While the Civil War effectively ended the circulation of gold and silver coinage up and down the East Coast, hard money remained in the channels of Western commerce throughout that fraught period in American history. The San Francisco Mint struck 9,500 half eagles in 1862, nearly all of which ended up in circulation. Probably three or four pieces survive in Mint State, at best, and the entire population of 1862-S five-dollar gold pieces is likely smaller than 100 coins.
The PCGS population is 1 with only 1 graded higher.
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.
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.
Our special for today is a group of 100 US $20 Liberties in XF condition – overall, nicer than usually one usually encounters for an circulated lot – another special group that provides a good vehicle for gold diversification, so go ahead and add a pile of American $20 gold coins to collection today.
tal of 100 coins are available, and they are on offer at the special price of $40 off each at the published price of $20 XF Gold Liberty Head Double Eagles here. Currently $1,979.50 each $9,8975 (5 coin lot) based on a Gold spot basis of $1,819.50. (Prices subject to change with gold markets, as usual)
American gold coins had assumed a prominent role in international commerce in the years leading up to the Great War. With the sudden disruption of commerce in 1914, overall demand for double eagles fell, and the combined production for all three Mints fell from just over 2 million pieces to under a million in 1915. Of the two Mints that struck double eagles for that year, Philadelphia produced fewer coins, with a mintage of just 152,000 coins.
The NGC population is 40 with only 1 graded higher.
Listed at $27,600 in the CDN CPG and $31,500 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $25,300
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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
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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
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The 1853-O Liberty double eagle claims a small mintage of 71,000 pieces, a much smaller production than any previous year at the famous Southern facility. Undoubtedly, some of the output from the California gold fields was held back, in anticipation of the opening of the San Francisco Mint the following year, rather than risking the hazardous maritime shipping necessary to have the bullion coined at New Orleans in 1853. The coins were all released into circulation at the time of issue, making the 1853-O an elusive issue in high grade.
The NGC population is 57 with 92 graded higher.
Listed at $14,400 in the CDN CPG and $12,750 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $12,000
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The 1910-S Indian eagle’s high mintage of 811,000 coins is deceiving. Availability was drastically reduced in the mid-1930s during the massive gold melts. Mint State survivors are seldom available, typically grading only in the MS62 and lower range. The date is scarce in MS63, and rare at grades beyond that. That’s easily illustrated by the NGC population of 23 with 6 graded higher. The one offered here is clean and attractive.
Listed at $14,400 in the CDN CPG and $17,500 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $14,200
Price reflected is based on payment via ACH, Bank Wire or Check. Add 3.5% for Major CC & PayPal.
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