I had to come up with a handful of 2026 nickels for this from the waitstaff at the restaurant I go to. Its all good 👍

@Copperindian said:
Having a stormy Red Eye Saturday here in the SF Bay Area. Today’s coin is special as it’s the last of the 3 collectible 1854-S mint gold coin denominations that complete my set from the first year of operation of the original SF Mint. I previously bought a $1 in PCGS 63 & a $10 in PCGS AU55 CAC. This sweet $20 PCGS AU50 CAC is also my first buy from Doug Winter:

Per Doug, this piece is an original & not from a shipwreck (the S.S. Yankee Blade). These are tough to find in this condition (in fact, all 3 of the 1854-S coins were heavily used in commerce). None of the 3 are an easy buy - estimates are the $10 is most “available”, followed equally by the $1 & $20.
What about the $2.5 & $5? The former is prohibitively rare with about 12 examples accounted for out of a minuscule mintage of 246(!) coins. A NGC AU50 example sold in auction about 6 months ago for $408,000!!!!!!!
The $5, though, is impossible. I believe there are only 3(!) examples accounted for from the original mintage of merely 264 pieces. The highest graded is a AU58+. Unfortunately, one of the 3 examples (XF45) was stolen in a home invasion robbery over 50 years ago. Its whereabouts today are still unknown.
There’s no definitive answer as to why so few of the $2.5 & $5 issues were minted. Acid involved in the refining process was in short supply back then, but that’s only a partial answer as numbers for the $1, $10 & $20 were greater. Speculation is those denominations had more practical use in commerce.

I believe that the limited mintages of 1854-S $2-1/2's and $5's were made so that depositors could be paid out for their settlement as much as possible in gold, but that after the first batch of each was made they decided that it was just simpler to keep a supply of Gold Dollars on hand for settlements.

Happy Sat Gents.....Got a little Kona coffee and some quarters.

PF-68+ Cam, Ex. Newman

PF-66+ Dcam

PF-67+

Happy Saturday my coin loving friends! Finally beginning to feel like Fall has arrived and love it!

Spending time with some Seated Dollars this morning. This one always makes me smile because of the originality and very appealing toning.

Happy Saturday! I'm enjoying a couple of 1877 re-punched dates back from the sticker factory.

Good morning Coffee with Coins group! Happy Saturday!!

Funny story @JWP . Thirty years ago, after passing a series of kidney stones and my Doctor, the Head of Urology for Kaiser in Fresno at the time (a truly funny and very helpful guy), after asking me a bunch of questions, told me I had a choice, I could give up coffee or I could give up soda (mostly I was a cola drinker when I had soda's), but I wasn't drinking both.

I didn't flinch. He smiled and said it was a much better choice, all things considered (especially I don't sweeten my coffee).

I'm still drinking coffee, of course and I could probably count the number of soda's I've had on both hands, and the number of cola's on one hand in the years since.

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@Inspired70 Love the Seated Dollar! Great look and yes, that feeling of deep fall colors indeed.

@Copperindian Now that's a very wholesome looking 1814 O-103. Congratulations! Good pick. I've always loved that coin DM when it comes late state like that (I currently have two). Just a "hot mess" from the clashes and and fatigued die, made cooler by the great graver mark on the reverse die. The die preparation for that one could have either used a little more, or maybe a lot less coffee!

@lermish Love that you're joining us regularly with the Trade Dollars. I especially like what I can see of the surfaces on your chop-marked AU55 example. She looks lovely. the 77/77 ain't too shabby either!

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Okay, let's go with a new coin to help my morning cup along.

This is the one "crack monster" CBH I was able to secure at the ANA this Summer. I found some nice coins and interesting Die Marriages, but as a certified "crack addict" , I always appreciate finding and studying these.

She came from the crazy crush, almost "mosh-pit" like action in front of Sheridan's table 15 minutes after the Pittsburg ANA show opened to ANA Members on Tuesday.

And yes, I did use the advantage of my size and understanding of body dynamics and forceful communications to wedge my way in on this one.

This is the latest Die State, but not the latest Die Condition I have seen for this wonderful cracked Obverse Die. Sometimes called the O-104b, this has all the dynamics of Die State 104.4.

PCGS called her a AU58, and CAC gave her an emerald bean. I can agree with that, although she's not the strongest 58 in the box. Raw, I'd probably call her a 57.2 with relatively original surfaces and strong luster, very few marks, faint handling and friction, and a couple of small droplet stains.

A free-hand coffee image first and then some shots from the copy stand (for which I am still working on, as I regressed after the move a couple years ago - it's the space I'm using and the gear settings).

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Happy Saturday Everyone... taking a little break from grant writing to indulge in a little caffeine and coins...

British 6 Pence

Just got to the shop. Who knows what today will bring ? (
( That’s self promotion, and a forum violation, to some here ) Freddie?

Giving Trader Joe's French Roast K-Cup a try while watching the Solheim Cup matches. . .
Here's an American made 250th Medallion

A Craig's List offering from a few months ago. . .seller said her grampa told her it was worth a lot of money. . .


I messaged her and suggested she get it graded / authenticated. . .she took the listing down a day later. . .

Purchased this raw on ebay in 2025, sent it in for grading. . .

Have a fine Saturday

It is really slow out there with finding new trade dollars and it is REALLY expensive out there for pioneer gold so I made a small addition to an esoteric side quest. I've decided to very slowly build an 1857 Mint Set in circulated grades to surround my 57-S gold set.

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/mint-sets/1857-mint-set-gold/alltimeset/418837

There were a few nice quarters at the recent Stacks auction but I only managed to take home one humble but honest specimen in G6 CAC.

Time for Saturday AM coffee - today I’m going “Black Eye” again as I’m liking that extra espresso shot! I have a special coin today fresh from the post-WFOM auctions @ SB:

This represents an upgrade from my recently completed 1858 PR 1C 12 piece pattern short set. Essentially, it has 3 improved components: the “CAM” feature; better eye appeal; & the 6 leaf reverse design (usually there’s only 5). R-7.
Noteworthy, too are the pattern pedigrees - previous owners are the Lakesamm Collection (#4 all time) & boiler78 (#3 all time). Pretty fair company!