Only 2 Graded Higher – Ever Popular 1856 S-9 Flying Eagle Cent NGC PR66

The most famous issue of the one cent denomination from the 1850s is the key 1856 Flying Eagle cent that was issued in extremely limited quantities during the transition from the large copper cents that were issued from 1793 to 1857. The Mint was looking for an alternative to the bulky and expensive-to-produce cents of prior years. After numerous trials, they settled on the small size that remains the same today, and they chose a composition of 88% copper and 12% nickel. The new composition resulted in a coin that was much lighter in appearance than the earlier coins.

Snow-9 is the typical variety encountered among proof 1856 Flying Eagle cents. Its availability, though, does not lessen its appeal to collectors, most of whom simply want a single, attractive example of this key date. The variety is also conditionally scarce at the Gem grade level, and it is rare finer.

The NGC population is only 3 with 2 graded higher.

Listed at $60,000 in the CDN CPG and $62,500 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $45,000

1907 Flat Rim High Relief Saint Gaudens Double Eagle NGC MS67

Numismatists are familiar with Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ eagle and double eagle, but his oeuvre included statues, bas-reliefs, medallions, cameos, and works in other media. As a teenager he began his career with an apprenticeship to a cameo-cutter before he left for Paris in 1867. Although he was able to make some money selling cameos in New York City, by his own accounts they did not sell well in Paris, where other artists were more skillful. Saint-Gaudens would soon create works on a grander scale, but his experience with cameo-cutting would come in handy when he was commissioned to design medals and, later, coins.

It is impossible to say which of Saint-Gaudens’ many works was the most important, but certainly his statue of General William Tecumseh Sherman is one of the most lauded, and the figure of Victory (Nike) in the monument would later be used as a model for the double eagle. This statue also brought Saint-Gaudens into contact with Roosevelt, who was vice president at the time, and their collaboration would later result in the beginning of the American coinage renaissance.

Saint-Gaudens wanted his statue of Sherman to be positioned near Grant’s Tomb, which was completed in 1897, for artistic and historical reasons. Roger Burdette (2006) writes, “After a chance meeting on a train returning from the Buffalo Exhibition in May 1901, he sought the intervention of vice-president Theodore Roosevelt in an attempt to secure his preferred location of the statue.”

Although Roosevelt was unsuccessful and the statue was placed at the southeastern corner of New York’s Central Park, he did not forget his encounter with Saint-Gaudens. Less than four years later, Roosevelt would ask Saint-Gaudens to redesign some of the country’s coins. The coins were Saint-Gaudens’ final project, and the 1907 High Relief double eagle was the fitting capstone to the artist’s distinguished career.

The physical perfection of this coin makes one realize why Theodore Roosevelt was so proud of these pieces and why he used them for presentation purposes.

Most 1907 High Reliefs are a pleasure to behold. This one, however, is (even) much better than that!

The NGC population is 20 (two of which have been designated “Star” by NGC) with 5 graded higher.

Listed at $312,000 in the CDN CPG and $290,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $208,100

Just 1 Graded Higher (and Barely) – 1861 Gold Dollar PCGS MS67

Like other gold denominations, gold dollars were minted in generous quantities in 1861, a year that saw a large influx of the yellow metal from out West. After the outbreak of the Civil War, gold and silver were quickly driven out of circulation by hoarding, so it is unsurprising to find that the 1861, with its mintage of 527,150 pieces, is readily collectible in Mint State grades through MS62 and MS63. Even near-Gems do not pose much of an issue. The certified population thins out in MS65 and drops precipitously beyond that.

The PCGS population is only 3 with 1 graded higher, the latter being an MS67+ example.

Listed at $24,000 in the CDN CPG and $30,000 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $23,100

None Graded Higher – 1890 Morgan NGC MS66 Dollar

The Sherman Silver Purchase Act, passed in July 1890, replaced the Bland-Allison Act as the authorizing legislation for the Morgan silver dollar. The law provided for the purchase of some 54 million troy ounces of silver annually from Western mining interests. As could be expected with such a supply of bullion, silver dollar production in 1890 was substantial throughout the year, with more than 16 million coins ultimately produced. These were paid out gradually over many years, with the final distribution being in the Treasury releases of the early 1960s. Careless preservation, then, ended up being a major factor in the rarity of high-grade examples, as the date is readily available in grades through MS65. But that’s where the availability stops.

The NGC population is only 10 with none graded higher.

Listed at $15,000 in both the CDN CPG and the NGC price guide.

Offered at $11,900

$20 Liberty Special – AU/CU Lot

Our special for today is a group of US $20 Liberties in AU/CU condition – nicer than usually one usually encounters for an AU lot, these are close to mint quality and provide a good vehicle for gold diversification.

10 coin lot minimum, a total of 50 coins are available, and they are on offer at the special price of:

Our special for today is a group of US $20 Liberties in AU/CU condition – nicer than usually one usually encounters for an AU lot, these are close to mint quality and provide a good vehicle for gold diversification.

10 coin lot minimum, a total of 50 coins are available, and they are on offer at the special price of $20 off each at the published price of $20 Gold Liberty Head Double Eagles here. Currently $2,066.48 based on a Gold spot basis of $1,874.50. (Prices subject to change with gold markets, as usual) 

1934 Maryland Half Dollar NGC MS68

Both sides of this virtually unmarked coin host well-defined devices. The luster is strong, if slightly diffuse; silver-green patina at the central obverse yields to the mustard-gold and yellow shadings at the borders.

The NGC population is 7 (two of which are designated “Star”) with 1 graded higher.

Listed at $13,200 in the CDN CPG and $25,000 in the NGC price guide.

Offered at $9,400

Price reflected is based on payment via ACH, Bank Wire or Check. Add 3.5% for Major CC & PayPal.

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(800) 257.3253 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST M-F
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Blazer of a 1935 Peace Dollar PCGS MS66+

The 1935 is the last Peace dollar from the Philadelphia Mint. It is typically seen in MS65 and lower grades, although Premium Gems are collectible for patient specialists. This one exhibits highly lustrous, color-fee surfaces and excellent eye-appeal.

The PCGS population is 132 with 16 graded higher.

Listed at $12,000 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $5,300

Price reflected is based on payment via ACH, Bank Wire or Check. Add 3.5% for Major CC & PayPal.

We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.

(800) 257.3253 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST M-F
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1922 Grant No Star Gold Dollar PCGS MS68

The Grant gold dollars and silver half dollars were issued on behalf of the Ulysses S. Grant Centenary Memorial Association, and that entity selected Laura Gardin Fraser to prepare the designs. A notice appeared in the January 24, 1922 issue of The Cincinnati Enquirer:
There will be minted 10,000 $1 gold pieces and 250,000 silver half dollars, the first to sell for $2.50 each and the second for $1 each. This fund will assure the tri-fold purposes of the association which is interested in the construction of a memorial highway from this city to the east along the Ohio River. After the minting the dies will be destroyed, thus giving the coins a high numismatic value.”

This is one of only two examples to have received this grade from PCGS with none graded higher. Listed at $40,000 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $39,500

Rare 1805 Draped Bust Quarter Eagle

John Dannreuther makes the point that the “mintage figure for this year may be one of the firmest to date, as it is believed that all 1,781 coins delivered in 1805 were of that date… .” This was the only die pair used to strike those coins, and it was later employed in the production of 1806 BD-1 and BD-2 quarter eagles, 1807 BD-1 quarter eagles, and 1807 JR-1 dimes. The dual-denomination nature of the dies certainly adds to the appeal of this scarce issue. Only 100 to 150 pieces are thought to exist.

The PCGS population is just 2 with 9 graded higher.

Listed at $31,200 (in AU58) in the CDN CPG and $40,000 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $31,100

Price reflected is based on payment via ACH, Bank Wire or Check. Add 3.5% for Major CC & PayPal.

We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.

(800) 257.3253 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST M-F
Private, Portable, Divisible Wealth Storage

1835 Classic Half Eagle PCGS MS63

From a reported mintage of 371,534 pieces, the 1835 Classic Head half eagle is known in seven different die varieties. The 1835 is reasonably easy to locate in lower Mint State grades, but it is a prime condition rarity in higher grades. This particular example boasts a bold strike and flashy semi-prooflike surfaces. The overall visual impression is extremely impressive. The PCGS population is 16 with 16 graded higher, none better than MS64.

Listed at $17,500 in the PCGS price guide.

Offered at $16,400

Price reflected is based on payment via ACH, Bank Wire or Check. Add 3.5% for Major CC & PayPal.

We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.

(800) 257.3253 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST M-F
Private, Portable, Divisible Wealth Storage