pieces in existence. This coin would number as one of those dozen extant gem coins. I have seen a number of the certified gem coins and this piece has significantly more eye appeal than some examples. It is sometimes difficult to believe that a coin this scarce can be this relatively affordable. This is a case where the Greysheet is of little use; I would buy this issue in this grade with this eye appeal over and over again quite happily at the published bid. $4,650.00
3) 1940-D Jefferson Nickel PCGS MS65 $55.00
I don’t carry many Jefferson nickels, but sometimes a coin pops up that looks cool so I buy it. Based upon the insert of the PCGS holder with the barcode on the obverse and PNG logo on the reverse, this coin was graded between early 2002 and late 2004. At that time I am guessing PCGS was tough on Jefferson nickels since this coin looks a fair bit nicer than I would expect for an MS65. The obverse is primarily a light gold with faint fuchsia and light lime within the motto, LIBERTY and the date. It also has a piece of what looks to be Styrofoam resting on the coin near the rim above LIBERTY that was left there during the encapsulation process all those years ago. The reverse, however, has a very nice bloom with rolling colors that are deeper and cover more of the coin. Curiously, the piece has very sharp steps, though not full steps, yet shows what I would interpret to be severe die erosion throughout most of the reverse. This is very cool. $55.00
4) 1859-S Seated Quarter PCGS VF25/CAC $2,550.00
A pretty darn scarce coin in any grade that gets decidedly scarcer as the grade rises. Approximately 80,000 pieces were produced by the then-new San Francisco Mint and most saw heavy and immediate use in commerce. It would not be until decades later that collectors would recognize that collecting branch mint US issues could be a challenging and valid collecting goal. By that time, the great bulk of these pieces had been lost. This coin has near perfect surfaces paired with extraordinarily beautiful medium depth grey color. It is truly lovely and would be a difficult coin to surpass. Chewed up, chippy pieces can cross the auction block at near $2,000 in VF while higher graded coin skyrocket in value. $2,550.00
5) 1875-S Seated Quarter NGC MS64 $1,695.00
This coin was part of the Richmond Collection that was auctioned off in early 2005. The auction catalog at that time stated in part “A lovely high-end mint state example of this scarce date with even gold toning and blue patina on the obverse portrait. Technically, very high grade with claims to gem…” I don’t know that I would claim that the coin has any significant amount of blue toning on it, but it is truly higher end for the assigned grade and has the very cool feature of having been struck with a pair of die that seem to have been crumbling during usage. This is most evident with the die cracks around the obverse stars and nearly the entire reverse lettering. This issue is more scarce in near-gem that most realize and is offered here at just a smidge over Greysheet and well below what it might take to obtain such a coin in an auction setting. I’ve had this lovely coin in my inventory for a little longer than anticipated and for that reason have lowered the price a fair bit. $1,695.00
6) 1895-S Barber Quarter PCGS VF30 $295.00
It seems there is a perpetual run on circulated Barber coinage that can make its way into a PCGS holder. David Feigenbaum (Lawrence) wrote, in his expert work on this series, that F-EF 1895-S Barber quarters “are gobbled up as soon as they enter the market”. This may be true, but I have never previously owned one to be able to find out. The centers of this coin are a bit lighter than the perimeter, which is ringed with a thicker, navy patina of dirt, grime and age. This coin is priced at more than two times Greysheet, but that seems to be the norm with circulated Barber coinage. $295.00
7) 1854 Seated Liberty Half Dollar with Arrows PCGS AU55 $435.00
I realize this Arrows half dollar is offered at somewhat above the level where previous PCGS AU55 coins have sold and also just a touch below the level of the last sales for PCGS AU58 coins. However, this is a classic case of buying the coin instead of the holder and those who attempt to adhere to that philosophy might wish to take note of this coin. Those AU58 coins provide a nice baseline for what a dipped Arrows half might fetch in the current market. This is fine for those who like the look, but I prefer to buy and sell coins that appear much more natural and with a thicker skin. The present coin has very minimal wear, a wonderful strike throughout and terrific amounts of retained gunk, crud and skin that form the thick patina. I love it, but admittedly this is not for everyone. This type is rather easy to find, but when original surfaces are required the available pool of coins shrinks dramatically; hence, the price on this piece is incrementally higher than other coins in the assigned grade. $435.00
8) 1923-S Monroe Half Dollar PCGS MS64+ $950.00
The reverse of this coin features a bright white center ringed with very pleasing blue and auburn toning while the obverse has a bit more color creeping in from the rims. The reverse is also likely a full MS65, but in this case the obverse is the weaker technical side and holds the grade down to the MS64+ level. There are several noticeable ticks and slight nicks on the obverse especially on the portraits, but these coins seem to be a magnet for such insults to their surfaces. Overall, it has eye appeal that is far in excess of what most Monroe half dollars possess. Had the US Mint struck this coin with a deep relief then I believe we would be looking at one of the great reverse designs of all time. This is a very pretty coin, but I must admit that it is priced aggressively because of the level required to secure the coin. $950.00
9) 1941 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 Rattler $160.00
Truly, this is a common date WLH. What it lacks in the difficulty of the date, though, it makes up for a bit in its other attributes. The coin has thick, original skin, a very well struck mid-section to the torso that includes a fully opposable left thumb and lots of head and ear and hair detail while the reverse breast feathers do not show all that much weakness. I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
10) 1941 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 Rattler $160.00
I’m going to simply cut-and-paste much of the description to the previous coin here because these pieces make such a nicely matched duo. This coin has a tad better strike on the obverse and slightly thicker patina. Truly, this is a common date WLH. What it lacks in the difficulty of the date, though, it makes up for a bit in its other attributes. The coin has thick, original skin, a very well struck mid-section to the torso that includes a fully opposable left thumb and lots of head and ear and hair detail while the reverse breast feathers do not show all that much weakness. I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
11) 1946-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 Rattler $160.00
This coin has thick, original skin featuring lively light golden yellow in the left obverse field, a somewhat weak left thumb and lots of head and ear and hair detail. The reverse has more of the golden yellow blast throughout the fields and a fairly well struck eagle with good breast feathers that do show a few nicks within the busier portions of the artwork . I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
12) 1946-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 OGH $160.00
Really satiny surfaces set this coin apart from other WLHs and give the coin a simply outstanding look. It has a few shallow luster grazes and a nick here and there so that the technical strength of the coin could never push MS66, but the visual power of the elegant patina makes me fall in love with the piece each time I pick it up. I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
13) 1958-D Franklin Half Dollar NGC MS65FBL $65.00
The last of the trio of newly listed Franklin halves, which has classic 1958-D mint set toning that is heaviest on the light auburn and contains hints of red and green throughout. This is an attractive coin and one that I would have expected to be worth more than it is. $65.00
14) 1878-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS64 $250.00
Perhaps this isn’t the key date to the Morgan dollar series, nor is it in a super-gem grade and it is not a monster toned coin. However, I simply do not find many 1878-S Morgan dollars with this kind of toning on both sides that not only covers most of the coin, but is actually colorful. The coin has the look of an MS65 save for a cut across the eagle’s breast that neatly blends in with the toning on the reverse. The obverse features a smoother transition in color while the reverse appears to be something that Jackson Pollack might have dreamt. $250.00
15) 1879-S Rev of 1878 Morgan Dollar PCGS MS63 $565.00
By now most folks likely realize that I do not specialize in white, or untoned, coinage. However, from time to time there appear nice coins that are devoid of most toning and provide not only good eye appeal, but also can be a good store of value or an option for possible increase in value. I believe that this Morgan dollar is such a coin. Pieces in MS63 tend to cluster around $500 while pieces in MS64 tend to cluster around $1,200 and this large relative jump in value does not always correspond to a coin that is significantly nicer. I am not a Morgan dollar connoisseur, but to my eye the present MS63 has many attributes of an MS64 at only less than one half the price. $565.00
16) 1881-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS64/CAC $595.00
This Morgan dollar is from just about the most common issue from the long running series, but has the eye appeal that few coins within the series possess. The obverse is essentially white with quite a bit of blast while the reverse has a wonderful rainbow of color above the eagle’s head and through its wings. Frequent readers of my sight might recognize the fact that I use the term “rainbow” quite sparingly. Additionally, I believe it is one of the most overused and abused terms on many other numismatic websites. Simply put, most sellers want the attention that “rainbow” gathers, yet they do not have a coin with that quality. Here is the exception since the rainbow in question is thin, arcs above and through the eagle on the reverse and is on the leading edge of some very dramatic and deep purple toning. This is quite a visually striking coin with a hefty price associated with it. $595.00
17) 1881-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS65*/CAC $495.00
A second wonderfully toned 1881-S Morgan dollar in an NGC holder that matches quite well with the previous and slightly lower graded coin in an NGC holder. This coin has more pure green and red on the obverse as well as a smaller area of toning on the reverse that could not in any manner be considered a rainbow, unlike the other NGC graded coin of this date on my site. Nonetheless, this piece is very lovely and superb in its own way. $495.00
18) 1887-O Morgan Dollar PCGS MS64+ $550.00
I don’t own many + designated coins and this is most likely due to the fact that the + designation is relatively new. However, of those few coins that I do own, they are all quite wonderful and high end for the grade. Here is an example of a + coin where the next grade up costs substantially more than the current grade and where there is minimal difference, if any real difference at all, between the present coin and coins graded higher. This coin has truly lovely obverse toning that is a warm gold with just a hint of navy clinging to the rim. The reverse is mostly white and very clean. The coin has its original skin. Likely all that held this piece back from a full MS65 grade and subsequent $2,000.00+ price tag is a small piece of adhered carbon or crud in the form of what might be interpreted to be a tiny polar bear facing the eagle near the C in AMERICA on the reverse. If someone has the stones to remove this tiny polar bear they might be handsomely rewarded. That person, however, will not be me and the coin is being offered as a completely original, wonderful piece with winsome polar bear mascot. $550.00
19) 1834 Classic Head Quarter Eagle PCGS AU55 $2,095.00
This coin sports wonderful original color and is accurately graded. It also features tremendous life when rotated under a light. However, it has a pair of reverse scratches between UNITED and the eagle’s wing. I believe these are random circulation scratches, as PCGS believes, but they are present and on coins as small as quarter eagles their appearance can be distracting. Many folks may very well have an issue with accepting these random scratches and I understand that completely. If, however, one values the frosty surfaces, great strike and wonderful, original color in excess of the distraction of the random marks then this coin is a great find. This will not be the case for all folks and I would urge any potential buyer to evaluate what they value in a coin before committing to this coin. $2,095.00
20) 1885-S Liberty Half Eagle PCGS MS64/CAC $1,750.00
Most MS64 Liberty half eagles are a bit scruffy. This is an unfortunate statement, but one that has been made through observation of many coins on the bourse and at auction. Those few that have truly pristine surfaces and clean fields are the coins that most collectors strive to obtain and those coins that generate the highest bids upon auction. The 1885-S here is a coin that is not rare in any sense, but is also a coin that is quite scarce above the MS63 level and one that takes a healthy rise in value going from the MS64 grade to the MS65 grade. This coin has lots of pop and a thin ring of coppery toning around the rim as well as some splash of coppery toning within the body of the coin. It is also a coin that is being offered here at a small premium to the typical, doggy MS64 where the premium is only a tiny fraction of the difference between the MS64 and MS65 bids recorded for the issue. Truly, paying a small premium for a coin that is nicer than 90% of the other coins within the grade seems like an idea with little downside. $1,750.00
21) 1851 Liberty Eagle PCGS EF40/CAC OGH $1,350.00
Lots of people like to purchase old gold in PCGS old green holders (OGHs) and I like to as well. A particularly cool way to do so is if the coin has already been through the CAC evaluation process so that one can have a reasonable assurance that the coin is likely essentially solid for the grade and free of overtly manipulated surfaces. The present coin is not rare, but its high basal value (it contains nearly one-half ounce of solid gold) means that is not a trivial purchase, either. Overall, I think it looks a wee bit better than the assigned grade of EF40. $1,350.00
1) 1914-D Lincoln Cent NGC F15 $325.00
The 1914-D Lincoln cent is one of the two well known key dates for the regular issues within this series. While the 1909-S VDB gets most of the press, the 1914-D is actually quite a bit more difficult to find with choice surfaces than one might expect. This coin has an even, medium depth brown throughout both sides and looks quite balanced. The obverse presents itself as a coin that might grade full VF, but the reverse suggests it was struck with a die that was becoming fatigued and this is seen by the poorly defined base to the wheat stalks and some areas within the central letters. Overall this is a really nice coin that would do well either in its current slab or also if it were to be cracked out and placed into a choice circulated Lincoln cent album. This coin is priced much closer to dealer ASK for F12 than BID for VF20 even though the quality is such that the coin is pushing the VF20 grade. $325.00
2) 1863-S Seated Liberty Half-Dime PCGS MS65/CAC $4,650.00
Truly a delightful little coin with a light golden obverse containing hints of red and blue toning flecks throughout paired with a soft, pastel lilac reverse. The coin has a strongly clashed obverse and appears original with good luster and no singular marks of any consequence. This issue had a low mintage that has seen exceptionally low numbers of survivors over the years. It is one of the toughest coins to find in the long running Seated Liberty half-dime series and in gem grades there are estimated to be a mere dozen pieces in existence. This coin would number as one of those dozen extant gem coins. I have seen a number of the certified gem coins and this piece has significantly more eye appeal than some examples. It is sometimes difficult to believe that a coin this scarce can be this relatively affordable. This is a case where the Greysheet is of little use; I would buy this issue in this grade with this eye appeal over and over again quite happily at the published bid. $4,650.00
3) 1940-D Jefferson Nickel PCGS MS65 $55.00
I don’t carry many Jefferson nickels, but sometimes a coin pops up that looks cool so I buy it. Based upon the insert of the PCGS holder with the barcode on the obverse and PNG logo on the reverse, this coin was graded between early 2002 and late 2004. At that time I am guessing PCGS was tough on Jefferson nickels since this coin looks a fair bit nicer than I would expect for an MS65. The obverse is primarily a light gold with faint fuchsia and light lime within the motto, LIBERTY and the date. It also has a piece of what looks to be Styrofoam resting on the coin near the rim above LIBERTY that was left there during the encapsulation process all those years ago. The reverse, however, has a very nice bloom with rolling colors that are deeper and cover more of the coin. Curiously, the piece has very sharp steps, though not full steps, yet shows what I would interpret to be severe die erosion throughout most of the reverse. This is very cool. $55.00
4) 1859-S Seated Quarter PCGS VF25/CAC $2,550.00
A pretty darn scarce coin in any grade that gets decidedly scarcer as the grade rises. Approximately 80,000 pieces were produced by the then-new San Francisco Mint and most saw heavy and immediate use in commerce. It would not be until decades later that collectors would recognize that collecting branch mint US issues could be a challenging and valid collecting goal. By that time, the great bulk of these pieces had been lost. This coin has near perfect surfaces paired with extraordinarily beautiful medium depth grey color. It is truly lovely and would be a difficult coin to surpass. Chewed up, chippy pieces can cross the auction block at near $2,000 in VF while higher graded coin skyrocket in value. $2,550.00
5) 1875-S Seated Quarter NGC MS64 $1,695.00
This coin was part of the Richmond Collection that was auctioned off in early 2005. The auction catalog at that time stated in part “A lovely high-end mint state example of this scarce date with even gold toning and blue patina on the obverse portrait. Technically, very high grade with claims to gem…” I don’t know that I would claim that the coin has any significant amount of blue toning on it, but it is truly higher end for the assigned grade and has the very cool feature of having been struck with a pair of die that seem to have been crumbling during usage. This is most evident with the die cracks around the obverse stars and nearly the entire reverse lettering. This issue is more scarce in near-gem that most realize and is offered here at just a smidge over Greysheet and well below what it might take to obtain such a coin in an auction setting. I’ve had this lovely coin in my inventory for a little longer than anticipated and for that reason have lowered the price a fair bit. $1,695.00
6) 1895-S Barber Quarter PCGS VF30 $295.00
It seems there is a perpetual run on circulated Barber coinage that can make its way into a PCGS holder. David Feigenbaum (Lawrence) wrote, in his expert work on this series, that F-EF 1895-S Barber quarters “are gobbled up as soon as they enter the market”. This may be true, but I have never previously owned one to be able to find out. The centers of this coin are a bit lighter than the perimeter, which is ringed with a thicker, navy patina of dirt, grime and age. This coin is priced at more than two times Greysheet, but that seems to be the norm with circulated Barber coinage. $295.00
7) 1854 Seated Liberty Half Dollar with Arrows PCGS AU55 $435.00
I realize this Arrows half dollar is offered at somewhat above the level where previous PCGS AU55 coins have sold and also just a touch below the level of the last sales for PCGS AU58 coins. However, this is a classic case of buying the coin instead of the holder and those who attempt to adhere to that philosophy might wish to take note of this coin. Those AU58 coins provide a nice baseline for what a dipped Arrows half might fetch in the current market. This is fine for those who like the look, but I prefer to buy and sell coins that appear much more natural and with a thicker skin. The present coin has very minimal wear, a wonderful strike throughout and terrific amounts of retained gunk, crud and skin that form the thick patina. I love it, but admittedly this is not for everyone. This type is rather easy to find, but when original surfaces are required the available pool of coins shrinks dramatically; hence, the price on this piece is incrementally higher than other coins in the assigned grade. $435.00
8) 1923-S Monroe Half Dollar PCGS MS64+ $950.00
The reverse of this coin features a bright white center ringed with very pleasing blue and auburn toning while the obverse has a bit more color creeping in from the rims. The reverse is also likely a full MS65, but in this case the obverse is the weaker technical side and holds the grade down to the MS64+ level. There are several noticeable ticks and slight nicks on the obverse especially on the portraits, but these coins seem to be a magnet for such insults to their surfaces. Overall, it has eye appeal that is far in excess of what most Monroe half dollars possess. Had the US Mint struck this coin with a deep relief then I believe we would be looking at one of the great reverse designs of all time. This is a very pretty coin, but I must admit that it is priced aggressively because of the level required to secure the coin. $950.00
9) 1941 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 Rattler $160.00
Truly, this is a common date WLH. What it lacks in the difficulty of the date, though, it makes up for a bit in its other attributes. The coin has thick, original skin, a very well struck mid-section to the torso that includes a fully opposable left thumb and lots of head and ear and hair detail while the reverse breast feathers do not show all that much weakness. I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
10) 1941 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 Rattler $160.00
I’m going to simply cut-and-paste much of the description to the previous coin here because these pieces make such a nicely matched duo. This coin has a tad better strike on the obverse and slightly thicker patina. Truly, this is a common date WLH. What it lacks in the difficulty of the date, though, it makes up for a bit in its other attributes. The coin has thick, original skin, a very well struck mid-section to the torso that includes a fully opposable left thumb and lots of head and ear and hair detail while the reverse breast feathers do not show all that much weakness. I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
11) 1946-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 Rattler $160.00
This coin has thick, original skin featuring lively light golden yellow in the left obverse field, a somewhat weak left thumb and lots of head and ear and hair detail. The reverse has more of the golden yellow blast throughout the fields and a fairly well struck eagle with good breast feathers that do show a few nicks within the busier portions of the artwork . I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
12) 1946-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS65 OGH $160.00
Really satiny surfaces set this coin apart from other WLHs and give the coin a simply outstanding look. It has a few shallow luster grazes and a nick here and there so that the technical strength of the coin could never push MS66, but the visual power of the elegant patina makes me fall in love with the piece each time I pick it up. I purchased this coin and the other three WLHs currently offered from the same hoard of dozens of late date Walkers and only the coins with original skin, attractive patina were chosen. It turns out that each of those coins was in an older generation PCGS holder. These Walkers are not rare, but thousands have been dipped in an effort to maximize the grade; I like them when they are solid and original such as this group. $160.00
13) 1958-D Franklin Half Dollar NGC MS65FBL $65.00
The last of the trio of newly listed Franklin halves, which has classic 1958-D mint set toning that is heaviest on the light auburn and contains hints of red and green throughout. This is an attractive coin and one that I would have expected to be worth more than it is. $65.00
14) 1878-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS64 $250.00
Perhaps this isn’t the key date to the Morgan dollar series, nor is it in a super-gem grade and it is not a monster toned coin. However, I simply do not find many 1878-S Morgan dollars with this kind of toning on both sides that not only covers most of the coin, but is actually colorful. The coin has the look of an MS65 save for a cut across the eagle’s breast that neatly blends in with the toning on the reverse. The obverse features a smoother transition in color while the reverse appears to be something that Jackson Pollack might have dreamt. $250.00
15) 1879-S Rev of 1878 Morgan Dollar PCGS MS63 $565.00
By now most folks likely realize that I do not specialize in white, or untoned, coinage. However, from time to time there appear nice coins that are devoid of most toning and provide not only good eye appeal, but also can be a good store of value or an option for possible increase in value. I believe that this Morgan dollar is such a coin. Pieces in MS63 tend to cluster around $500 while pieces in MS64 tend to cluster around $1,200 and this large relative jump in value does not always correspond to a coin that is significantly nicer. I am not a Morgan dollar connoisseur, but to my eye the present MS63 has many attributes of an MS64 at only less than one half the price. $565.00
16) 1881-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS64/CAC $595.00
This Morgan dollar is from just about the most common issue from the long running series, but has the eye appeal that few coins within the series possess. The obverse is essentially white with quite a bit of blast while the reverse has a wonderful rainbow of color above the eagle’s head and through its wings. Frequent readers of my sight might recognize the fact that I use the term “rainbow” quite sparingly. Additionally, I believe it is one of the most overused and abused terms on many other numismatic websites. Simply put, most sellers want the attention that “rainbow” gathers, yet they do not have a coin with that quality. Here is the exception since the rainbow in question is thin, arcs above and through the eagle on the reverse and is on the leading edge of some very dramatic and deep purple toning. This is quite a visually striking coin with a hefty price associated with it. $595.00
17) 1881-S Morgan Dollar NGC MS65*/CAC $495.00
A second wonderfully toned 1881-S Morgan dollar in an NGC holder that matches quite well with the previous and slightly lower graded coin in an NGC holder. This coin has more pure green and red on the obverse as well as a smaller area of toning on the reverse that could not in any manner be considered a rainbow, unlike the other NGC graded coin of this date on my site. Nonetheless, this piece is very lovely and superb in its own way. $495.00
18) 1887-O Morgan Dollar PCGS MS64+ $550.00
I don’t own many + designated coins and this is most likely due to the fact that the + designation is relatively new. However, of those few coins that I do own, they are all quite wonderful and high end for the grade. Here is an example of a + coin where the next grade up costs substantially more than the current grade and where there is minimal difference, if any real difference at all, between the present coin and coins graded higher. This coin has truly lovely obverse toning that is a warm gold with just a hint of navy clinging to the rim. The reverse is mostly white and very clean. The coin has its original skin. Likely all that held this piece back from a full MS65 grade and subsequent $2,000.00+ price tag is a small piece of adhered carbon or crud in the form of what might be interpreted to be a tiny polar bear facing the eagle near the C in AMERICA on the reverse. If someone has the stones to remove this tiny polar bear they might be handsomely rewarded. That person, however, will not be me and the coin is being offered as a completely original, wonderful piece with winsome polar bear mascot. $550.00
19) 1834 Classic Head Quarter Eagle PCGS AU55 $2,095.00
This coin sports wonderful original color and is accurately graded. It also features tremendous life when rotated under a light. However, it has a pair of reverse scratches between UNITED and the eagle’s wing. I believe these are random circulation scratches, as PCGS believes, but they are present and on coins as small as quarter eagles their appearance can be distracting. Many folks may very well have an issue with accepting these random scratches and I understand that completely. If, however, one values the frosty surfaces, great strike and wonderful, original color in excess of the distraction of the random marks then this coin is a great find. This will not be the case for all folks and I would urge any potential buyer to evaluate what they value in a coin before committing to this coin. $2,095.00
20) 1885-S Liberty Half Eagle PCGS MS64/CAC $1,750.00
Most MS64 Liberty half eagles are a bit scruffy. This is an unfortunate statement, but one that has been made through observation of many coins on the bourse and at auction. Those few that have truly pristine surfaces and clean fields are the coins that most collectors strive to obtain and those coins that generate the highest bids upon auction. The 1885-S here is a coin that is not rare in any sense, but is also a coin that is quite scarce above the MS63 level and one that takes a healthy rise in value going from the MS64 grade to the MS65 grade. This coin has lots of pop and a thin ring of coppery toning around the rim as well as some splash of coppery toning within the body of the coin. It is also a coin that is being offered here at a small premium to the typical, doggy MS64 where the premium is only a tiny fraction of the difference between the MS64 and MS65 bids recorded for the issue. Truly, paying a small premium for a coin that is nicer than 90% of the other coins within the grade seems like an idea with little downside. $1,750.00
21) 1851 Liberty Eagle PCGS EF40/CAC OGH $1,350.00
Lots of people like to purchase old gold in PCGS old green holders (OGHs) and I like to as well. A particularly cool way to do so is if the coin has already been through the CAC evaluation process so that one can have a reasonable assurance that the coin is likely essentially solid for the grade and free of overtly manipulated surfaces. The present coin is not rare, but its high basal value (it contains nearly one-half ounce of solid gold) means that is not a trivial purchase, either. Overall, I think it looks a wee bit better than the assigned grade of EF40. $1,350.00
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In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson