The 1795 BD-3 $10 gold piece is a wonderful rarity among early U.S. gold coins. The BD-3 variety represents the entire mintage of the 1795 9 Leaves $10 gold piece, itself one of the most important major varieties. Previous estimates of the surviving population of this variety were as low as nine pieces. Dannreuther suggested that as many as 15-20 pieces were known, and the latest research shows that perhaps as many as two dozen exist. Surprisingly, there may be as many as eight examples that grade MS60 or better, which is an astounding percentage of the known population. Among these, the finest is a PCGS MS63+ example which is a full point-and-a-half better than the next best.
The strike on this variety is often soft in the centers, where the high points oppose each other. Adjustment marks are sometimes seen, but they are never excessive. At least two examples show depressions or voids in the finished coins, presumably the result of improper preparation of the planchets.
The U.S. Mint had produced 445,500 double eagles in 1933, which were to be distributed into circulation. However, in one of his first acts, Roosevelt declared an effective end to the nation’s adherence to the gold standard and began the recall of all U.S. gold coins. According to the Mint’s records, the entire mintage of 1933 Double Eagles were to be melted except for two that were sent to the Smithsonian.
In 1937, a number appeared for sale. However, a Secret Service investigation determined that they had been stolen from the Mint and were seized from their owners. One was purchased by King Farouk and it became part of his fabulous collection, leaving that 1933 Double Eagle beyond the legal arm of the United States. Sociopolitical turmoil in Egypt led to King Farouk’s abdication. He was exiled to Italy and many of his possessions, including his 1933 Double Eagle, were dispersed. The whereabouts of the coin were unknown for decades until British coin dealer Stephon Fenton surrendered the coin to United States authorities in 1996.
Hanging in legal limbo for several years, the coin was stored in a Secret Service vault at the World Trade Center in New York City. The legal status of the 1933 Double Eagle specimen hailing from King Farouk was resolved and the coin was subsequently removed from the World Trade Center just before the terrorist attacks destroyed the Lower Manhattan landmark. The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was offered for sale by Sotheby’s/Stack’s in 2002, realizing $7.59 million to set what was then the world record for the highest price ever paid for a single coin in a public offering.
Upon crossing the auction block nearly two decades later in 2021, the specimen remained the only legally obtainable example of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle in private hands.
@EliteCollection - I been clicking on the "like" button but I rather click on a "Love" Button instead. Just loving each coin. Again, thank you for sharing.
So much eye candy, how do you pick a favorite. I would go with the $50 Pan Pac, Extreme High Relief Saint, and no way do you leave out the 1933 Saint. All three in no particular order with honorable mention to the 1927 D Saint. I do love big gold, a trait instilled in me by Ricko.
Called the "King of Morgan Dollars", the 1895 is one of the most desirable and sought-after dates in the series. Although Mint records indicate a mintage of 12,000 circulation strikes, experts believe that only 880 Proofs were made in 1895. The existence of several circulated examples confuses the issue, but those are believed to have been Proofs that were spent inadvertently. Ownership of this popular rarity is the true measure of completeness for a collection of Morgan Dollars - the 1895 Proof is the only real "stopper" in the series.
Presumably, Proofs can be told apart from potential circulation strikes by the number of edge "reeds" (the raised "bumps" on the edge of the coin). Proofs will have 179 "reeds", whereas circulation strikes will have some other number.
PCGS has graded more Proofs of this date than any other, although the number may be inflated due to re-submissions. A surprising percentage of the coins examined by PCGS have been "spent" Proofs - 87 coins have been certified below Proof-60 (as of June 23, 2010), including one in Proof-06!
1895 $1 PCGS PR 67+ CAM CAC (Pop 3/2)
I first learned of the 1895 silver dollar in 1960 at 7 years of age when I watched my favorite TV show “ Dennis The Menace” when Mr Wilson bought such 1895 silver dollar for $600. I could not afford it back then but it started my journey into coin collecting as I dreamed of finding the 1895 silver dollar which I later found out was only minted as a proof coin. I later decided I only wanted to primarily seek out business strike coins but I was already on a life long journey of collecting coins.
@JW77 said:
So much eye candy, how do you pick a favorite. I would go with the $50 Pan Pac, Extreme High Relief Saint, and no way do you leave out the 1933 Saint. All three in no particular order with honorable mention to the 1927 D Saint. I do love big gold, a trait instilled in me by Ricko.
In terms of total number of specimens known in all grades, both circulated and Mint State, the 1933 is definitely the rarest issue in the series. However, because all known 1933 eagles are Uncirculated, when one considers only the Mint State grades this issue ranks third in rarity behind the 1913-S and 1911-D. Most of the 30 to 35 known examples are considerably bagmarked, which is surprising since they were all surely obtained directly from the Mint, and one would expect that care would have been taken to select particularly nice examples. I do not know of any superb (MS-67) examples, but the Delp, Bareford, Kruthoffer, Eliasberg and Stack's October 1984 Sale specimens were all gems, and the Einstein Collection coin was very close. None of these is clearly distinguishable as ""the finest known,"" but some might prefer one over the others, depending on which factors are most important to a particular individual.
Most 1933 eagles are fully frosty although some (cf. Stack's October 1984 Sale, Lot 1377) have a distinctly satiny appearance. Luster is generally only average or slightly below average for the series, but the satiny ones have very good lustre as do a few of the frosty ones. The 1933 is always well struck and the color is typically very good, usually light to medium greenish gold with rose, orange, or coppery highlights. Many specimens also have reddish copper spots. The 1 in the date is almost always weaker than the other numerals. This issue is one of the most famous and popular of the 20th century. The mintage is high but virtually all were melted prior to release. Those in existence were undoubtedly obtained directly from the Mint prior to March 1933. Unlike the 1933 double eagle, the legal ownership status of the 1933 eagle has never been in question.
Despite two previous and unsuccessful efforts at getting Congressional approval for an international gold coin, the idea was revived in 1879 when John Kasson, the United States minister to Austria and a former Chairman of the Committee of Coinage, Weights, and Measures, suggested to the Secretary of State that a coin be made that had a value close to that of the Austrian 8 Florin piece. Since the value of the Austrian 8 Florin piece was approximately $3.88 (as were the approximate values of several other foreign gold pieces), the denomination of four dollars or 400 cents was an obvious choice. It was proposed that the new denomination have the name "Stella", which seemed appropriate since it was "in analogy to one eagle, both the star and eagle being national emblems on our coins."
The 1879 flowing hair stella is the second most common of all U.S. gold patterns and it has appeared for sale many more times than any of the other stellas. Obviously, it is impossible to state exactly how many of the original 415 still exist, but for what one guess is worth, I would estimate that at least 300 to 350 are still around, although certainly many of them are impaired to some degree. Contrary to popular belief, the retrikes do not always weigh 103.2 grains and therefore, many are offered as one of the 15 "originals", often at an inflated price, when in reality they are one of the more common 400 restrikes. The restrikes are usually identifiable by light adjustment marks or striations on the head of Liberty.
Next to the legendary 1870-S, the 1875 is the most famous and highly desired three dollar gold piece. It has auction records as high as $150,000, although, as the auction records conclusively show, it is not nearly as rare as the 1873 Open 3 and is, in fact, one of the more common dates in proof prior to the 1880's! Certainly, it has been offered for sale many more times than the 1874 or 1878 which have identical reported mintages of 20 pieces. This apparent discrepancy is answered by the fact that the claimed mintage of 20 for the 1875 is not really accurate since more than 20 pieces are known to exist. The term ""restrike"" has been used when discussing the 1875, but properly used, the term ""restrike"" denotes a coin that is struck in a year later than its date. Such has not been conclusively proven to be the case with the 1875 three dollar gold piece, and although there are differences between known specimens, it is more likely that they were merely struck at different times during the same year rather than in different years.
The 1870-S Silver Dollar is one of the most mysterious of all United States coins. It is one of the few instances where the Mint records give no indication that any were produced at all. Yet there are roughly a dozen examples whose very existence contradicts the official records. Most of the known examples are worn, indicating that mint employees produced a small run, and then placed the coins in circulation. Unfortunately, absent any direct evidence, no one can prove how many were made. However, the point is moot because the collector who seeks to complete a set of Silver Dollars has only the survivors from which to choose. In the case of the 1870-S Silver Dollar, the choices are few and far between.
1870-S Silver Dollars appear on the market an average of once every two years, but there have been periods as long as six years (for instance 1997-2003) when collectors have had zero opportunities to purchase an example.
In 2003, the finest known 1870-S Silver Dollar sold for over one million dollars and every example since then, with the exception of a damaged piece has brought close to or over half a million dollars.
This issue is listed in Judd's pattern book (J-1775) but it is not truly a pattern in the sense that the 1907 Wire Edge is. The Rolled Edge was actually struck in rather large quantities for circulation but they were melted before ever being released to the public. The surviving examples are mostly high quality and were either saved as assay pieces or obtained directly from the Mint prior to the decision to melt the issue. The strike on the typical Rolled Edge is rather weak, particularly at Miss Liberty's ear and on the eagle's wing and trailing leg and claw. Lustre is almost always excellent, if not radiant, and the color is generally great, usually greenish gold, orange and rose. The fields always have numerous random die scratches throughout, and the surfaces are rather satiny but with plenty of mint frost as well.
This issue is unusual among Indian Head eagles in that it is more often seen in MS-63, MS-64 or MS-65 condition than in the lowest Mint State grades. Overall, probably 40 to 45 pieces exist and a small number of them are superb, in fact, close to perfection. The Wilkinson-Kruthoffer specimen was extraordinary and at least four or five others are also distinctly better than MS-65.
Although not the great rarity it is sometimes made out to be, the 1808 quarter eagle can certainly be considered to be rare, particularly in high grade. Because this is a one-year-only type, it is also unquestionably one of the most popular U.S. gold coins, and therefore, generally brings proportionally higher prices than other dates that are less rare but also less desirable. As the data clearly indicates, most available specimens are in the very fine to extremely fine range. The majority of pieces that I have seen also have edge nicks or rim bruises to some extent, and although most examples of this date are fairly well struck on the figure of Liberty and on the eagle, they are also weakly struck at the borders. Typically, the stars are flat and there are no denticles visible. I have only seen one truly choice mint state example, that being the superb coin from the Dr. J. Hewitt Judd Collection. I examined the coin (and was offered it for sale as were several other dealers and prominent collectors) at the 1972 ANA Convention in New Orleans. To my regret, I passed on the piece ar a price in the $12,000 range. The price seemed high at the time, but it would certainly be an incredible bargain today.
The proof 1867 nickel with rays is a significant rarity. It's believed that only a handful were coined before the reverse was revised to omit the rays. These may be identified by the fullness of the dies, as the several subsequent emissions to satisfy collector demand reveal some loss of shallow detail as the dies were repolished. In addition, at least three obverse dies were used at various times over the next several years. Because this issue was so desired, and because a good portion of its mintage occurred after its rarity was established, those that survive today are generally in higher grades than the overall proof population for this coin type. A small number of cameo proofs are known, as well. Most collectors will, of necessity, have to omit this entry in their sets, but it is a top prize for the advanced collector of means.
The 1796 Quarter Eagle with No Stars on the obverse is one of the most historic and important U.S. gold coins. The mintage is a mere 963 pieces, which is exceedingly small by any standard. Estimates of the number of surviving examples has ranged all over the place. David Akers claimed 30 to 40, refuting earlier claims of 15 to 20 known. The cataloger at Heritage estimated 80 to 100 in their January 2007 sale. PCGS experts estimate a surviving population of 100 to 125 pieces. To put a finer spin on things, we have images of 28 different examples, all in AU or better. Eleven of those examples are Mint State 60 or better. At the top of the condition census is the incredible PCGS MS65 (finest by two full points) that sold for $1,725,000 in January 2008.
It is very difficult to locate a "perfect" 1796 No Stars Quarter Eagle. Many show lintmarks of various sizes. Some show adjustment marks, usually in the center of the obverse. The Bass:261 coin (now in an NGC MS60 holder) shows three different, mint-caused defects: a diagonal fissure running from the turban to Liberty's temple; vertical adjustment marks on the obverse; and a heavy lintmark on the right side of the reverse (yet, it is still a nice, six-figure coin). Though there are numerically finer examples, my personal favorite is Bob Simpson's PCGS MS62+ -- it is well-struck, has great color, and is free of any distracting problems.
The Gobrecht dollar, minted from 1836 to 1839, was the first silver dollar struck for circulation by the United States Mint after production of that denomination had been halted in 1806. The coin was struck in small numbers to determine whether the reintroduced silver dollar would be well received by the public.
In 1835, Director of the United States Mint Samuel Moore resigned his post, and Robert M. Patterson assumed the position. Shortly after, Patterson began an attempt to redesign the nation's coinage. After Mint Chief Engraver William Kneass suffered a stroke later that year, Christian Gobrecht was hired as an engraver. On August 1, Patterson wrote a letter to Philadelphia artist Thomas Sully laying out his plans for the dollar coin. He also asked Titian Peale to create a design for the coin. Sully created an obverse design depicting a seated representation of Liberty and Peale a reverse depicting a soaring bald eagle, which were adapted into coin designs by Gobrecht. After the designs were created and trials struck, production of the working dies began in September 1836.
After a small quantity was struck for circulation, the Mint received complaints regarding the prominent placement of Gobrecht's name on the dollar, and the design was modified to place his name in a less conspicuous position. In January 1837, the legal standard for the percentage of precious metal in silver coins was changed from 89.2% to 90%, and the Gobrecht dollars struck afterwards reflect this change. In total, 1,900 Gobrecht dollars were struck during the official production run. Production of the Seated Liberty dollar, which utilized the same obverse design as the Gobrecht dollar, began in 1840. In the 1850s, Mint officials controversially re-struck the coins without authorization.
The 1817/4 Overdate Half Dollar is the most famous and valuable of all the Capped Bust Half Dollars. Only ten examples are known of this variety, several of which have been discovered within the past decade. Most of the known examples are of the Overton 102a variety, which means they show a somewhat vertical die crack on the obverse. This crack, and the eventual removal or destruction of the die, is believed to be the cause of this variety's exceptional rarity.
The finest example is the PCGS AU53 from the Eliasberg Collection (and, coincidentally, the first example of the variety discovered by E.T. Wallis circa 1930). Wallis' asking price of $2,500 in 1934 pales in comparison to the $356,500 it realized in its last auction appearance in 2009!
For anyone who thinks that all of the great coins have been found, it is important to realize that four of the eleven known 1817/4 Half Dollars have been discovered since 2005, and that the most recent find was in late 2013 or early 2014, when an example was purchased as a Punctuated Date 1817!
The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is the first issue in the series. These coins were not struck until the last two weeks of 1916, and they were released in January, 1917. The mintage is consequently very low, a mere 52,000 coins, making this issue the lowest mintage by far in the Standing Liberty quarter series and indeed one of the lowest mintage U.S. coins of the 20th century. The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is rare in all grades and has always been a very high demand coin. Today, even extremely low grades sell in excess of $1,000.
The "Type One" Standing Liberty quarter was only minted for two years, 1916 and 1917. Nearly all 1917 Type One quarters were struck with full head detail. However, 1916 Standing Liberty quarters often have softly struck heads. All Gem quality MS65 or better 1916 Standing Liberty quarters are very rare, and those with fully struck heads are rarer still.
1916 25C Standing Liberty PCGS MS 66+ FH CAC (Pop 4/6)
Just curious the 1817 over 4 seems to have a lot of green areas (beside the bust and some other areas) on the coin is it toning or some PVC? If PVC would you consider acetone to resolve the issue then have it graded again?
The 1854-O is one of the most famous dates in the Double Eagle series and it also one of the rarest. In particular, it is the second rarest O-Mint twenty after the 1856-O and it is comparable overall to the 1870-CC and business strikes of 1881 and 1885. It is not as rare as a business strike 1882 or 1886 and, of course, it is not nearly as rare as the 1861 Paquet. However, other than the aforementioned dates, the 1854-O is more rare than any other regular issue Liberty Head. (The proof-only 1883 and 1884 are also a bit more rare than this date, particularly the 1884.) The only specimen catalogued as "uncirculated" was in the 1944 Bell sale. I have not seen that piece so I cannot say if it is really uncirculated. In fact, I have not seen a strictly mint state example in any collection although I have seen three very nice AU's, the finest being an AU-55 coin in a prominent Dallas bank collection. When available, and that is not likely to be very often, the typical 1854-O is VF or EF with a partially prooflike or fully prooflike surface.
This coin was ranked #93 in the first edition of the 100 Greatest US Coins book, but it is no longer included in the latest edition of the book.
David Akers:
The 1875 is unquestionably one of the great rarities of the series and it is tied for thirteenth with the 1829 Small Planchet with respect to rarity according to number of appearances at auction. Among Liberty Head Half Eagles, only the 1854-S is more rare. Out of the 12 auction appearances in my 337 sale survey, 9 were proofs meaning that business strikes were only offered three times in 337 sales. At least two appearances (1974 ANA and Wolfson) were of the same coin. I have seen only one other business strike, a coin that was discovered by Paul Wittlin in Europe in the 1960's and subsequently sold to Harry Bass. There may be a few others but I would estimate that at most 5-6 business strikes are known.
This coin was ranked #81 in the first edition of the 100 Greatest US Coins book, but it is no longer included in the latest edition of the book.
Q. David Bowers:
Mint records indicate that 1,300 dollars bearing this date were minted. As noted, these were not placed into circulation at the time. Probably, they left the Mint in the year or two succeeding, in exchange for bullion deposits (this is speculation). The desirability of the low-mintage 1851 and 1852 dates was recognized early in the numismatic game, by which time most were no longer available at the source. By 1858, the "Midnight Minters" and others at the Mint knew full well that the 1851 (and 1852) dollars were rarities. It is logical to assume that by that time the original circulation strike mintages had been dispersed.
I believe that sharp-eyed bank tellers, Treasury employees, hotel clerks, and others, perhaps equipped with a coin buying guide issued by Cook, Morey, von Bergen, or some other nineteenth century precursor of B. Max Mehl, snapped up all the examples they could find. Such coin premium books were distributed in large quantities beginning with Cook's efforts in the mid-1870s and, for all I know, even earlier by others. Even so, very few were ever found.
The 1851 is a great rarity in circulated grades. Walter H. Breen suggests that most that do survive in worn grades are at higher levels such as grade EF or AU. (Letter to the author, February 12, 1992.) Most 1851 dollars known to exist are in Mint State. I suspect that the Mint saved a few at the time of issue, perhaps for trading purposes to acquire pieces for the Mint Cabinet.
This date is one of the classic rarities of the Double Eagle series and is certainly one of the most famous and popular. It is the rarest O-mint $20 (although not really all that much rarer than the 1854-O) and, except for the 1861 Paquet and 1882 business strike, it is the rarest regular issue Liberty Head Double Eagle. In terms of number of specimens known it is more rare than the heralded 1870-CC (although it usually comes in higher grade than the 1870-CC) and is about the same rarity as the proof-only 1883. There is one very nice uncirclated piece known that was sold by Superior in 1980 and at least two others that grade Almost Uncirculated, including the Eliasberg coin which grades AU-55. The rest of the known population grades only VF or EF. All known specimens have semi-prooflike or prooflike fields.
Without question this is one of the rarest and most famous of all Double Eagles. It is by far the rarest CC-Mint twenty and it is surpassed in overall rarity among all regular issue Liberty Heads only by the 1861 Paquet, the 1856-O, and the business strikes of 1882 and 1886. The 1870-CC is similar in rarity to the 1854-O and business strikes of 1881 and 1885 and just a little less rare than the proof-only 1883 and 1884. From the standpoint of condition rarity, the 1870-CC is one of the rarest, if not the rarest, dates in the entire series. I have never seen a full AU and the typical 1870-CC is only F or VF with a heavily bagmarked, prooflike surface. Q. David Bowers has written that he handled a mint state 1870-CC many years ago and so that specimen is undoubtedly the finest known example of this rare date by a considerable margin.
Ron Guth:
The 1870-CC $20 combines extreme rarity, the allure of gold, a large size, and the lore of the Carson City Mint in a neat, tidy, and very expensive package. At least one expert believes that the surviving population numbers only 35-45 examples, but this seems low considering that PCGS alone has certified 34 coins (as of October 2014). Add in coins certified by NGC, subtract resubmissions and crossovers, and the correct number is probably over 50 examples. Regardless, the 1870-CC $20 is under considerable pressure from collectors of the Liberty Head series, fans of the Carson City Mint, and anyone looking for a trophy coin.
This date is not known for being well struck; rather, a common complaint is that some or all of the obverse stars are flat. Most of the surviving population hovers around the XF45 grade, with few examples on either side, especially the higher side.
Here is my 1792 Copper Disme PCGS MS-64 BN. This coin is one of the finest known with a population of only 2 with no coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to Bob Simpson.
The 1792 Copper Disme with Reeded Edge, Judd-10 is a Rarity 6 coin (13-30 known), making this issue the second most common of the rare 1792 coinage varieties. The much more common 1792 Silver Half Disme, a coin with over two hundred specimens known was struck in the metal of a circulation strike and many believe it was issued for circulation. However, the 1792 Disme does not appear to have ever been issued for circulation and was a pattern-only issue. It is somewhat surprising then that so many of the Copper Dismes were struck. It is also surprising that approximately two-thirds of the surviving 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge are known in Very Fine condition or better. Three of the survivors are graded either Proof or Specimen Issues.
It seems probable that 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge were given to a number of people to display as an example of the proposed coinage of the U.S. That would explain the Specimen specimens and helps explain why so many survive in nice condition. While it is not definitely known who engraved these coins, it appears that they were not engraved by Birch (who did the 1792 Birch Cents) and they were not engraved by Joseph Wright (who engraved the 1792 Pattern Quarter).
Besides the two identified as Specimen issues, which are graded SP65 Brown and SP55 by PCGS, and one Proof graded PR62BN by NGC, there are two 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge with claims to Uncirculated condition. Since Proof coinage was not officially started at the U.S. Mint until about 1817, it is probably more accurate to call any coin that appears to be a proof struck before that date a Specimen.
The 1848 discovery of gold in California created special problems for certain of the state's inhabitants. The massive influx of people, coupled with inflation and a lack of coins with which to conduct business, led to great difficulties. Gold dust became a de facto currency, but measurements varied, often to the detriment of the owner of the dust. Private minters moved in to fill the void, producing a variety of gold coins of somewhat suspect quality and purity.
To help solve the problem, a U.S. Assay Office was created in 1851 in San Francisco under the direction of Augustus Humbert. He contracted with the firm of Moffat & Company to produce massive $50 coins with eight sides and nearly 2.75 troy ounces of pure gold. Known today as "slugs," these big, heavy coins created a new level of confidence with the general public, essentially driving the underweight and impure coins out of circulation. Unfortunately, the slugs failed to address the need for smaller denomination coins.
Because they were technically ingots and not coins, the $50 slugs were not required to be of the same 90 percent purity as federal gold coins. Thus, four different finenesses appear on the $50 slugs: .880, .884, .887, and .900. The earliest versions had lettered edges later versions had reeded edges. Some varieties required as many as 14 steps to produce a single coin!
Although they were produces in large quantities, most of the $50 slugs were melted down and converted into U.S. gold coins once the San Francisco Mint began operations in 1854. Today, $50 slugs are prized, impressive reminders of an important part of our U.S. heritage.
The 1796-1797 Draped Bust, small eagle half dollar is considered to be the rarest United States silver type coin. It is an expensive coin even in the lowest grades. For the 1796, there are two varieties, 15 stars on the obverse and 16 stars on the obverse. Mintage for the 15 stars is estimated at 569 while mintage for the 16 stars variety is estimated at 365. However, both seem to appear equally as often at auction. There are at most a hand full of mint state examples. This is one of the most beautiful and short lived designs.
These coins' first public appearance was in the 1890 sale of Lorin G. Parmelee's collection. Both an 1844-O half eagle and an 1844-O eagle Proof were sold at the same sale. In the Parmelee auction, the $10 piece was cataloged as "Eagle: O mint sharp and perfect Proof: as it is allowable to strike Proofs only at the Philadelphia Mint, it would seem that this lot and the following (the Proof 1844-O $5 gold half eagle) must be extremely rare." The buyer of both coins was William Woodin at $16 and $9.50, respectively. The coins later appeared in Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Woodin Collection in 1911.
According to his journal entry number 57068, Virgil Brand purchased the 1844-O Proof eagle for $50 in 1911. After his death, the Brand Collection was broken up over a period of many years, and the coin did not resurface for some time.
For many years, the rumored existence of the 1844-O Proof eagle only added to its mystique. The late Texas dealer Mike Brownlee heard about the coin in the 1950s while working for the legendary B. Max Mehl, who searched for the coin his entire numismatic life. His search ended in 1994 when he was finally able to purchase the 1844-O Proof eagle for an undisclosed amount. The last auction appearance of the 1844-O Proof half eagle was in the sale of the King Farouk collection. Abe Kosoff sold the coin in 1959, and it now resides in a private collection.
Why the Proof 1844-O half eagle and eagle were struck in the first place is the real mystery. It is possible the coins were struck for a dignitary of this country or some foreign head of state visiting the New Orleans Mint. Perhaps someday researchers will solve the puzzle of these two incredible coins.
These coins' first public appearance was in the 1890 sale of Lorin G. Parmelee's collection. Both an 1844-O half eagle and an 1844-O eagle Proof were sold at the same sale. In the Parmelee auction, the $10 piece was cataloged as "Eagle: O mint sharp and perfect Proof: as it is allowable to strike Proofs only at the Philadelphia Mint, it would seem that this lot and the following (the Proof 1844-O $5 gold half eagle) must be extremely rare." The buyer of both coins was William Woodin at $16 and $9.50, respectively. The coins later appeared in Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Woodin Collection in 1911.
According to his journal entry number 57068, Virgil Brand purchased the 1844-O Proof eagle for $50 in 1911. After his death, the Brand Collection was broken up over a period of many years, and the coin did not resurface for some time.
For many years, the rumored existence of the 1844-O Proof eagle only added to its mystique. The late Texas dealer Mike Brownlee heard about the coin in the 1950s while working for the legendary B. Max Mehl, who searched for the coin his entire numismatic life. His search ended in 1994 when he was finally able to purchase the 1844-O Proof eagle for an undisclosed amount. The last auction appearance of the 1844-O Proof half eagle was in the sale of the King Farouk collection. Abe Kosoff sold the coin in 1959, and it now resides in a private collection.
Why the Proof 1844-O half eagle and eagle were struck in the first place is the real mystery. It is possible the coins were struck for a dignitary of this country or some foreign head of state visiting the New Orleans Mint. Perhaps someday researchers will solve the puzzle of these two incredible coins.
Some spectacular stuff - thank you for sharing. The 1844-O HE is incredible.
I did not know that the 1875 Half Eagle is no longer on the Top 100 list. That to me is simply wrong. There are many coins on the list (even a few you have shown) that don't measure up with the 1875's rarity and significance.
Anyway, thank you for being an active member and sharing these important coins.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
@breakdown said:
Some spectacular stuff - thank you for sharing. The 1844-O HE is incredible.
I did not know that the 1875 Half Eagle is no longer on the Top 100 list. That to me is simply wrong. There are many coins on the list (even a few you have shown) that don't measure up with the 1875's rarity and significance.
The 1875 $5 is not in the MyCollect Registry Set "100 Greatest",
and apparently no longer in the Garrett and Guth "100 Greatest" book, which is currently in its 5th edition (2019).
@EliteCollection said:
The 100 Greatest book is actually in its 6th edition, which came out recently.
My website has a list of all the coins in the first 5 editions listed and ranked in a weighted order. Since I am no longer collecting this set I never updated the list to include the sixth edition.
The 1861-S Paquet is the rarest Liberty Head Double Eagle from the San Francisco Mint. Its only real close competitor for that distinction is the 1866-S No Motto but, in my opinion, there are more of the latter in existence than there are 1861-S Paquets. In high grade, the 1861-S Paquet is extremely rare and, to the best of my knowledge, it is unknown in full mint state. I have seen only two specimens I graded as high as AU-50 and nothing even close to Unc. As a general rule, this date is usually grossly overgraded and even in strict EF condition it is seldom available. In my experience the majority of 1861-S Paquets are well worn, VF being typical, and they are almost always very heavily abraided.
@EliteCollection said:
Ok, I have caught up. From this point forward, I will be posting about 1 new 100g (100 Greatest) coin a day until I have run out of coins to post.
Thanks to the rest ... I have been following you on MYCOLLECT but I had to just go through this post in one binge reading. My eyes are tired and my mine is in a fog from being overwhelmed by the collection ... time to take my wife out for lunch soon
OMG ... My Mother was Right about Everything!
I wake up with a Good Attitude Every Day. Then … Idiots Happen!
This is one of those threads that reminds you of how deep the waters of numismatics run, and also that there are just so many items that will forever remain out of reach unless one becomes unfathomably wealthy. Clearly most if not all of these amazing coins belong in a museum, and I sincerely hope that one day I am pleasantly surprised to see this collection on display. For now I remain just stunned by the first three words or each of the OP’s posts: “Here is my”
As a dime collector, I can't wait to see if you have the 1894-S 10c proof (which a specimen came up for auction at HA recently) and the singular MS-65 1873-CC No Arrows 10c.
The Starred Reverse is the most famous of all the 1794's. According to Sheldon, "Collectors mention it with religious awe." About 50-60 are known in all grades. Early in its life, the reverse die buckled in a straight line from 10:00 to 4:00, accounting for the scarcity of the variety. Because of the buckle, the upper right reverse wears away quickly and the lower left lingers. Low-grade examples are known showing only a few stars at 7:00.
Heritage Auctions:
The Starred Reverse is the variety that every serious large cent collector wants to own, and here we have an exceptional census-level piece that has impressive historical importance. The obverse and reverse are illustrated in Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. According to numismatic lore, the Chapman Brothers were examining large cents in 1877 while Dr. Edward Maris observed. Henry stated: "Here is a die with minute stars around the reverse." Maris confirmed that the variety was previously unknown. The present example from the Boka Collection is the very same cent that Henry Chapman held in his hands when he discovered the variety.
Note: The coin referenced in the 100 Greatest US Coins book in slot #79 is actually the 1797 16 Stars Obverse, Heraldic Reverse Half Eagle. That coin is unique and is permanently housed in the Smithsonian Institution. This Small Eagle Reverse coin is still extremely rare and is a proxy for Heraldic Reverse Half Eagle. Both the PCGS Set Registry and the MyCollect Registry accepts the 1797 $5 16 Stars Obverse, Small Eagle Reverse coin in this slot.
David Akers:
Although not quite as rare as the three other 1797 Half Eagles, the 1797 16 Stars, Small Eagle is still one of the major rarities in the $5 series. I would estimate that at most 25-30 specimens exist in all grades with EF-AU being typical. A few choice uncs exist but none has appeared on the market in many years.
This cent and example is a favorite of mine. Congrats on adding such a fabulous coin and sharing your wonderful cabinet with us. Just unbelievable. @EliteCollection - Can't wait for when you share your 1796 quarter? If you acquired one, love to see which on you choose! Thanks!
Comments
Here is my 1795 Capped Bust Gold Eagle 9 Leaves PCGS AU-55. This coin has a population of 3 with 8 coins graded higher.
This coin is #83 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Ron Guth:
The 1795 BD-3 $10 gold piece is a wonderful rarity among early U.S. gold coins. The BD-3 variety represents the entire mintage of the 1795 9 Leaves $10 gold piece, itself one of the most important major varieties. Previous estimates of the surviving population of this variety were as low as nine pieces. Dannreuther suggested that as many as 15-20 pieces were known, and the latest research shows that perhaps as many as two dozen exist. Surprisingly, there may be as many as eight examples that grade MS60 or better, which is an astounding percentage of the known population. Among these, the finest is a PCGS MS63+ example which is a full point-and-a-half better than the next best.
The strike on this variety is often soft in the centers, where the high points oppose each other. Adjustment marks are sometimes seen, but they are never excessive. At least two examples show depressions or voids in the finished coins, presumably the result of improper preparation of the planchets.
1795 $10 9 Leaves PCGS AU 55 (Pop 3/8)
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Here is my 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle PCGS MS-65 (CAC Green). This coin is unique in private hands. The coin is pedigreed to King Farouk.
This coin is #1 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez:
The U.S. Mint had produced 445,500 double eagles in 1933, which were to be distributed into circulation. However, in one of his first acts, Roosevelt declared an effective end to the nation’s adherence to the gold standard and began the recall of all U.S. gold coins. According to the Mint’s records, the entire mintage of 1933 Double Eagles were to be melted except for two that were sent to the Smithsonian.
In 1937, a number appeared for sale. However, a Secret Service investigation determined that they had been stolen from the Mint and were seized from their owners. One was purchased by King Farouk and it became part of his fabulous collection, leaving that 1933 Double Eagle beyond the legal arm of the United States. Sociopolitical turmoil in Egypt led to King Farouk’s abdication. He was exiled to Italy and many of his possessions, including his 1933 Double Eagle, were dispersed. The whereabouts of the coin were unknown for decades until British coin dealer Stephon Fenton surrendered the coin to United States authorities in 1996.
Hanging in legal limbo for several years, the coin was stored in a Secret Service vault at the World Trade Center in New York City. The legal status of the 1933 Double Eagle specimen hailing from King Farouk was resolved and the coin was subsequently removed from the World Trade Center just before the terrorist attacks destroyed the Lower Manhattan landmark. The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was offered for sale by Sotheby’s/Stack’s in 2002, realizing $7.59 million to set what was then the world record for the highest price ever paid for a single coin in a public offering.
Upon crossing the auction block nearly two decades later in 2021, the specimen remained the only legally obtainable example of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle in private hands.
1933 $20 PCGS MS 65 CAC (Unique)
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@EliteCollection - I been clicking on the "like" button but I rather click on a "Love" Button instead. Just loving each coin. Again, thank you for sharing.
So much eye candy, how do you pick a favorite. I would go with the $50 Pan Pac, Extreme High Relief Saint, and no way do you leave out the 1933 Saint. All three in no particular order with honorable mention to the 1927 D Saint. I do love big gold, a trait instilled in me by Ricko.
I first learned of the 1895 silver dollar in 1960 at 7 years of age when I watched my favorite TV show “ Dennis The Menace” when Mr Wilson bought such 1895 silver dollar for $600. I could not afford it back then but it started my journey into coin collecting as I dreamed of finding the 1895 silver dollar which I later found out was only minted as a proof coin. I later decided I only wanted to primarily seek out business strike coins but I was already on a life long journey of collecting coins.
It's too early to pick a favorite imho.
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For me, it's easy actually. 1933 DE is always my favorite.
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Congratulations on a wonderful set so far!
Here is my 1933 Indian Gold Eagle PCGS MS-65 (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 7 with 4 coins graded higher.
This coin is #43 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
In terms of total number of specimens known in all grades, both circulated and Mint State, the 1933 is definitely the rarest issue in the series. However, because all known 1933 eagles are Uncirculated, when one considers only the Mint State grades this issue ranks third in rarity behind the 1913-S and 1911-D. Most of the 30 to 35 known examples are considerably bagmarked, which is surprising since they were all surely obtained directly from the Mint, and one would expect that care would have been taken to select particularly nice examples. I do not know of any superb (MS-67) examples, but the Delp, Bareford, Kruthoffer, Eliasberg and Stack's October 1984 Sale specimens were all gems, and the Einstein Collection coin was very close. None of these is clearly distinguishable as ""the finest known,"" but some might prefer one over the others, depending on which factors are most important to a particular individual.
Most 1933 eagles are fully frosty although some (cf. Stack's October 1984 Sale, Lot 1377) have a distinctly satiny appearance. Luster is generally only average or slightly below average for the series, but the satiny ones have very good lustre as do a few of the frosty ones. The 1933 is always well struck and the color is typically very good, usually light to medium greenish gold with rose, orange, or coppery highlights. Many specimens also have reddish copper spots. The 1 in the date is almost always weaker than the other numerals. This issue is one of the most famous and popular of the 20th century. The mintage is high but virtually all were melted prior to release. Those in existence were undoubtedly obtained directly from the Mint prior to March 1933. Unlike the 1933 double eagle, the legal ownership status of the 1933 eagle has never been in question.
1933 $10 PCGS MS 65 CAC (Pop 7/4)
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Here is my 1879 Four-Dollar Gold Piece Flowing Hair PCGS Proof-67+ CAMEO (CAC Green). This coin is the single finest known with none graded higher.
This coin is part of "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins" and it is ranked #18.
David Akers:
Despite two previous and unsuccessful efforts at getting Congressional approval for an international gold coin, the idea was revived in 1879 when John Kasson, the United States minister to Austria and a former Chairman of the Committee of Coinage, Weights, and Measures, suggested to the Secretary of State that a coin be made that had a value close to that of the Austrian 8 Florin piece. Since the value of the Austrian 8 Florin piece was approximately $3.88 (as were the approximate values of several other foreign gold pieces), the denomination of four dollars or 400 cents was an obvious choice. It was proposed that the new denomination have the name "Stella", which seemed appropriate since it was "in analogy to one eagle, both the star and eagle being national emblems on our coins."
The 1879 flowing hair stella is the second most common of all U.S. gold patterns and it has appeared for sale many more times than any of the other stellas. Obviously, it is impossible to state exactly how many of the original 415 still exist, but for what one guess is worth, I would estimate that at least 300 to 350 are still around, although certainly many of them are impaired to some degree. Contrary to popular belief, the retrikes do not always weigh 103.2 grains and therefore, many are offered as one of the 15 "originals", often at an inflated price, when in reality they are one of the more common 400 restrikes. The restrikes are usually identifiable by light adjustment marks or striations on the head of Liberty.
1879 $4 Flowing Hair PCGS PR 67+ CAM CAC (Pop 1/0)
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Here is my 1875 Three-Dollar Gold Piece PCGS Proof-65 DCAM (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 2 with only 1 coin graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to the Bender Collection.
This coin is #57 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
Next to the legendary 1870-S, the 1875 is the most famous and highly desired three dollar gold piece. It has auction records as high as $150,000, although, as the auction records conclusively show, it is not nearly as rare as the 1873 Open 3 and is, in fact, one of the more common dates in proof prior to the 1880's! Certainly, it has been offered for sale many more times than the 1874 or 1878 which have identical reported mintages of 20 pieces. This apparent discrepancy is answered by the fact that the claimed mintage of 20 for the 1875 is not really accurate since more than 20 pieces are known to exist. The term ""restrike"" has been used when discussing the 1875, but properly used, the term ""restrike"" denotes a coin that is struck in a year later than its date. Such has not been conclusively proven to be the case with the 1875 three dollar gold piece, and although there are differences between known specimens, it is more likely that they were merely struck at different times during the same year rather than in different years.
1875 $3 PCGS PR 65 DCAM CAC (Pop 2/1)
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Here is my 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar PCGS AU-58 (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 1 with only 1 coin graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to the Norweb Collection and the Stellar Collection.
This coin is #32 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins" and it is also #7 in "Elite's Top Ten Famous U.S. Ultra Rarities".
Ron Guth:
The 1870-S Silver Dollar is one of the most mysterious of all United States coins. It is one of the few instances where the Mint records give no indication that any were produced at all. Yet there are roughly a dozen examples whose very existence contradicts the official records. Most of the known examples are worn, indicating that mint employees produced a small run, and then placed the coins in circulation. Unfortunately, absent any direct evidence, no one can prove how many were made. However, the point is moot because the collector who seeks to complete a set of Silver Dollars has only the survivors from which to choose. In the case of the 1870-S Silver Dollar, the choices are few and far between.
1870-S Silver Dollars appear on the market an average of once every two years, but there have been periods as long as six years (for instance 1997-2003) when collectors have had zero opportunities to purchase an example.
In 2003, the finest known 1870-S Silver Dollar sold for over one million dollars and every example since then, with the exception of a damaged piece has brought close to or over half a million dollars.
1870-S $1 PCGS AU 58 CAC (Pop 1/1)
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Here is my 1907 Indian Gold Eagle Rolled Edge PCGS MS-67 (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 3 with only 1 coin graded higher.
This coin is #36 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
This issue is listed in Judd's pattern book (J-1775) but it is not truly a pattern in the sense that the 1907 Wire Edge is. The Rolled Edge was actually struck in rather large quantities for circulation but they were melted before ever being released to the public. The surviving examples are mostly high quality and were either saved as assay pieces or obtained directly from the Mint prior to the decision to melt the issue. The strike on the typical Rolled Edge is rather weak, particularly at Miss Liberty's ear and on the eagle's wing and trailing leg and claw. Lustre is almost always excellent, if not radiant, and the color is generally great, usually greenish gold, orange and rose. The fields always have numerous random die scratches throughout, and the surfaces are rather satiny but with plenty of mint frost as well.
This issue is unusual among Indian Head eagles in that it is more often seen in MS-63, MS-64 or MS-65 condition than in the lowest Mint State grades. Overall, probably 40 to 45 pieces exist and a small number of them are superb, in fact, close to perfection. The Wilkinson-Kruthoffer specimen was extraordinary and at least four or five others are also distinctly better than MS-65.
1907 $10 Rolled Edge PCGS MS 67 CAC (Pop 3/1)
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Here is my 1808 Capped Bust Left Gold Quarter Eagle PCGS AU-58. This coin has a population of 13 with 14 coins graded higher.
This coin is #89 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
Although not the great rarity it is sometimes made out to be, the 1808 quarter eagle can certainly be considered to be rare, particularly in high grade. Because this is a one-year-only type, it is also unquestionably one of the most popular U.S. gold coins, and therefore, generally brings proportionally higher prices than other dates that are less rare but also less desirable. As the data clearly indicates, most available specimens are in the very fine to extremely fine range. The majority of pieces that I have seen also have edge nicks or rim bruises to some extent, and although most examples of this date are fairly well struck on the figure of Liberty and on the eagle, they are also weakly struck at the borders. Typically, the stars are flat and there are no denticles visible. I have only seen one truly choice mint state example, that being the superb coin from the Dr. J. Hewitt Judd Collection. I examined the coin (and was offered it for sale as were several other dealers and prominent collectors) at the 1972 ANA Convention in New Orleans. To my regret, I passed on the piece ar a price in the $12,000 range. The price seemed high at the time, but it would certainly be an incredible bargain today.
1808 $2.50 PCGS AU 58 (Pop 13/14)
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Here is my 1867 Shield Nickel Rays PCGS Proof-66 (CAC Green). This coin is one of the finest known with a population of only 2 with no coins graded higher.
This coin is #84 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
NGC Coin Explorer:
The proof 1867 nickel with rays is a significant rarity. It's believed that only a handful were coined before the reverse was revised to omit the rays. These may be identified by the fullness of the dies, as the several subsequent emissions to satisfy collector demand reveal some loss of shallow detail as the dies were repolished. In addition, at least three obverse dies were used at various times over the next several years. Because this issue was so desired, and because a good portion of its mintage occurred after its rarity was established, those that survive today are generally in higher grades than the overall proof population for this coin type. A small number of cameo proofs are known, as well. Most collectors will, of necessity, have to omit this entry in their sets, but it is a top prize for the advanced collector of means.
1867 5C PCGS PR 66 CAC (Pop 2/0)
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Here is my 1796 Capped Bust Right Gold Quarter Eagle No Stars PCGS MS-62+ (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 1 with only 2 coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to Bob Simpson.
This coin is #64 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Ron Guth:
The 1796 Quarter Eagle with No Stars on the obverse is one of the most historic and important U.S. gold coins. The mintage is a mere 963 pieces, which is exceedingly small by any standard. Estimates of the number of surviving examples has ranged all over the place. David Akers claimed 30 to 40, refuting earlier claims of 15 to 20 known. The cataloger at Heritage estimated 80 to 100 in their January 2007 sale. PCGS experts estimate a surviving population of 100 to 125 pieces. To put a finer spin on things, we have images of 28 different examples, all in AU or better. Eleven of those examples are Mint State 60 or better. At the top of the condition census is the incredible PCGS MS65 (finest by two full points) that sold for $1,725,000 in January 2008.
It is very difficult to locate a "perfect" 1796 No Stars Quarter Eagle. Many show lintmarks of various sizes. Some show adjustment marks, usually in the center of the obverse. The Bass:261 coin (now in an NGC MS60 holder) shows three different, mint-caused defects: a diagonal fissure running from the turban to Liberty's temple; vertical adjustment marks on the obverse; and a heavy lintmark on the right side of the reverse (yet, it is still a nice, six-figure coin). Though there are numerically finer examples, my personal favorite is Bob Simpson's PCGS MS62+ -- it is well-struck, has great color, and is free of any distracting problems.
1796 $2.50 No Stars PCGS MS 62+ CAC (Pop 1/2)
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Here is my 1839 Gobrecht Silver Dollar Original, Coin Alignment PCGS Proof-65. This coin is one of the finest known with a population of only 2 with no coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to The Norweb Collection.
This coin is #65 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Wikipedia:
The Gobrecht dollar, minted from 1836 to 1839, was the first silver dollar struck for circulation by the United States Mint after production of that denomination had been halted in 1806. The coin was struck in small numbers to determine whether the reintroduced silver dollar would be well received by the public.
In 1835, Director of the United States Mint Samuel Moore resigned his post, and Robert M. Patterson assumed the position. Shortly after, Patterson began an attempt to redesign the nation's coinage. After Mint Chief Engraver William Kneass suffered a stroke later that year, Christian Gobrecht was hired as an engraver. On August 1, Patterson wrote a letter to Philadelphia artist Thomas Sully laying out his plans for the dollar coin. He also asked Titian Peale to create a design for the coin. Sully created an obverse design depicting a seated representation of Liberty and Peale a reverse depicting a soaring bald eagle, which were adapted into coin designs by Gobrecht. After the designs were created and trials struck, production of the working dies began in September 1836.
After a small quantity was struck for circulation, the Mint received complaints regarding the prominent placement of Gobrecht's name on the dollar, and the design was modified to place his name in a less conspicuous position. In January 1837, the legal standard for the percentage of precious metal in silver coins was changed from 89.2% to 90%, and the Gobrecht dollars struck afterwards reflect this change. In total, 1,900 Gobrecht dollars were struck during the official production run. Production of the Seated Liberty dollar, which utilized the same obverse design as the Gobrecht dollar, began in 1840. In the 1850s, Mint officials controversially re-struck the coins without authorization.
1839 $1 Gobrecht Original PCGS PR 65 (Pop 2/0)
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Here is my 1817/4 Capped Bust Half Dollar Overton 102 PCGS F-12 (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 1 with 4 coins graded higher.
This coin is #62 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Ron Guth:
The 1817/4 Overdate Half Dollar is the most famous and valuable of all the Capped Bust Half Dollars. Only ten examples are known of this variety, several of which have been discovered within the past decade. Most of the known examples are of the Overton 102a variety, which means they show a somewhat vertical die crack on the obverse. This crack, and the eventual removal or destruction of the die, is believed to be the cause of this variety's exceptional rarity.
The finest example is the PCGS AU53 from the Eliasberg Collection (and, coincidentally, the first example of the variety discovered by E.T. Wallis circa 1930). Wallis' asking price of $2,500 in 1934 pales in comparison to the $356,500 it realized in its last auction appearance in 2009!
For anyone who thinks that all of the great coins have been found, it is important to realize that four of the eleven known 1817/4 Half Dollars have been discovered since 2005, and that the most recent find was in late 2013 or early 2014, when an example was purchased as a Punctuated Date 1817!
1817/4 50C PCGS F 12 CAC (Pop 1/4)
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Here is my 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter PCGS MS-66+ FH (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 4 with 6 coins graded higher.
This coin is #44 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Hall:
The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is the first issue in the series. These coins were not struck until the last two weeks of 1916, and they were released in January, 1917. The mintage is consequently very low, a mere 52,000 coins, making this issue the lowest mintage by far in the Standing Liberty quarter series and indeed one of the lowest mintage U.S. coins of the 20th century. The 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is rare in all grades and has always been a very high demand coin. Today, even extremely low grades sell in excess of $1,000.
The "Type One" Standing Liberty quarter was only minted for two years, 1916 and 1917. Nearly all 1917 Type One quarters were struck with full head detail. However, 1916 Standing Liberty quarters often have softly struck heads. All Gem quality MS65 or better 1916 Standing Liberty quarters are very rare, and those with fully struck heads are rarer still.
1916 25C Standing Liberty PCGS MS 66+ FH CAC (Pop 4/6)
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Just curious the 1817 over 4 seems to have a lot of green areas (beside the bust and some other areas) on the coin is it toning or some PVC? If PVC would you consider acetone to resolve the issue then have it graded again?
Here is my 1854-O Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS AU-55. This coin has a population of 4 with only 1 coin graded higher at AU 58.
This coin is #33 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
The 1854-O is one of the most famous dates in the Double Eagle series and it also one of the rarest. In particular, it is the second rarest O-Mint twenty after the 1856-O and it is comparable overall to the 1870-CC and business strikes of 1881 and 1885. It is not as rare as a business strike 1882 or 1886 and, of course, it is not nearly as rare as the 1861 Paquet. However, other than the aforementioned dates, the 1854-O is more rare than any other regular issue Liberty Head. (The proof-only 1883 and 1884 are also a bit more rare than this date, particularly the 1884.) The only specimen catalogued as "uncirculated" was in the 1944 Bell sale. I have not seen that piece so I cannot say if it is really uncirculated. In fact, I have not seen a strictly mint state example in any collection although I have seen three very nice AU's, the finest being an AU-55 coin in a prominent Dallas bank collection. When available, and that is not likely to be very often, the typical 1854-O is VF or EF with a partially prooflike or fully prooflike surface.
1854-O $20 PCGS AU 55 (Pop 4/1)
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Here is my 1875 Liberty Gold Half Eagle PCGS AU-53 (CAC Green). This coin has a population of 5 with only 3 coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to the Fairmont Collection.
This coin was ranked #93 in the first edition of the 100 Greatest US Coins book, but it is no longer included in the latest edition of the book.
David Akers:
The 1875 is unquestionably one of the great rarities of the series and it is tied for thirteenth with the 1829 Small Planchet with respect to rarity according to number of appearances at auction. Among Liberty Head Half Eagles, only the 1854-S is more rare. Out of the 12 auction appearances in my 337 sale survey, 9 were proofs meaning that business strikes were only offered three times in 337 sales. At least two appearances (1974 ANA and Wolfson) were of the same coin. I have seen only one other business strike, a coin that was discovered by Paul Wittlin in Europe in the 1960's and subsequently sold to Harry Bass. There may be a few others but I would estimate that at most 5-6 business strikes are known.
1875 $5 PCGS AU 53 CAC (Pop 5/3)
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Here is my 1851 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar PCGS MS-64. This coin has a population of 6 with only 1 coin graded higher at MS 65.
This coin was ranked #81 in the first edition of the 100 Greatest US Coins book, but it is no longer included in the latest edition of the book.
Q. David Bowers:
Mint records indicate that 1,300 dollars bearing this date were minted. As noted, these were not placed into circulation at the time. Probably, they left the Mint in the year or two succeeding, in exchange for bullion deposits (this is speculation). The desirability of the low-mintage 1851 and 1852 dates was recognized early in the numismatic game, by which time most were no longer available at the source. By 1858, the "Midnight Minters" and others at the Mint knew full well that the 1851 (and 1852) dollars were rarities. It is logical to assume that by that time the original circulation strike mintages had been dispersed.
I believe that sharp-eyed bank tellers, Treasury employees, hotel clerks, and others, perhaps equipped with a coin buying guide issued by Cook, Morey, von Bergen, or some other nineteenth century precursor of B. Max Mehl, snapped up all the examples they could find. Such coin premium books were distributed in large quantities beginning with Cook's efforts in the mid-1870s and, for all I know, even earlier by others. Even so, very few were ever found.
The 1851 is a great rarity in circulated grades. Walter H. Breen suggests that most that do survive in worn grades are at higher levels such as grade EF or AU. (Letter to the author, February 12, 1992.) Most 1851 dollars known to exist are in Mint State. I suspect that the Mint saved a few at the time of issue, perhaps for trading purposes to acquire pieces for the Mint Cabinet.
1851 $1 PCGS MS 64 CAC (Pop 6/1)
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Here is my 1856-O Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS AU-53. This coin has a population of 2 with 9 coins graded higher.
This coin is #56 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
This date is one of the classic rarities of the Double Eagle series and is certainly one of the most famous and popular. It is the rarest O-mint $20 (although not really all that much rarer than the 1854-O) and, except for the 1861 Paquet and 1882 business strike, it is the rarest regular issue Liberty Head Double Eagle. In terms of number of specimens known it is more rare than the heralded 1870-CC (although it usually comes in higher grade than the 1870-CC) and is about the same rarity as the proof-only 1883. There is one very nice uncirclated piece known that was sold by Superior in 1980 and at least two others that grade Almost Uncirculated, including the Eliasberg coin which grades AU-55. The rest of the known population grades only VF or EF. All known specimens have semi-prooflike or prooflike fields.
1856-O $20 PCGS AU 53 (Pop 2/9)
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Here is my 1870-CC Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS AU-53. This coin has a population of 1 with only 1 coin graded higher.
This coin is #75 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
Without question this is one of the rarest and most famous of all Double Eagles. It is by far the rarest CC-Mint twenty and it is surpassed in overall rarity among all regular issue Liberty Heads only by the 1861 Paquet, the 1856-O, and the business strikes of 1882 and 1886. The 1870-CC is similar in rarity to the 1854-O and business strikes of 1881 and 1885 and just a little less rare than the proof-only 1883 and 1884. From the standpoint of condition rarity, the 1870-CC is one of the rarest, if not the rarest, dates in the entire series. I have never seen a full AU and the typical 1870-CC is only F or VF with a heavily bagmarked, prooflike surface. Q. David Bowers has written that he handled a mint state 1870-CC many years ago and so that specimen is undoubtedly the finest known example of this rare date by a considerable margin.
Ron Guth:
The 1870-CC $20 combines extreme rarity, the allure of gold, a large size, and the lore of the Carson City Mint in a neat, tidy, and very expensive package. At least one expert believes that the surviving population numbers only 35-45 examples, but this seems low considering that PCGS alone has certified 34 coins (as of October 2014). Add in coins certified by NGC, subtract resubmissions and crossovers, and the correct number is probably over 50 examples. Regardless, the 1870-CC $20 is under considerable pressure from collectors of the Liberty Head series, fans of the Carson City Mint, and anyone looking for a trophy coin.
This date is not known for being well struck; rather, a common complaint is that some or all of the obverse stars are flat. Most of the surviving population hovers around the XF45 grade, with few examples on either side, especially the higher side.
1870-CC $20 PCGS AU 53 (Pop 1/1)
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Here is my 1792 Copper Disme PCGS MS-64 BN. This coin is one of the finest known with a population of only 2 with no coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to Bob Simpson.
This coin is #22 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
P. Scott Rubin:
The 1792 Copper Disme with Reeded Edge, Judd-10 is a Rarity 6 coin (13-30 known), making this issue the second most common of the rare 1792 coinage varieties. The much more common 1792 Silver Half Disme, a coin with over two hundred specimens known was struck in the metal of a circulation strike and many believe it was issued for circulation. However, the 1792 Disme does not appear to have ever been issued for circulation and was a pattern-only issue. It is somewhat surprising then that so many of the Copper Dismes were struck. It is also surprising that approximately two-thirds of the surviving 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge are known in Very Fine condition or better. Three of the survivors are graded either Proof or Specimen Issues.
It seems probable that 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge were given to a number of people to display as an example of the proposed coinage of the U.S. That would explain the Specimen specimens and helps explain why so many survive in nice condition. While it is not definitely known who engraved these coins, it appears that they were not engraved by Birch (who did the 1792 Birch Cents) and they were not engraved by Joseph Wright (who engraved the 1792 Pattern Quarter).
Besides the two identified as Specimen issues, which are graded SP65 Brown and SP55 by PCGS, and one Proof graded PR62BN by NGC, there are two 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge with claims to Uncirculated condition. Since Proof coinage was not officially started at the U.S. Mint until about 1817, it is probably more accurate to call any coin that appears to be a proof struck before that date a Specimen.
1792 10C PCGS SP 64 BN (Pop 1/0)
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Here is my 1852 California Gold $50 U.S. Gold Assay Office San Francisco 884 Thous PCGS MS-62. This coin has a population of 1 with only 1 coin graded higher at MS 63.
This coin is #72 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
100 Greatest Unites States Coins 6th Edition:
The 1848 discovery of gold in California created special problems for certain of the state's inhabitants. The massive influx of people, coupled with inflation and a lack of coins with which to conduct business, led to great difficulties. Gold dust became a de facto currency, but measurements varied, often to the detriment of the owner of the dust. Private minters moved in to fill the void, producing a variety of gold coins of somewhat suspect quality and purity.
To help solve the problem, a U.S. Assay Office was created in 1851 in San Francisco under the direction of Augustus Humbert. He contracted with the firm of Moffat & Company to produce massive $50 coins with eight sides and nearly 2.75 troy ounces of pure gold. Known today as "slugs," these big, heavy coins created a new level of confidence with the general public, essentially driving the underweight and impure coins out of circulation. Unfortunately, the slugs failed to address the need for smaller denomination coins.
Because they were technically ingots and not coins, the $50 slugs were not required to be of the same 90 percent purity as federal gold coins. Thus, four different finenesses appear on the $50 slugs: .880, .884, .887, and .900. The earliest versions had lettered edges later versions had reeded edges. Some varieties required as many as 14 steps to produce a single coin!
Although they were produces in large quantities, most of the $50 slugs were melted down and converted into U.S. gold coins once the San Francisco Mint began operations in 1854. Today, $50 slugs are prized, impressive reminders of an important part of our U.S. heritage.
1852 $50 Assay 887 PCGS MS 62 (Pop 1/1)
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Here is my 1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar 15 Stars, Overton 101 PCGS MS-62+. This coin has a population of 1 with only 2 coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to the Norweb Collection.
This coin is #66 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Hall:
The 1796-1797 Draped Bust, small eagle half dollar is considered to be the rarest United States silver type coin. It is an expensive coin even in the lowest grades. For the 1796, there are two varieties, 15 stars on the obverse and 16 stars on the obverse. Mintage for the 15 stars is estimated at 569 while mintage for the 16 stars variety is estimated at 365. However, both seem to appear equally as often at auction. There are at most a hand full of mint state examples. This is one of the most beautiful and short lived designs.
1796 50C 15 Stars PCGS MS 62+ (Pop 1/2)
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What an awesome coín collection! Got any *more early copper?
Empty Nest Collection
Here is my 1844-O Liberty Gold Eagle Branch Mint PCGS Proof-65 DCAM. This coin is single finest known as it is unique. The coin is pedigreed to Lorin G. Parmelee and Virgil Brand.
This coin is #45 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
100 Greatest Unites States Coins 6th Edition:
These coins' first public appearance was in the 1890 sale of Lorin G. Parmelee's collection. Both an 1844-O half eagle and an 1844-O eagle Proof were sold at the same sale. In the Parmelee auction, the $10 piece was cataloged as "Eagle: O mint sharp and perfect Proof: as it is allowable to strike Proofs only at the Philadelphia Mint, it would seem that this lot and the following (the Proof 1844-O $5 gold half eagle) must be extremely rare." The buyer of both coins was William Woodin at $16 and $9.50, respectively. The coins later appeared in Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Woodin Collection in 1911.
According to his journal entry number 57068, Virgil Brand purchased the 1844-O Proof eagle for $50 in 1911. After his death, the Brand Collection was broken up over a period of many years, and the coin did not resurface for some time.
For many years, the rumored existence of the 1844-O Proof eagle only added to its mystique. The late Texas dealer Mike Brownlee heard about the coin in the 1950s while working for the legendary B. Max Mehl, who searched for the coin his entire numismatic life. His search ended in 1994 when he was finally able to purchase the 1844-O Proof eagle for an undisclosed amount. The last auction appearance of the 1844-O Proof half eagle was in the sale of the King Farouk collection. Abe Kosoff sold the coin in 1959, and it now resides in a private collection.
Why the Proof 1844-O half eagle and eagle were struck in the first place is the real mystery. It is possible the coins were struck for a dignitary of this country or some foreign head of state visiting the New Orleans Mint. Perhaps someday researchers will solve the puzzle of these two incredible coins.
1844-O $10 PCGS PR 65 DCAM (Unique)
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Here is my 1844-O Liberty Gold Half Eagle PCGS Proof-67 DCAM (CAC Green). This coin is the single finest known as it is unique. The coin is pedigreed to Lorin G. Parmelee and King Farouk.
This coin is #45 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
100 Greatest Unites States Coins 6th Edition:
These coins' first public appearance was in the 1890 sale of Lorin G. Parmelee's collection. Both an 1844-O half eagle and an 1844-O eagle Proof were sold at the same sale. In the Parmelee auction, the $10 piece was cataloged as "Eagle: O mint sharp and perfect Proof: as it is allowable to strike Proofs only at the Philadelphia Mint, it would seem that this lot and the following (the Proof 1844-O $5 gold half eagle) must be extremely rare." The buyer of both coins was William Woodin at $16 and $9.50, respectively. The coins later appeared in Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Woodin Collection in 1911.
According to his journal entry number 57068, Virgil Brand purchased the 1844-O Proof eagle for $50 in 1911. After his death, the Brand Collection was broken up over a period of many years, and the coin did not resurface for some time.
For many years, the rumored existence of the 1844-O Proof eagle only added to its mystique. The late Texas dealer Mike Brownlee heard about the coin in the 1950s while working for the legendary B. Max Mehl, who searched for the coin his entire numismatic life. His search ended in 1994 when he was finally able to purchase the 1844-O Proof eagle for an undisclosed amount. The last auction appearance of the 1844-O Proof half eagle was in the sale of the King Farouk collection. Abe Kosoff sold the coin in 1959, and it now resides in a private collection.
Why the Proof 1844-O half eagle and eagle were struck in the first place is the real mystery. It is possible the coins were struck for a dignitary of this country or some foreign head of state visiting the New Orleans Mint. Perhaps someday researchers will solve the puzzle of these two incredible coins.
1844-O $5 PCGS PR 67 DCAM CAC (Unique)
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Fantastic
Appreciate the opportunity to read and enjoy.
👊🏻
Some spectacular stuff - thank you for sharing. The 1844-O HE is incredible.
I did not know that the 1875 Half Eagle is no longer on the Top 100 list. That to me is simply wrong. There are many coins on the list (even a few you have shown) that don't measure up with the 1875's rarity and significance.
Anyway, thank you for being an active member and sharing these important coins.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
The 1875 $5 is still in the PCGS Registry set for "100 Greatest"; it's number 93.
The PCGS Registry set references the 2nd edition of this book.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/famous-u-s-coins/famous-u-s-coins/100-greatest-u-s-coins/composition/1576
The 1875 $5 is not in the MyCollect Registry Set "100 Greatest",
and apparently no longer in the Garrett and Guth "100 Greatest" book, which is currently in its 5th edition (2019).
The 100 Greatest book is actually in its 6th edition, which came out recently.
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These coins are just absolutely superb!
My YouTube Channel
My website has a list of all the coins in the first 5 editions listed and ranked in a weighted order. Since I am no longer collecting this set I never updated the list to include the sixth edition.
You can view at:
https://sc-coins.com/
Here is my 1861-S Liberty Gold Double Eagle Paquet Reverse PCGS AU-50 (CAC Gold). This coin has a population of 23 with 36 coins graded higher.
This coin is #49 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
David Akers:
The 1861-S Paquet is the rarest Liberty Head Double Eagle from the San Francisco Mint. Its only real close competitor for that distinction is the 1866-S No Motto but, in my opinion, there are more of the latter in existence than there are 1861-S Paquets. In high grade, the 1861-S Paquet is extremely rare and, to the best of my knowledge, it is unknown in full mint state. I have seen only two specimens I graded as high as AU-50 and nothing even close to Unc. As a general rule, this date is usually grossly overgraded and even in strict EF condition it is seldom available. In my experience the majority of 1861-S Paquets are well worn, VF being typical, and they are almost always very heavily abraided.
1861-S $20 Paquet Reverse PCGS AU 50 Gold CAC (Pop 23/36)
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Ok, I have caught up. From this point forward, I will be posting about 1 new 100g (100 Greatest) coin a day until I have run out of coins to post.
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Thanks to the rest ... I have been following you on MYCOLLECT but I had to just go through this post in one binge reading. My eyes are tired and my mine is in a fog from being overwhelmed by the collection ... time to take my wife out for lunch soon
OMG ... My Mother was Right about Everything!
I wake up with a Good Attitude Every Day. Then … Idiots Happen!
Excellent !!! Nice coins and display.
(i think my entire collection value is probably much less than 1% of any one of these gems)
This is one of those threads that reminds you of how deep the waters of numismatics run, and also that there are just so many items that will forever remain out of reach unless one becomes unfathomably wealthy. Clearly most if not all of these amazing coins belong in a museum, and I sincerely hope that one day I am pleasantly surprised to see this collection on display. For now I remain just stunned by the first three words or each of the OP’s posts: “Here is my”
Incredible!
Empty Nest Collection
I can only offer that I post rarely, and after much consideration.
This thread is quite unique . . . and a reason to subscribe here, to follow numismatics, and just to be alive and see this collection !!!
Drunner
(Bet I had better Doilies though . . . . . . . )
Well, this is not boring. Sweet!
FWIW, I always thought the Norweb 1870-S dollar was unc that was net graded to 58 for the test scratches.
This collection is AMAZING!
As a dime collector, I can't wait to see if you have the 1894-S 10c proof (which a specimen came up for auction at HA recently) and the singular MS-65 1873-CC No Arrows 10c.
You have an insane collection !!! WOW.
Please post photos of the Koessl matte proof gold set !!!
.
Here is my 1794 Liberty Cap Cent Starred Reverse Sheldon 48 PCGS VF-35 BN. This coin has a population of 1 with 4 coins graded higher. The coin is pedigreed to the Chapman Discovery Coin.
This coin is #38 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Denis Loring:
The Starred Reverse is the most famous of all the 1794's. According to Sheldon, "Collectors mention it with religious awe." About 50-60 are known in all grades. Early in its life, the reverse die buckled in a straight line from 10:00 to 4:00, accounting for the scarcity of the variety. Because of the buckle, the upper right reverse wears away quickly and the lower left lingers. Low-grade examples are known showing only a few stars at 7:00.
Heritage Auctions:
The Starred Reverse is the variety that every serious large cent collector wants to own, and here we have an exceptional census-level piece that has impressive historical importance. The obverse and reverse are illustrated in Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. According to numismatic lore, the Chapman Brothers were examining large cents in 1877 while Dr. Edward Maris observed. Henry stated: "Here is a die with minute stars around the reverse." Maris confirmed that the variety was previously unknown. The present example from the Boka Collection is the very same cent that Henry Chapman held in his hands when he discovered the variety.
1794 1C Starred Reverse PCGS VF 35 BN (Pop 1/4)
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Here is my 1797 Capped Bust Right Gold Half Eagle Small Eagle, 16 Obverse Stars PCGS AU-58. This coin has a population of 4 with only 2 coins graded higher.
This coin is #79 in my set "Elite's 100 Greatest U.S. Coins".
Note: The coin referenced in the 100 Greatest US Coins book in slot #79 is actually the 1797 16 Stars Obverse, Heraldic Reverse Half Eagle. That coin is unique and is permanently housed in the Smithsonian Institution. This Small Eagle Reverse coin is still extremely rare and is a proxy for Heraldic Reverse Half Eagle. Both the PCGS Set Registry and the MyCollect Registry accepts the 1797 $5 16 Stars Obverse, Small Eagle Reverse coin in this slot.
David Akers:
Although not quite as rare as the three other 1797 Half Eagles, the 1797 16 Stars, Small Eagle is still one of the major rarities in the $5 series. I would estimate that at most 25-30 specimens exist in all grades with EF-AU being typical. A few choice uncs exist but none has appeared on the market in many years.
1797 $5 16 Stars PCGS AU 58 (Pop 4/2)
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This cent and example is a favorite of mine. Congrats on adding such a fabulous coin and sharing your wonderful cabinet with us. Just unbelievable.
@EliteCollection - Can't wait for when you share your 1796 quarter? If you acquired one, love to see which on you choose! Thanks!