For me it is the 1861 Paquet Reverse with its unique reverse design. Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth in their 2008 Third Edition of "100 Greatest U.S. Coins" place the 1861 San Francisco minted paquet at number 83 and note that "there are probably 200 to 300 examples known in all grades." An AU example is given an historical value by the authors of $85,000.00. No known uncirculaed examples exist.
The "story" behind the coin adds to its desirability:
**The Pony Express (or as it was known at the time, The Overland Mail Route) also ties into the story behind the survival of the small number of the 1861 San Francisco minted Paquet Reverse $20 Double Eagle gold pieces.
The correspondence from the East to stop production of the coin was delayed getting to San Francisco due to the time it took for messages to still be delivered via the Pony Express in 1861.
**
Click this link to see photos of the one in my own collection which I included at the bottom of the first post in the linked thread.
My answer is the same as the obverse question, the 1798-1807 heraldic eagle reverse.
Both obverse and reverse are nearly perfect. Liberty, E Pluribus Unum, and the date. No real people, no mottoes, no commems of any kind, They should have stopped there, sure, change the date, change the metallic weight and composition as needed, change the relief and add the spaghetti hair and plastic looking feathers and use computers to "update" it (if you must; wish you wouldn't) can you imagine, a solid run of one design all this time? Sure, there would be the usual overdate and mintmarks, the occasional doubled die and various varieties and errors, rare ones and common ones, but how nice would it be to still have 2 1/5, 5, and 10 dollar coins?
I guess collections would be pretty boring compared to what actually happened, but it's my dream alternate universe nonetheless....
In no particular order, because I can't choose: walking liberty half, buffalo nickel, and the small eagle designs on any of the early Federal silver and gold coins.
Same as the obverse............The Walking Liberty.
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I'm quite fond of several including the buff nickel, Ike/SBA recycle, St. Gauden's soaring eagle, and the Peace dollar, but this design ALWAYS makes me stop and take a look:
Comments
Ike Dollar
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Any one of the Ike Dollar reverses (other than the 1976).
- Ike Group member
- DIVa (Designated Ike Varieties) Project co-lead and attributor
Ike for me, too.
Buffalo nickel for me!
The one favorite................That will take some thought.
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Ike for me too.
Barber Half!
For me it is the 1861 Paquet Reverse with its unique reverse design. Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth in their 2008 Third Edition of "100 Greatest U.S. Coins" place the 1861 San Francisco minted paquet at number 83 and note that "there are probably 200 to 300 examples known in all grades." An AU example is given an historical value by the authors of $85,000.00. No known uncirculaed examples exist.
The "story" behind the coin adds to its desirability:
**The Pony Express (or as it was known at the time, The Overland Mail Route) also ties into the story behind the survival of the small number of the 1861 San Francisco minted Paquet Reverse $20 Double Eagle gold pieces.
The correspondence from the East to stop production of the coin was delayed getting to San Francisco due to the time it took for messages to still be delivered via the Pony Express in 1861.
**
Click this link to see photos of the one in my own collection which I included at the bottom of the first post in the linked thread.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/914924/remembering-the-pony-express-at-the-carson-city-mint-a-photo-essay
My answer is the same as the obverse question, the 1798-1807 heraldic eagle reverse.
Both obverse and reverse are nearly perfect. Liberty, E Pluribus Unum, and the date. No real people, no mottoes, no commems of any kind, They should have stopped there, sure, change the date, change the metallic weight and composition as needed, change the relief and add the spaghetti hair and plastic looking feathers and use computers to "update" it (if you must; wish you wouldn't) can you imagine, a solid run of one design all this time? Sure, there would be the usual overdate and mintmarks, the occasional doubled die and various varieties and errors, rare ones and common ones, but how nice would it be to still have 2 1/5, 5, and 10 dollar coins?
I guess collections would be pretty boring compared to what actually happened, but it's my dream alternate universe nonetheless....
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
In no particular order, because I can't choose: walking liberty half, buffalo nickel, and the small eagle designs on any of the early Federal silver and gold coins.
Walking Liberty half dollar.
Same as the obverse............The Walking Liberty.
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I think it needs to be an eagle.
Walking Liberty Half
Morgan Dollar
Ike Dollar (With a + for landing on the moon)
Sacagawea Dollar
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
Type Twe Double Eagle
A toss-up-Var 1 Buffalo 5c and Walking Liberty 50c.
Barber half.

My 1866 Philly Mint Set
That half reverse is stunning...WoW
I'm quite fond of several including the buff nickel, Ike/SBA recycle, St. Gauden's soaring eagle, and the Peace dollar, but this design ALWAYS makes me stop and take a look:
My first thought was the Ike Dollar, so I Like Ike along with several others.
St. Gaudens eagle. Close second to the Walker eagle. Both very regal and majestic in appearance.
Walker, Saint & Standing Liberty Quarter.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
18th century gold small eagles

Walking Liberty Half and Five Dollar Gold Indian.... really like them both... Cheers, RickO